That London

We went down to London for my birthday weekend.  There was to be football involved but we decided to do the full weekend for a change. We were staying with a mate in Docklands right next to the Thames Barrier as it happens. Nice flat and convenient for  the DLR.

We headed out nice and early on Friday evening. Out to Greenwich and the Cutty Sark to see just how expensive beer is in London.  Very is the answer - £16 for 3 pints of average bitter (with no head) in the Gypsy Moth! Eeek. Still, that was the most expensive place we went to.

We had a great view though.

After beers we went to a nice Vietnamese restsurant for a buffet. What gorgeous food! The whole steamed sea bass was pure heaven.

It saved us from hangover too. We woke up to a stunning Saturday morning. In a bid to keep my steps up I went for a walk down to the river (after delivering breakfast ingredients to our host/chef) to inspect the Thames Barrier at close quarters. Sadly I couldn't walk along the riverbank but it was still impressive.

Cooked breakfast was great- it's always good when someone else produces it.  So we were fully energised for our trip across London to Putney Bridge and more river views.

A few beers at our Fulham local - The Bricklayers Arms - and off to Craven Cottage. 3,900 Sheffield Wednesday fans eager to find out which way it was going to go. 2 years ago we lost 4- 0 but bounced and sang. Last year we won 0-3 and scored 2 worldies.  What a match.

This year, to ring the changes, we scored early and dominated the first half. Sadly we then let them back in in the second half and on 92 minutes they equalised. Gah!

More beers followed and a monster hangover on Sunday. We were meant to be meeting up with Rich's brother Dave and his wife along with his niece and mother who were down in London for his mum's 70th birthday treat. A day of schlepping across London to drop off our bags at the station then down to the Churchill War Rooms, lunch then train home. It was going go be "challenging" in our fragile states.

Then a reprieve - sadly Rich's mum was poorly so they were leaving early. We hung around the flat for a few hours then went for lunch and the slowest train to Sheffield it is possible to catch. It stopped EVERYWHERE. My we were tired that evening.

You may have spotted a few calories encrusting my weekend....I feel and, indeed, am quite fat now. But this extra bulk has concentrated my mind. Over the last 2 days I've been much better and disciplined. My new Fitbit is helping too. Exercise tomorrow!!