pumpkinstrokemarrow

To the Derby on Saturday, including not more than four drinks in any of the six hostelries visited, not counting tents on the hill. For once in a while, an outing for my stockman's coat, acquired from one of those ex-army flavoured stores near Victoria Station. Not much good for walking in the rain but very good for standing in the rain, which is what the Derby looked like it might have been at 0900 on the day. Egg sandwiches, following tradition, but with lettuce added at the point of consumption instead of cress added at the point of construction, not following tradition. No winnings but much rail entertainment in various shapes and sizes. Not so many people on the hill as on the last few years; maybe the squeeze by the course owners (not that they own the downs) is starting to take its toll.

The day following up rather late but managed to get back on the downs by 1530 to take a dekko. The litter pickers had not finished so we also managed a bit of a scavenge. Declined a brand new, very substantial looking trolley from Waitrose. Must have been worth a bit to Waitrose. Declined three quarter filled bottles of naturally sparkling spa water and of Heinz tomato ketchup. Declined a range of folding chairs. Accepted a range of tent poles which will now reside in our shed against the possibility that we find a use for them in the garden. Accepted a sturdy green plastic awning against the same possibility. Found no money, either in coin or note. Presumably the pickers have a quick look over the ground first thing for notes, so that not a surprise, but we thought we might turn up the odd coin. But no.

Seagulls and crows herding in odd places, not altogether clear why. Plenty of abandoned food where we were but no birds.

Then up to the mound at Tattenham Corner to get the panorama. Couldn't see any airplanes heading for Heathrow but the cloud scape was generally rather spiffing. Lots of small heaped cumulus floating around, for all the world like something out of Gulliver's Travels. You could see where Swift got the idea from. Fascinating array of cumulus in sunlight, banked up against some cloud bank covering the northern horizon.

Yesterday to Kingston to scavenge in a newly refurbished pub, down by the river behind what used to be the British Aerospace factory, just downstream from the railway bridge. Found a nice 1919 edition (19th impression of the first edition) of 'The Young Visitors' by one Daisy Ashford, who, it seems, was the grand age of 9 when she wrote the thing. Offered the pub £5 for the thing, an offer they accepted. It turned out to be an amusing read, well puffed by a preface by Barrie of Peter Pan fame. Market value slightly less than I paid for it. But amusing to offer and see what happened. Would the pub staff think that I had lighted upon some gem which I was going to flog for lots of dosh?

Followed by a visit to a Turkish restaurant called Cappadocia (http://www.cappadociarestaurant.co.uk/) . Sadly without belly dancer but good grub including excellent bread, baked on the premises. Somewhere between the pitta bread I am used to in such places and a nan. Bright brown finish, presumably a bit of milk brushed on at some point. Excellent pudding, made of shredded wheat, honey, white cheese and ice cream, probably amongst other ingredients. Shredded wheat looked like a relative of the stuff from Nabisco but certainly not the same and made up into the shape of a large doughnut - the sort with a hole that you get at the seaside. Followed by Turkish coffee - medium sweet - the first time we have had the stuff for ages - followed by a very exotic Turkish brandy. Powerful taste of almonds and vanilla. Excellent in modest doses.