Out and about

We're recovering from a very busy few days over the weekend. On Friday night we walked through the park to the Lary Spudkins for dinner, taking care this time not to break any limbs. A roast chicken bonanza and a few bottles later, we weaved our way back through the park, now plunged into total darkness. Only the glowing embers of bored youths' cigarettes on the kids playground, prevented us from stumbling into the lake. On Saturday we woke to another gorgeous sunny day and walked down to the Old Town for the Hastings Seafood and Wine Festival. We had no idea what to expect or how big it would be, but it was absolutely brilliant. There were about 50 stalls selling hot seafood, local cider and wine, bread, cheese, desserts and crafts. There was live music, gangs of pirates walking about (this seems to be a theme of Hastings) and a fantastic atmosphere. We took grilled sardines, cider, beer and ice cream dow to the beach and joined the crowds enjoying the weather and the view. It was  glorious. I was smiling ear to ear and Rob asked me if I was going to burst. Nearly.  

In the afternoon, Liz and Charlie arrived for the night and after the usual circling of each other, the kids settled into playing well. They spent the night in the playroom on the inflatable mattress, that Liz tells us  can no longer, in any conscience be called 'inflatable '. A leak left Liz on the floorboards for most of the night. Sorry about that. 

After a walk to the seafront after breakfast, we packed Liz and Charlie off and rushed about getting ready for our lunch guests. Our old neighbour and friend from Islington, Ed, came down from London with his partner Cass, picking up his kids Oscar and Frankie from their Mum's on the way. In the meantime Lorraine and Deborah arrived by train with Imogen, effecting a partial reunion of the 'Four girls from London' (having Ann-Marie over from Auckland next year will complete the group). The two groups had never met but the mix was brilliant. The kids all fitted in straight away and we ate lunch on the deck and laughed and chatted for hours. 

On Monday I caught the train to London, leaving Rob in charge of ferrying the kids from school to a party. I had such a great time and was amazed at how at home I felt after all these years. I spent a very happy few hours poking around my old haunts in Soho and Covent Garden where I worked for years. It was interesting to see what places where still there (the Coach and Horses, the Crown, the Pollo Bar)  and what was gone - the whole corner of Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Street). I did a bit of shopping, a lot of walking and then met Paul and Ruth at Paul's club in Covent Garden. It was so familiar to be sitting together again as drinking buddies that Paul said he felt like the pause button had been on for 13 years and had now come off. We met Paul's girlfriend Jess and then, being an interloper, it was still comparatively early when I hopped on the train back to Hastings, feeling very satisfied that things were back the way they should be.