The GrandMaster's Putney Palace

I thought I would let those of you not over here to see the London pad. It's a loft conversion top flat (of 3) in the corner property of a typical London terrace house. Its a good little spot, just 100 metres or so from the Thames and though a little further away than the rest of our friends - only a 10 to 15 minute walk to either the overland station or the tube. Some good little shops around us: the local curry restaurant (which is good), a great italian place that makes real italian pizza, a restaurant/cafe in the NZ-style (rare over here), and even a little Polish delicatessen about 5 doors down.

So this is it, you can see the sky lights in the roof, which is our top level lounge and kitchen.
Love the sky lights, great for letting air in during the hot humid summer days, though with all that sun coming in during the day, if we are not in it is like coming home to a sauna some days. It's a recent conversion, so all nice and modern and minimalist (would you expect anything else).

Definitely smaller than we would have back home (just a 1 bedroom - which is down stairs to the left of the kitchen, along with the bathroom - both with sky lights as well). But you don't really want a whole lot of space over here - you are out so much and that way you don't collect too much stuff either. Though not handy for the bike!

No tour of the Palace would be complete without a picture of my beer bottle collection - which is the beer nerd me keeping interesting bottles I have purchased. At first I was just going to fill up the shelf and then throw them out, but now it has become a permanent feature (except for when I replace some when I come across more interesting bottles).

I thought I would leave you with the view out our lounge - it's not too bad. This was taken in spring and you can see the cherry blossoms the Putney was covered in for a few weeks. The river is in this direction as well (though you can't see it), but you can make out the flood lights from the Craven Cottage - Fulham's home ground in the premiership - which is just on the other side.

On Ya Bike - Richmond Park & Richmond Hill

Hopefully this will be the first of many posts about bike rides this summer, and where better to start than the old favourite....

Richmond Park is the largest open space in all of London with plenty of deer and great views back to the city and further out to the South West of London. It also has a great 12km ring road which is well paved and where bikes rule just as much as cars. Also fortunate is that Putney is only 3km from the Park, so has become our usual jaunt for a quick ride.

The ride typically starts with a pick up of my usual partner in crime in any ride - Jabs - though sometimes we manage to pull along a few others. Usually it is only for a lap or two, depending on whether we get waylaid by the decision to stop off for a pint (which obviously curtails the appetite for more laps). The Park really is a great place to ride, you don't have to bike miles to get the feeling of being outside of the city. The drivers are always (well, normally) respectful of riders, and there is always the roaming deer or the views to keep you occupied. Here is a montage of photos of the Park and some of the views.




I mentioned the pints and I think an explanation is required for this distraction.
This is because the distraction is none other than Richmond Hill, which is just outside one of the gates to Richmond Park. On top of the hill is this great little Terrace, where on the other side of the road is, of course, a great little pub - The Roebuck. The CAMRA-listed Roebuck always has a couple of well-kept guest ales on handpump, and where better to drink them with the World Heritage view of Petersham Meadows and the Thames. Is becoming one of my favourite spots.

Summertime

Well, summer has well and truly arrived here in London. We had thought so a month ago when we had a couple of days around 27/28 degrees, but then the weather went very average on us - cold and wet, probably the worst weather I have had over here. But since last weekend we have had fabulous weather, with consistent temperatures in the high 20s. Of course, I could do without the balmy nights - I don't think I have had more than 3 hours sleep in over a week.

We made the most it on Saturday though, when we went down to a local pub for Todd's birthday (the Red Lion in Barnes) and enjoyed the atmosphere of their garden bar. They had a magnificent spit roast with plenty of crackling and they do all right on the beer front too - with a well-kept Fullers range, the Discovery being the order of the day (a refreshing and light blonde beer, perfect for a hot summer day).









Of course, if you don't know it (and you can't not over here), there is something else kicking off at the moment. The Football World Cup. I think there are other sports and news going on in the world, but I probably won't know about for the next few weeks. The first England game (vs Paraguay) was also on that same Saturday afternoon, and while the others headed off into some dark smoky pub to watch it, I couldn't quite face leaving the sun and decided to follow the game retro-style - by listening to it on the radio in the beer garden. It worked a treat, I didn't miss out on much (the game was fairly average) and I was able to continue to soak up the rays while still catching the action (for the record, England managed a scratchy but all important 1-nil win).

Monday today, and the hottest day yet - I think it was suppose to get to 30 degrees. I took a leisurely lunch out in the sun and seemed to have a fair bit of company with me. They love their sun these Poms. Suited guys get their shirts off, and I've heard girls get out in their thongs (and not of the feet variety). The shots below are from what is called the Winter Gardens (hardly apt for a day like today), which actually sits right on top of the Canary Wharf tube station.










Hopefully I will have a few more stories of great summer days to post. Though, a warning to you all (especially you kids), sun and good beer is not always a good combination....