Friday 25 January - Returning home

Some time qgo Air Canada did the dirty on us by cancelling the only direct flight to Ottawa today so we were forced to return via Montreal. As it turned out the Montreal flight was not very full. The ride out on Heathrow Express went well but I was surprised to see that Old Oak Common had been pretty well razed - quite a change from when there were four roundhouses all connected together and all containing steam locomotives.

The flight was alright although a bit bumpy at times. Even though we were right at the back of the bus we managed to get through the bureaucracy quickly as we were connecting passengers only to find that our puddle jumper to Ottawa was running late and left even later because it took so long to get the doors open on the incoming flight.

We got to Ottawa in the advertised 21 minutes but then had to wait 10 minutes before they could get the doors open. 

Wonder of wonder, OC Transpo allowed us to sit in the warm bus while the driver waited for time (the previous bus had been cancelled). He cunningly wasted enough time to ensure the 98 got ahead of him on the transitway so he had an easy run into town.

It was good to get home knowing that there would not be any violent demonstrations the next day or that the country was running at full speed over a Brexit cliff.

One of the first things I did when I got in was to put the bottle of gin that Linda and Frances gave me into the freezer. It is one of their favorites and is made in Kent.

Thursday 24 January - Visit with the Foster Family

Our Oyster cards took us to Bromley South via Victoria.  There was the possibility of delays on the line and so we took an earlier fast train and arrived at Bromley South in plenty of time. I took the opportunity to check out where my father used to work, Harris' is now a beauty parlour. The coffee roasting place has been turned into a burger joint.  While waiting to Frances to arrive there was a loud confrontation between three people, one of whom did not have a ticket and the railway police. It was very loud and aggressive at one point but the police handled things very well and managed to calm things down.

Frances met us and Paul, Liz' husband took us to the house in Hayes Lane that Linda and Frances have.  Their parents Trevor (my cousin) and Doris have a very nice house very close indeed.  I hadn't seen Trevor since 1988 and had never met Doris, Liz or Paul. We had a good chatand talked over many family stories.

Linda, Frances, Paul and Liz

Doris and Trevor

Linda and Frances provided an excellent lunch and the whole day was a very happy occasion.

We had a quick ride back to London and got oourselves ready for the flight back to Ottawa tomorrow.

Wednesday 23 January - Eltham College Class of 1960

We met at the Skinners Arms. Those in attendance were:

Peter Gregory

Dai Rhys-Tyler

Derek Browne

Rob Carter

Colin Bishop

Mike Fulford

Dai Bamford

John Palmer

Colin Churcher

Regrets were received from Julian Hale, Clive Grenyer, Charles Smith, Ian Cunningham, John Hollies, John Bingham, John Boyd, Alan Collins and Ray Godfrey.

It was a good get together and we solved most of the world's problems

Tuesday 22 January - Travel Paris to London then pubs

The weather forecast for Paris was for sleet and snow - not the best for Eurostar.  We left for Gare du Nord in good time in clear weather. Our train arrived only five minutes late from London. However, by the time we had boarded there was a coating of ice and snow on the ground.

Gare du Nord

High speed trains tend to throw up ice and ballast during snow storms and speeds are reduced to lower the risk of breaking windows.  So it was that all the way to the tunnel speed was reduced to 165 km/hr instead of 280 km/hr. This part of the ride seemed very slow and monotonous although Mary mentioned that is was indeed possible to enjoy the countryside which wasn't flashing past. It is surprising how 100 miles an hour seems slow on these trains!

Of course the reduced speed meant that we had lost our booked path through the tunnel but even so train control was good and we made it through to our stop at Ashford International at the allowed speeds without stopping or slowing appreciably.

Leaving the tunnel into England was dramatic. We had blue sky and sunny weather all the way to London and the Kent countryside was at its finest. I spotted four Oast Houses just after Ashford. This was quite a feat seeing that we were back to our normal speed of 189 mph.  Being a Kentish Man, I was happy when we crossed over the Medway into my territory. Kentish Men are born west of the Medway, those born the other side are Men of Kent.  We are supposed to hate each other. The only Man of Kent I really knew I certainly didn't like.

