Friday 18th October 2024

Woke around 0815. Got up and porridged. Kath surfaced and packed her bag. She and Aki popped into the Handweaver’s workshop, and I caught them up ten minutes later…interestingly, they promote the use of Wensleydale wool, and conduct classes in using looms. Piqued Kath’s interest. Walked on to Finsbury Park and caught a Dilly Line train to Russell Square. Walked through the square garden down to Great Russell Street and queued to get into the British Museum. We had tickets for the new Silk Roads exhibition. As we entered the exhibition space, the woman in front of us turned round and recognised Aki…another fellow Rower! We shuffled round the exhibition…there’s a lot to take in; plenty of reading! It was very busy, so there were bottlenecks and snarl ups. We bailed out at 1330, not far from the end, as we needed to find Kath some lunch before getting her on the 1500 from KX to Newcastle. 

We wandered up Southampton Row and alighted upon Mr Wei’s…very busy, but we managed to get a table and enjoyed pork burger and pot-stickers before walking on to KX. Put Kath on her train, and walked round to get the No.91 bus from York Way. Chilled out on the sofa before dinner. Aki cooked a butternut squash dal with rice and okra. We walked up to St Luke’s for this evening’s cabaret show…a fundraiser for the church. Helen and Martin had bagged us a table. The church was got up like a cabaret club, with tables covered with red tablecloths, and tea lights beneath mini lamp shades…they had set up a stage, a PA, and lights…it was all very professional. Bumped into Tom Barnes, from 233 Sussex Way…he had written a couple of sketches which featured in the first half. Simon Mayo’s son Joe did a comic turn, and one of the church clergymen, Martin Wroe, got up and did a couple of wry self-penned poems. Helen sang with several members of the church choir. All in all, a very entertaining evening. It was gone 2300 by the time we left. It was pouring with rain, so we caught a bus home. Bath and bed…