![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
So yesterday was my friend Rik's birthday and he had plotted to go out for a meal in London as he and Carol were visiting for a couple of days. Although this is the man who can plan a holiday months in advance, he's not so good at doing things like booking restaurants or even deciding which restaurant to go to. After applying gentle pressure, he decided on Belgo's, a place we've been to before and thoroughly enjoyed.
I duly booked yesterday afternoon and this morning off (I'm not silly). After my lunch with Pauline, during which there was much happy yakking to the point where I left later than I intended, I scampered home for a swift bit of present wrapping before heading off to the station. As feared, I missed the 4.20pm express to King's Cross but was able to hop straight on to the 4.28pm to Moorgate, which despite being an all stations to London train, still got me to Finsbury Park before the 4.40 express. Heheh.
I had been idly planning on doing some shopping, as![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
itsjustaname had mentioned a second-hand bookshop that seemed worthy of investigation. However, a trip the previous day to WH Smith and their half price DVD sale plus the fact it was soooo cold out, meant I decided instead to curl up in The Salisbury with a pint and a book. Which is what I did *grins happily*
Rik and Carol arrived about 6.30 or so, hugs were exchanged, more booze was sought and presents given. Rik seemed pleased with the two books I got for him, and they both seemed pleased with the DVDs I selected. I got them a range, because they both like different things so hopefully each will find at least one really enjoyable *grins* (For the record, the DVDs were All About Eve, Sideways, Swordfish and ack, another one I'm blanking on. I'll need Rik to post what the titles of his books were, but one was about obscure and funny laws of England and the other was a book of trivia).
Last time we went to Belgo's, we went the long way around, but this time, Rik had worked out a shorter route, so all we had to do was scamper up the road for barely five mins and lo! There was Belgo's. We were seated on the other side of the restaurant this time, which I actually preferred as you got individual tables and weren't cheek by jowel with your neighbours.
Rik got the banana beer but I decided to try the raspberry beer. You have to remember here I'm NOT a beer drinker, hate the stuff. But the fruit beers they serve are absolutely gorgeous!! So I choose the raspberry and was only slightly alarmed to see that it arrived in a very large bottle indeed. "OK, folks, remember I have to get back to King's Cross!" I said as I started in. It was delicious!! Luckily, I had so much food with it, it didn't knock me sideways. Wonderful stuff, but I wouldn't want to go on a bender with it, it's very potent!
There was the usual agonising decision over what to eat. After discussion, it was agreed that all three of us were determined to have desserts, so we eschewed starters. Then Rik had the cunning plan of ordering a starter and sharing it with Carol and myself, so that was good :) So we had cheesy croquettes for starters (I must find out what cheese they use, it was gorgeous!). Then for the main course, Rik had a veggie option, Carol had a steak in bearnaise sauce and I had the half rotisserie chicken in wild mushroom and cream sauce. That came with yummy frites and Carol and I shared a side dish of the outstandingly good red cabbage. Then came desserts - Rik had beer flavoured ice cream (which tasted...weird. Not unpleasant, but weird), Carol had the apple and mango crumble and I had the chocolate cheesecake. Oooooooh. It was sooooooo good! We all sat there afterwards, totally unable to move!
Finally we did waddle off and said our goodbyes at Covent Garden station, where I caught the tube up to King's Cross and thus home via the 11.06 express. It was a lovely evening and always good to see Rik and Carol.
It was lucky I did see Rik yesterday because he reminded me that Left Coast Crime in Bristol takes place in March. This year. Ack! I'd got it into my head that not only was it next year it was later in the year too! *eyes holiday allowance* Hrm. Well I'll have to see if I can get a hotel booked. Might just go for the Saturday/Sunday.
*stretches* Will have to amble off to work soon. Beh. Got an hour before I have to move though. I was hoping to download the new episode of House but it's not posted up anywhere yet. Bah! I belong to a torrent site that is great but they do insist you upload as much as you download, which means you really have to start downloading as soon as possible after the torrent is posted or there isn't the demand for the upload, and you can't always upload 100%. *scowls* It had better not get posted while I'm at work!
