Well, yesterday turned out to be mostly me lying on the couch reading. I tried to catch up on blogs -- I was so busy late last week that I lost track of pretty much everyone's posting -- and I made progress in "Bleak House." I'm up to page 507 (of 880). I had a flash of desperation while I was reading a scene involving Mr. George, Phil, Mr. and Mrs. Bagnet, the shooting gallery and Grandfather Smallweed when I could not figure out what was going on -- who were the Bagnets again? -- but then I read an online synopsis that distilled it simply enough for me to absorb it. Occasionally I need Cliffs Notes.
Olga got antsy around lunchtime and wanted to go for a walk, so I put her on her leash and we ambled up to the corner. This was her first neighborhood walk since her "spells" on Monday night, and though she was a bit unsteady she did well. I think her senses -- sight, hearing or both -- may have been affected by those episodes. She acts like she can't quite perceive certain things in her peripheral vision, for example. But it's hard to tell. She's eating well and gobbling up treats as usual once again.
Last night, Dave took me out for dinner to The George, a pub near Oxford Circus. I snapped that picture of the All Souls Church, backed by the blue-lit BBC headquarters, as we walked from the tube. Dave chose this particular pub because it reportedly had good martinis. I liked them well enough to have three. (They were small -- that's my story and I'm sticking to it.)
I had winter squash risotto for dinner; dave had some kind of meat pie. We also had really good rolls, Welsh rarebit croquettes and Dave got a banana split for dessert. How long has it been since you've even seen a banana split? In our case it had been a long time. Anyway, we were happy with the food overall.
We checked on Olga via the remote dog-cam during dinner:
You can see her at the edge of the frame, lying on her bed and looking expectantly toward the door. She's usually up on the couch, on her blanket. (That's not a video, by the way -- just a screen grab from my phone.)
Anyway, that was my birthday, along with the usual plant-watering and vacuuming associated with a weekend. Fun times!
That's a nice shot with all the uplifting.
ReplyDeleteThe dog cam reveals interesting image
ReplyDeleteBanana split! I now can’t think of anything else. Oh, yeah, great photo. I didn’t know martinis came in sizes. But I trust you… ahem.
ReplyDeleteWas there a birthday cake with fifty eight little candles pushed into it? Perhaps you also had a Colin the Caterpillar cake from M&S?
ReplyDeleteYour meal sounds delightful, we too have a camera inside to check on our cats when we are out, they are great.
ReplyDeleteOMG, a banana split. I would so like one. What ingredients do I need? Is a banana an essential ingredient? I need icecream, and cream, and syrup...and I will modernise the recipe with a sprinkling of crushed nuts.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a nice peace-filled birthday and that's lovely.
ReplyDeleteAgain, I may be the odd man out but I have never had a banana split before.
Cue gasps!
You may not have burned the town down with your birthday celebration but sounds like a good time anyway. Did you get any birthday dessert? I hope you did.
ReplyDeleteOh! I told Owen last night that it was your birthday! He asked me to tell you Happy Birthday. He absolutely still remembers you.
I'm glad the dinner and the three teeny tiny martoonis were good! And I cracked up at seeing the beeb lighted in Tory blue!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a very good day. The dinner, martinis and all sound wonderful and the pub sounds like a nice one. It's a beautiful photo! Keep celebrating as long as anyone will go along!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy Another Trip Around The Sun
ReplyDeleteBe Well Brother ,
Cheers
Sounds like a pleasant birthday - relaxing and reading and dinner out. Glad you enjoyed your day, Steve.
ReplyDeletewell, I'm definitely not going to try reading Bleak House. sounds like too much work if you need cliff notes. and welsh rarebit croquettes? I can't even imagine. I used to make welsh rarebit when the kids were little but how do you make it into croquettes?
ReplyDeleteYou know you're discouraging me about Bleak House. I will probably save it for last now on my Classics Club list!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you, Dave, and Olga had a nice day and evening. It all sounds good to me, except for the vacuuming, maybe...
I recognized that street scene immediately. I love it when that happens!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a perfectly fine birthday! Welsh rarebit croquetttes sound very interesting to me. It's been a very long time since I've seen a banana split on a menu. Sounds like a good time.
The older we get , the less birthday celebration that goes on.
ReplyDeleteA great birthday involving food and low-key celebrating! I haven't seen a banana split for ages; there used to be an ice cream shop called O'Farrells and they had some amazing creations. Some of them were probably 5,000 calories or so.
ReplyDeleteOoo it's been forever since I had a banana split! Yum!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a pretty good birthday to me.
ReplyDeleteGreat dinner! London is just gorgeous at night. The last banana split was in the late 70s.
ReplyDeleteYour B-day dinner sounds excellent. 3 martinis and a banana split - what's not to like?
ReplyDeleteOlga has been through a lot. I'm thinking it is going to take some time for a full recovery. She's getting there.
Thanks, I was wondering why the video wouldn't play and thinking "oh no! Wat wrong button have I pushed this time?" I remember banana splits but not the last time I had one so it must be a very long time. I'm glad Olga felt enough energy to want a walk.
ReplyDeleteHappy (belated) Birthday Steve!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed the pub!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely loved that first picture. It took me back to my younger days when I worked in Portland Place. Thanks so much for bringing back some happy memories Steve. So pleased that you had a super birthday.
ReplyDeleteWendy (Wales)