Saturday, May 3/2025

Well, the rotary end of winter barrel sank through the softening ice on the lake in Sioux Lookout so it’s time to pack up and go back. Have been spoiled with warm temperatures not only in Cyprus but with gloriously warm and sunny weather in London - significantly better than King Charles was able to command for his coronation at this time two years ago.

The current Airbnb one of the best combinations of location and facilities we’ve had. Well, OK, it’s 39 steps up - a literary cum cinematic ring to that - but the view behind is out over rooftops and trees, some still in flower, and you can hear the doves cooing.

Plus - returning from poetry to prose -  microwave, kettle, toaster all good quality and working - and there is actually a washing machine. All in a surprisingly small space. We may be back.

Friday, May 2/2025

Sunset over the chimneys

It was Dr Johnson who said ‘When a man is tired of London he is tired of life’. So we choose where to go this afternoon. And settle on the Tate Modern gallery, hoping for something dramatic in its Turbine Hall (3300 square meters, twenty-six metres high). Home to some of our favourite past exhibits. 

But not to be. We reach the platform at Kilburn Station just as a train is pulling in on the southbound Jubilee line. The carriages fill up but the train doesn't start. Then the announcement. Due to a fire on the track, there will be a delay of fifteen minutes or more. The carriages empty onto the platform as people start rethinking their plans. 

This is not exactly unprecedented. Coming back from the Saatchi yesterday there was a delay of about fifteen minutes caused, apparently, by a fire at West Hampstead Station, but service resumed and there was nothing to be seen passing West Hampstead Station. So we decide to sit down and see what transpires. 

At which point a short man with a high-vis vest and a megaphone voice begins shouting that the station is being evacuated and everyone must leave. We do, with something less than fire drill precision, a couple of hundred people navigating a double staircase, some hampered by suitcases or small children. No sign of fire, but megaphone voice is persistent, and he does succeed in opening the exit gates which frees the bottleneck caused by people attempting to touch the electronic button with their cards to exit. No panic, probably because we don’t quite believe in the reality of the emergency. No sign of smoke or fire. No official activity other than megaphone voice’s repeated calls to evacuate.

Do have a couple of fire engines pass us headed toward the station as we start down Kilburn High Road. Bit late for a plan B that doesn’t involve leaving from Kilburn underground station, but it’s a balmy day and we do have minor errands along one of our favourite roads.

Thursday, May 1/2025

 May 1. May Day. Traditional day for honouring workers, and celebrated as such in many, possibly most, countries. Not a public holiday in the UK though. 

J suggests we check out the  Saatchi Gallery. It’s on our regular beat and often features modern international artists, with most exhibits being free. 

It’s a hot day, actually reaches a May 1 record temperature of 29.3, according to the Met office.

There’s a playing field and track next to the Saatchi, much enjoyed by nearby schools. The children are all wearing sun hats, but they’re not sneaking off looking for peripheral shade. Bouncy as puppies despite the heat.

The most interesting displays feature works by Anne von Freiburg from the Netherlands. Her work is referred to as textile paintings, as good a description as any. Textile, patchwork and stitching. Strong colours and 3D effect very much in your face.

Wednesday, April 30/2025

Thames Ditton to see Jenny and Doug, with the date chosen this time so that Elaine and Hugh could come as well. Always enjoy visiting with them. Archetypically beautiful summer day. So Prosecco in the garden and happy conversation. Laura drops by with her two little dogs so we get to see her as well. 

Jenny has made maqloub for lunch (spellings vary, presumably because it’s transliterated from Arabic). It’s a traditional rice, vegetable and meat dish. It’s cooked layered in a pot, which is flipped upside down to serve. Sometimes considered Palestine’s national dish, but eaten throughout the Middle East. Jenny’s father, who was Palestinian born, taught me how to make it, so it evokes good memories for us as well as for Jenny and Elaine.

And back outside for a lovely strawberry cake and tea and more talk, lunch having lasted, as a perfect lunch should, all afternoon.

Tuesday, April 29/2025

Love Kilburn High Road. Vibrant, multi-ethnic, All colour and movement. Babies in push chairs; old people with canes; children in school uniforms, ties hanging loose at the end of the day. Street corner markets; shop goods spilling out onto the pavements; scent of coffee and Middle East cooking; sim sales and mobile unlocking; a man handing out appetizer size bits of deep fried shrimp; golden chickens turning on rotisseries.

