ENGLAND JOURNAL VI

Cloudy bright day. Was to meet godson HR for burger in Hammersmith. However still feeling very punk - cramps all night. This bug, whatever it is still has not passed off. General soreness and fatigue.

Jen off to Fortnum's then to meet NR in Kensington. I am staying in trying to recover. We are off to Ely tomorrow and don't wish to be this unwell. I shall soft peddle food today - eat very light. Last night's meal may have been too much for my system.

I do love the library here - I often work in the "silence library' - quiet, and clam atmosphere.

The Silence Library at O&C LONDON

There is a very elderly and frail gentleman I see around the club at weekends. I first encounter him in the morning bar having a coffee and reading a paper - this morning it was the FT. I also see him in the library and later in the day in the drawing room having an early tea.

I suspect the club is his haunt, particularly on weekends. Likely he has no family or not much family and the club is a life for him. I could think of worse ways to spend my declining years.

So last dinner at Club tonight. Bar populated by some at times typical colonial yobs - Oxford clearly. they can afford the fees but have none of the required poise or sophistication.

In the dining room a mixed crowed - some very polished Italians and then the provincial couple in from the provinces for some shopping and dinner at the club - the slightly overweight and not entirely attractive daughter in tow...

And so ends the visit to the O&C.

ENGLAND JOURNAL V

After a late night at dinner art CH's a late lazy morning sleeping in. Up at 10. Washed and dressed and out to café - St James - on Pall Mall. Had coffee then off to underground to Leicester Sq. This a big waste and mistake. In the time it takes to walk to Green Park Underground could have easily walked to Leicester Sq. Once there to Cecil Court to Patere3 Ellis books to pick up the Prynne book I had purchased in September. A very nice copy of his 1972 poems titled "Into The Day".

Poked about Cecil Court for a bit then walked back along Pall Mall to Club. Stopped here to drop our clobber and get a light lunch in the Bloomfield Room.

Refreshed we headed out to do errands at Fortnum's (tea for home) and Gift for Kat. I headed to Hatchard's whilst leaving Janet in the crush at Fortnum's. We meet up at the bookshop and walked towards Club to Berry Brothers. There I bought a btl. of a 2003 Sauterne as a gift for CC and SC. for when we go up to Ely Sunday.

We have tickets for the Picasso exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery for 6:30. Will have tea here then head to Gallery. Back here for a late dinner.

LATER

Exhibition was good. Not packed out which was the best feature.  I liked the early things but find it difficult to relate to his later portraits. I simply don't have the astatic to appreciate this art,

So walk back to club, change for dinner and dinner in Coffee Room - same menu as Wednesday. Had the duck and a wonderful bottle of Ch, Poujeaux 2000!

Club seems to have lost our laundry - but they promise to have it back by tomorrow morning. We shall see.

ENGLAND IV - SICKNESS STRIKES

BEING ILL


After spending an evening where I became increasingly crampy - got up to use bathroom and had loose BM. Came back to bed but got very nauseous. Threw up a bit. Back to bed but up over next few hours with cramps.  Feeling weak and light headed. Not at all well. Wondering if this due to scallops last evening - possible I suppose...

No Thanksgiving lunch - spent day in bed trying to recover. Finally by 5 felt well enough to go to tea and think about going to CH for dinner in Islington. Got car and went to CH. Survived by eating little and not having too much drink.

JG and RB at dinner. Amusing and fun as usual. Wines as usual also very good.

Mini cab back to club as I could not book Addison Lee -

Tomorrow to Peter Ellis to pick up book and run other errands.

ENGLAND JOURNAL III

PICTURES - London - Club Dinner

PM - Dinner at O&C tonight with SA, who I mentored and her BF JI. Both charming kids. She seems to have settled in at Imperial. Nice chat about past days at Harvard and research she is interested in.

ROH FOR MANON LESCAUT
YESTERDAY EVENING

HAMMERSMITH BRIDGE - LUNCH ALONG RIVER
WITH JR AND PO at The Dove

ENGLAND JOURNAL II

22-11  Full day today.

Out early for a coffee and roll at our favourite café on Pall Mall. Then to Trickers to drop off shoes for repair. Then to New and Lingwood for new collar. Used my Nat West Debit card to pay but clerk showed me it could be used as a "contactless" card. A revelation to me.

Off to Quaritch for 11:30 - lunch with Barbara and will drop off exhibition catalogues as gifts.

Tea with Chris at 4 at O&C then dinner and opera (Manon Lescaut).

Weather has cleared some. There is actual sun out there! Hope it holds for a while.

CONTINUED:

Had a tea about 4:30 then car to ROH. Well in time for dinner at Crush Bar. Hardly anyone Apparently many ppl just order something for the interval as was full then. This a superb venue especially if one has tickets in stall circles. Easy access, coat check not crowded as the one near Floral Hall. Only negative is men's rooms miles away! If you have to have a slash during interval time is an issue.

But the cold supper and wine were perfection as was the opera despite all the negative comment from friends about the staging, Band was excellent and the voices really great! A superb evening over all.

Took a car to the hall but underground back. Found the station easily only negative was a stupid cow of a young bitch who soldered me out of the way on my blind side! It seems Americans are not the only rude yobs!!!

Back to O&C and stopped at bar for  Cognac.

Now to bed. Need to meet JR and PO (and his wife) for lunch. Was to be a sausage fest but for PO's including his wife. Ah well...

ENGLAND JOURNAL - I

20th - Left early for Meldreth. Missed connection at Stevenage due to engineering works! Managed to get connection to Royston. JG collected us at Royston.

His light lunch turned out not to be so light - fois gras with sauterne, slow cooked lamb, potatoes and veg, treacle tart to end. Nice claret with the lamb..

JG kindly drove us to Cambridge. Left at the hotel (Former Garden House) where J realized she had left a bag in John's car. John contacted and brought bag back - all well.

Dressed and arrived at Chapel in good time for the comm. service. Found it very moving as usual especially the use of the old prayer book language.  Sermon was frankly not much.

Big group - Champers in combination rooms a bit of a crush. Then into Hall for dinner. Sung grace by choir. Sat next Casey for dinner. Had not seen in in some time. Talked over past and then politics.

Dinner very good and wines, as usual, of the best especially the white with fish course and the claret for the beef.

More later - must get ready to meet JR for dinner at Lord's.

21st.

Weather has been gray. wet. cold and miserable.

Got an earlier train form Cambridge  to London and doing errand at Bank and purchasing replacement scarf for Caius Scarf stolen from cloak room at Union Club.

Once back at Club had cup of tea and buttered bun. Good refreshing option.

JR here at 4:30. Had quick drink then car to Lord's. At first could not book ADLEE but sorted it out eventually and got to Lord's in good time. Drinks and dinner quite nice - Lancashire Hot pot.  JR, myself and Paul and Andy. Andy was up at john's and read Hx. Was supervised by Abulafia,  Talk was of  cricket, Cambridge and politics (not too much political discourse). Taxi with JR back to Club. Dropped JR at Green Park.

Janet and I went to morning bar for a coffee and I had a brandy.

Tomorrow to Qs and two small errands - drop off shoes for repair and buy wing collar at New and Lingwood.

Dinner and Opera at ROH in evening. But CH to tea at 4,