Saturday night I went out with a wonderful, eclectic group of women. We went into London for dinner at Benares. It started with champagne at our host’s house. Then off to London in a big van/taxi. An hour later we arrived at the restaurant and headed to the bar. This is my second “Girls Night Out” since moving here so this was pretty exciting for me. Half way through the evening, a few of the women recognized the Hairy Bikers at the bar. We asked the Maitre’d if we could pay them a visit and he wandered off to investigate.
We sat down at 7:00 for dinner and proceeded to eat like queens for 3 hours. Whew! This is dinner in London — sit at the bar for 2 hours, sit down and eat for 3 hours. No wonder they don’t eat out as much as we Americans do! The talk was light and interesting but eventually meandered its way into God and politics. It got a little heated in a fun way and was just starting to feel like we needed a topic change when — YAY — the Hairy Bikers came over for kisses and photos. That was pretty cool. I’ll add the photos if my friend can get them off her camera. So, clueless me — I had no idea who they were but I love the fact that my husband did! I texted him during a bathroom visit.
At 11:00 we were back in the bar with the Hairy Bikers and their all-man crew discussing shoes. Hmmm.
At midnight, we were picked up and back at Janet’s house at 1:00a. Home by 1:15. Whew! It was a late but incredibly fun night. Up at 8:00 for the boy’s soccer game.
By fun contrast, today I did a walk and had lunch at the Pot Kiln, a true country pub. I started out with a good friend at 9:30 in the morning and drove the 50 minutes to the pub where our walk started and ended. For those who don’t know first hand, a good pub is not a place you go to drink alcohol so much as a place you go to relax and socialize. This pub was the best I’ve visited yet (thanks Michelle!).
The experience starts along the way — 5 minutes from the motorway, you are driving on a single track road through farms and forest land — another favorite of mine. The road is built with wide spots for passing and it usually works very well. Nevermind the 60 mph speed limits. On approach to the pub, the tiny road was blocked by a huge truck pumping liquid from the fields on either side. I just parked at a wide spot in the road and we walked the rest of the way. As he guided us around the truck, the driver even asked if we were from the Environmental Agency — LOL!
Country Walks are a sacred thing to many English walkers. They have special outfits including mud-resistant boots and shin mud-guards. Many even have walking sticks. There are myriad web sites that list country walks. This one started at the Pot Kiln, meandered through the woods, through the tiny village of Frilsham, then back through another set of woods through a few gates, along a ridge and finally back at the pub. It was a bit too short but it was beautiful and today was a perfect day — sunny intervals, 60 degrees, light breeze — for a walk.
We returned to the pub at 12:00 when it had just opened. We grabbed our drinks and went outside to enjoy the cool sunshine. With a view over the field, a deer and horses grazing. It gave us a nice taste of Spring.
Inside the pub 30 minutes later, the menu warned of possible buckshot in the meats. Oh yes. I had to have the deer. Even with a head of a small deer staring down at me from the wall, I truly enjoyed my meal. Not only was the food good but the service and the pacing of the meal was perfect — a rarity in gray old England. My companion had the fish which was also decadent.
All in, I love country walks. Jonah is studying orienteering, which is basically navigating a walk (or treasure hunt). I can’t wait to get him out there for a couple miles in the muddy woods.
Leith Hill is next!
