Dr John Hawkins

Welcome to my bit of the Maison de Stuff, home to a huge load of pictures, and my daily blog.

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Recent Entries:

New Year's Eve
Saturday
Brighton
Back to the Muddy Ditch
Gevrey Chambertarp
Boxing Day
Christmas Day
Christmas Eve with Mum
Bubble Tea and the Heath Again
Breaky Bottom at the "Beach"
St. James's
Primrose Hill and The Heath
Bromley
Monday
Sunday
Local Friends
Breaky Bottom on the Heath
Holborn
Family Dinner
Breaky Bottom
Erika's Christmas Concert
The Usual Suspects
French Onion Soup on Ivinghoe Beacon
Lunch at the Pineapple
Thursday
Hackney
Pevsner
Monday
Gloomy Heath
Christmas Tree
More Black Dog Hill on the Heath
Ardbeg
The Heath Yet Again
More Pubs
Monday
Tornado Potatoes
Sake on the Heath
MOT and More Black Dog Hill on the Heath
Black Dog Hill on the Heath
Autumnal
Knightsbridge Pubs
Monday
Vosne Romanee on the Heath
Inkpen / North Hants Ridgeway
Jeremy's Art Exhibition
Belgravia
Pevsner
Charing Cross and Strand Pubs
Monday
Sunday
Cooking in the Garden
St Albans
Thursday
Mocktails
Chair
Monday
Morning Walk to Hassocks
Lewes Bonfire
Sunset (ish) on the Heath
Kensington Pubs
Pub Research
Halloween
Heath
Pumpkin Carving
Paddington Pubs
Ashridge Estate
Prehistoric Family Day Out
Wednesday
Hereford
To Hereford
Hospitals
Saturday Evening with Mum
Ancre Hill
Fitzrovia Pubs
Frog
Tuesday
Erika's Weather Forecast
More Burgundy on the Heath and Dinner with Friends
Greenwich Pubs
ESW on the Heath
Marylebone Pubs
Smithfields Pubs
More Ye Old Mitre Research
London Metropolitan Archives
Pineapple
Ma Po Tofu in Epping Forest
ESW on the Heath with the Usual Suspects
Ye Old Mitre
Bar Tricks
Tuesday
Mr Kipling Cherry Bakewells
Sunday
Saturday
Erika Back from her School Trip
Cambridge
Pineapple and Eataly
Oxford
School Trip
Dim sum
Autumn Equinox at Avebury
The Eve of the Autmn Equinox
Another Random Evening on the Heath
Kentish Town
Gin and Tonic on the Heath
Monday
Rain and Shine
Vegan Fried Chicken and English Sparkling Wine on Primrose Hill
Crocker's Folly
Cider on the Heath
Blackdown
Westminster Pubs
Monday
Erika's Birthday
Chocolate and Escape Room
Pre-Birthday
Pineapple
Wednesday

New Year's Eve

[Sunday 31st December 2023]
I decided to make a relatively short daytime foray out to the Bourne End area near Maidenhead to revisit the "People's Republic of Cock Marsh" and the Bounty.
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Saturday

[Saturday 30th December 2023]
Once again stayed close to home. Spent most of the daytime editing yesterday's video, then went to the heath for a bit towards the end of the afternoon but didn't take any photos.
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Brighton

[Friday 29th December 2023]
Went down to Brighton for the daytime to film another pub video.
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Back to the Muddy Ditch

[Thursday 28th December 2023]
Another day of rather gloomy weather forecasts, so again I put off a foray out of London and just headed to the heath for a bit in the late afternoon / early evening.
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Gevrey Chambertarp

[Wednesday 27th December 2023]
The weather wasn't very good for the few days after Christmas, so I put off plans for a more ambitious foray into the countryside, and instead today just went to the heath for a bit and drank some Gevrey Chambertin under a tarp.
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Boxing Day

[Tuesday 26th December 2023]
The girls flew off to Japan today. I made sag paneer for dinner in the evening.
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Christmas Day

