touristy sunday

did a two week galapagos holiday with two american families over easter 2013. was a little apprehensive initially because it sounded like such a diverse group on paper (octogenarian, her three grown children and two pre-teen grandchildren, mother and teenage daughter, and us newlyweds). our ever-capable guide had to lead a group ranging from 8-80, no mean feat but one he pulled off with aplomb. in fact, the rest said they felt terrible gatecrashing our honeymoon and were extra nice! but they needn't have been because being in the galapagos was a treat for every one on the trip. the three generational crew was celebrating the matriarch's 80th, the mother-daughter duo were celebrating the daughter's 15th (they'd a lovely family tradition where the date the children were born would be their 'golden year' where they got a super special solo holiday with one parent) and we were finally on honeymoon after tying the knot the previous summer (slow movers...) the group got along swimmingly and we've stayed in touch over email and fb, as you do. so when B reached out to say they were going to be in london on the way to france for a cousin's wedding, we jumped at the chance to catch up. 

such a one trick pony but duck&waffle is a great place to bring friends from out of town. have gotten to a stage where i'm starting to tell people to go without actually taking them there because there's only so much duck&waffle one can stomach. used to complain about the noise level and patchy service but it's gotten better. was last there in january with J & A so six months was a sufficient break. also, spied a new item on the menu (duck porridge!!!) and was craving comfort food. also, not had good duck porridge since my beloved south buona vista boneless duck closed down :( wasn't disappointed and would seriously return just for the porridge :) sort of fusion-y with hazelnuts but throw ginger on anything and i'm one happy camper.

it was great seeing B and family again, the kids have grown so much in the two years we've not seen them. makes me feel like an old woman saying that but it's true! they're great kids, well behaved and well mannered, engaged and engaging. children, like dogs, really need to be socialised and i'm glad my parents threw me into social situations early on. not always something i enjoy but will grin and bear if necessary. our guests were headed to harry potter land after and we'd some time to kill in the spitting rain. the city is an area i'm pathetically unfamiliar with, having no real reason to head that way so there was a little blind leading the blind through the markets and we got some nice photos of them by an old school sweet shop. also made our way to brick lane for a little mosey through the food market which reminded everyone of asia. after depositing them at the station, went back to brick lane for the singapore exhibit which i know i should say was superlatively wonderful but was in fact ho hum.