Meal on Thursday night was excellent and it has also been a long time since I had been mindlessly happy in a beautiful garden.
I had a good day in London on Friday. I took my bike down on the train with me. I hadn't cycled in central London before and found it entirely reasonable. I'll get myself some cycling maps for next time since I don't remember which streets are one-way from my knowledge based on walking and I could use alternative routes around Kings X.
After an easy trip down with a book, I started my day with lavender cake and hot chocolate for breakfast at Coffee, Cake & Kink. I liked the food, decor and friendly staff. Thanks to the Trish information service for the road name. Off to the Tate Modern to see Frida Kahlo pictures next. It wasn't too busy; perhaps four or five people around each picture. I had a relaxed couple of hours and appreciated seeing the pictures, particularly the ones not featured in the film I saw about her life. I don't tend to discuss art much and like going at my own pace so liked being there unaccompanied. I grabbed Falafel on Old Compton street and watched a courier with a track bike (bicycle with no gears, freewheel or brakes) and then headed up past Kings X to see R for good fresh mint tea and conversation. Home after that and more reading time on the train.
I enjoyed Nottingham Pride and a picnic of Turkish goodies. I found it a very laid back affair, saw various friends and met someone who had set up the Nottingham bi group that I used to go to. I was good for me and much of the rest of the Leicester Pride committee to be at an event we weren't responsible for. After getting home, we joined housemates and thwacked a badminton shuttlecock around for a while on a local park until it was too dark and then sat around slurping tea and chatting.
Sunday I re-arranged the kitchen and then headed to Quebec for a bithday party. More good food and new people to chat to. A few gay boys looked a little surprised to find their venue full of a wider variety of people than usual, from older asian families to little kids. It probably did them good. Came home and breathed steam for a while to calm down the lungs after assaulting them with smoke.
Back to work today, Pride stuff to do at lunchtime and off to collect rats this evening.