I Strange Route to the Fish Shop

 It's 12 o'clock, the arm has reached the yard, and Jo and I are in the Jolly Woodman, Beckenham. We have a laugh about things that have gone on in the week, drink a decent amount of Friday afternoon cider, and help it down with a wholesome sandwich.

It's a sunny day so we relocate to the beer garden at the back of the pub, and while away the afternoon, laughing and giggling, as now the cider has reached the spot.

Finally we agree it is time to leave. I say I think I'll pick a fish up, at the fish and chip shop, for tea. I've got those cider munchies. We prepare to up and go, when right at that moment my phone rings.

Pauline, my friend from the north,  has come to London on the train, her son has booked her in to a hotel which she says she cannot stay in because it has no en suite, and is totally unsuitable. She's in a bit of a state, and asks if she can come to stay with me. 'Of course you can,' I say, wobbling slightly as a exit the pub, feeling the fish I'd almost hooked slipping away from me. 'But I don't know how to find you,' she says. 'Get in a taxi,' I tell her, 'and go to King's Cross station. I'll hop on a train and come for you.'

And so another little adventure begins. Jo puts me on the train, I have half an hour or so to sober up, and I set off for London. It's not the rush hour so I make it in good time. I find my friend sitting on bench in the station, looking very forlorn, with her small overnight case. We go to the ticket office, buy a ticket and head back to Beckenham. Still craving that fish, I suggest we call at the fish and chip shop to save cooking etc. And that is exactly what we do. I listen to my friend's sad story over a lovely piece of cod and a nice cup of tea. You do never know what the day will bring, do you?

A morsel to put us on

Supplies at the ready

One minute I'm in the Jolly Woodman

And the next I'm on Beckenham station 

Change trains at Herne Hill

Find my friend

And head for the fish and chip shop

Have a good weekend wherever you may be, and whatever you may be doing. Me, I'm going to see Pauline safely back to London where she will attend her son's graduation ceremony. Then I shall accompany my daughter to the vet with her cat Sammy for his regular checkup, he's a diabetic cat. And then (sigh), I shall, hopefully, have time to play a little cello music. Bye bye for now.

Love Jane x

Jane's Local, The Jolly Woodman

This is the little pub just down the road from where I live. It is said to be the best pub in Beckenham. Well I won't argue with that. What a great place it is, friendly, full, and for me, the ideal place to imbibe at the end of a very busy week.

Tomorrow, I will meet my daughter, Joanne, for a lunchtime pint. I feel I've earned it this week what with blogging, video making, writing, music practice, and little bus journeys here and there.

This morning I had a voice test with the choir mistress of Beckenham Ladies Choir. That seemed to go well, and I will be singing in the concert at St George Church, Beckenham, on 8th June. I'm looking forward to that, especially as it is a joint concert with the Blaenavon Male Voice Choir. You can't beat a bit of Welsh for good voices - I hear there will be a touch of 'You'll never walk alone,' It is a charity event and you can get a ticket either at the door (7.30 p.m. start) or else from the Beckenham Bookshop on the high street.

And now I'm going to sign off, take a peep at what my Face Book friends are up to, then make a nice cup of tea. That should bring me nicely to Alan Bennett's History Boys, my little TV treat of the night.

Do tap me on the shoulder and say hello if you are in the Jolly Woodman tomorrow lunchtime. Whatever you are doing this coming weekend, have a good one, and don't forget to spread a little happiness wherever you can.

Love Jane x

Living Next to God!

My lovely flat in Beckenham, and the church next door. I'm living next to God. How wonderful is that?

Hello from sunny Beckenham. As you can see, spring has sprung, the grass is green, the flowers are showing their full glorious colours, and wonderful warm sunshine has brought out hints of outside life. The cafebars of the town have set there al fresco tables, summer shorts and tee-shirts have been pulled from under winter woollies, and the sound of children playing in the school playground somewhere behind my flat, is making for a very pleasant morning.
I am looking forward to my daily stroll, a bit later on,  to take advantage of the weather while it lasts. The forecast isn't too great, but winter has passed so I doubt we shall see sub-zero temperatures for a good few months.

Spring has sprung, as they say.

I have wintered extremely well, the flat is cosy, small so easy to manage, and I am in walking distance of the shops. Of course I can catch a bus, and my Freedom Pass enables me to hop on and off not only buses but trains too. It is a wonderful thing to have, and I am not shy at using it. Everybody over 60 is entitled to a Freedom Pass, have you got yours?
Well, I have not been idle over the last few months. I have had a few health problems, but nothing too serious. I did come down with that dreadful N-something virus, and that was quite nasty, but I did lose a few pounds and that is always good. Anyway, in between all of that, I have been practicing hymns to play at church, and songs to sing in the Beckenham Ladies Choir. Of course I have been writing too, and I was overjoyed to receive a cheque from Amazon, of a hundred pounds for sales of my book, Tears from the Sun - a Cretan Journey. Speaking of which, I have also sold a few copies to friends in Beckenham. I wonder if the little bookshop here will be interested, I might just pop in one day and ask them.
Anyway, must get on. I have my cello and piano practice to do yet, I want to write my daily 2000 words, take a stroll out, and, Lord look at the time, it's time for lunch. Today I'm on a ham and pickle sandwich, courtesy of a lovely slice of roast ham on the bone which I bought in Sainsbury's yesterday.

Have a good day, wherever you may be, and I'll talk some more soon.
Jane x