Simpson'sTavern, London's oldest 'chop house' dating back to 1757

Back in library. Home IP address not accepted on this site. OK elsewhere.

Free coffee in Waitrose reinstated. No free newspapers if you spend £10 though. Fish offering has gone downhill since Brexit. Empty counter which used to be busy on Friday. Cheap Budvar though - £1.50 for a 500 bottle, better than Lidl.

Then a change of demographic. Into Spoons for a bacon butty and another coffee. At eleven a bell was sounded for Remembrance Day. The silence was observed by the oldies present. They are not as bad as some people believe.

Happened to be in Parkgate up on the Wirral a couple of weeks back, The Ship, a hotel now as well as pub and restaurant is excellent. Highly recommended.

I happened to be in Waitrose yesterday and the women on the checkout mentioned the free coffee. Most of my 'mates' think that because I shop in Waitrose I am 'posh' or 'loaded' but the shop just happens to be a good walking distance from the flat and I like it. Missed the cheap Budvar so I went back this morning and got a few bottles. A bargain as you say Kingy.
I have to keep a check on my drinking these days because I've no longer got an 'off button', lack discipline and for some reason no longer suffer hangovers.

Saw that FT article AUS.

Think it's a mixture of drinking less and the ageing process somehow. With the exception of my last trip to South Africa, all my hangovers have been a case of mild symptoms and gone within an hour or two.

Magnesium is mega too for giving you the ability to get up and go.

Whisky tasting in Soho on Monday Lagavulin. Eight year old was nicer than 16 year old or the special editions. 2020 cask strength special addition needed water, otherwise alcohol masked everything.

Was expecting downstairs in Milroys and quiet and some space. Crowded upstairs. However, downstairs is now a jazz club and has been for seven years! I did not realise it had been so long since the last visit. Cocktails in the jazz place were not for me. I half expected John Thompson from 'the fast show' to turn around and say 'nice!' A couple of beers in Holborn after, including a nice railway porter from a wooden cask.

Tuesday, Fullers special offer three pints @£1.77 to celebrate 177 years of the firm. Worthwhile. The usual free pint is not worth the bother. Dark star was better than Pride.

Dark beer festival in White Horse Parsons Green on Thursday. Very civilised. Mostly oldies but working folk turned up after 6pm.

Budvar still on offer in Waitrose. I cleared the shelf before Saturday.

I bought a couple more bottles last night

Dulouz - ‘ Got some Guinness Foreign Extra Stout 7.5% the one that's very popular in parts of Africa’

I think the one you’re talking about is sold in small bottles. I occasionally indulge in a Guiness West Indian Porter which can be found in supermarkets and comes in 500ml bottles, 6% so not quite as strong as the export stuff, but one is enough for me if I’m going to last more than ten minutes before going to sleep in front of the TV.

Lots of folk around on Monday. Whisky tasting Laphroaig in Soho. Less busy in Milroys I assume Christmas party season has kicked in. Laphroaig 10 used as benchmark. All other versions were less peaty. The Lore, 16, 25 year plus a few limited editions. They use Makers Mark bourbon casks. When I asked they admitted casks were taken apart and reassembled to save shipping costs.

Mitre afterwards for a couple of decent cask ales. Mitre private party on Sunday but rail strike meant going to Wimbledon to get the Tube.

In Spoons at the moment (something of a theme) nice Nethergate Growler 5%dark ale. IP address works here too. Frosty night meant trees shed leaves though I had raked the lawn yesterday. Begonias may give up the ghost soon they have done well.

Ardbeg tasting in Milroys on Monday. 10 year old not as smoky as the bottle I have at home. Wee Beastie 5, Corryvreckan Uigedaill etc.

Afterwards went to Mitre to give them support during rail and Tube strikes. Strikes not helping trade.

Kingston1an- ‘ Trains up the creek. Whole lines with no service for a couple of weeks. Earlsfield station closed 'until further notice'! Little in the media about this. I suspect government want to suppress this news.’

Disgraceful. There are no strikes today according to National Rail, none until Christmas Eve. This is just SWR taking the piss, don’t know if it’s the same elesewhere. The workers must seize the means of production!

I rambled over to John Simons of Chiltern Street yesterday but scarpered sharpish when Wayne from Buckhurst Hill, he of the odd socks and general nonsense, came in. Thanks Wayne, you saved me hundreds of pounds I could have blown on more Ivyness I do not need and cannot afford.