Restaurant: Franco Manca

Tonight, back with London Hot 100: Socials, Music & Sport - for a meal at Franco Manca. Never actually been to this chain - had to happen eventually, I guess! Anyway, great group, and RSVPs closed days in advance.

I really didn't have anything to delay me - still managed not to be early, of course. Covent Garden is looking very Christmassy - and at the restaurant, they knew the table I was looking for before I had the words out. It was downstairs - disconcertingly if you're not used to the place, because you have to go upstairs to get in. We had a long table, and had to add a smaller one to the end to accommodate everyone. Menus are paper, and single-use - they get very soggy! Well, it's basically pizza - I spied one that advertised less tomato (#4), and so went for that; I'm intolerant, you see. Can eat it in small quantities. And a glass of pinot grigio.

Have to say, I couldn't fault the pizza - nice and light and, as advertised, not so much tomato. Mind you, someone else who had it seemed to think this meant there was a bit too much cheese - each to their own. The wine was fine. Only quibble - what is it with restaurants forgetting all about you after they've served your main?! I wanted dessert; I'd spied you could have a shot of limoncello with the lemon sorbet - I love a lemon sorbet, and it's been soooo long since I had limoncello! Nope, instead of being asked whether we'd like desserts, we were handed cards with review QR codes - I had to grab her attention, dessert had never occurred to her. Never mind, all's well that ends well, and the limoncello was very, very nice. (Oh yes, so was the sorbet..)

Conversation was interesting, as were the topics discussed - as I say, this is a lovely, friendly group. As we gathered outside, we were joined by a rather demented little black mouse, who scurried this way and that.. didn't see where he went in the end. In from the cold, I should think! Well, looking forward to the next meeting with this group - or with one of the other groups hosted by the same folks! Spoiled for choice, we are..

Interestingly, with all the talk of antisemitism in London just now - on my bus home there was a group of teenage girls.. and I swear I overheard some Hebrew. And then they were singing a little song, also seemingly in Hebrew. Not something I often hear, actually - and I'm certainly not an expert - but it occurred to me that it was lovely to hear them, obviously not afraid, and certainly not being picked on. So, you know - not all of London, eh?

Tomorrow, back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners - this time for The Magic of Covent Garden: Secrets & Surprises. And Helen is coming to this one, good stuff! There's a lot of talk about the pro-Palestinian protests due to take place that day - I've already seen one central London Meetup cancelled as a result. But as Laurence said, since when do people protest in Covent Garden..? Sure enough, the route is going nowhere near there, and they're going to arrest anyone who strays off it.

On Sunday, an Indian friend of mine is celebrating Diwali by booking a meal in an Indian restaurant - she finally decided on Flora Indica. With 16 of us coming at last count, we have to pre-order.. so I did.. generously, the manager has offered to provide anything in particular we want that isn't on the menu - so I'm being awkward and having lamb samosas! which they never normally do. Heh.

On Monday, back on a walk with the 45+s - this time, though, it's Paul's Monday Historic Pub Crawl from Rotherhithe to Tower Gateway. Which has the advantage of being around my current area! not to mention headed home, roughly, for me..

On Tuesday, still with the 45+s, but now back with Laurence - delighted to be able to make his walk on The Bombing of London! Unemployment does have its advantages.. Jeez, that'll have been six days in a row where I get fed as part of the outing..! Better enjoy unemployment while I have it - I got a job this week.. ;-) Starting on the 6th.

On Wednesday, back at last with Buddies on Budget (BoB) in London, who are headed to the Belgravia Lights Switch On! V Christmassy..

On Thursday, I'm with a new group - London Smaller Theatre are headed to Soho Theatre to see the comedian Leila Navabi. So I'm giving her - and them - a shot!

And next Friday, I'm back to Ireland again, for the weekend..