10-15.07 - Days 177-182 - Chelmsford incl Peckham
Wednesday 10th July - Chelmsford - Peckham - Chelmsford
Today we visited a quiet Oaklands Park (Day 177, 10th Jul) - because it’s still term time for other kids - to play, and race the flying fox, to try and find the balancing spot if all four of us sit on the see-saw, and collect pine cones.
Whilst Sienna makes some birthday cards with grandma’s plethora of arts and crafts materials, grandad, Seb and I walk Willow.
Late in the afternoon I jump on the train into London, through to Peckham Rye. Here I’m met by Dean, another from the TNS gang in 2004ish, plus we shared a flat in Ealing Common whilst going through the grad scheme.
He, Bron, myself and Wally the miniature sausage dog venture out to the Prince of Peckham for tasty jerk chicken but as the pub gets fuller, and fuller, and fuller we realise we’re 42 and not 22 and instead opt to watch the Euros semi-final between England and Holland at their flat. There’s no queue for the bar here, plus we have prime view seats and as a bonus Ollie Watkins scores a 90th minute winner to push England through to the final on Sunday.
After a good night's sleep on the sofa bed (Day 178, Thu 11th Jul) the three of us take Wally for a walk to Peckham Rye Common - complete even with AFL posts and pitch - past The Old Nun’s Head pub which has the historic back story you’d expect of a medieval English pub.
Whilst Bron works in the study, Dean and I settle down for a session of the mostly one-sided Test Match between England and the West Indies, most notable for it being Jimmy Anderson’s last Test; he being the same age as us, but with an extra 704 Test wickets to his name.
We train into Blackfriars for lunch with Tom, another TNS-er from 2004/5, who I lived with in Ealing Broadway - still the nicest rental house we lived in. Despite only an hour’s notice and after having arrived late to work, Tom is able to come out for two hours to stand in the sun for a few beers - his highlight, my low light being when pigeon poo splats Dean and I.
Finally he heads back to work and Dean and I visit Sixes in Shepherds Bush, each facing 8 overs from a bowling machine. My sedate 38-3 off 48 balls at least outlasts Dean’s 25-4. Perhaps next time we’ll dial down the speed arm even if it would be less funny.
As I tube, train and walk home to Chelmsford, Kate, Sienna, Seb, Pete, Sonia and Ethan are on their way back from Legoland - a fun filled day of rides and not as horrendous queues as last time which is a good result. I think we’re all happy with our choices.
Friday 12th July - Chelmsford (Day 179)
After real world maths and physics of trying to get the four of us balanced on a see-saw in the park we head round to Matt and Vicky’s house where Sienna and Seb comfortably disappear upstairs to play with their son Ethan.
Dinner at Gwyn and Grahams is a fulfilling curry prepared by Pete and a cheesecake by Sonia where all the adults eat too much while the kids watch Luca the movie upstairs.
Spurred on by having a 17 year old whipper snapper in Euan also doing the Park Run (Day 180, Sat 13th Jul) I carve 15 or 20 seconds off last week's time amongst the approx. 800 runners.
Gwynneth and Graham are on Sienna and Seb duty today taking them off to watch Ethan in a police cadets parade and fundraising fete.
Meanwhile Kate and I escape to Alexandra Palace (Ally Pally) for the Kaleidoscope Festival where ages range from 0-10 and 30-50. It’s a great set up, compact in size, lots of viewing points, plenty of bars (and toilets).
Highlights include a one way ‘Conversation with Brian Blessed’, a north London choir on the main stage, Artful Dodger in the DJ tent, Go Team back on the main stage, topped off with Classical Ministry of Sound with a 35 piece orchestra, 3 singers and booming beats loud enough to perhaps regret standing five rows from the front- but at the time it was great. A very easy and enjoyable festival.
Sunday (Day 181, 14th Jul) the sun is still out for British summer and there’s a play in the park with Matt, Vicky and Ethan, plus Elaine, Ed, Violet, Florence and Amber in Admirals park.
Seb and I then joined Graham, Ethan, Euan and Pete at the County Cricket Ground for a T20 cricket match between Essex Eagles and Surrey, with the away team eventually easing to victory as the run chase got steeper and steeper for Essex. The sunny almost quaint setting in contrast to the T20 Seb is used to of the Sydney Sixers in a 45,000 seat stadium.
We all then make it home in time to watch Spain out play England in the Euro final. More years of hurt. Maybe next time.
After a succession of busier days Monday (Day 182, 15th Jul) is quieter as adults head to work and Euan and Ethan to school. Sienna and Seb content themselves with a giant hot chocolate at Costa to meet with an old work friend of Kate’s from Barratts - Eileene (who we also catch up with in Sydney when they visit their family on the Central Coast).
And besides a lot of trampolining and backyard football, Monday is done and dusted.