Let them eat cake!

To St.Luke's at the end of last month for a spot of Spanish from L'Apothéose ensemble, to be found at reference 1. On this occasion, I reverted to the traditional route via Waterloo, where, for once, the stands on the ramp were pretty full.

Headed out of York Road onto the roundabout, to find that they had installed on of those sturdy black anti-terrorist gates there - or perhaps it was an anti-republican-demonstrator gate. In any event I don't remember it being there and it is new enough not to appear on Street View. In terms of grade, the gate was somewhere between the scruffy yellow one just about visible in the snap below and the royal black one above.

Three slots left at the stand at Roscoe Street. On the way through to Whitecross Street, a rather tired trolley from Morrison's, rather seriously locked to the railing. I only know about a Waitrose on the way down to the Barbican Centre, so no idea how far away the nearest Morrison's is. There is also a piece of Thames Water cast iron to the right of the trolley. Don't recall seeing such a thing before.

Proprietor present at the Market Restaurant. At least ten years since he has been running the place, and at least ten years since I have been an occasional customers. I think my order has always been bacon sandwich with tea. As good as ever on this occasion.

Out to snap the Korean Kitchen at the top of Whitecross Street, which I remember from its days as an Italian Kitchen, or to be more precise Jane Roe's kitchen. A kitchen which we had rather liked and which I remember as having the very same war time utility tallboy that my parents had in their bedroom and we now have in ours. A decent if plain bit of design in light oak. After a bit of faffing about, the memory kicked in with Jane and I was able to run down reference 2, but not the tallboy.

Across the road to find that the door had been moved from the west side of the tower to the south side. Which did not seem as convenient, but they must have had their reasons. The hall was about half full. Eight microphones. There was also a covered piano behind the BBC desk, but I did not like to poke around for a capture. Cello played without leg. A flute which looked rather like a mutant treble recorder.

A concert which was a collection of short pieces, some involving musical bird calls. Interesting; light and pleasant enough, but I really prefer something a little more substantial.

A building behind St. Luke's which once used to be the White Lion, visited at least once. Now The Village, London's creative media agency, also to be found at reference 3. Then a house with a lady in charge who came from Belfast. Long gone, but see reference 4.

The last-minute, stand-in harpsichordist, Masumi Yamamoto, had two day jobs teaching in what I take to be fancy girls' schools, St Paul's and James Allen's. Must be fairly fancy to run to a harpsichord teacher. From where I associate to a chap who used to teach carpentry in a grammar school in Cambridge who once told me that the best equipped school carpentry shop that he had seen was the one at Eton. Some carpentry teachers' beano or other.

Down to Borough Market which was very busy on this Friday afternoon, although I dare say the street food people were doing a better business than the proper market people. Then, having tried the competition, I went back to Lincolnshire Poacher. Falling also for a spot of something called Doddington on top, which I rather liked, a softer and whiter version of the French Comté. See reference 6.

Almost fell for a small portion of jack fruit, for which they were asking £3. I had vaguely heard of jack fruit but not realised how big they were, with this one being perhaps as big as a rugby ball, not unlike the prepared one above turned up by Bing. Maybe next time. In the meantime, see reference 5.

A run down to Waterloo, then pushed onto Konditur and Cook, having taken the last spot on the stand at the Waterloo end of Stamford Street. They had stopped doing both bread and sandwiches, but they were still doing cake, and I fell for one involving almond something around the outside and fruit in the middle. Rather good and we shall buy again should occasion arise.

Tried the café a bit further down the road, where I was able to get a ham roll which was just that. No salad, no cheese, no crisps and no goo. Altogether a heritage ham roll, sold in thousands from sandwich bars all over central London when I started out. This one slightly let down by the quality of the bread, probably thawed from frozen in a microwave.

Opposite, the back of the Union Jack club, mainly a hotel, mainly intended for servicemen, but perhaps ex-servicemen and civil servants are allowed too. I think I inquired once, but did not get as far as staying. No idea why they felt the serious defences were necessary. I was also intrigued by the thin building in the middle of the snap, which turned out to once have been the main entrance to Waterloo East Station. Now mostly repurposed, I think as a fashionable bar.

Nearly got the wrong train, but managed to switch in time. To be entertained by a lady of perhaps 50-60 years, done up to the nines, who had been shopping and who had perhaps been lunching. Brown tweedy jacket, waistcoat, boots and hat. Tight white trousers. Foxy looking trimmings and a fair amount of jewellery. Was she a former belle of some Surrey hunt ball? Slightly let down by snacking from a bag from Pret.

At which point I discovered I was still on the wrong train and had to go back to Wimbledon from Surbiton, not fancying either the taxi fare or the walk. Both of which have been managed in the past, perhaps rather later at night, probably having taken on drink. Just caught what proved to be the right train from Wimbledon.

References

Reference 1: https://en.lapotheoseensemble.com/.

Reference 2: https://psmv2.blogspot.com/2015/11/a-touch-of-pepys.html.

Reference 3: https://www.thevillagecommunications.co.uk/contact/.

Reference 4: https://psmv2.blogspot.com/2014/11/first-luke.html. I don't think this was the only visit, but I have yet to find another.

Reference 5: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackfruit.

Reference 6: https://www.doddingtoncheese.co.uk/.