Going underground

I got up at 6.15 and started "doing shit" (to use the vernacular of the younger generation). After several intense dreams I needed to discharge some energy. At least I think that’s what it was all about. Kitchen got cleaned, garden watered, hallway tidied.

At 9,25 we - TSM, Strider and I - went to London to visit the Mithraeum, which is in the city (just around the corner from the Bank of England). I loved it. The Romans were a cool bunch. Made some nice stuff. You know, jewellery, footwear, pottery, iPhone cases. Not too sure about sacrificing animals though. Amazing story behind it all. Tickets are free. Google it and go.

Walked to Borough Market. Heavens opened. I took it like a man. Got soaked. The rain felt like an old friend after the recent dry spell. We ate curry and dried off.

TSM went home and Strider and I went to Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese. This claims to be the oldest pub in London. It is certainly the most understaffed. We entered the cavernous premises and went straight to a bar on the ground floor which had no one serving. A man appeared and said he was really in charge of the dining room and couldn’t promise to come in and serve us.  But he said that if we went down to the cellar bar his colleague would be delighted to help us.

The cellar bar at the old Cheshire cheese is several layers down towards the centre of the Earth and defended by dragons and trolls. When you get there there is still no one serving behind the bar. I tried various techniques, much to Strider’s consternation. These included banging glasses together, dancing in front of the CCTV, sticking my head round the door marked private and yelling "is there anybody there/", and finally ringing the pub on my mobile and saying "where are all the f***ing bar staff?". I am not exaggerating. I tried all of these things before a rather sleepy looking Canadian emerged and told us half the beers were off. Great stuff. When we did get a beer it was actually very nice and we took ourselves off to a little alcove where we talked about the meaning of life. 

Went home, crashed, day evaporated. Watched Some Like It Hot for the 23rd time. Love that film.