Before setting off to Shepherd’s Market and the King’s Arms to begin the celebration of Mark’s 60th I had a meeting at Mum’s flat.
I had agreed to give some of the furniture to Father Brian for him to distribute to his parishioners. He is so much more pleasant than the previous Father at the church. They removed what they wanted for now and then I took the opportunity to bag up further rubbish. I took some of the bags down to the dump and left the rest. I then changed and left to meet the guys at the pub.
The day was met and miserable and after a drink at the Kings Arms we walked back to Stratton Street to Langans Brasserie. This restaurant, orginally owned by Michael Caine and Peter Langan had a huge reputation in the 90’s as the place that stars hang out.
When we arrived at 1 pm we sat at two tables. Sitting next to me was Ray to my right and Glenn to my left. Glenn was Mark’s sailing buddy. He owns a yacht parked somewhere on the Spanish coast. He talked to me endlessly about where they had docked this thing over the last ten years. My eyes glazed over after the fourth year which was somewhere in Brittany, I think. Also on the table were the two Mikes Harpham and Orchard and Steve as well as Jim. All a very friendly lot with plenty to say for themselves.
The food was reasonable and not too pricey. I think the term brasserie was aptly applied. There was plenty to drink and I had a reasonable but not excessive amount.
The only picture I took is not very flattering and is towards the end of the afternoon.
When the meal had finished at 5 pm some of walked back to the Kings Arms and I had one further drink, which I couldn’t finish. Matt and I left and returned home. Apparently Mark, Steve, Ray and a couple of others arrived at the Kings Arms and it was so packed that they went on to another pub. Steve said he carried Mark out and managed to get him on the train OK.
I arrived home about 7 and sat chatting to Maggi.