27 November 2023

Weekend

Zach under blanket knitted by Shirley

Fields pass by. St Pancras appears. Tube to West Brompton. Red bus to Fulham. Through the grey door. There's Sarah. There's Zach. Four weeks old. Inquisitive dark eyes. Hugs. Tramping along Dawes Road. Waitrose bag in hand. Preparing food. Bedtime arrives. Attic futon. Awake in darkness. Heathrow flight path. Vivid dreams. Up at nine. Pushchair to Bishop's Park. Old Father Thames riding high. Tide turning. Lattes in The Tea House. Home-baked Madeleines. Bright, bright sunshiny day. Home. Chinese ordered. Leather-clad lady biker. Code number 56. Bus stop rat. 74 to Queen's Gate. Natural History Museum. Lit in lilac. Ten minute walk. Royal Albert Hall. High up in The Rausing Circle. Jools Holland. Dexterous keyboard hands on big screen. Ruby Turner: "Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think". 74 bus back. 10.55 in "The Rylston". Beer refusal. Great! Cup of tea. "Match of the Day". Too little sleep  again. Shirley gets up.  Sleep some more. There's Zach again. Singing him songs. An almost smile. A nearly smile. Cold outside. Grey. Mazy terraced streets. Lilyville-Clonmel-Homestead. "The Brown Cow". Sunday roast. Tasty. Back.  Premier League match on SKY. Garnacho overhead goal. Everton 0 Man United 3. Ten o'clock. Ian home from Amsterdam. Bed. Sleep better.  Rolling off the futon. Like a walrus. Breakfast. Bye-bye. Bus to West Brompton. Wrong tube train. Silly me. French woman, Algerian man rescue us. From ourselves. St Pancras. Coffee and almond croissants. "Pret-a-Manger". Train north. 12.32. Reading. All's well to Chesterfield. Guard announces landslip ahead. Detour. One hour late. Sheffield Midland Station. 88 bus. Home.

Royal Albert Hall

35 comments:

  1. I like your telegraphic delivery. Just the essentials! Now here's something I don't understand -- when we order take-away, our code number is also 56! EVERY TIME! Why is that?!

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  2. Sounds like a whirlwind visit! But, oh that sweet photo of Zach! What an angel he is!

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    Replies
    1. He is loved. His mama is doing a fine job.

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  3. Seems like a nice visit to the big city but perhaps a bit rushed at times. Welcome home.

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    1. I guess my writing style made it seem rushed but it wasn't really.

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  4. Zach is delightful - as most sleeping babies are. The blanket is a work of art. I now need to have a little lie down to recover from your hectic weekend.

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    Replies
    1. Shirley spent ages on that blanket - starting it well before Zach was born.

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  5. Active fun trip.

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    Replies
    1. There's always something different in London.

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  6. He is a beaut. Sleep well.

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  7. Sounds like a jam-packed weekend. And sweet Zach, there is nothing on earth sweeter than a peacefully sleeping baby. Until that baby learns to smile at you.

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    Replies
    1. Nothing sweeter except for a scratching grandpa in his saggy grey Y-fronts.

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  8. A whirlwind of a weekend! And of course, I am now intrigued by "Code 56".
    I love the Natural History Museum. The building alone would be worth a visit, even without the wonderful exhibits.
    Bright, bright sunshiny day? Not here, at least not on the weekend. We see mostly grey skies these days.
    Lovely picture of Zach under Shirley's blanket. Oh to have the slumber of a baby again (or maybe not - according to my Mum, I threw up every night during my first year; there was something wrong with my stomach but it "grew itself out").

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    1. In London, if you order a takeaway you are given a code to say to the delivery man or woman. Glad to hear that you are not still throwing up every night!

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  9. I like this point reminder of your trip and I can't wait to read the fully written version. I don't understand knitting and fabrics very well, but even I am impressed by Zach's blanket and of course Zach who looks very happy under the blanket.

    'Here is the news from the BBC World Service...Today in other news, at a London Tube Station a distressed and confused Yorkshire couple was rescued by a French lady and an Algerian gentleman.' I've amused myself, if not you.

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    Replies
    1. It amused me too! By the way, there won't be an expanded of this account.

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  10. Beautiful 1st photo, nothing beats a cute baby. Time speeds by when you are enjoying yourselves.

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    1. One thing beats a photo of a cute baby - a photo of a cute grandfather in a leopard print leotard.

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  11. Well that seems to have summed it up succinctly.

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  12. Garnacho overhead goal= goal of the season.

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    Replies
    1. Possibly but zero for his eyebrows and haircut. Looks a bugger.

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  13. Gorgeous. Words. Pictures. Zach. Shirley's blanket. Train journeys. Music. Lights. Sleeping on a futon. Everything. A special trip to the windy city told in a way that captures the atmosphere perfectly. Just gorgeous.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for that response Elizabeth. For me it was an experimental piece.

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  14. Sweet baby. Pretty blanket. Happy grandparents.

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    1. Sweet Jennifer. Across Atlantic. Like haiku!

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  15. Life condensed to notes.

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    Replies
    1. Miss out all unnecessary verbiage and this is what's left.

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  16. A bullet stop reading of your trip. It sounded good, especially with little Zach to love and sing to when you arrived. Shirley's blanket looks lovely, I knitted one in yellow for g.g.grandchildren arrival (always an optimist).

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    1. Better ensure it is protected from moths!

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  17. Zach is literally a little angel.

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  18. Beautiful blanket. Beautiful baby. Busy weekend but lots of love.

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