Right, lunch and more tea! Laters all :)
I duly booked yesterday afternoon and this morning off (I'm not silly). After my lunch with Pauline, during which there was much happy yakking to the point where I left later than I intended, I scampered home for a swift bit of present wrapping before heading off to the station. As feared, I missed the 4.20pm express to King's Cross but was able to hop straight on to the 4.28pm to Moorgate, which despite being an all stations to London train, still got me to Finsbury Park before the 4.40 express. Heheh.
I had been idly planning on doing some shopping, as
itsjustaname had mentioned a second-hand bookshop that seemed worthy of investigation. However, a trip the previous day to WH Smith and their half price DVD sale plus the fact it was soooo cold out, meant I decided instead to curl up in The Salisbury with a pint and a book. Which is what I did *grins happily* Rik and Carol arrived about 6.30 or so, hugs were exchanged, more booze was sought and presents given. Rik seemed pleased with the two books I got for him, and they both seemed pleased with the DVDs I selected. I got them a range, because they both like different things so hopefully each will find at least one really enjoyable *grins* (For the record, the DVDs were All About Eve, Sideways, Swordfish and ack, another one I'm blanking on. I'll need Rik to post what the titles of his books were, but one was about obscure and funny laws of England and the other was a book of trivia).
Last time we went to Belgo's, we went the long way around, but this time, Rik had worked out a shorter route, so all we had to do was scamper up the road for barely five mins and lo! There was Belgo's. We were seated on the other side of the restaurant this time, which I actually preferred as you got individual tables and weren't cheek by jowel with your neighbours.
Rik got the banana beer but I decided to try the raspberry beer. You have to remember here I'm NOT a beer drinker, hate the stuff. But the fruit beers they serve are absolutely gorgeous!! So I choose the raspberry and was only slightly alarmed to see that it arrived in a very large bottle indeed. "OK, folks, remember I have to get back to King's Cross!" I said as I started in. It was delicious!! Luckily, I had so much food with it, it didn't knock me sideways. Wonderful stuff, but I wouldn't want to go on a bender with it, it's very potent!
There was the usual agonising decision over what to eat. After discussion, it was agreed that all three of us were determined to have desserts, so we eschewed starters. Then Rik had the cunning plan of ordering a starter and sharing it with Carol and myself, so that was good :) So we had cheesy croquettes for starters (I must find out what cheese they use, it was gorgeous!). Then for the main course, Rik had a veggie option, Carol had a steak in bearnaise sauce and I had the half rotisserie chicken in wild mushroom and cream sauce. That came with yummy frites and Carol and I shared a side dish of the outstandingly good red cabbage. Then came desserts - Rik had beer flavoured ice cream (which tasted...weird. Not unpleasant, but weird), Carol had the apple and mango crumble and I had the chocolate cheesecake. Oooooooh. It was sooooooo good! We all sat there afterwards, totally unable to move!
Finally we did waddle off and said our goodbyes at Covent Garden station, where I caught the tube up to King's Cross and thus home via the 11.06 express. It was a lovely evening and always good to see Rik and Carol.
It was lucky I did see Rik yesterday because he reminded me that Left Coast Crime in Bristol takes place in March. This year. Ack! I'd got it into my head that not only was it next year it was later in the year too! *eyes holiday allowance* Hrm. Well I'll have to see if I can get a hotel booked. Might just go for the Saturday/Sunday.
*stretches* Will have to amble off to work soon. Beh. Got an hour before I have to move though. I was hoping to download the new episode of House but it's not posted up anywhere yet. Bah! I belong to a torrent site that is great but they do insist you upload as much as you download, which means you really have to start downloading as soon as possible after the torrent is posted or there isn't the demand for the upload, and you can't always upload 100%. *scowls* It had better not get posted while I'm at work!
Right, lunch and more tea! Laters all :)
awake