John - Archived Entries for 2023 / 9

Try to pretend you don't want one of these tweed caps.

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:: Monaco to London
Monday in Monaco
Aix to Monaco
Eating in Aix
Port d'Alon
London to Aix en Provence
Covent Garden Pubs, Somerset House and Pizza
Tuesday
Trofie with Pesto on the Heath
Korean Food and Billy Can Gin and Tonic
Saturday
Friday
Walking to Watchet
Quantock Hills
Vegan Unagi
Vegan Goose and Hite
Cinema
Saturday
Bury St Edmunds and Grantchester
Crazy Golf, Orford and Glamping
Ufford
Hampstead and Badminton
Marshes
Gilbert and George
Lasagne
Last Day of Work
Outdoor Cooking and Flying Ants
New Stuff
Al
Another Day Out with Erika
Pangbourne to Goring
Homemade Pizza
Exton Park and Monster Munch
Erika's Bedroom Redesign
ESW in the Rain
Back from Devon
Pubs and Boats
Kayaking
Bec and Dave's Wedding
Down to Devon
Day Out with Erika
Wednesday
Gusbourne and Geese
Chinese Food
Sunday
Surrey Hills
Risotto on the Heath
Thursday
Pizza and ESW on the heath
Tuesday
Monday
Medway Megaliths
Keymer Down
Friday
Exton Park
Twice to the Heath
Sports Day and Morris Dancing
Monday
Sunday
Saturday
ESW and Chips
Inns of Court
Office
Old Timers
Monday
Sunday with Martin and Lucy
Lucy and Martin and Pulp Concert

Monaco to London: [Tuesday 5th September 2023]
We headed back to London today - me by train, the girls by plane.
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Monday in Monaco: [Monday 4th September 2023]
I woke ridiculously early and went down to the hotel beach to watch the sunrise. When I got back the girls were still fast asleep so I went out again, for a morning stroll around Monaco, to see if I could find a spot with a nice view of the principality.

Then breakfast at the hotel, after which I dragged the girls out for another walk, to the market, our favourite lunch spot, by way of the Japanese gardens and the casino square.

Back to the hotel after that for more swimming and lounging around on the beach, then dinner ended up being back at the same restaurant as the previous evening.
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Aix to Monaco: [Sunday 3rd September 2023]
In the daytime we took the (budget version of) the TGV from Aix to Nice, then on from there to Monaco, arriving at our hotel around 3pm. Spent most of the rest of the afternoon at the hotel's beach / pool. Then later on out for dinner at our old favourite restaurant on the beach, before heading back to the hotel for post-dinner cocktails (also on the beach).
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Eating in Aix: [Saturday 2nd September 2023]
Quite a foody sort of a day in Aix en Provence today. Started with pain au chocolats at a patisserie, then went for a stroll around the market and more snacking.

