Laandaan it's 5 star...

[John Landon]

Lovely car.

Cars are one of my passions, I drive a Jaaaaag These days,
XF-S 3.0 Twin turbo Black edition..
0-60 = 5.7 seconds top speed 179 MPH and delivered 53 MPG today on a quite 38 mile run into work this afternoon....

My Mum had a Renault 12 TL, I was always very good at mechanical and electrical work which was essential to keep that pile of crap on the road... It gave up the ghost just after she did back in 1984.

If only I had a time machine, I would get myself back to the late 1960's one of these Alpines and transport it back to today and top up my retirement fund...

They resurrected the Alpine ( though that model has gone through many incarnations like Dr Who ) and you can pick one up for about 50k New..

alpine_a110_international_test_drive_-_december_2017_85.jpg

https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/alpine/a110

[John Landon]

Out of curiosity Who2, is there a Well in Clerkenwell, as I assume that is how it got its name ?
Or has it been buried under the streets like many rivers and streams around London ?

I was chatting with my grandson the other night, he is quite wise for his age, being only 8 years old.
He asked about Well's, especially wishing wells and he said. "I think a man must come every night and take out some of the money, because if he didnt, the well would be overflowing with coins"...

not much gets past him...

[Who2]

There is over half a dozen wells in Clekenwell, this is the Well in Clerk:

Others are Tunbridge Well, Sadlers Well, Black Mary's Well, Bagginge Well, Brides Well, Fagges Well,
Skinners Well, Tod's (God) Well, Rad Well ect.
In fact the Fleet River was called The River of Wells round-about Fagin's time....
Ps: Where I live is on top of Merlin's Well...

[John Landon]

Thank You..

Yes I heard they had to build over the river Fleet due to high levels of pollution in what was then the industrialised area.
Everything got transported by boat but everyone was tipping waste product into the river. And about 5 bodies a day would float by.
The river then ran to the Thames, from what I understand..

You often find industry next to rivers fro obvious reasons..

The river can still be heard running through the pipes they used to channel the water above certain manholes in the road in your neck of the woods apparently..

Here in Liverpool, on Pall Mall where I work was known as Little Wales due to the high population of Welsh immigrants who's houses were also built on top of rivers and streams in the area. They built about 120 chapels too.
most have been knocked down now since about 2005, and the residents were happy about that as the houses suffered terribly from damp.

The car park at the far end of Pall Mall has a branch of the Liverpool to Leeds canal running underneath it..

When I first came to North Wales in '73, we lived in an old cottage, and I could hear a spring running under the lounge floor.

[Who2]

Simona & I were walking around the other day, I said "ah! ha, 'we can hear and see the old fleet just round the corner.
They had ashfelted & tarmacked the manhole over, la whaala!....f..ludites...
She went to the Chris Naughton chat the other month he wrote Lost Tombs of Egypt, held in St John's Sq.
She said he was tasty!...anyhow she got a signed copy...bless, she's been to Egypt a few times...

Spotted 3 closed 'watering holes,. as in bankrupt bars
Ps: I'll be visiting my pal Mick in Kentish Town soon, he's a celebrity barber with a bar in his shop!
I told him boats & barges used to come up the Fleet past his shop in the High St...Before the artful dodger's time.

[Who2]

Things change! Smithfield Market is moving after 800 years, hopefully it will become like Spitalfields...
My pub, The 3 Kings of Clerkenwell has been taken over by a chain..
And my view is being removed...things change.....
from this:
to A 2 mill town house...

[Who2]

Speaking of tides and time here's a painting by Sam Scott 1740 something, of the mouth of the fleet river.
notice nice venice type bridge.

An artists' impression of the £2 mill pound 'flashy architecturaly designed house, potentially blocking my view...

[Who2]

The Virgin Money London Marathon...
2:02:38 to the pub...

A well earned drink for the 'willmington runners....

[BBLUX]

Looking good you two.
We drove to a French pub today. 1 1/2 hours each way. However all the wine was free and we came back with around 5 cases of different wines. A vineyard open day with other Artisanal products like goats cheeses, breads, chacuterie, Honey cakes and Macarons and jewellery. Gallettes and crepes with various fillings. Oh, and did I mention all the wine was free?

[Who2]

Er indoors is cooking again, 'gawd help us.
As she also watches and films (on her ruddy iphone) 101 Dalmatians 'ont telly. 'Why ?

