Dhan Waffle

First of all, the update on the family.

It has been a while since the last post when we went out for a meal.  Since then we have had a few things happen.  Last weekend we travelled to London to see our (that is my and my wife's) parents though due to an accident on the A406, it was a very tiring day.  In addition to this we have had a learning conference (or as I used to call it when I was younger, a parents evening) were my daughter was told that she is amazing, and my son was told that he needs to show everyone how amazing he is more often.  And it was his birthday.  That was great as we had a gaming party where my wife had arranged for someone (a very nice lady) to come round with two projection screens and she connected them up to some PlayStation's and also brought two virtual reality headsets.  Being boys, the kids absolutely loved it, and being a boy, I did as well.  It all went well for him and I have to compliment my wife once again on her amazing abilities at organisation and with the cake, cooking.

Today, while my son was at two birthdays I was in London for a course.  When walking back to my car (which was parked where I did not have to pay), I got to eat at Maltby Street, indulging in a very nice (and posh) hot dog as well as some amazing dumplings.  The picture does not do the flavour of the dumplings any justice as they were amazing.  And unlike many other places to eat in Maltby Street market, there was no queue.  After eating the dumplings, and then eating more, I felt sorry for those who walked past them.  I know that when I have my next course in that area, I am going to try to find an excuse to travel to Maltby Street so that I can eat before I return home.  The downside of driving home from there though is that I do not get to have any of the beer I saw being drunk there.

And on getting home, I got to listen to the Arsenal game.  The midweek demolition was demoralising to say the least and a friend of mine commented that Lincoln would be looking forwards to this game.  And considering that they nearly made it to half time with no goals being scored, you could not fault that statement.  But we won and appeared to do so with ease as Lincoln tired in the second half.  And it has taken away a little bit of the hurt that I have suffered as a fan, but I suspect it will return soon.

Anyway, my wife is in bed, unwell with a poorly knee which means that she was not able to go out tonight has planned, but instead has had to stay in bed watching Gilmore Girls while I watched the Voice with the kids (who vanished before the end) and a mug of wine (it saves on washing a glass later in the day when I am tipsy, an issue as my daughter broke our last habitat goblet).

Last of all before videos from artists from The Voice UK, my standings on two chess tournaments were a bit respectable.  Thanks to a few time outs, I finished 6th (out of 12) in the quicky tournament, and in the 34th Chess.com Quick Knockouts (1401-1600) I finished in 197th place out of 315 places (and 527 players).  Well I was proud!    

Our last weekend

Last weekend was amazing and we did loads.  The kids had a non-pupil day on Monday but did not realise that my wife had taken time off for me on the day.  We travelled down to London, on Sunday picked up my mother and then travelled to Maltby Street.  We have been there many times before and we all love it, though it was the first time for my mother to be there.  And when there we enjoyed the food and drink that is there.  I often eat at Borough Market, which has a much larger choice of food, but as it is more well known, is a lot more crowded and also does not seem as friendly as those in Maltby Street.  The kids had waffles, my wife a toasted sandwich and we drank cocktails, though as I was driving, with no alcohol for me!

After a drive across London to drop off my mother, we went to watch Hotel Transylvania 2, and other than the end, I have to say I loved it.  And when it comes to the end, it is a film for kids, not for adults, so while I would love to be harsh, it is not about that.  Needless to say, the kids loved the film and worked out which film they were to watch when I said it was a horror film.  After that it was a drive back to South London where we drove into a hotel, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel London - Docklands Riverside.  The kids were surprised and at a loss as to what I was to do with work on Monday, let alone what to wear, until we revealed the suitcase.  My daughter had noted it before, but had not worked out that we were to go on a weekend away!

Come the morning we had a good breakfast and then we took the ferry from the hotel across the river to Canary Wharf.  The kids had fun walking though it especially as after the rush hour it was not too busy.  They loved the fountain in the fountain in Cabot Square and also got to see a Harrier Hawk that is used to keep the Pigeons away.  But in addition to that, they got to sit at the front of a DLR train, one that went underground as we went to Bank.  They wanted to know what the end of the tunnel looked like, but when we went to travel on the Waterloo and City line, they got to see what the end of one tunnel looked like.  From there it was a walk by the side of the South Bank Centre were we bought the Big Issue.  The vendor told the kids that if they were good, they might get taken out somewhere nice for lunch and little did he, or they, know just right he was!  Walking across Waterloo Bridge was a different experience for them and then we decided to have a break when in Aldwych as we went into The One Aldwych Hotel.  My daughter guessed something was up but had little idea we were to experience the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Tea Party.  And what an experience it was.  The sandwiches were great, the service perfect but I ate too much and this was an issue when it came to the sweets.  The kids loved the Candy floss most, but they had been filled on sandwiches and had to let me help them finish.  

Following this, it was a trip to Covent Garden to see a magician perform a trick where he escaped from chains.  Again, this was an experience for the children, my son soaking it all in, my daughter being grossed out by parts of it.  And then home.  All in all, an enjoyable weekend for all, one that I suspect will not be repeated for some time.