Later in the afternoon Chie and Erika went for a swim in the pool at our friend's apartment complex, while I did more food shopping for dinner. I cooked my interpretation of Provencal classic "Petits Farcis" and while it was baking we had a quick outing to see the Terrain des Peintres, where Cezanne used to go and paint views of a nearby mountain.
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Port d'Alon: [Friday 1st September 2023]
We spent the daytime at a little cove / beach called Port d'Alon which our friends who live in Aix had discovered. In the evening back to Aix for dinner at a Lebanese restaurant.
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London to Aix en Provence: [Thursday 31st August 2023]
Travelled by train from London to Aix en Provence today. Eurostar to Paris, then 1st class on the TGV from there to Aix. Arrived in Aix in time for a late al fresco dinner in a lively square in town.
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Covent Garden Pubs, Somerset House and Pizza: [Wednesday 30th August 2023]
Quite a mixed bag of a day. I spent a bit of time in the afternoon making a video about Covent Garden pubs. Erika joined me for the tail end of that, and then we went for tea and cake in Somerset House. After that, dinner with work friends who were visiting from the US.
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Tuesday: [Tuesday 29th August]
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Trofie with Pesto on the Heath: [Monday 28th August 2023]
Went to the heath to cook trofie with pesto for lunch.
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Korean Food and Billy Can Gin and Tonic: [Sunday 27th August 2023]
Went for Korean food today for lunch on a whim, although to be honest it was a bit disappointing. Later on I randomly made a gin and tonic in my billy can.
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Saturday: [Saturday 26th August]
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Friday: [Friday 25th August]
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Walking to Watchet: [Thursday 24th August 2023]
Woke up in the Quantock Hills, had a simple breakfast on a hilltop watching the sunrise, then walked from there to Watchet where I had a second breakfast. Then got the bus to Taunton, and the train back to London.
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Quantock Hills: [Wednesday 23rd August 2023]
I got the train down to Taunton, for a one night stay in the Quantock Hills. I seemed to hit it at a perfect time of year, with the heather in bloom, and on a day with good weather, and the colours were utterly glorious. A beautiful part of England, I don't know why I had never been before!
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Vegan Unagi: [Tuesday 22nd August 2023]
Vegan unagi (eel) was better than expected.
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Vegan Goose and Hite: [Monday 21st August 2023]
Neither of these things were very good.
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Cinema: [Sunday 20th August 2023]
Took Erika to the cinema for a change. Later on I went to the heath for a bit around dusk.
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Saturday: [Saturday 19th August 2023]
Bit of sabrage. Not much else to report.
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Bury St Edmunds and Grantchester: [Friday 18th August 2023]
Breakfast and a morning / early afternoon stroll around Bury St Edmunds, then later on stopped off in Grantchester for a late lunch / afternoon tea on the way back to London.
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Crazy Golf, Orford and Glamping: [Thursday 17th August 2023]
Did a round of crazy golf at the golf course hotel in the morning. Then motored on to Orford, where we had lunch and spent some of the afternoon. From there, we then proceded to our glamping site near Bury St Edmunds, where we'd be staying the night in a "pod" in the woods.
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Ufford: [Wednesday 16th August 2023]
Drove to Suffolk, where we had somewhat randomly chosen to stay the first night of our trip in what was essentially a golf hotel, because it had a swimming pool and was close to the part of Suffolk we wanted to visit.
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Hampstead and Badminton: [Tuesday 15th August 2023]
Did a quick pub tour of Hampstead for a video. Then later on played badminton with the girls.
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Marshes: [Monday 14th August 2023]
I went for a walk in the marshes of the Thames Estuary.
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Gilbert and George: [Sunday 13th August 2023]
Went to East London for lunch and to the visit the Gilbert and George centre. Also a visit to Eataly.
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Lasagne: [Saturday 12th August 2023]
I made a very nice lasagne for dinner.
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Last Day of Work: [Friday 11th August 2023]
After 16.5 years, today was my final day of employment with the company. The girls came to the office with me to help me pick things up from my desk.
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Outdoor Cooking and Flying Ants: [Thursday 10th August 2023]
Got the train down to Hassocks to spend the evening cooking and drinking wine while watching the sunset on the South Downs. Whilst doing so was attacked by a swarm of flying ants.
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New Stuff: [Wednesday 9th August 2023]
Replacement GoPro and my new MacBook arrived today. In the evening some ESW on the heath.
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Al: [Tuesday 8th August 2023]
Started off going for some early evening Burgundy in a ditch on Hampstead Heath, but then received an invitation from Al to head into the centre of town for dinner.
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Another Day Out with Erika: [Monday 7th August 2023]
More dimsum and bookshops with Erika, followed by gelato this time, then later on a spot of gardening.
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Pangbourne to Goring: [Sunday 6th August 2023]
I headed to an old stomping ground in the daytime for a walk along the Thames Path and to revisit some old favourite pubs. Mostly took video, not many photos.
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Homemade Pizza: [Saturday 5th August 2023]
Went to Sainsbury's, so we could buy ingredients for homemade pizza - Erika had got an idea for making a sort of face shaped pizza.
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Exton Park and Monster Munch: [Friday 4th August 2023]
More Exton Park on the heath, this time with some Monster Munch.
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Erika's Bedroom Redesign: [Thursday 3rd August 2023]
Erika was experimenting with some ideas for redesigning her bedroom a bit.
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ESW in the Rain: [Wednesday 2nd August 2023]
Went and sat on the heath in the rain under a tarp and had some ESW.
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Back from Devon: [Tuesday 1st August 2023]
Drove back from Devon today.