Bless she does try, but it won't be edible unless your a Somalian....

[Who2]

Sunny today, But I am housebound awaiting Argos, Amazon, T-Max I must admit they are very efficient.
She has a list of jobs for me to complete, completed. She even threatened to bring in the 'boyfriend, '
thinks I'm senile. So only 2 bottles of her disgusting Kopparberg mixed fruit Cider & half btl of her crap
Spanish Pino Grigo...Iv'e even done my laundry.....and cleaned the place....

[Who2]

Monday Night Update, it's Sunny...
Now this might sound strange, but my daughter Simona has never seen The Rocky Horror Show nor,
has her mate Livia.
She's a chef but only Romanian, not a real Transylvanian.
So, I'm trying to educate them on being British & our sense of humour. Not Easy!
And all this before Friday when she becomes an Englishwoman....'as if....



So, I showed them a bit of :



They were certainly not impressed! Different humour perhaps ?

Her mum, Princess Erina never had much of a sense of humor more sort of a 'siren..
'I was a lamb to the slaughter !'
One visiting cousin coming, is a Transylvanian female Dr practicing in Berlin, she's bringing me german sausages..
This forthcoming weekend is going to be mental, I might be out of touch for a bit!
And one never knows, I might end up sharing a bed with a vampire ..'inshaala!..
Ps: Jeremy C apologises, he ain't coming, he's busy......

[BBLUX]

Lets hope those german sausages have a good dollop of garlic in them. Might save your neck!

[Who2]

So up to Kentish Town today, shopping they have a Lidl's and loads of charity shops, think t-shirts!
Plus an excellent shop for herbs ect.

Back to Farringdon and wondering why the Socialist Republic or Workers Daily Star was set up outside,
preaching to the great unwashed ? (see other protesters)
Got to Clerkenwell Green (home to revolution) and it became apparent, it's May Day!....
when the 'workers don't actually go to work...

Lunch in Moro's, an espresso & fag outside after deep fried mussels 'moro way,
Emily Maitlis sat down next to me with some presenter off the news...lifes fun. (she looks older in real life)
My mate Jimmy 'the juice bar' told me, his daughter lives in Canary Wharf he proudly said "she's, a banker.

My speedy retort!..
'Give a man a gun and he can rob a bank, give a man or woman a bank and he/she can rob the World! ....

Ps: Jeremy has been slagged off again for saying Jews run all the banks and the media,....
'really, would av thought ?

[Who2]

So the Transylvanians are arriving in dribs & drabs, they seem far more normal than Sim.
Plus they bring extraordinary tasty morsels as gifts and dried sausages for my egyptian kitchen.
....
Ps: None as yet speak english but nod their heads like egyptians...

[Who2]

Today's lunch at Moritos', Moros little brother (next door)
croquetas - salt cod, deep fried quail legs, cumin & smoked paprika, soft shell prawns with mojo verde.
Plus 3 x glasses principio moristel 2016.
I now realise who todays 'news diners are as I'm currently watching Channel 4 News.
Matt Frei & Cathy Newman. Obviously they appreciate good food....

[FarleyFlavors]

deep fried quail legs

Not much meat on those I imagine

[Who2]

I ordered quails legs and got quails eggs, he say's 'it happens a-lot....

Busy today everybody is speaking Romanian or Hungarian or could be Welsh.
To one English speaking guest, Me: "So do you work for the Council ?
'No I'm a therapist'.... "What for the Council ?
me: "Fancy a lay down and have a chat about my sex-life"

Islington Council is full of foreign low paid workers...dozens of them turned up at the inauguration.

It took me a bit of time to realise, that they Sim's Clan were all quite happy that the sun was not shining,
hope it's not a full moon tonight, Two Transylvanian ladies profess to be Doctors....'really ?...
Ps: The Therapist is the ginger on the right wearing the leopard skin coat, and you know what they say about ginger girls!
Pss: We all sang God Save the Queen at the end, I was very nearly moved to tears.......
It's not easy becoming British.. A foreigners Questionnaire is to follow.....

[Who2]

A busy weekend Simona is now a British citizen and today is her 35th birthday, I bought her a wok....

IMG-2032.JPG

[Grandad]

Just looked in and what do I find? Something refreshing over here, and no snides or sarcies?

Must look in more often.

Love the thread Doc and congrats all round.