Maggi went to Northwick Park first thing to have her regular blood test and shortly after her return we walked to Jane & Ry’s house to go on to have lunch at The White Bear in Ruislip.
The day was cold and bright, but pleasant enough walking conditions as long as you were wrapped up well. On arrival at R & J house I took advantage of Ray’s hospitality and had a scotch from some obscure distillery. It was very enjoyable.
He headed on up the road and arrived at the restaurant/pub at the appointed hour of 1 pm. The food is not great but is reasonable value. The 3 course Christmas Menu costs £32 and included coffee and a tiny mince pie. I had the potted salmon to begin and the turkey for the main course. The pudding consisted of bread and butter pudding with a fancy name. The highlight of the meal had to be the starter and the weakest point was undoubtedly the pudding.
The staff were extremely friendly and there was a very warm and welcoming reception and service.
We didn’t leave until 3:30 and we walked down to Ruislip station where Maggi and I boarded the tube to Eastcote and finished our journey home by foot.
It was not long after returning that I set off again to meet Mark at the One Tun pub at Saffron Hill, in order to go for a walk with the SWAP a group for a Dickensian Christmas walk around the city. The pub has some association with Dickens, which I didn’t quite hear.
By now the weather had changed with milder weather bringing damp conditions. It rained intermittently all evening. We started off walking up Greville St, into Bleeding Heart Yard and then onto Hatton Garden. Apparently the area was once owned by a Lord Hatton.
We then retraced our steps and crossed over to Cowcross Street and then to Smithfield. The tour went on for a few further stages, passed the Guildhall and to White Lion Yard which is identified as the home of Scrouge and an adjacent yard where he had his counting house. We passed by a couple of churches and all this ended up around 8:45.
We the adjourned to the pub and left just about 10 pm. Mark and I then walked back to Liverpool St and took the tube home.