End of term

On the way back from Portsmouth, we had thought to stop at Guildford Cathedral, to take our picnic and to take a look at the cathedral.

On the way there, somewhere along the A3, we took a break in a handy lay-by (not something you get on our motorways), where I came across the first ants' nest of the year, built up around the base of this post. Not many ants in evidence though.

Plus a fine display of what I thought was vetch, but which Google Images says is everlasting pea, and examining both with Bing and Wikipedia, I think he is right. Same family, Fabaceae, the legumes, but not the same genus.

And, sadly, rather a lot of litter. But we were not tooled up to deal with that sort of thing, even had I been so inclined. 

Clearly a lay-by which is a product of a bit of road widening and straightening.

For the second time running, it turned out to be graduation day for Surrey University at the Cathedral, so we could not get inside. But we could park, use the facilities and find a tree under which to take our picnic. And watch all the young people in fancy dress for their big day. Some of them carrying quite elaborate bouquets.

Trolley hunting resumed the next day, as noticed at reference 3. Didn't manage that same afternoon.

It was end of term for us too at the Wigmore Hall, with the last concert of the season being the new-to-us Simply Quartet, giving us Mozart (K458) and the also new-to-us Grieg (Op.27). With the quartet to be found at reference 4.

The day started with rain, without any trains at Epsom and our old car, while it started on this occasion, was clearly not to be relied on - but banking on failure being heat related, we risked the drive to Sutton. Where I was able to ponder on what the trim to the edge of the canopies was made of. It did not look much like original timber at all. Didn't quite right somehow, but I am still glad they kept it.

Wasn't able work out much of what was going on here either, with the original conception barely visible under several layers of subsequent additions.

Crowded train, and off to find that we even have tents in Grosvenor Gardens. But I don't suppose we are that much different from other European capitals as far as that goes. Then a crowded No.2 bus to Portman Street, from whence to Olle & Steen, which seemed to have had a bit of a reorganisation. Just the one team member whom I recognised. I managed to get my order wrong - wrong sort of bun - but the young lady unwound the transaction and started again, perfectly pleasantly. Early enough in the day to be pleasant, I suppose. They also had some free samples of some rather good rye bread. With a bonus for BH being a very young baby with a very happy young mum.

A while since I had noticed the cock and lion on top of the pub sign at the 'Cock and Lion'.

Into the hall, which was around three quarters' full, with the front full and some space at the back. All very enthusiastic though.

The Mozart was as good as we expected, while the Grieg was not what I was expecting at all - not that I know anything about the man and precious little about his music. Just four mentions in the archive: one for a CD, one for Dorking Halls and two for the shops. With the first to be found at reference 5. And the Grieg there being reprised as I key this. Sounds pretty good considering how ancient the disc must be - and,  after allowing for the different line-up, something like the piece noticed here - which last was all very exuberant with lots of shifts of tone and dynamic. Must be exhausting to play, even when you are young.

We had a table at the Lina Stores, but there was time for an apéritif at the near empty Cock & Lion. Pint of something brown and warm for me, something softer for her. 

The clocks above the bar noticed at reference 6 were missing, long gone I think, and I can't remember them ever being in working order.

The starter lettuce was a lot better than I thought it might be when it first appeared, pretty though it was. While the focaccia put the stuff we had been served at odd times on the Island to shame, even with the decorative brown goo.

Crab flavoured linguine was good, but there was not quite enough for me, so I went for two. And I am pleased to say the second portion turned up while I was still hot for it. Doesn't always work.

All washed down with some 2022 Greco from Campania - not a grape we come across very often - despite the fad for Greco di Tufo a few years back.

I failed to find a website for Pietracupa, although it has a big footprint otherwise. And the people who offered the snap above offer the 2020 version of the wine for just under €19, so the Lina Stores do not look to have been too greedy on their markup. Rounded out with what might have been tobacco flavoured grappa. It was yellow.

Lots of passers-by outside, including one party done up as is for a wedding, which was odd as you don't usually get weddings on Sundays.

No.2 bus back to Victoria, train to Sutton - where the car was still working. And having been mulling things over in the background, I had the brainwave that the way forward was a VW Polo. Something we had had before and something which would probably suit BH. End of problem.

On the way, the art deco M&S, as seen from the bus, for which there are plans. But I forget what they are.

I got the idea that the stairs were an important part of the structure of the bus. What was holding it all together.

A house I have taken the odd jar in, over a quiet smoke. Many years ago now. Are the upper floors all let out as bedsits or something of that sort? I don't suppose that they have that many staff living in these days. What was the original idea, at the time of construction? Hotel catering for the travelling people who did not want the fancy place built into the station itself?

This last now being called the Clermont and which is to be found at reference 8. I have stayed in the place occasionally, at which time, while very grand downstairs, was was rather shabby upstairs. According to gmaps, what was the Terminus Place entrance is now rather obscured by a Pret. Which it still has as 'Pret A Manger', with images there being dated to 2021. One might have thought Victoria Station would be visited more often. Plus something called 'The Soak' of reference 9. Not clear whether this is part of the hotel or something more free-standing. Soak for souk or for soaking? Or both?

PS: a little later: Bing and Google between them soon put me right on M&S. It looks as if, after a long rigmarole, M&S can demolish and rebuild. But when will we see the wrecking balls in action? Will I bother to find out what embodied carbon might be? It was also an opportunity for Labour (Rayner) to overturn a Tory (Gove) decision. Let's hope that there was more to it than that.

References

Reference 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicia_sativa. Vetch.

Reference 2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lathyrus_latifolius. Everlasting pea.

Reference 3: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2025/07/trolley-910.html.

Reference 4: https://www.simplyquartet.com/. Animated too.

Reference 5: https://pumpkinstrokemarrow.blogspot.com/2011/10/st-lukes.html.

Reference 6: https://psmv4.blogspot.com/2019/06/trouts.html.

Reference 7: https://www.russell-cooke.co.uk/news-and-insights/news/ms-oxford-street-redevelopment-update.

Reference 8: https://www.theclermont.co.uk/victoria/.

Refernece 9: https://www.thesoak.co.uk/.

Reference 10: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pret_a_Manger. Another chain with a history, not least in the spelling of the name. I didn't know about the associated charitable foundation. Ultimately owned by the Reimann family of Germany. An old commercial family, almost gentry - but with a war tainted past.