SomersTownLisa

London Life
2023-03-09 17:34:58 (UTC)

27th Feb to 4th March

Mon 27/02/2023
Got the Tube to the task at the community centre, rather than running, after yesterday’s Half. Again I should have got their earlier for a chat, especially to get to know some of the new people. I slotted in between Sree and Fiona for the warm-up. We were cutting back overhanging branches. I was originally in a separate group with a new girl, but soon moved over to work with Sree and Fiona. Afterwards we went to the Florist Arms with Johnny. I avoided alcohol, which made Fiona feel isolated at first.

Tue 28/02/2023
For lunch we got a breakfast opposite the Greencoat Boy. It was a bit of a slog getting the waiter to understand what we wanted, to convert the vegetarian breakfast to vegan; he didn’t seem to get the difference. The sausages were definitely vegan though, they were vegetable sausages rather than vegetarian.
After work I went to the Cup game against Leeds. A boring opening, a great shot from Palhinhna, and later another from Soloman, interspersed with a few good chances for United. Lots of people weren’t there: John, Paul and his friend, and all of Dave’s family except Dave. Two strangers stood between me and Chris. I don’t know whether Chrissie and Dave J were there.

Wed 01/03/2023
Once again I didn’t leave on my lunchtime run until 12:45. I did part of Regent’s Park and got home in good time. We saw Linck & Mülhahn, at Hampstead Theatre, based on a true story of an 18th Century Prussian woman who posed as a man to get into the army, and even got married to a sweet, bored, idle-rich girl. It all came out in a court case, which was played out as farce.

Thur 02/03/2023
To get to my aunt’s funeral, we got the Tube rather than the train from Baker Street. As soon as I got there I was chatting to her husband’s daughter and granddaughter, and when we all sat around the living room I was very involved in the conversation, including with Kathy, especially compared to my older brother. (Richard hadn’t arrived yet). At the reception afterwards, I initially thought there was no-one I really wanted to talk to, and I had to stand around for a while, as the only places to sit would have left me with my bad ear towards strangers.

However I eventually found a place with Jack to my right, and a stunningly beautiful girl, Anna, of Irish parentage, who had lived in Copenhagen for ten years, came over to talk to us. She was interested in my CA volunteering group. She took my email, rather than my phone number. I was glad I hadn’t gone for the wine like my siblings and Jack. As we walked back to the Close, I was telling Anna a random story from the area, about when I was a child. If I’d had been drinking alcoholic drinks, I’d have thought that was the reason.

We got off at Finchley Road and got a bus 29 stops to the Arts Depot for Eshaan Akbar and Katy Green, who’s from El Salvador and wasn’t funny. Akbar had a few good lines when he veered onto observational comedy, but he spoke too much about himself. I’ve noticed comediennes doing this a lot, but it seems to be blokes as well. Maybe it’s a sign of the times.

Fri 03/03/2023
I went to the Doctor about my blocked ear. She just confirmed it was blocked, and arranged a consultation. I’d thought she was going to sort it out then. She took my blood pressure and weight, which were good of course and also asked about how much I walk (I said 14 hours a week, though on reflection it’s probably more like 10), and cycle, not about running. She also asked about smoking and drinking, and I told her I was giving up alcohol.

I walked home just in time to go back out with Jack to the Camley Street café; he was going to meet his sister. In the afternnon I was having trouble connecting online, so I watched the BBC coverage of the Leeds game the otehr night. Then I ran to the City, where we were doing a run to check a “Slow Walks” route, which was a good idea as there were two paths gated off in the evening, on one of the three routes we tested.

I’d got there in good time, and tried to talk to quiet Martin. He did talk to Harvey and Alan on route. Alan was a pleasant but quite-irritating bloke I hadn’t met before. Jacqui came as she thought there might be a social, and we did stop at the café by the running shop afterwards. Three people drunk Peronis but I stuck to a soft drink. Michelle was there, having just passed an impressive landmark. Louise was also there.

Sat 04/03/2023
I’d set up a task at the food garden, in order to retrieve my bag which I left there last week (with my £70 headphones), and to “repay” Keiran who’d looked after it. I met Aine at the ParkRun beforehand, having got my bus connection even though I could already seen the bus go by while I was still in the station. I was pleased with my run, fast by recent standards, with good splits.

Afterwards I went for a coffee with Simon, Kim, Aine, Stephanie, and a ParkRun regular who I’d seen before, always cheering on everyone else, but I’d never spoken to. He was a lovely bloke actually. Aine accused me of picking up her cutlery but I firmly knew I was in the right this time; I’d been given it when I went to order my avocado on sourdough.

I had a nice chat with Kim along the canal afterwards. She may have done her PB. She is applying for a job in Edinburgh but I secretly don’t want her to get it, because I would miss Simon so much.

I walked with Aine to the food garden, taking a left too soon initially, and we met a group of Bengali ladies who are going to take on a part of the garden and look after it daily. Keiran wanted a tidy up, as some funders were arriving soon, so Aine litter-picked, and I swept and weeded between paving stones. Another couple of girls arrived but they were still chatting when we left.

I got a bus to the hospice, but to my disappointment was the only CA person to turn up. So I helped put away after the jumble sale, but it was quite boring. Afterwards I went to the Gallery café. Instead of an open sandwich I got a meal of the day (lentils and sausage stew) which wasn’t very tasty. I took away a cookie and a flapjack for Jack, and a “can of “lemony lemonade”.

At home, I still couldn’t get my laptop to connect, so tidied up and cleaned, though I didn’t get very much done for the time spent. I also caught up with a few local newspapers, watched the Football League Show and had a bath. I used up the pasta, ready for a long run next day.





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