The London Trip Initiation

Yesterday it was the trip I was waiting for. Across to London for the day. I couldn't say up to London or down to London as it is westerly from us here.

First I stopped in Eltham to do a visit at a Greene King pub called the Crown. Had a couple of pints of the standard IPA . Afterwards I perused a couple of charity shops in the high street , and got “The Subtle Knife” by Philip Pullman (Scholastic Press) and Russell Hoban “Angelica Lost and Found” (Bloomsbury).



I then took the train to Charing Cross and underground to Notting Hill. I popped into MVE first to exchange some items in the book section. Picked up two CDs from the jazz shop, a book by David Remmick “King Of The World” (Picador). The CD's are by John Coltrane “Travelin In” (Prestige) and Michael Garrick and Shane Keane “Rising Stars” (Trunk)..

I took my £5 voucher with me form my GFK online media surveys (TV and radio) and used it in Waterstones. Bought “Winter King,The Dawn of Tudor England” by Thomas Penn (Penguin) which had a 25% discount and with my voucher it only cost me £1.74.

I then walked down Portobello Road to Intoxica. This could be the last time I visit before they close. Picked up two albums for a fiver ,Jane Siberry "The Walking" (Reprise) and Don Robertson “Dawn” (Akarma).The owner was there and I had a quick chat with him about music in general.



Time whipped by, and I decided to get over to Centrepoint to take part in this focus group. Afterwards I popped into Fopp and picked up three books at a quid each and a DVD for cousin on Creation Records. The staff member made a mistake with the discounts and I got these four items for four quid rather than a fiver.

The books were -

“Cider With Rosie” Laurie Lee (Vintage)
“A Beautiful Mind” Sylvia Nasar ( Faber)
“Illywhacker” Peter Carey (Faber)

At Wetherspoons whilst waiting for a train had a pint of Vasiloetrovsky Imperial Russian Stout (6.5% ABV).



The only thing I would have liked to see , given more time, would be to The Cube for the Gilbert and George exhibition.

My tweets

• Wed, 12:12: Sun has come out so going to be a nice day after all
• Wed, 16:31: Done music and video exchange but could not find album cousin wanted but got two jazz CDs
• Wed, 16:32: Off to Intoxica now
• Wed, 17:08: Off to the group thing
• Wed, 21:05: On the way home after the focus meeting
• Wed, 21:43: @spotonetwo not going well for Chelsea ?
• Wed, 21:45: Awaiting train at Victoria so pint at Wetherspoons
• Wed, 21:59: Standing room only on this train so what is going on
• Wed, 22:18: @spotonetwo glad they [Chelsea] did it and i forgot about the theatres

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The Sheppey Sublimation

Morning I was down at the library doing my stint at “computer buddying” but nobody to help , possibly because the good weather kept them away.

In the afternoon I took a trip to Sheeness and then to Gillingham.

At Sheerness (on the island other side of the Swale) I popped into Scope for a visit. Bought a CD and a book. The CD is by the incomparable Luther Vandross “The Essential Luther Vandross” (Epic 2 x CD) for £2. Quality SOUL music.

The book is a hardback collection of short stories by Hanif Kureishi “The Body” (Faber).

I then took the 327 bus from Sittingbourne towards Medway and a visit to a Punch Tavern pub for a a couple of drinks at the Brittania. They only had Ruddles County but is a well kept ale.


Feeling a bit tired now so off to bed soon.