London

I haven't been to The City area of London for about 30 years.   I had a great career there in my younger days (cv below).  It felt very different to my commuter days -  the underground trains have better seats, are cleaner and less crowded, the streets have less traffic... we walked from London Bridge to the Walkie Talkie building to see the Sky Garden.   We had pre-booked although 'walk-ins' were being accepted. 

 It is very warm up there on the 37th floor to enable the jungle area of tropical plants to flourish - a mini Kew Gardens greenhouse kind of vibe but not as much greenery as I had expected, large areas are for the bar and a restaurant although there are areas amongst the greenery where you can sit with a cocktail or coffee - the views are spectacular - a tourist could tick a lot of boxes on their to do list from one standing position ... We could see the Shard, the Gherkin and Tower of London, all the way out to Canary Wharf and numerous rooftop gardens on high rise buildings  that gave a surprisingly green London landscape when looked at from above!  

We then took the tube over to Kensington where we had lunch at Dishoom - I had always wanted to go there since my blogging friend *Vix* posted of visits to her local.  We weren't disappointed.  Dishoom Kensington is situated in the old, iconic Barkers building, much of the original art deco decor remains and they even have Jazz music some nights with live band.  The food was authentic and beautifully presented.  This was a birthday treat - birthday still rolling!   

I had paneer roomali roll which is a handkerchief bread wrapped around paneer, onions, peppers, green leaves, with a cooling mint chutney.  It was hot, spicy and delicious and went well with a Kingfisher beer.

Hubby had chicken 'berry Britannia' - a biryani which  was layered with meat, spices and basmati rice, in a heavy lidded pot, spiced with ginger, garlic, mint and corriander. Light and delicately flavoured,  Kingfisher beer and we also shared vegetable samosas which we asked to have brought with the main so we could make full use of those deliciious dips!  My favourite was a corriander, mint and mango cooling dip.

Sitting in Dishoom, I remembered as a teenager taking the bus to Kensington High Street regularly to sit in the windows of the same building, which was then Biba fashion store.  There were once fabulously oppulent velvet chairs in the floor to ceiling shop windows where you could sit and pose, hoping to be 'discovered' as a model.   Shopping for fashion in those days was exciting, over the knee boots, jewellery, make up and clothing all in the same place, dark inside, crowded and blasting out pop music of the 70s era,  It's hard to tell which part was Biba now as the buildings are now a massive food supply hall and M&S further along.  

We took the Circle Line to see the Science Museum, we had booked - hubby wanted to see the flight section and I was interested to see the medicine section - a very brief visit as we only had an hour before closing, but a pleasant end to the day.

Above: 1. First aviation engine capable of taking off vertically without need of a runway.

Above 2. Space shuttle.

Above 3. Storage jar depicting a colonic flush methinks!

Too cold for the allotment today despite the promise of sunshine between showers on the forecast, so I spent the day researching Slimming World recipes as we both need to shed some weight.  Then I went through my wardrobe and made a nice pile to put on EBay.  I have tried Vinted but it doesn't seem to get the same interest.  I also had about 2 hours sleep in the afternoon - a new luxury of retirement, sleep when I want!

*Brief CV!  A career change in the 80s/90s took me to the City of London as a personal assistant in merchant banks; first to the Sales/Trading Floor MD, then later to the VP of Legal & Compliance, over a span of 16 years.  I learned to be flexible and when the financial crisis hit and many lost their jobs, I was kept on as a floating secretary,  providing cover for the Chairman's office, Company Secretary or anyone who needed me, organising large corporate events, roadshows/corporate travel!  I met some interesting people, some well known! I even participated in arranging personal visits/security clearance for the then Prince Harry to visit for after school tea at my employers family home.  My career in the corporate world was fun, long hours and hard work, well paid, but it seems like another life now, I don't miss the 1 1/2 hour early morning commute, or often going home in the small hours of the morning in a rattling old black taxi across London with a luke warm pizza on my lap!  

We are back in London in a few days time to see the Ideal Home Exhibition for which we have free tickets thanks to Moneysavingexpert.com - always worth a look on this website for freebies.

 

Retirement - month 1 and not counting!

 The postman was a frequent visitor over the past month,  bringing birthday pressies;  

Above: I received this book from my long time blogging buddy, *Annie * which is just what I would have chosen for myself. Full of sustainable  home making ideas: making your own cleaning products and delicious recipes too.  I'm really enjoying it

 

Below: I've been painting:  Hubby insisted the paintwork was fine but it does look a lot better with the ceiling and coving refreshed and the walls are now a deeper shade of the same greeny grey,  so I'm happy - I really enjoy decorating and it only took  2 x 3 hour sessions over 2 days.

Does it look a bit minimalist?  my dearly departed mother used to call my home 'the sterile unit'.  Maybe a pic on the wall - but I never have found one I truly like and want to look every day - a mirror? no, would get bored looking at myself.  a window would be good.

The allotment is weed free and dug ready for planting.   I emptied out my compost bin, which was full of gloriously rich black compost with lots of worms, I spread it over 25% of my plot and intend to plant sweetcorn into it soon.   - I am currently chitting potatoes at home but today I just had to get cracking and I hope it isn't a tad early as re-planted the gladiolis I lifted last year.  I still  have  flower bulbs to go in from a recent deal on Thompsons website for a bulk buy of mixed flower bulbs.  

I have also signed up for the annual potato growing competition - we compete for the biggest and heaviest crop.  Mine was lucky 13 and it went into the tub on the plot this morning - you arent allowed to take your potato off site - it had already been chitted for me, so hopefully is off to a good start.

My birthday bouquet from hubby is still going strong, I have only removed the giant lilys as he's allergic to them (the pollen is also dangerous to cats).  After well over 3 weeks they are still looking beautiful - kept in the unheated conservatory.

This is my first month of retirement and I have been busy all the time and can find plenty to fill my days.  Youngest son moved out today (again) and in with his girlfriends family.  I have a spare room with a table! Although I fully expect one of my sons to come back at any time and claim it! 

On Thursday I went on the monthly walk with the allotment holder group, it ended at a pub, a nice walk across fields, saw a few snowdrops, was bitterly cold.  Some folk went on for a pub lunch, I might do that next time.

On another walk, with hubby, through the woods behind our house we disturbed what looked to be a white owl, unlikely,  it was most probably a barn owl.  It was swooping low about 10 feet from us and circled many times.  We also saw young deer peeking from the trees!

I tidied out some cupboards and found some of my art supplies - maybe next week there will be time for  a little painting? 

We're off on a day trip tomorrow, will try not to forget to take photos!

Betty