It was time for the annual Scotty & Janine trip to the Natural History Museum this week, to go and see the 2024 Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, and of course snaffle a girls' lunch in South Ken while doing so. J had to go to a funeral last week so we moved the tickets to this week – of course forgetting that it was the horror of half term. Ten million small people and their exasperated carers also milling around said Museum. Luckily, none of them seemed to be paying the extra bit to get into the Wildlife bit, so it was a blessed haven of sprog-free peace in our section…
We thought this exhibit title summed us up quite well, on our way in..
Mr H was – briefly – home from Spain before heading at 4am this morning to cycle the Hebrides with the neighbourhood mamils, as you do. Cracking dinner next door on Sat eve at Anita & Rob's, with Henry & Sandra from over the road and the return of Neil, who moved out of Dora a couple of years' ago but is now back living in Wimbledon. And you've got to love a ten second walk home when you roll out of somewhere after midnight!
Had various other v nice meet ups – a cuppa at Fiona McA's in Esher, tea & a nibble with Claire White at the very glamorous McDs in Cheam (the intended Starbucks was shut for a refurb), lunch with my cousin Adrian at the Hurlingham Club in Fulham (gigantic place, I'd never realised quite how much land it covers, all very genteel with people in whites playing tennis and croquet), dinner with the AV5 at a new place called Tampopo (slightly dodgy name, nice food) in Wimbers, and supper chez moi with Sophie, Nicky and Soph's girlfriend Helen and baby Martha etc.
Even popped down to Henfield for an impromptu brunch at Fi & Rich's – mostly so H could collect some cycle bags he'd lent to Rich, needed for the Hebrides. Great to finally be out on their ma-hoo-sive terrace in the sunshine, with a walk round the even ma-hoo-sive-r grounds after. Maddie and Bob Dog showing off their gorgeous black & white selves on our way round..
Off to Janine's shortly for supper there with her and our chum Helen Davies – plus all three of our mutual dogs, Maddie, Flossy & Scout. What could possibly go wrong?! x