We arrived in London St. Pancras only 25 minutes late which was pretty good considering the weather in France - and we did not have any commitments in the afternoon. The Piccadilly line took us quickly to Gloucester Road where hotel check in was smooth in spite of the hundreds of wannabe international teachers milling around.

The rest of the day was spent in pubs.

We started first at the Stanhope Arms which has in interesting, if eclectic, choice of beer

Beavertown Neck Oil Session IPA was a full flavored IPA served in a glass with several skulls on it.

The Stanhope Arms only serves standard pub food so we made do with a packet of crisps but we wanted a better location for dinner later. So we went down to the Hereford Arms, a Fullers pub, which has an excellent kitchen with everything prepared on site.  The intention was just to make a reservation for later but Mary said. "What would Pat do? She would have another pint."  So it was that I had a pint of Fullers London Pride and Mary had another glass of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

Hereford Arms in the afternoon

 Turns out the barmaid was from Bordeaux.

After a quick trip to Waitrose we went back at the hotel, unpacked and rested in preparation for the evening meal at the Hereford Arms.

We had a table by the window and were greeted by the restaurant manager who was from Poland. The menu changes frequently and choices are difficult. We started with a pint of Cornish cider and more New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

The starter was a pastry tart with goad cheese on a bed of sauteed onions

I had a very large duck confit with chips and red cabbage

Mary had bangers (pork) and mash. Look carefully to see the three sausages hidden in there.

Flourless chocolate square with coffee ice cream

Sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream.

We all agreed that all the problems of the world could be solved if we fed everyone sticky toffee pudding.

Monday 21 January - The Great Paris Circle Tram Ride

It is now possible to go around the Paris perimeter in a big circle.

Armed with a mobilis ticket, I took metro line 3 to St-Lazare. Even this short ride has a lot of interest. There is a fly under where line 3 crosses under line 2, completely underground. It is possible to see the trains snaking erily under and over each other at the platform ends.  Between the line 3 Europe station and St-Lazare there is a severe downgrade and the drivers now take it very carefully, maybe there was a runaway on this stretch at one time.

I took one of the new trains as far as La Defense. They are very colorful

The coach yards near Pont Cardinet

From La Defense I took tram T2 all the way to Porte de Versailles. The first tram to arrive was very full but a second one came along a minute or so later. Most of this route, which follows the river Seine, was built on a former railway right of way and the track is ballasted.  The newer connection to the Porte de Versailles is built tramway style with grass and plant verges.  Tramway signaling is used throughout. This picture is of the T2 tram at Porte de Versailles. The trams run in multiple.

At  Porte de Versailles I took a short diversion on T3a to Ballard. This picture was taken at Porte de Versailles.  

From Ballard I took tram T3a to its terminus at Porte de Vincennes.  A passenger entered, validated his ticket then proceeded to eat it. He got half way through then put the remains in his hat band.

At Porte de Vincennes I crossed over and took a T3b tram all the way around the northern outskirts to the new terminus at Porte d'Asnieres. By this time I felt I needed some exercise so I walked back to the apartment via the Square des Batignolles.

It was a cold day but the sun shone brightly and there wasn't a great deal of wind.

Sunday 20 January - Le Relais de Venise

The Relais is not a particularly large room but they manage to shoehorn a lot of eaters in by judiciously pulling out the tables to let the diner slide in.

We decided to walk to the Porte Maillot to have steak and frits at Le Relais again. Once seated the ordering is pretty straight forward as the only items on the menu are a green salad with walnuts followed by steak and mountains of fries. So the only decisions to be made are how the steak should be cooked and the size and choice of red wine. The restaurant does not take reservations and opens precisely at 1201.  We arrived at 1155 and were seated pretty promptly.  The meal came quickly and is served in two portions. Just when you begin to think you are full another helping of steak and their wonderful sauce is piled on your plate and a second mountain of fries is added.  We had half a bottle of the Reserve St. Emilion and no dessert - happy to finish with a coffee.  The meal was served quickly and the servers will bring the bill quickly to turn the table over for other diners who were beginning to line up outside.