[Monday 25th December 2023]
The now traditional Christmas Day routine - mostly at home, with a visit to the Pineapple in the early afternoon.
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Christmas Eve with Mum

[Sunday 24th December 2023]
Drove up to the East Midlands for a Christmas Eve lunch with Mum.
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Bubble Tea and the Heath Again

[Saturday 23rd December 2023]
Went down to Camden with Erika to get bubble tea in the morning. In the afternoon I headed back to my new favourite spot on the heath, a muddy ditch.
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Breaky Bottom at the "Beach"

[Friday 22nd December 2023]
Didn't manage to get out of London for the winter solstice this year, so instead went and sat on the "beach" at Bankside with Andrew and tried another of the 2018 vintages from Breaky Bottom.
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St. James's

[Thursday 21st December 2023]
Went for a traditional pre-Christmas visit to Fortnum and Mason, and while in the neighbourhood had some wine in St. James's Park.
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Primrose Hill and The Heath

[Wednesday 20th December 2023]
Went to Primrose Hill for a change to see what the local wine shops had to offer in terms of Burgundy. Then took said bottle to the heath.
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Bromley

[Tuesday 19th December 2023]
I trekked all the way down to Bromley today to do just a few seconds of filming for a silly Christmas video.
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Monday

[Monday 18th December]
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Sunday

[Sunday 17th December 2023]
Didn't seem to leave home today!
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Local Friends

[Saturday 16th December 2023]
I visited the heath in the afternoon for a bit, then in the evening our local friends came over for a pre-Christmas dinner.
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Breaky Bottom on the Heath

[Friday 15th December 2023]
Tasting some of the Breaky Bottom 2018 vintage which I helped to harvest on the heath.
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Holborn

[Thursday 14th December 2023]
In Holborn in the daytime to film another pubs video.
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Family Dinner

[Wednesday 13th December 2023]
Another school Christmas concert for Erika in the daytime, then in the evening Erika and I headed down to Woking for a family get together.
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Breaky Bottom

[Tuesday 12th December 2023]
A mixed case arrived from Breaky Bottom today including excitingly the newly released 2018 vintages which I helped to harvest!
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Erika's Christmas Concert

[Monday 11th December 2023]
Actually the first of two school Christmas concerts Erika was in this week, this one surprisingly at the Old Vic!
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The Usual Suspects

[Sunday 10th December 2023]
Out for Sunday afternoon / evening drinks with former colleagues.
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French Onion Soup on Ivinghoe Beacon

[Saturday 9th December 2023]
One of my more successful outdoor cooking endeavours, on this occasion I attempted to make a French classic atop Ivinghoe Beacon, and it turned out rather well.
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Lunch at the Pineapple

[Friday 8th December 2023]
Lunch at the Pineapple with Chie while Erika was at school.
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Thursday

[Thursday 7th December]
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Hackney

[Wednesday 6th December 2023]
In Hackney in the daytime to film another pub video.
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Pevsner

[Tuesday 5th December 2023]
Another volume of Pevsner's guide to London architecture.
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Monday

[Monday 4th December]
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Gloomy Heath

[Sunday 3rd December 2023]
A gloomy late afternoon / early evening on the heath.
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Christmas Tree

[Saturday 2nd December 2023]
Decorated the Christmas tree with Erika this evening.
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More Black Dog Hill on the Heath

[Friday 1st December 2023]
This time tried the rosé. Another lovely sunset.
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Ardbeg

[Thursday 30th November 2023]
Had a wee dram of an old bottle of Ardbeg I'd had hanging around for ages.

