Wake up in Victorian flat, briefly our home. Just off Kilburn High Road so close access to everything we could want. Kilburn, as name suggests, originally Irish and still possible to buy Irish newspapers but now a delightfully mixed neighbourhood with large African and Middle East representation. Vibrant in a way that Queensway used to be thirty years ago, a way that constantly disappears and then reinvents itself.
Check out produce and prices in Aldi. Yes, the Tempranillo we like is still here. J heads for the pastry bins, thinking Danishes, when I suddenly remember the original priority for the day, and say “We have NO money”. Not strictly or catastrophically true of course. But in terms of Sterling cash pretty accurate. Maybe a few small coins but nothing likely to add up to two Danishes - which in any case they seem not to have. Do have cards but need to hit a cash point fairly immediately.
Discover that the first five cash points we pass, most of them associated with major banks, are not functioning. Relieved that they are able to point out their deficiencies onscreen rather than simply eating my card, but no further ahead. Others trying as well, and looking pretty philosophically resigned, suggesting this is not surprising. News of country wide digital failure not anticipated. No dinner tonight I say to one woman as she turns away from the screen and she laughs. Then, unexpectedly, a Santander (credit where credit is due) cash point delivers.
Pass Roses, our favourite café. Once old school caff, now restyling itself as bistro (and featuring upgraded furniture as well), which may not bode well for prices - the food always was good. J asks the owner, a lovely Turkish Kurd who always remembers us, what day they do the kleftiko. Used to be on a Thursday. Seems they mostly don’t now - but how long are we here for? Come next week and maybe we can.
Across the road we can hear the rising excitement before we spot the gathering. Throng outside Sir Colin Campbell pub, which still is Irish, keying up for the Manchester United game about to start and already singing with gusto, those passing on the opposite side of the street joining in with stereophonic effect. The sound is so joyous it’s hard not to get drawn in as we pass.
Do make one more stop, this time for a chicken off the rotisserie in front of one of the small grocery shops. We’ve bought there before and always good. So home to enjoy it with flatbread from the same shop.
And, late report: “Manchester United survived one of the most astonishing FA Cup semifinal comebacks ever to beat second-tier Coventry City on penalties in a spellbinding clash that ended 3-3 after extra time at Wembley Stadium on Sunday”.
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