Walk: Glorious and Grimy Gray's Inn Road

On Friday, I was back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners, yet again - couldn't resist a walk around Glorious and Grimy Gray's Inn Road! Second walk he's had recently around where I lived - up to about a month ago! Timing, eh?

There was, as usual, a train strike - which didn't really affect me in getting to the walk. Mind you, most of the chaos around King's Cross, where we met, was caused by a Harry Potter event. And it was lovely to see people - small and large - in the cloaks, brandishing wands.. why, there was even a stall selling the beer that apparently features in the books!


The strikers must have felt a bit upstaged:


For breakfast, I grabbed the last salmon sandwich from Pret - and so off down the road I've travelled on so often, but missed so much on! Such as this fascinating house, owned by an advertising dynasty:


You won't believe it - but this was named for an archeological find at the site!


I've been in The Water Rats before, but wasn't fully aware of its history - apparently it saw the first UK performance of Bob Dylan, the first London performance of Oasis, and the first ever live performance of The Pogues! Not to mention there's a society of Water Rats.. who knew?!


I'd never before noticed this gorgeous Art Deco building:


I had noticed the Welsh Centre before - just never been in!


We passed Gray's Inn Law Society, which gives its name to the road:


(We did cover more, but fot me these were the highlights.) Our walk pretty much ended at the church of St. Alban the Martyr - quite austere for an Anglo-Catholic church:





To The Argyle for lunch - now, I was rather jealous of people who had sandwiches when we were here before, so that's what I went for this time. Specifically, the buttermilk chicken - you have a choice of brown or white bread, and chunky chips or skinny fries. Turned out to be an excellent idea, much lighter than a main course - even though the "lemon mayo" described on the menu was nowhere in evidence..

And afterwards, on to the One Tun. Making the third time in a week I'd been on Saffron Hill! But the first time in here:


And a merry time was had by all, as their range of single malts was explored.. I should really have got going earlier, what with a reduced train service to the airport- but what the hey, I was enjoying myself too much! And despite a seriously delayed bus.. I made the last train I could, and still make my flight. Made the train with minutes to spare, mind. And after all that, the flight was delayed by an hour.. at least, for the first time in years, the aircon was working!

Then I was back to Ireland for the weekend again - where there are plenty of films I want to see, but none on at a time when I could see them.. I'm usually exhausted these days, and so it proved last night, so the blog got delayed again.

Tomorrow, I signed with London Socials again - I didn't count on me going, mind. They're off to listen to some music in the Archway Tavern. And sure enough, I came up with something better - during my long session with Ivan last Sunday night, he mentioned a fascination with Shakespeare's Globe, so I asked whether he'd like to go to a play there. And so it came about that we're now going to see Macbeth there, tomorrow. I do hope he arrives in time to explore a bit!

On Tuesday, I've finally booked to see Dr. Semmelweiss, at the Harold Pinter. Cheapest tickets I found were with What's on Stage, who sent me off to Love Theatre..

On Wednesday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for Sara and Cariad's Weirdo's Book Club - a live version of the podcast by Sara Pascoe and Cariad Lloyd - at 21 Soho. Tickets from Ticket Text.

On Thursday, I was to be back for the first time in months to Watkin's Bookshop, for an author talk: this is Pagans by Ethan Doyle White. However turns out The Hideout has a new group - London Hot 100 Socials, Music & More. So I'm heading off with them for a game of mini golf! At Westfield, where I haven't been in almost 10 years.. Well, I like The Hideout, so..

On Friday, back with UITCS for The Shatter Box, at the Lion and Unicorn. 

On Saturday, back with Laurence and the 45+s - this walk is Barnet- Royalty, Boozers & a Civil War . Up around his area!

Next Sunday, I'm with Cultureseekers - it's Open House, and we're off to the London Scottish House and the Banqueting House. 

And on the 11th, I'm off to The Effect at the National. 

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