I think it probably has suffered a bit from being open too long?
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The Heath Yet Again

[Wednesday 29th November 2023]
Once again onto the heath. Saw some "oak apples" which were quite eyecatching.
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More Pubs

[Tuesday 28th November 2023]
Out filming in the daytime for another pub video - this time the edge of Soho on the Regents Street side.
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Monday

[Monday 27th November]
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Tornado Potatoes

[Sunday 26th November 2023]
Erika and Chie made "tornado potatoes" at lunchtime.
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Sake on the Heath

[Saturday 25th November 2023]
On a whim decided to take some sake to the heath for a change. For the third day running a really nice sunset.
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MOT and More Black Dog Hill on the Heath

[Friday 24th November 2023]
We took the car for its MOT in the daytime, and while we were waiting availed ourselves of the nearby shops and eateries. Later on I went for Black Dog Hill on the heath at sunset.
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Black Dog Hill on the Heath

[Thursday 23rd November 2023]
Recently received a shipment of Black Dog Hill so took one to the heath for sunset today. A bit cold but rather lovely!
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Autumnal

[Wednesday 22nd November 2023]
Out on the heath for a bit, and it was looking very autumnal.
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Knightsbridge Pubs

[Tuesday 21st November 2023]
Another day's filming for a pub documentary - this time covering Knightsbridge, and as always hardly took any photos!
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Monday

[Monday 20th November]
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Vosne Romanee on the Heath

[Sunday 19th November 2023]
Some Vosne Romanee on the heath in the afternoon.
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Inkpen / North Hants Ridgeway

[Saturday 18th November]
Went out for a walk today but neglected to take any photos!
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Jeremy's Art Exhibition

[Friday 17th November 2023]
Went to the Sainsbury's in Finchley Road in the morning to pick up a Click and Collect order (not entirely successfully). Then in the evening went to my friend Jeremy's latest art exhibition.
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Belgravia

[Thursday 16th November 2023]
Went down to Belgravia to visit the dentist. As is tradition I went for pizza at Oliveto afterwards, which is temporarily housed in one of the Olivo group's other restaurants owing to a fire earlier this year.
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Pevsner

[Wednesday 15th November 2023]
Got another volume of Pevsner's London to help with making my pub videos.
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Charing Cross and Strand Pubs

[Tuesday 14th November 2023]
Another afternoon out filming a pub video.
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Monday

[Monday 13th November]
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Sunday

[Sunday 12th November 2023]
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Cooking in the Garden

[Saturday 11th November 2023]
I think the girls must have been out all day today - I went to the heath for a bit in the afternoon / early evening, then back at home decided on a whim to have a little fire in the back garden and cook my dinner on it.
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St Albans

[Friday 10th November 2023]
Spent the day in St Albans doing a "collab" with another "YouTuber". Only took one photo though!
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Thursday

[Thursday 9th November 2023]
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Mocktails

[Wednesday 8th November 2023]
Erika made mocktails this evening using ingredients from a kit she'd been given for her birthday.
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Chair

[Tuesday 7th November 2023]
Impressively Erika fixed a chair we'd had since she was tiny in her woodwork class.
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Monday

[Monday 6th November]
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Morning Walk to Hassocks

[Sunday 5th November 2023]
Having hunkered down overnight up in the hills I had an early morning walk to Hassocks then got the train from there back to London.
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Lewes Bonfire

[Saturday 4th November 2023]
Attended Lewes Bonfire again, despite all the weather and the usual transport difficulties in doing so. This time with Andrew in tow.
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Sunset (ish) on the Heath

[Friday 3rd November 2023]
Late afternoon / early evening on the heath for the sunset.
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Kensington Pubs

[Thursday 2nd November 2023]
In Kensington in the afternoon to make another pub video. In the evening tried a new brand of fake steak called "Juicy Marbles"?!
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Pub Research

[Wednesday 1st November 2023]
I assume I would have spent today at home doing pub research ahead of my Kensington pub video.
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Halloween

[Tuesday 31st October 2023]
The usual halloween silliness.
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Heath

[Monday 30th October 2023]
Quick late afternoon / early evening visit to the heath.
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Pumpkin Carving

[Sunday 29th October 2023]
An annual tradition of doing pumpking carving ahead of halloween with one of Erika's friends.
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Paddington Pubs

