House Festival....

....I was fortunate enough to be offered a ticket to this along with a couple of work friends. I'm glad I accepted.



The festival, (if you can call it so, such is it spread over one afternoon and evening), is held on the grounds of Chiswick House and is hosted by Soho House. The latter meant that the hospitality was superb - free food and drink...and what food - everything from lobster, to hog roast and cheese boards. That made me very happy.



But aside from the fact it was a grotesquely middle class, media swamped affair, the music line-up wasn't half bad. Plan B and Stereophonics headlined, (after Tiny Tempah and KT Tunstall, amongst others, had played).



The 'Phonics in particular, surprised me as I found myself singing along to their greatest hits, (God, I must be getting old!). And, love him or loathe him, Plan B was entertaining, sang well and showcased the hits.


Plan B

It was a really fun evening, that carried on with a good old dance at High Road House until the small hours. Thank you.

Richie hits 30....

....In typically understated fashion, (and due to juggling work, kids, houses and weddings), Richie chose not to have an all encompassing birthday extravaganza. But he, Nick and I did carry on our series of birthday dinners - this time at his choice of Moro, on Exmouth Market.


Old friends are best friends

The food was exceptional, so we tucked in to three courses of the fare.


Pigeon, chick-pea, fig, pomegranate & rocket salad

We had a couple of cocktails over the road afterwards, which topped of a fantastic birthday dinner. Much love to Mr Richie.

[slideshow]

Dad, the old Warhorse....

....Mum & Dad were in London this weekend, with his birthday on the Sunday. Ruth & I had bought Dad, (and Mum), tickets to see Warhorse at the New London Theatre. After arriving early on the Saturday we grabbed a quick lunch at Franze & Evans before spending the afternoon roaming around Spitalfields and Brick Lane.


Already over

In the meantime I nipped off to see Richie, (on what was his actual 30th birthday), to give his present, but also see the new house that he & Anne have just completed on.


Knock Knock....

A early dinner followed at local Mai'da, before Mum & Dad went off to the theatre.


Spread

As they were leaving for home quite early on the Sunday, we celebrated Dad's birthday with breakfast (for kings) at Albion.




Many happy (edible) returns

Well fed, they departed, leaving Kel & I to relax for the rest of the day. Marvellous.

Belated birthday dinner with Ian & Susie....

....My 30th was the birthday that just kept giving. And so it proved with the gift of dinner with Ian & Susie proved. I even had the privilege of balloons, (eerily familiar with their glasses design!).





Susie had made a lovely chicken liver pate to start, (thanks to Joan Palmer for that recipe!), and then Ian rustled up a brilliant fish curry.



Susie had bought all the fish fresh from Chapel Market, which was extraordinarily good, and good value with it.





The wine flowed, (as so often it does) and the conversation escalated. For dessert, a fruit salad with cream & chocolate was the perfect end.



Thank you for yet another wonderful dinner. We know the next one won't be far away.

Weekend for movers and shakers, cookers and players....

....A great weekend, just had. It began on Friday night as my football team, Tornados, gathered for a social at Edinburgh Cellars in Newington Green.



It was a particularly important one, as it signalled that we would continue for another season, (my eighth with the club I think), and with it the return of most the original core, that once made us very good. I'm very excited about it all.
On Saturday, Kelly moved in to Goldman Close - the sum of her life to date, amounting to two-thirds of a transit van!



It was a pretty swift, straight forward move and so we have a fourth member of the Goldman Close family - for a month at least, before Liam departs us. Our reward for the move was breakfast at the recently opened, A Little Of What You Fancy, which was really rather nice.



Saturday evening turned, accidentally, in to an incredibly boozy one. It was Harriet's 31st birthday so a few of us gathered at her house, and as the evening wore on, we danced and ultimately, had a mammoth karaoke fest. (Really not becoming of 30 year olds. Tutt, tutt!)


Dancing, before the singing

I over did it somewhat, both musically, (I believe R Kelly was my swan song), and alcohol wise. Which made Sunday all the more of a struggle for Kel and I. Although it was still a great day, beginning early with a visit to Rich, Anne & Clem. We were soon in Clissold Park, on what proved to be the hottest day of the year.


Wilting

A splash in the paddling pool and a play in the park, then we were off to Gemma & Nico's flat down the road for a BBQ with friends. Their terrace the perfect sun trap.


Nico at the helm

By now, Kel & I were starting to feel the effects of very little sleep, so we headed home, although I still had an hour long footy game to play. Which was tough to say the least. But in all, a really great weekend.

Weekend away - The Old Goats House, Leyburn....

....Late last year, Mum & Dad booked a long weekend away for the family, by way of a belated birthday getaway for myself. So far away it seemed then, but here we now are, in North Yorkshire, a small hamlet called Thornton Rust, with four days of relaxation ahead.



The Old Goat House was quite literally that. We also had an outbuilding, the Piggery....yep, you guessed it. Mum, Dad, Ruth, Andy & Jude were the Old Goats. Kel and I, the pigs. We arrived on Saturday to dry, but grey weather, but that didn't stop us taking in the breathtaking views across the Dales.



We took in the surroundings before sitting to dinner, where we celebrated my 30th, (again), and also Dad's impending 62nd birthday. With the arrival of a replica Dukes Of Hazzard cake, my 4th birthday party was reprised. I also got a wonderful cooking day out at Billingsgate Market, which will be incredible. Dad snagged tickets to Warhorse, down in London, from Ruth, Andy & I.



