From Canterbury to the George taking in China Town on the way

Well let’s see how good my memory is!

I left Canterbury and decided, as I had a bit of time to spare, I would head out towards the coast and then head for London via the Medway Ports. So it was out towards Herne bay and then onto Whitstable. I fancied some fresh whelks. I suppose I was lucky because at this time of the year, it is easy to get a parking spot right on the Harbour, I had gone towards the Lobster pot end beside the shingle beach and the beach cabins.

Alas it wasn’t open so I went to the fishing harbour and parked up. The weather was blustery but fine and very few people around, quite a few of the oyster sellers where closed though the biggest one was open.

 

 I got my whelks, plenty of pepper and vinegar and walk along the quay taking a few photos of the inshore boats

 and the chubby turnstones that waddled along the quayside picking up bits of edible matter. Then taking off and with a grace that belies their rotund stature soar in the stiff breeze.

I then headed inland to London via the M2, I had booked a room in Charlton, primarily because it was only a couple of stops on the SE line to London Bridge, this being the best stop for the George and our meet the next day. My hotel/hostel was directly beside Charlton railway station there was  parking directly behind, this alas was limited parking 2 hours max and no return within 3 hours, this had not been explained in the advertisement blurb, the nearest free parking was a good 10 min drive in Charlton village. The hostel is very basic, but it was clean and the staff friendly and helpful, but for 40 quid a night what do you expect?

I got myself changed and decided to head into town, to have a look around, I had seen that  St Martins was doing Mozart’s Requiem,  alas no place at the inn all tickets taken.

I decided to head out towards China Town for a spot of food,

 I went to Gerrard's corner got a seat quite easily (this is not always the case)

 and ordered a pot of tea, some deep fried soft shelled crab

 and a mixed dim sum.

I must say I have always found the food at Gerrard's  corner very nice and this time was no exception.

I next had a bit of a wander down to the embankment and took some photographs, the night was crystal clear and the London Skyline colourful.

As I had arranged to meet Jason (my son) at 21:00 when he finished work at the George for a couple of pints. I was a little early, the bars where chocker block so I got a pint, told the girl behind the bar to tell Jason I would be out in the yard (also chocker, but at least it was quite a nice evening and the air was fresh outside). When Jason appeared, he said that he fancied going across the road for a pint, this I can understand, he lives above his work had just done a 12 hour shift so I would also want to get “off the job”. We crossed the road to the slug and lettuce, this is one of those places that serve cocktails, now I am a lad from up North and cocktails are ok, BUT on holiday in Majorca. But we had a beer or three as one does and then it was time to head back to Charlton.  

I decided to charge up my battery for my camera, that was the first problem! Had forgot my plug converter, but right across the road was a comet and PC world so bought another converter (I must have about 6), took it back to my room, plugged it in and guess what, it discharged my battery, I couldn’t get it to charge, the hostel electric system must have had a short on it.

So no Photos of the meet or the next couple of days. (The photos are from my friend Gill who did take some)

I headed into Town and deposited a few things with Jason and went across to Borough Market. I bought a Spanish chorizo from a specialist that was made from Pied a Negro porkers. Cost 20 quid!!! I also bought some game pate (rabbit, grouse and hare), I then headed to the game dealer and bought a wild rabbit, a grouse and the last woodcock in town. It is not every day that you find a woodcock at a game purveyor and I considered myself very lucky.

I decided to head across to the George and ran smack bang into our friend Carol, she said that she was going to Neil’s yard to get some cheese, now Carol was prior to retiring a serious cheese seller to some very big restaurants and she knows her onions (well cheese and onions). She went straight for the very best, I standing beside her also got to taste the cheeses.

We then headed across the road to the George bumping into Mamta and Kavey. We were first in, so got the pick of the seats , ordered a pint and had a chat about this and that. The rest of the meet slowly started to arrive, most had been across the road in the market and did come laden with goodies.

We started to order our meals, I had the lamb bone in leg steak with new potatoes, broccoli and mint gravy. Carol ordered the fish platter, we had been joined by Sue, Frank and Catherine. The rest ordered as and when they arrived or felt like ordering.

My Lamb was very nice and I enjoyed it, Carol had the fish platter, this consisted of haddock gougons, mussels in cream, smoked salmon, crusty bread and mayonnaise. Sue said her game pie was a little dry, but when she got some of mine (it came in a little pot) she was happy. Some said that their food was a little salty. I passed these comments on to Jason and he said he will take note and taste the food prior to serving and will in future add a small pot of gravy to the pies for those wishing a more liquid pie.

All in all we had a great meet, most enjoyed the food and we shall be having another one soon!

I had a most enjoyable afternoon/evening meeting lots of old friends and making some very nice new ones.

 We even had entertainment of the highest order as a Morris dance group from Norfolk came into the yard and done their thing, tingling of bells and lot of hey noddy noings. Last year Santas, this yearmen dressed up as women, that reminds me Karneval is just around the corner.