[Saturday 28th October 2023]
Afternoon in Paddington to make another pub video.
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Ashridge Estate

[Friday 27th October 2023]
Went for a walk around some of the Ashridge Estate, near Ivinghoe Beacon. I was focusing on taking video so hardly took any photos. Just one or two of mushrooms.
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Prehistoric Family Day Out

[Thursday 26th October 2023]
A halloween themed prehistoric family day out at a place called Celtic Harmony somewhere north of London.
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Wednesday

[Wednesday 25th October]
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Hereford

[Tuesday 24th October 2023]
Spent the daytime having a wander round Hereford, taking in the cathedral and some of the shops. Then back to Robin's new place again in the evening.
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To Hereford

[Monday 23rd October 2023]
Drove from the East Midlands to Hereford, where we'd be staying at Robin's new place for the next two nights. Stopped off for lunch on the way at the Black Swan at Much Dewchurch.
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Hospitals

[Sunday 22nd October 2023]
We were hoping to have a nice day with Mum but ended up spending practically the whole of the daytime waiting around in hospitals, which was rather disappointing. Did at least still manage to have a Sunday roast at the end of the day.
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Saturday Evening with Mum

[Saturday 21st October 2023]
Drove up to the Midlands in the afternoon and in the evening went out for dinner with Mum at her local Chinese restaurant.
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Ancre Hill

[Friday 20th October 2023]
Some Ancre Hill in the back garden.
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Fitzrovia Pubs

[Thursday 19th October 2023]
Spent the afternoon in Fitzrovia making a pub video.
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Frog

[Wednesday 18th October 2023]
A frog in the back garden again.
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Tuesday

[Tuesday 17th October 2023]
A quick visit to the heath.
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Erika's Weather Forecast

[Monday 16th October 2023]
Erika did a weather forecast.
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More Burgundy on the Heath and Dinner with Friends

[Sunday 15th October 2023]
Some Burgundy on the heath in the afternoon / early evening then round to our local friends' place for dinner.
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Greenwich Pubs

[Saturday 14th October 2023]
Down to Greenwich to make another pub video. This time with Andrew in tow.
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ESW on the Heath

[Friday 13th October 2023]
Early evening on the heath for some ESW and whatever the sunset had to show for itself.
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Marylebone Pubs

[Thursday 12th October 2023]
In Marylebone to make another pubs video.
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Smithfields Pubs

[Wednesday 11th October 2023]
Spent the day making a video about Smithfields Pubs.
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More Ye Old Mitre Research

[Tuesday 10th October 2023]
Spent some of the daytime in and around Ye Old Mitre doing historic research. Then went to the Guildhall Library to look up some old records.
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London Metropolitan Archives

[Monday 9th October 2023]
Went to the LMA to look up some old records about pubs.
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Pineapple

[Sunday 8th October 2023]
It seems I popped into the Pineapple in the afternoon.
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Ma Po Tofu in Epping Forest

[Saturday 7th October 2023]
I went to Epping Forest and cooked ma po tofu for lunch.
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ESW on the Heath with the Usual Suspects

[Friday 6th October 2023]
My (ex) work friends came and joined me on the heath for a change, for an evening of ESW tasting.
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Ye Old Mitre

[Thursday 5th October 2023]
Spent some of the daytime doing research about Ye Old Mitre, for a video I was planning to make.
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Bar Tricks

[Wednesday 4th October 2023]
I practiced a couple of bar tricks this evening.
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Tuesday

[Tuesday 3rd October 2023]
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Mr Kipling Cherry Bakewells

[Monday 2nd October 2023]
It seems I bought a box of these today.
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Sunday

[Sunday 1st October 2023]
Played badminton with our neighbours in the street for a bit in the afternoon.
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Saturday

[Saturday 30th September 2023]
Went to Kings Cross in the afternoon, don't remember why. Oddly wore my top hat in the evening out in the garden. Also don't remember why.
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Erika Back from her School Trip

