I've seen that floor before...

We headed into the City on Friday evening for some steak at Blacklock. The steak - we had porterhouse, sirloin and Barnsley chop - shared between the four of us was great, and the pigs head on toast which we had beforehand was also good. With cocktails for a fiver - no surprises, mine was a negroni - there was only one other thing to check out.

And yes, I’m talking about the Ladies.

AND YES, I’VE SCUFFED MY PEWTER TRAINERS…

When I looked down, I saw a familiar flooring, and knowing my flooring I was pretty sure it was one I’d seen in a quinta in the Douro Valley. As it turns out, after checking the next day, it was a monochrome version of the flooring from the Quinta da Bomfim in Pinhao, which I’d spotted on our visit back in 2017. Never let it be said that I ever forget a good floor!

Looks like I’d dressed for the more monochrome version too, which isn’t the first time that I’ve found my outfit matches my surroundings.

THE DOURO VALLEY VERSION

The loos were all the individual sort with their own hand basin, and in this case an etched mirror which had a hint of vintage about it with the shape, the bevelled edge and the etched design. It gave me some challenges to photograph, you can’t see, but I’m on tiptoes here, which is why I’m sure I’m holding on.

It was also pointed out to me at work on Friday that I’d matched my outfit to my hair. Something quite unintentional, but quite amusing once it had been pointed out. My brown top was edged with a coral colour around the neck, and my orange and pink necklace is very similar to the colour that’s currently in my hair - and which I’m having done again at the end of the year, aiming to be even more bold with the orange.

If I wear this outfit again - and let’s face it I probably will - I think it’s going to be one I’m just going to have to own!

I’M CONCENTRATING CLEARLY…

There is one final photo from the Ladies which I’m sharing. I can’t quite work out if it was by design, through use or something else.

Let’s hope it wasn’t the latter.

Reflecting on my week #108

Compared to last weekend, we’ve had a relatively chilled one. The week itself was probably on a par, though it ended with some very good steak at Blacklock in the City. I definitely recommend a visit if you fancy it, as unlike the Soho and Shoreditch versions you can book a table. That’s a much better plan in my book, rather than queuing in the hope you might get fed. I may have some loo photos later in the week, a few of them were a bit blurred but I think I’ve got enough for a blog post.

The floor in the Blacklock ladies immediately reminded me of the loos in one of the quintas we visited in the Douro Valley. Comparing both now, I think it’s a different colourway, but it’s definitely the same pattern. Funny, how that was instantly recognisable.

My attention has turned to our upcoming holiday. This weekend there’s been the usual prep, but also working out what to put in the case. Now that I’ve double checked and we’ve only got one case booked that really is focussing the mind on what could go in it. I always pack too much, actually we always pack too much, so I’m trying to avoid that this time. Leaving some space to bring things, like rum, back is a consideration too, though I think our spill-over space is likely to be hand luggage. We’ll have little on the way out and so that space could be used as needed.

Now that everything in the case needs to earn its place I’ve been making sure everything I’m contemplating taking I will wear. So I’ve been having a bit of an impromptu fashion show, much to MOH’s amusement. My obsession with jumpsuits continues, but only two will make it into the case. This stripey one, which MOH says I need to be careful to make sure no one sits on me, for some reason it reminds him of a deckchair…

There’s been some final Christmas preparations too. My three charity shoe boxes are ready, and now I need to work out how to get them to their collection point without carrying them to work.

The building work next door is continuing. It seems to be picking up a pace, and there’s more deliveries arriving it seems each day. When we’ve had work done, the novelty tires quickly and you can’t wait for it to be done, and I’m sure that’s the same for our neighbour. He’s taking the building rubbish down the tip himself at weekends and that too is challenging.

MOH had been wanting to get up onto the scaffolding to check our guttering, as we had a plant growing at one point which we could see out of the window. When I mentioned this to our neighbour he said he was going up there to put an extra layer of tarpaulin ahead of the predicted rain, and would get it for us. I wasn’t quite ready for the photo he sent - there’s quite a bit of soil on it. We’ve no idea how it got there, and aren’t sure whether to blame the birds or the squirrels.

Who knows? Either way MOH is disappointed he hasn’t managed to make it out onto the roof, and our neighbour is, I think, pleased to have had an excuse to be out there. I’ve no intention of being out on the scaffolding, three floors up at this time of year. Perhaps when the weather’s warmer and there’s some fizz involved, and the work is finished, now that would be more inviting.

Yesterday, there was more eating to be done. We headed out to the Curious Pig in the Parlour again for a pre-Christmas Sunday lunch with MOH’s family. We were both ravenous by the time the food arrived, and our plates were cleared pretty quickly. Another reminder of why I could never be a food blogger, food is for eating not photographing!

Reflecting on my week #107

It’s only Monday, but last week already seems a long time ago!

Christmas seems to have hit, but not in the usual way. It’s true there’s been shopping, we’ve started to eat mince pies (and more), we’ve received our first Christmas cards, and presents have been wrapped, and unwrapped.

We headed into town Tuesday evening under the excuse of Christmas shopping, but really it was our chance to get some Fortnum & Mason mince pies - our Christmas weakness. Or one of them.

We also left with a ceramic pot of “Welsh Rarebit” which in the end came down to the pot and the colour. Did we want red writing or blue writing? Blue, it seems.

And then we went out to dinner. Never one to pass by a Polpo if they’ve a space, we tried the one in Maiden Lane. It is as good as the others, and definitely worth trying. So are the negronis.

Wednesday and Thursday were work nights out. Not quite the debauched nights you’d imagine, especially as one was in the Painted Hall, but both provided a good opportunity to chill a bit after a busy few days.

Friday, MOH was out socialising in the City with former colleagues. I spent the day interviewing. Neither of us knew of the events taking place on London Bridge and far too close to where MOH was until mid-afternoon. Thankfully he and his group were safely ensconced in a pub unaware.

Then we really did Christmas at the weekend. A full on Christmas with family, presents, a tin of Quality Street, turkey and all the trimmings, far too many desserts, plenty of laughs and quite a lot of Baileys too.

But very few photos. For me that’s the sign of complete down time. It was chilly when we got back on Sunday night though - we’re not used to London being colder than Norfolk! My hat and gloves were called for this morning, though it’s not been cold enough for me to wear an actual, proper coat - I’m still wearing my large blanket wrap. The people I work with think I’m slightly mad too…