Last August, Jimmy gave up working in the pub he had been managing for some years. I work weekdays, 10-6 (ish), although I don't work Mondays. Pub work doesn't fit into that. For years, we could often only manage to have Sunday evenings and most - not all - Mondays together. For several weeks, he hadn't even properly had Mondays off. When we could spend time together, there was almost a desperate need to make something of it, plan an epic adventure, fit as much into the available time.
On the first Saturday in September, we did something radical. We went out for a short time, somewhere fairly local, with no particular plan. We headed for the South Bank, and discovered a Farmers Market. There's a temptation at these things - which aren't generally cheap -to buy a variety of produce, but you don't have to. I think we bought some cheese. I know that we bought some cider, and then wandered around next to the river decadently drinking our organic cider out of plastic glasses.
The South Bank had been running throughout the summer a commemoration of the Festival of Britain, which happned in 1951, and created a beach. It was a gloriously hot day, lots of people were dressed in bright colours, and no one seemed in any hurry to be anywhere.
This fountain seemed particularly attractive to children. I took several photos of kids having tremendous fun, but there might be some problem with publishing photos of identifiable children in bathing costumes. I've selected some which may not be such good pictures, but won't be perceived as invading privacy.
We walked up to the rooftop garden. This was created by the Eden Project, and worked on by 50 people who'd faced difficulties in life - homelessness and so on. It wasn't the most amazing garden ever, althoguh I'm sure it will be much better when the plantings have matured - but I really liked it, as a place to sit and relax with splendid views.
We really did not do anything, except look at the people, and what they were doing, and admire the views. We bought some food from a van: I had a halloumi and roast vegetable panini. That was filling, and tasty.
We walked further along, eventually arriving at Gabriel's Wharf, where we left the river and went to a couple of pubs before heading home.
In some ways, it was not the most exciting afternoon out, but it was important for us to do this, to be relaxed doing nothing and not worrying about having to be back at a certain time, or make sure we ate properly, or conserve our energy. Just, hang out.
More photos, from this walk, and many others, in London photo album