There wa a table for four next to ours which seated five people. Another time we saw seven people stuffed in the same space. They were put in under the instructions of the lady maitre d'. It is important to go to the toilet before you are seated otherwise a bathroom visit can cause quite a disturbance in the surrounding tables.  The atmosphere is good and the diners take everything in good spirits.

After a great lunch we walked back to the Arc de Triomphe and then back via Parc Monceau.  The perruches made their presence known in the park and we were surprised to see and hear one flying in the boulevard des Courcelles.  I wonder how many there will be in Paris in a few years time.

Saturday 19 January - Chez Leon

Today was another day of gilet jaune protests so we didn't wander very far. I took a look at the Batignolles organic market in the morning and then walked down to St-Lazare which was very quiet. The trouble with the present situation in Paris (and the rest of France for that matter) is that one is constantly looking over one's shoulder.

We had a reservation for dinner at Chez Leon where we had the New Year's Eve meal.  We were warmly greeted and the meal went very well indeed.

The foie gras was a thick block

Poele de cepes

Rognons

Veal milanese

The Baba au Rhum had a lot of rum and more was available

The Tarte au Citron was unusual and very good

Friday 18 January - L'As du Fallafel

Gare du Nord

We went first thing to the Gare du Nord to meet John and Juliet Boyd off the first Eurostar from London. We were there in good time to look at the station as it now is and wonder what changes will be made here before the Olympics. The Boyds were travelling on a fairly tight schedule to the Gare de Lyon and on to Turin.  We made the journey on RER line D quickly and there was time to have coffee and croissants in the Train Bleu before they boarded the TGV for the next leg of their journey.

We then walked along the old railway viaduct via the Place des Vosges into the Marais for lunch at L'As du Fallafel

This is along the old viaduct that leads to the Bastille. Very pleasand indeed and above the traffic

Bastille

In the past we have eaten at the take out window. This time we went inside to have a table. The maitre d' said we were going first class.

The fallafel plate had a great deal of turkey and lamb

This was the vegetarian plate

THey had quarter bottles of house wine. Very good but very filling.

Thursday 17 January - Restaurant Jean Moulou

We had lunch today with Gail and Georgina (as well as Georgina's dog Kit) at le Jean Moulou a restaurant in the 18th. The staff were good as was the food and wine.  We had a long leisurely lunch.

Razor clams were nicely presented and prepared

The foie gras was very good and there was a lot of it

Mary's scallops were well prepared 

 I had a very good souris d'agneau but managed to blur the picture

The Gourmand plate was delicious and the Calvados went well with it

Mary had financier for dessert

Pouring the Calvados

We walked to and from the restaurant - mostly along the rue Legendre.  There was strong sun, then heavy clouds and some rain. This was the extent of our day.

Wednesday 16 January - A Sunny Day

The sun shone brightly today although rain is expected this evening.

The crocus were in full bloom in the Square des Batignolles

15022 in the pocket at St-Lazare

26018 at St-Lazare.

Tuesday 15 January - Jardin des Plantes

A good way to get to the Gare d'Austerlitz is line 14 to the Gare de Lyon and walk across the river
There was an exhibition of colored, lighted animals and figures at the Jardin des Plantes but we had mixed up the termination date. It actually ended today but the lights were not turned on until 1800.  We walked through the Jardins and enjoyed the unlit figures anyway.

Crossing the Seine

There are a lot of perruches a collier here now

At first glance it seemed that the crow had been nailed to the post

The pattern of the bark on this tree was intriguing

From the Jardin des Plantes we walked along the Seine and crossed into the Ile de St-Louis.

We stopped in at the restaurant Aux Anysetiers du Roy. We have been here several times and found the cuisine to be good. Today was no exception.

The cassoulet was outstanding. This is the description from the ardoise:
Haricots Tarbais, Echine (backbone), Lard de poitrine de Porc, Saucisse de Toulouse, Saucisson de l'Ail, Agneau, Confit de Canard.
The beans were hidden under the meats

Tarte Tatin

The restaurant cat decided to join us

Mary started with onion soup and then had salmon.

We had a good walk to work down lunch, along the Seine, through the Louvre and back to the Bourse metro station on line 3.