Pub / Restaurant The Plaquemine Lock

Tonight, back with Civilised London for a Cajun & Creole meal at Plaquemine Lock, with drinks at The Narrowboat.

Making my way cautiously along the towpath, I made it there early. Still, two of them beat me to it! And we chatted.. and drank.. and chatted.. and headed to the restaurant in due course. Nice to be with a sociable Meetup group, eh!

Our visit to the restaurant was enlivened by the appearance of a large, fluffy white dog, which I made sure to say hi to when I was passing to/from the loo. Now, I hadn't eaten here before. Looking at the prices - and the selection - of the starters, some of us decided to go for the "bar snacks" on the menu as starters. So, I had fried chicken from there, and blackened chicken for main. And a glass of sauvignon blanc - being, as usual, the only one on white.

Hem. The fried chicken was ok, apart from a burnt coating - the main was, indeed, blackened chicken, accompanied by a sausage I couldn't eat (too spicy). The chicken was tasty - the blackened coating was as pointless as you might expect. The rice was ok. In short, I didn't like it much, didn't rate the service (I had to ask twice for a second glass of wine, and she acted like it was the first time she'd heard it). I've had better food, and better service, elsewhere. I won't be back - why on earth would I?

En route back, we stopped at The Island Queen, which I think our organiser had liked the look of on the outbound journey. And had a nightcap there. Always a good group to join - but I don't think I'll join them there for food again.

Tomorrow, I was supposed to meet Ivan, as well as two other ex-colleagues, at Imad's Syrian Kitchen. Which, of course, I know about from a previous CL event! Of course, it isn't working out that way - one of them has the flu and doesn't want to spread it, and Ivan has to take his dog to the vet. So, me and one other - well, so much is good!

On Sunday, booked with Discover London - History Walks and Events for the London Sheep Drive & Livery Fair. Have to hand it to her, she always comes up with interesting things..

On Monday, as usual, I'm on my own.. heading to Divas, at the QT bar. Which, of course, focuses on the hits of - the divas!

And on Tuesday, back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners! (Considering I probably won't be in a job at that point.) Gee, seems ages since I saw them.. Anyway, this walk is around Sophisticated (& Sometimes Seedy) St. James'..

Walk by a Canal

Tonight, back with London Literary Walks. He had to change his original plan - seems the pub we were to meet in is closed for refitting, and with no good alternatives, he had to come up with another walk at the last minute. So we ended up doing a Walk by a Canal. At least the weather seemed to be drying a bit - last night was lovely and dry, as today dawned as well.

And then.. in the late afternoon.. it started to chuck it down again. Drat. Well, I said I'd head along anyway. We were to meet in the Plaquemine Lock, and I could have walked there from the office - but in that rain, I said I'd take a bus. Unfortunately, they seemed few and far between, and I got fairly wet just waiting for one.. I got off at Angel for a short walk to the pub. And could not credit how completely peaceful it was! Who could imagine themselves to be just a couple of streets away from the din of Angel..

I turned out to be the first to arrive - apart from our guide. Who'd forgotten his phone - which I don't think is a smartphone anyway - and had no idea who was coming! I was delighted to enlighten him to the fact that we were expecting four more - although in the end, only two more brave souls dared to drown in the weather.

We admired the pub, a jazz venue - in fact, a duo was playing in the far corner. The place has a very New Orleans vibe..

When the time came, we gave up on the others and ventured out. Now, it was - certainly for the beginning of the walk - very wet: but I wouldn't have missed this for the world. It's an absolutely gorgeous walk along Regent's Canal, even in inclement weather - just watch out for fast-moving cyclists, coming in both directions!

And for a walk that promised no history.. we ended up in Gainsborough Studios - just up the road, as it happens, from my last flat - where they work under a whopping statue of Hitchcock!

 

And so to our last stop - The Rosemary Branch theatre pub: which it turns out I've been to before! It was a couple of years ago, mind, and I was living elsewhere at the time - I'd forgotten. So we had a drink there, and some of their extensive selection of crisps. And then one walked home.. and the rest of us took the same bus, as it happens, as far as we needed to. A terrific evening, in excellent company - I'm very glad I came out. And I didn't really get that wet.

Tomorrow - you guessed it, it's looking like film. Hovering at the top of the list is one called Beats - the story of a couple of Glasgow lads in '94, staging an illegal rave. Trailer looks decent, so I'll give it a shot. Closest showing at a reasonable time is in the Castle Cinema - again, Google Maps has me doubling back on myself, so I'll probably amend their directions slightly. Not booking out yet, so I haven't booked either - I'll keep an eye on it, though. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.

On Monday, back with the London European Club - we're off to the Globe, for Twelfth Night! When I booked, the only tickets left were in the Middle Gallery, and now they're completely sold out. Hope it's not too cold, is all.

On Tuesday, headed for a meal. Now, Let's Do This has been my go-to group for meals, but one of the organisers has branched out and formed a new group - Civilised London. So I'm headed to eat with them! This time, it's Ecuadorian - we're headed to the Myddleton Arms for a drink, from which we'll make our way to El Inca Pleyebo. Should be interesting!

Next Wednesday, Up in the Cheap Seats enticed me with an invitation to go see The Damned, by the Comédie Francaise, at the Barbican. (Surtitles provided.)

And on Thursday of next week, I've booked with Spooky London for another pub night - this time it's in The Flask. However, our monthly office curry night might be that night - watch this space.