We pick up seeded bread, yoghurt, peanut butter, wine. Then stop at Roses, unable to resist the last lamb kleftiko of the season. The owner, a Turkish Kurd who has known us for years, comes over to shake hands. Are we coming or going? Coming back this time. Business was very difficult during Covid, but this is the most serious we’ve seen him. Save your money, he says. Times may be bad.

Check online re the current verboten list for foods coming into Canada with snacks in a carry on in mind. Meat - no. Cheese - OK. Walnuts? Refer to AIRS, i.e. ‘Automated Import Reference System - Canadian Food Inspection Agency’. So dutifully google “AIRS” and “nuts”. And hit “Mexican TV outlet accidentally airs man’s testicles during solar eclipse coverage”. Well, fair enough, I guess.

Monday, April 28/2025

Photo from October 2023 visit

Out to West Harrow to see Jean.  She turned ninety on New Year’s Eve. Did try phoning her at the time but had been unable to get through.  Tease her about being out celebrating and that was probably true, although not with the champagne I suggest. Her nephew and nieces came over from Canada and the US and they did go out for a meal.

We’ve known each other for sixty years this fall and it will be over thirty years since I first brought J out here - numbers that just seem ridiculous.  Good to share a glass of wine and a chat on another sunny, warm day.

Back at our Airbnb J cooks us a lovely tuna steak. We’d been walking past it in Sainsbury just as the man marked it down - from £7.95 ($14.77) to 69p ($1.28). Perfect timing, and, as it turns out, a perfect piece of fish at the end of the day.

Sunday, April 27/2025

London in flower. Always arrive too late for daffodils, though there might still be some in the north. Pass this wisteria on our way down to the high road and Jenny also has a lovely one in her front garden. 

Kilburn High Road bustling today. Temperature about twenty and Saturday shoppers everywhere. We’re renewing acquaintance with the road and picking up a few things - oatcakes, streaky bacon.

Election day in Canada tomorrow. First time not to have voted but too difficult to get a ballot and return it in time, Did have them couriered to Larnaca in the South of Cyprus for the January 2006 election but both courier and postal services somewhat simpler there. Just as easy to follow news almost anywhere in the world, though, barring the inconvenience of time zone changes. Which reminds us of the “olden days” when Canadian election results were blacked out for regions where the polls had not yet closed, so you could not see results in time zones to the east of you before the polls closed in your region. The system didn’t survive the coming of the internet for long.

But we’re prepped. We’ve watched the This Hour has 22 Minutes Election Special.

Saturday, April 26/2025

To Thames Ditton to see Jenny and Doug, among our very favourite people to visit. Exceptionally good connections via Jubilee and a lovely day for sitting in the garden. J&D recently back from a relaxing Caribbean cruise and Doug pleased to demonstrate his newfound expertise in preparing aperol spritzes, the temperature providing good reason for summer drinks.

Emma drops by with Jasmine and Noah, whom we’ve known since birth. Jasmine preparing to write her GCSE exams in a couple of weeks. She’ll probably do brilliantly despite her worries.

Before they leave Jenny brings out a trifle - quite the nicest I’ve had, although failed to get it to pose for a photo op before we had made significant inroads.

Slightly surprised to see our leisurely luncheon visit has stretched nearly to seven. Jenny walks down to the station with us. Cheerful goodbyes as this time we’ll be back soon.

Friday, April 25/2025

 

Had not been overly optimistic re the WiFi but, happily, the girl in charge of the bnb does follow up. Texts that someone will be round in an hour and is promptly with us, cheerful young woman, quick on the uptake, and technically good. I tell her I’d choose WiFi over a fridge and she says ‘Oh so would I - you can always go out to eat”. And we have WiFi. Without which it’s becoming impossible to function. Want to check a train time? It’s online. Could call the station. Where do you get the number? Call the operator? You’re joking. Take a bus to the station and inquire. They will tell you - but no longer hand out the convenient little pamphlets with train times. You can get the info online.

Down to Aldi for basic food and then across to a street corner market for oranges, grapes, bananas and peppers. But we pass Roses, now a five minute walk from our new flat, and inquire. Yes, the kleftiko we have been eating there for the past fifteen years is no longer a weekly special. It has a regular slot on the menu. The best we’ve eaten anywhere, including Cyprus.

So back at dinner. And it’s still a winner. A couple of regulars also in the restaurant but it’s nearly empty. As are the neighbouring establishments. Can only hope they stay in business but the economy is in trouble. People are hurting and eating out is one of the first things to go. Sixth largest economy in the world, but not very evenly distributed.

Kleftiko, as always, butter soft, and too much to finish in a single sitting. £ 14.95 ($27.60 CAD). Includes tax, so equivalent to $24.40  plus tax.