Champagne was drunk, dinner eaten, cake & cheese had. A perfect start.
On Sunday we drove over to local village, Hawes, with it's independent shops and the Wensleydale Creamery, where I was in my element, stealing 'taster' cheese cubes of every variety imaginable.



They were even making cheese in the factory too, so we got to see that. We came back home and read the papers before Master of the Grill, Andy, set the BBQ underway, in weather just acceptable to take it. Everything from marinaded lamb, to pancetta wrapped monkfish, alongside blood sausage and more. Not a frozen burger in sight!



The champagne and wine flowed once more, before Andy, Mum, Dad and I set up on Scrabble. Unfortunately, the predictable happened - Dad won out. We ended the night fairly late, watching the precocious talent of Rory McIlroy, take his maiden US Masters title.
On Monday, our last full day, the sun shined. The Dales were lit up in all their glory.



Breakfast al fresco was followed by a trip to and walk around the Aysgarth Falls. It was a non-strenuous walk, but a beautiful one.



We returned home briefly before heading back out to local B&B and restaurant, The Wensleydale Heifer. Famed for its seafood, it really was a meal of brilliant standard. Little Jude even got a complimentary teddy out of it from the proprietor!



Stuffed, we returned back to the cottage to relax for the rest of the afternoon & evening. Still, incredibly, finding time to eat again, (including champagne of course), later in the night.

Early on Tuesday, we packed up and left - four days rest, all too quickly fading away and the prospect of work looming tomorrow.



A fantastic break together - a gastronomic treat. Must do again soon!

[full reel]

Robin Sinha, silver shooter....

....Good friend and jolly good photographer, Robin, has gone and won himself an award for his skills. He has scooped Silver at the Prix de la Photographie, Paris competition, (PX3).



It's a hell of an award, recognising emerging talent in his field, from across 85 countries. In particular, it was his shot, "23 Brick Workers", (above), that took the plaudits. Very, very well done.

Dinner with Alice, Doug & Nick....

....(And John!)

In light of the news that Alice is soon to depart to Qatar for at least 6 months work, we decided to get the old gang back together for a mid-week dinner at Little Bay. Alice also brought along her current squeeze, John.

John, Doug, Nick, Alice

As ever, it was as though we were still rampaging the Central St. Martins hallways together, like all those years ago. Except over decent food & wine. A really good evening and a perfect send off from us to her.

Cousin catch up....

....On Sunday Morag and I caught up, after missing each other on my birthday weekend. An express lunch at Prezzo and a good old natter was just what the doctor ordered.

A Westbury BBQ & Paddy hits 30....

....Another packed Saturday. Another BBQ. Another 30th birthday. Not that we're complaining of course. First, Phil & Nicky hosted a late afternoon barbie, at their lovely Stoke Newington home.



Food was a plenty, and it was a bit of a baby-fest initially too, making it all the more fun.



I left Kelly to dance the night away and moved on to Clerkenwell to meet Paddy & friends to celebrate his birthday at The Three Kings.



We moved on to the Slaughtered Lamb for afters, but not before Pads had blown out all the (one) candles on his cake!


He huffed, and he puffed......

Happy Birthday!

Birthday aftermath & Bond hits 30....

....I managed to get away without a severe hangover this morning, largely helped by a visit to Hackney Farm with Kel & the Newcastle boys. The full English was well received.


Tucking in


Told you!

After our food we wandered around the farm in the glorious sunshine, before heading on to Broadway Market. Thereafter, the guys, (bar Paul), had to head back to Newcastle.


Happy as pig in shit

Later in the evening, the birthday celebrations continued. Not my own, but Nick Bond's - also his thirtieth.


Mr Bond

He celebrated at Worship Street Whistling Shop, a unique bar mixing 'Victorian squallor with grand Gin Palaces'.



Here we drank sublimely concocted cocktails and ate some excellent food.


Huge rock oysters


Massive pork pie

It was a great evening, a slower, more dignified pace than the frantic nature of mine the night before. And I think that was welcomed by all!


Nick, Bond & Liam

Happy Birthday Nick, welcome to the club!

Roy hits 30....

....So, after many posts regarding friends turning thirty, it is finally my turn. And what a day I had. It started with opening cards & presents with Kelly.


[Colombian bought trousers not available for re-sale. Sorry]

I did extraordinarily well. From Kelly I got a beautiful rucksack and a unique 1940s lamp. And there was much more besides - everyone was incredibly generous. And with presents ranging from hand-knit cushions, to rare wines, it seems that turning 30, really does mean, 'growing up'.



Kelly had an additional surprise lined up for me, and as we both had the day off, we cycled further East to a gastropub, The Gun. And what a nice surprise. Neither of us had eaten there before, but only ever heard good things.


*clink*

We were blessed with an incredibly sunny day, and ate on the adjoining terrace, at the affiliated Portuguese restaurant, A Grelha. Sitting right on the Thames, overlooking the Millennium Dome, we had a fantastic meal of grilled meats & fish, before heading back to The Gun's balcony for dessert and coffee. A perfect birthday lunch.



And the day didn't end there. The birthday celebration proper, took place in the Smithfield Tavern, where friends gathered for what proved to be a boozy, but immensely fun evening.



The night brought out old friends, school friends, work friends, family friends, football friends and new friends. It went on until 2am, when everyone scattered, (and I, drunkenly retired with Kel!).



A fantastic day, a fantastic evening and a fantastic age to be. Thank you to everyone for coming, for cards, presents, drinks that you brought and bought. It's hugely appreciated and flattering and I had an incredible time.