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Pubs and Boats: [Monday 31st July 2023]
The girls went to IKEA today, while Dad and I did a mini pub tour or Topsham - the wonderful Bridge Inn, followed by the ferry to the Turf, then we walked back from there. Didn't take a lot of photos though as I was mainly focusing on video.
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Kayaking: [Sunday 30th July 2023]
Chie, Erika and I hired kayaks this afternoon and paddled along the Exeter canal to the Turf Hotel for lunch.
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Bec and Dave's Wedding: [Saturday 29th July 2023]
Went down to Sidmouth for Bec and Dave's wedding.
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Down to Devon: [Friday 28th July 2023]
Drove down to Devon today. The usual motorway services lunch.
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Day Out with Erika: [Thursday 27th July 2023]
Second day of my week off deciding whether to quit my job. Chie went out for the day and Erika and I had a nice day out together: a mix of book shops, dim sum and mocktails.
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Wednesday: [Wednesday 26th July 2023]
First day of my week off work while I decided my future. Lunch at the Pineapple, then did a tour of Southwark pubs for a video. Then in the evening pizza with local friends.
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Gusbourne and Geese: [Tuesday 25th July 2023]
Actually quite a momentous day - I told my boss I was considering quitting, and was going to take a week off to think about it. To help clear my head I went and sat down at Bankside, with a bottle of Gusbourne's Pinot Noir, and eventually there met Andrew and an eccentric guy who wander around London feeding the geese, who it turned out had originally also worked for big Silicon Valley tech companies. Quite a surreal evening.
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Chinese Food: [Monday 24th July 2023]
Chinese food as usual on a Monday. Cooekd some of it out in the garden on my campstove.
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Sunday: [Sunday 23rd July 2023]
Stayed fairly close to home.
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Surrey Hills: [Saturday 22nd July 2023]
Failed attempt at a wild camp in the Surrey Hills, and also passed through Denbies vineyard.
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Risotto on the Heath: [Friday 21st July 2023]
Spent the evening with Jeremy on the heath, cooked a porcini risotto and drank some wine.
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Thursday: [Thursday 20th July 2023]
Seems I took a stroll through Dartmouth Park, then to the heath.
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Pizza and ESW on the heath: [Wednesday 19th July 2023]
Had dinner on the heath.
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Tuesday: [Tuesday 18th July]
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Monday: [Monday 17th July]
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Medway Megaliths: [Sunday 16th July 2023]
Got the train down to Kent to explore Kit's Coty and some of the other Medway Megaliths.
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Keymer Down: [Saturday 15th July 2023]
Went down to the South Downs in the daytime to cook lunch on Keymer Down.
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Friday: [Friday 14th July 2023]
Took delivery of some Breaky Bottom. After work went and sat on the heath under a tarp in the rain.
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Exton Park: [Thursday 13th July 2023]
Took delivery of some Exton Park today.
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Twice to the Heath: [Wednesday 12th July 2023]
It seems I went to the heath twice today, although I can't quite remember why.
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Sports Day and Morris Dancing: [Tuesday 11th July 2023]
Erika's sports day in the morning. Ate out at our local Italian restaurant for dinner. In the evening Morris Dancing outside the Pineapple.
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Monday: [Monday 10th July]
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Sunday: [Sunday 9th July 2023]
Off to the heath for a bit. Nice sunset in the evening.
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Saturday: [Saturday 8th July 2023]
Rainy Saturday, mostly stayed close to home.
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ESW and Chips: [Friday 7th July 2023]
Chips and English sparkling for dinner. Later on I went for a stroll to the heath.
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Inns of Court: [Thursday 6th July 2023]
Took the afternoon off work and went for a wander around Fleet Street and the Inns of Court to make a video.
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Office: [Wednesday 5th July 2023]
I actually went to the office today, as a colleague was visiting from the US.
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Old Timers: [Tuesday 4th July 2023]
In the evening met up with some old timers from work for dinner and cocktails.
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Monday: [Monday 3rd July 2023]
I took delivery of a Raspberry Pi computer in the daytime, and in the evening Erika baked Pikachu cookies.
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Sunday with Martin and Lucy: [Sunday 2nd July 2023]
Erika went off to a birthday party in the daytime (a very busy weekend of socialising for her!), and as Martin and Lucy were still in London we went out for lunch with them.
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Lucy and Martin and Pulp Concert: [Saturday 1st July 2023]
Lucy and Martin were in London for the Pulp concert in Finsbury Park which, as it happens, we were also going to.
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