pumpkinstrokemarrow

The fad continued with another swing around London on a Bullingdon Bike, managing on this occasion neither to get lost nor to get honked. Starting, as usual, at Vauxhall, headed down the Albert Embankment, then turned right into Lambeth Road where I was sorry to see that the 'Lambeth Walk', an old fashioned boozer with old fashioned clientele which I had visited occasionally in the past, was being refurbed, presumably to a gastro pub. It had been the sort of pub where I drank Newcastle Brown, the old fashioned clientele preferring lager to warm beer. One good thing about gastro pubs being that they generally offer warm beer.

On round St George's Circus and down to Blackfriars Bridge, eventually leaving bike 1 just short of Holborn Viaduct. Up onto the viaduct to inspect St Sepulchre without, an old foundation handsomely restored after the fire of London. They were getting ready for a carol concert in the evening, with the organist demonstrating what a large noise a relatively small organ could make. The church was also ecclesiastical home to the Royal Fusiliers with their memorial including a colour presented - or perhaps awarded in the proper word - by the king of the day to the 1st battalion in 1790 or so. A famous regiment, perhaps now best known for being that of the father of a member of Pink Floyd. Also one David Ben-Gurion.

Procured bike 2 and continued east to Aldgate, passing the gerkin on the way, surprisingly impressive close to in the cold afternoon light. Also treated the the impressive late afternoon sight of a large pale full moon rising over Romford. Managed to find my way back west and then south over Tower Bridge. I had forgotten how narrow it was. Then started a search for a bike stand, a search which did not end, as it happens, until I got back to Stamford Street. Down to the Bricklayer's Arms (according to my map that is. Did not actually get a glimpse of the place), then hung a right to Elephant & Castle, possibly the first time I have been there on a bicycle for more than forty years. Up past St. George's Cathedral, round the back of Waterloo Station, finally finding a bike stand with vacancy at the western end of Stamford Street. I expect I broke the half hour rule on bike 2 and will have had to pay for some usage for the first time.

On the other hand I did achieve my first circumnavigation of the Shard, thus being able to inspect it from the east, rather than the more usual west.

Quick fortification in the 'Archduke' - rather dear at £9 for a glass of wine, albeit a very decent glass of wine - after which I was ready for the chocolate lollipops, brought to the Southbank chocolate festival all the way from Croydon (http://www.paulwaynegregory.com/). None of this fake Belgian nonsense for them. The important point being that their fillings were flavoured with salt, this being, it seems, the latest thing among serious chocophiles. The three lollipops went down BH fast enough, whatever.

I contented myself with finishing off the Lincolnshire Poacher, taken with a drop of wholemeal spelt. Probably not from http://www.lincolnshirepoachercheese.com/, rather from a farmer at one of Epsom's farmers' markets, a farmer who almost certainly does not farm but who does sell rather good cheese. Next stop some of his sheep's cheese.