A Christmas tour 2010

We left for England on a blustery, rainy Friday evening, heading for the 04:00 ferry from Dunkerque to Dover. No problem there, reach the channel with plenty of time to spare. We then headed up the M20 over the Dartford Crossing or was it through the Dartford Tunnel around the top of the Orbital and into London to Linda’s Niece Nina with plenty of time to spare. We had a shower and a change, Nina was kind enough to give us the use of 2 Oysters (travel cards, not edible ones). We then legged it onto the tube and got off at Tower Bridge. We had a couple of hours to spare before the Wildfood Meet, so we dropped of some stuff at number ones place of work,"The George", as some of us had arranged to meet up there, prior to going to TAS. I had been clad in beige coloured slacks (are they still called that?) and while getting stuff out of the car boot had brushed against the bumper, I didn't notice until on the tube, oh my dear what to do, asked son where to get a new pair and he pointed us in the direction of NEXT, it is situated in the smashing Hays Wharf arcade, over looking the Thames, HMS Belfast and the Gherkin.

Now suitably attired in dark cords, we headed towards Borough Market.

Had a quick look round, wonderful display of world foods at wonderful prices. But Linda did like Neil's Yard and all the goodies on display (it could also have had something to do with all of the free tasters she put away)



Hand Dived?



We then zoomed back across to The George to meet up with the other Wildfood board meeters, first having to circumnavigate a couple of hundred merry making Santas.

 Question: How Many Santa's can you get up a back Alley?

Answer:  As many as you can get out of "The George" backyard


We (the meeters) met and had a bit of a chat No 1 son, Jason came out to meet us (he was in the process of doing a 150 head buffet) went across the road mob-handed to TAS, others had already congregated and they had sorted out a nice corner for us. (I think they wanted to keep us away from the other guests).

We had agreed in advance to have menu 2 from the Christmas Menu:

http://www.tasrestaurant.com/tas_borough_high_st/christmasmenu.htm

Jacquie going crackers



A Stern (because she was at the back of the table?) looking Gill



Mamta seeing if it was raining

A couple of our good friends had supplied a little extra, in that Ian had brought the best part of him "His Liver"
and our dear Uschi, not able to join us, sent a magnificent box of self-made Praline, she is such a darling xxxxxxx

The food though nice was not special, I have eaten a lot of Turkish food as has Linda and we both agreed that it was nothing out of the ordinary and I would say that the starters had the edge over the mains.

I found my "stew" of lamb, potatoes, onion, tomatoes and oregano, tasty, but not a patch on what I would expect from a Turkish restaurant in Berlin



Squid





TAS SPECIAL

Lamb with potatoes, onion, tomatoes and oregano



With afternoon feeding time finished we made our way to the Westend, visiting Whitehall, (Big Ben, Houses of Parlement, Westminster Abbey, etc.)

Trafalgar square (meeting up with another load of Santa's).



some just mooching around



While others waltzed to Silent Night (well it was Christmas)

 Then on to Piccadilly , we had booked Les Miserable and having a half an hour to kill went next door to the Shaftesbury (oooh isn't it pink) for a pint and waited to go in. We had seats right in the centre with a wonderful view, this is the first time I have been to the Queens and found it a smashing theatre, with no bad lines of vision. Wow I thoroughly enjoyed the show, music and cast fantastic, the scenery and mechanics of the set wonderful, I certainly would go and see it again, I most probably will as Linda slept through most of the performance. I bought her the DVD as part of her Christmas present so she wouldn’t feel left out when others talked about it.

We got out and got into the tube to take us home. It had been a very long day, I had been on the go since 06:00 on Friday morning and it was now time for beddy byes.



Sunday morning up bright and early, had a quick breakfast and I leaving the girls to do there thing (they where to Camden Market0, went to do my thing, that was to go to Hyde Park Corner via James Park tube station, going to see if Buck House was still there, it was and so was the tourists plus 1 more now.

I next ventured through Green Park and went to the RA memorial.

The Silent big Gun in rememberance

"They will not grow old"

Took a couple of photos of old Beaky and went across the road to the German market , well blow me down with a feather, a bloody Brattie costing a fiver ????? call that a rip off.

Next I walked along to speakers corner, passing a flock of grazing geese, well I remember it far more vibrant, maybe I caught them on an off day (the speakers not the geese)? Come back Tony Soper!!!

Next along Oxford street to do a bit of shopping, passing a steel band all in green playing Christmas music..

 Got to  China Town for a spot of Lunch!

I love the winow food of China Town, I get hungry just looking!

I had some fantastic Dim Sums (4 different sorts) at Wan Chai Corner, this is not so well known as Gerrard's Corner (other end of the street), but I couldn't fault the quality, price or service, will certainly go again.

I Stood and watched for a while as a group of Gospel singers, done their thing! It was really good.

I then made my way back to The George to have an afternoon session with my son, starting off at "The George" and then going along the street to "The Old King's Head" to watch the game on the big screen.

After that it was back to Nina's to cook an evening meal for the girls, stopped off at M&S to buy the ingredients.

Next morning it was to be an early start as we where off to Trowebridge to spend a couple of days with friends.