The eating and drinking got off to an auspicious start on Friday evening, with a Cambridge-based group visit to the Rice Boat, a highly recommended Kerala restaurant in Newnham. Excellent curry and too much wine resulted in a hangover on Saturday morning, but that was soon cured by watching the footballing gods restore right to the world with the defeat of the evil red empire by the patched up red and white forces of beautiful football.
Thence to Central London to meet up with more friends, principally from la bienheureuse's time in Canterbury. First stop Vinopolis, with a guided tour given by une belle portugaise followed by an excellent meal at the in-house restaurant Cantina, and more drinks in a riverside pub. Good wine, good food and a gin cocktail - what more perfect night out is there?
A rather more judicious intake of wine resulted in a somewhat clearer head on Sunday for the duck tour. Not the winged, webbed footed variety in park ponds, but an amphibious landing craft painted bright yellow and used as a vehicle for a tour on both land and water. The best bit of course was the splash down the ramp into the river.
After a late lunch on the South Bank, next stop was Bexleyheath for overnight lodging chez les bons docteurs C, entertainment provided by the tireless J-Z double act and sparklers in the rain. Monday, after le fils ainé was gently persuaded to forsake our bed for a trip to school, we spent a typical Sunday morning watching DVDs and the driving rain outside while the JezDoctor worked upstairs. Then it was off to Gatwick for a delayed flight back home.
