Thursday, September 6th 2012
The first item on the agenda today was my hospital appointment. The background to this has already been narrated (see The follow-up or Nothing concluded) so I won’t go over it all again. I will just say that having a catheter replaced is not an enjoyable experience but it was done expertly and with minimal trauma.
We returned home after the hospital appointment to drop off the supplies I had been given and to have a cup of tea. Around 12 we set out on the next phase of the day’s activity. We had a choice of places to go and decided on Burgh House in Hampstead as it had been closed last time we went there.
We took the 214 to Kentish Town and got off at Prince of Wales Road. There we had lunch in the PizzaExpress restaurant sited in the apartment block on the corner of Prince of Wales Road and Kentish Town Road. Going there always gives me an odd feeling because this building previously belonged to the polytechnic where I taught for some years. The restaurant is in the old gymnasium, though this is no longer obvious apart from the unusual height of the room.
The Castle
Once an Indian restaurant but what of the future?
Whenever we go to Kentish Town, we always take a look at 132 Kentish Town Road. This scruffy establishment was once an Indian restaurant and we even had a meal here once – but only after we had convinced the owner that we were respectable folk. I don’t know the reason for his caution though he did hint at trouble from ruffians. Since then, the place has remained virtually derelict which is very unusual in a vigorous business area like the Kentish Town Road. The scaffolding hints that changes are in view but time will tell.
After lunch we took the 46 to Hampstead and got off at the top of the High Street. By now I was beginning to feel sore from my morning’s adventure and walking was causing acute discomfort. Apart from anything else, this distracted me from enjoying my surroundings and taking photos.
Burgh House
Museum, art gallery, lecture hall and wedding venue
I tried to ignore the discomfort, telling myself it would wear off. At Burgh House we looked at some of the exhibits. In one room was a series of paintings of Hampstead done at various periods, mainly the 19th and early 20th centuries, accompanied by photos of the same views today so that we could compare “then” and “now”. It was interesting that while many views had changed somewhat or even completely (and not always for the better), some scenes were still recognizably the same.
We made our way back to Hampstead High Street and went Café Rouge for coffee and cake. I took a painkiller but also went to the toilet where I managed to re-arrange things “down there” in a better configuration. It made all the difference, I’m glad to say, and I was reasonably comfortable from then on.
Marchmont Street
In the heart of Bloomsbury
Despite being on holiday, we had certain chores to perform, one of which was to deal with an over-full laundry basket. We decided that as the day was already somewhat truncated, we might as well do the laundry this evening. The launderette we use most often is in Marchmont Street, Bloomsbury, a bus ride from home.
The launderette
No competition for washers and dryers
We found the launderette almost empty and thus had no competition for washers and dryers.
Costa
Taking refreshment while the laundry is spinning
While the laundry was spinning in the washing machines, we went to the nearby branch of Costa for coffee.
The dryers
The most boring part of the operation
Waiting for the dryers is probably the most boring part of the operation. You put in your money and start the machine. Then you wait for it to stop. By now some of the laundry will be dry and the rest still damp. So you repeat the process… until everything is dry.
It was still light when we arrived at the launderette…
…but dark by the time we left.
As a reward for getting the job done, we dumped the laundry at home and went to the noodle bar for supper. That was a good end to a rather odd day. Tomorrow is a special day and, all being well, we will find something special to do.
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