Final social of the year

Yesterday - the Christmas social with Ivan, James, and Martin, who couldn't make it on the 30th! Unfortunately, The Approach Tavern, which has become our regular in the area, couldn't accommodate us indoors in the evening, so I booked The Bethnal Green Tavern.. I got an email confirming our table until 8pm. Ivan stepped up and booked The Florist Arms, nearby, for later..

You know, it's only half an hour by bus from me. Except for delays, of course - and so it was that I was a bit late. Happily, the ever-reliable James made it dead on time, to secure the booking. As I walked the last bit, I was a bit confused - I couldn't see a sign for it anywhere! Turned out they're currently lacking a sign - thank goodness for Google Maps, which indicated exactly where it was. Anyway, James sent a photo of where he was sitting - which was just as well, as he has a new hat, and was sitting with his back to me, and I really wasn't sure it was him..!

It's a simple interior, lovely and spacious. They were setting up for a table of revellers, but decided we were OK to be served as well. We both had the beefburger - and agreed that it was quite delicious! One of the best we've had - although I had to ask them to hold the gherkins. Good chips, too. Mind you, their wine is peculiar - none of the varieties is specified, which turns out to be because they're all blended! I had the medium-price one, which was.. a bit sharp, and not really to my taste. But hey, I finished it.

Saw some fetching graffiti on a trip to the loo:

Unfortunately, I discovered our booking was only until 7 - when I queried this, I was told that  bookings are generally for a maximum of three hours, unless by request! Huh, they should get their stories straight..

Shortly before 7, we headed off for pub #2 - Ivan assured us that we could probably take the table early. Sure enough - even though the booking was from 8, we were seated with no problem! I quite liked the artwork here:

And there were some lovely Christmas decorations:

Well, when Martin arrived, he needed feeding - now, the menu here is mostly pizza. Vegetarian pizza, at that - he went for what I suppose is the house special, the Florist. And it looked terrific - and was apparently delicious. As to wine, they didn't have Sauvignon Blanc, but had a very decent Pinot Grigio. Terrific service throughout the evening, I have to say.

Now, Ivan was closeted in his studio - having promised to try and make it before 8, he was to tell us that it'd be 9. Actually, he wanted us to join him in the studio and drink there - but my companions weren't keen. James, in fact, decided to call it a night - he does have a long journey. In the end, Ivan rocked up at 9.20. Now, none of us are best happy with this arrangement - and although we did have a lovely time, until closing, we've decided to switch days and see how it goes - if we change to Sundays, he won't have rehearsals, and can come earlier - plus we can go more central, which is good for both James and Martin. So we could potentially have longer together.. watch this space.

I was too tired last night to blog - plus, I had to be up early today, for an afternoon flight back to Ireland for Christmas. I was aware I'd have to get to the airport earlier than usual - anticipating a larger amount than usual to bring back with me, what with presents and such, plus a few outfits for the duration, I'd bought a larger suitcase and arranged to check it in. So I got up an hour earlier than I otherwise might have - got out in decent time, and got the direct bus to Liverpool Street in a decent time too. There were already two buggies on board - happily, no wheelchairs, so they could take that space - as well as a woman with a case even larger than mine.. but then, two more women with buggies got on together! Lordy, I've never seen a bus so crowded - they took up all the aisle space, people having to climb over one of the buggies to get out.. at least the woman with the case got off shortly afterwards, and mercifully, one of the women with buggies disembarked at Liverpool Street. Which made it possible for the rest of us who wanted to, to get off there too.

At Liverpool Street, I usually get a sandwich, but on this occasion, that would've made me miss the next train - and I wasn't hungry yet, not to mention I was in possession of an awkwardly large and heavy case, so I went for the train. An unusual amount of German-speakers on it, I noticed.. one of whom offered to help me with my case. I went to the express bag check-in, only to discover I was completely at a loss as to how to scan my boarding pass, it'd been too long! So, I had to get someone to do that for me - but she was happy to do so. I see they've now gone a step further, requiring you to put it on the baggage belt yourself! Then you press the big button to propel it to the sorting area.

I was to be so glad I'd come early - bag check-in hadn't been so much of a problem, but wow, the security queue.. 35 minutes, I was snaking back and forth. They played Christmas songs to keep us happy.. people started to sing along to Do They Know It's Christmas - and at one point, a group of four friends decided to do a line dance to the music. So it was, by and large, a convivial queue - but if I hadn't come so early, I'd have been in serious danger of missing my flight..

I made my way straight to the gate, by which stage I was hungry, so when I got there I nipped in to the adjacent W. H. Smith. There wasn't much of a choice - I ended up with the "Christmas lunch" sandwich, which it said contained chicken, turkey, stuffing.. nothing about cranberry sauce. Yuck, I don't like that at all! And now I was stuck with it, and no access to a bin.. ah well. 

In Shannon, I had to do Shop + Collect - a service whereby you buy something in Duty Free on the way out and collect it on the way back. Now, you don't get the Duty Free price - but it is very handy for goods you can't get otherwise. I had goods to collect, so dug out the receipt, which was the first time I'd looked at it - well, I'd thought the guy looked confused when he asked for my returning flight details. See, I last headed out on Aer Lingus - code EI. The bloke behind the counter had obviously completely failed to appreciate that I was returning on Ryanair, code FR109 - what he'd entered on the receipt was EI4109.. Duh..

Now safely back and yay, there's a film on I can see! Queer, with Daniel Craig, also featuring Jason Schwartzman, and directed by Luca Guadagnino, is showing in the Omniplex - I've booked to see it tomorrow. Based on the novella by William S. Burroughs, it looks really interesting. They're tipping Daniel Craig for the Oscar for it. And I can do some required shopping.

I'll be returning to London on the 5th. Have a very merry one!