The Day of the Jellyfish

I met up with Mr W in London yesterday. We’ve been friends for 43 years (which I find difficult to believe psychologically but the math speaks for itself). He was down from Newcastle for a couple of nights so we did an all day "sesh in the smoke". 

It started innocently enough with vegan brunch in Leadbelly’s in Canada Water. Then we walked along the river to Tate Modern, taking in a couple of pints at The Mayflower and another in The Horniman by Hays Galleria. The Mayflower is a 16th century pub 

https://www.mayflowerpub.co.uk/

that is named because it is where the boat of the same name set sail for America in 1602. The myth is of a historic survival against the odds to found the first permanent colony in the new world. The reality is more about corporate takeover and genocide

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/20/pilgrim-fathers-harsh-truths-amid-the-mayflower-myths-of-nationhood

Anyway we had a pint of amber and a pint of porter, both of which were excellent. The pub itself is amazing on many different levels - it’s age, it’s collection of weird shit, and it’s cranky staff. I will go back for the vegan pie one day.

We had a proper look at the jellyfish in the turbine hall. After three pints of beer they are quite entrancing. Mr W being a scientist we had a long chat about positional mechanics, control units, gas properties and sensor arrays. Personally I think it was just the booze talking but what do I know?

The Jellyfish were a constant in our conversation. In fact the more we drank the more outlandish our jellyfish ideas became, even speculating about whether we could help one escape and dash off along the Thames.

We had another beer in The Mulberry Bush, and a vegan burger, which Mr W was very impressed with. Then we went to The Understudy for another pint before ending up in The Scooter in Lower Marsh where we had a negroni that was so nice that we had to have a second one before heading home. Double nightcap as it were.

We talked constantly. Haven’t had that much male bonding and witty badinage in ages. As I recollect we covered quantum mechanics, academic plagiarism, the history of the Czech Republic, food envy, mid life crisis, disbelief at our ageing processes, London architecture, photography, artificial intelligence, academic recruitment procedures, boat ownership, The Shard, and of course jellyfish -the real and the robotic variety. But that second negroni has clouded my recollection, so my memories are somewhat vague. 

We were blessed with good weather and got 18,000 steps in which was a bonus. Parted company at Waterloo at about 9.30. I assume Mr W got home safely although I wouldn’t be surprised if I heard he was found crashed out on a park bench with a robot jellyfish. He had developed a deep affection for them.

Great day. Might have to make it an annual event …