Friday, April 9/2010

Out by tube to North Greenwich where we take a look at the enormous O2 Centre, concert and film venue and erstwhile Milennium Dome. Many of the restaurants are open, though the shops mostly aren't, but we look around and then take a bus out to the Thames Barrier. As we board, I ask the driver if he can tell us where to get off for the Thames Barrier and he simply nods. But sure enough, when the time comes he bellows loudly enough to be heard upstairs, so we get off at what turns out to be the edge of the Thames Barrier Industrial Estate. There's a garage and I no sooner have my mouth open to inquire than the man there is giving directions - he's been asked this before. Sure enough, at the end of the road we're at the Thames Barrier - the huge set of metal clad moving dams that control the water level and prevent flooding. We have 2 for 1 tickets for the interpretive centre, so we look at the info and models, J more taken with the clever design of the project and me, as usual, with the words - for example the description of rowboats inside a flooded medieval Westminster Hall or the information that the invading Danes came downsteam along the thames taking villages as far as Reading before being stopped by alfred the Great. We have memories of our Thames walk four years ago and fill in one gap by walking back from the barrier to North Greenwich along the path past the Greenwich Yacht Club as well as a number of industrial yards and moored boats.

Then tube to Kilburn. We check out the Tricycle Theatre for later and are impressed by the Polishy shop and, more so, by the multi-ethnic Eastern European and mideast shop. Also marked for later. Then Alexander texts to suggest a Turkish restaurant on Kingsland for dinner.

We plan the route but.... Part of the overground isn't running, and, not wishing to be grounded at Gospel Oak, we go with Plan B. Tube to Liverpool followed by bus, which we get off too early. Though, as Alexander kindly says, we still have the whole evening.

Turns out their car has been stolen recently, so we head for Testi, the restaurant recommended by Dominic, by alternate means. Flora very generously takes the bus while J and Alexander and I fold into the G-wiz, our first ride in one. It's electric and not subject to the congestion charge. Also road tax benefits and very cheap to run, and Alexander is delighted with it.

The restaurant is a pleasure - small, but nice if noisy. Flora, Alexander and J have succulent lamb shish kebabs while I have stuffed aubergine. All very nice, and the starter taramasalata the best we've ever had. With a bottle of Italian red. We've opted against the sheep's testicles, on the menu at about £10, though clearly we could have dined out on the story for years.

Alexander has a job orchestral tuning in the morning and Flora deserves a ride home, so we say goodbye at the restaurant and hop on a bus for Liverpool St.