[Friday 29th September 2023]
Erika returned from her school trip around lunchtime. Temaki sushi for dinner.
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Cambridge

[Thursday 28th September 2023]
As a follow-on to my excursion to Oxford this week, today I went to Cambridge for a tour of the pubs there.
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Pineapple and Eataly

[Wednesday 27th September 2023]
Lunch at the Pineapple with Chie, then later on we went to Eataly and had dinner there.
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Oxford

[Tuesday 26th September 2023]
I went to Oxford for the day to do a tour of the city's pubs. Didn't take many photos as I was mainly recording video.
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School Trip

[Monday 25th September 2023]
Erika was heading off on a residential school trip today - four night awa from home! In the evening Chie and I went to Diwana on Drummond Street for dinner but I seemed to get a rather severe stomach ache on the way home.
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Dim sum

[Sunday 24th September 2023]
Went for dim sum at our old favourite Joy King Lau.
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Autumn Equinox at Avebury

[Saturday 23rd September 2023]
Woke up early and actually made it to Avebury in time for the sunrise for a change! Glad I did as it was a particularly magical one.
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The Eve of the Autmn Equinox

[Friday 22nd September 2023]
Took the train to Swindon then a bus to somewhere near Avebury in plenty of time to have a long walk around the surrounding area, taking in Windmill Hill, West Kennet Avenue, Silbury Hill, Swallowhead Springs and West Kennet Long Barrow before finding a place to make dinner and hunker down for the night.
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Another Random Evening on the Heath

[Thursday 21st September 2023]
Running out of things to say about these trips to the heath! Relatively nice sky this evening but also a bit of lightning at one point!
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Kentish Town

[Wednesday 20th September 2023]
Filmed another pub documentary, this time in Kentish Town.
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Gin and Tonic on the Heath

[Tuesday 19th September 2023]
Spent the daytime in St. James's filming another pub documentary.

In the evening a quick gin and tonic on the heath while Erika was at her woodwork class.
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Monday

[Monday 18th September]
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Rain and Shine

[Sunday 17th September 2023]
Headed to the heath for the aftenoon / early evening. Rainy to begin with but cleared up later.
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Vegan Fried Chicken and English Sparkling Wine on Primrose Hill

[Saturday 16th September 2023]
The girls were otherwise engaged in the afternoon, so I took a bottle of English sparkling wine to Primrose Hill, stopping off en route to pick up some vegan fried chicken to have with it.
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Crocker's Folly

[Friday 15th September 2023]
Chie and I went to lunch at Crocker's Folly in Marleybone, a very grand former pub which is now a Lebanese restaurant.
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Cider on the Heath

[Thursday 14th September 2023]
Took some of Dad's cider to the heath for a change from the usual wine.
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Blackdown

[Wednesday 13th September 2023]
Got the train down to Haslemere so that I could revisit the wonderful Half Moon Inn in Northchapel and then walk up to Blackcap, the highet point in the South Downs National Park.
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Westminster Pubs

[Tuesday 12th September 2023]
I spent the daytime down in Westminster making a video about the pubs in the area.
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Monday

[Monday 11th September]
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Erika's Birthday

[Sunday 10th September 2023]
Erika's birthday, spent at home, with a few friends over for a little party in the afternoon.
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Chocolate and Escape Room

[Saturday 9th September 2023]
The day before Erika's birthday. While she was at Japanese school in the morning I went down to Fortnum and Mason to buy her some chocolates. In the afternoon I took Erika and a friend to an "escape room" as part of Erika's extended birthday weekend festivities. After that gelato, then back home for a bit, then later on we went to the big Sainsbury's in Camden to buy things for Erika's party tomorrow.
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Pre-Birthday

[Friday 8th September 2023]
Erika took some cupcakes into school ahead of her birthday. In the evening we invited one of Erika's friends over for a pre-birthday dinner.
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Pineapple

[Thursday 7th September 2023]
Chie and I had lunch at the Pineapple.
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Wednesday

[Wednesday 6th September]
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