Sunshine, so much sunshine

Last week was like summer had just arrived. After thinking I would never pull out my summer clothes again this year I dragged them out again for a wonderful week of weather. The legs were shaved and the toenails painted to enjoy the temperatures. I spent lunch in Hyde Park for two days straight. The week before I was wearing jacket and boots to work. The weather was a hot topic in the news. On Saturday they informed us that it was the hottest day since 1985, it reached 29.9 degrees. It was incredible. Unfortunately the tubes were disgustingly hot and jammed packed with stinking people. They haven't heard or even considered air-conditioning.

On Thursday night I meet up with Melissa while Benny was strutting his stuff on the football field. I went to a great bar on top of a building in the centre of London. The sun was out so it was very busy. Other than the expensive prices the view and atmosphere was great.

On Friday night Ben met me after work and we went to a Spanish restaurant across the river from our place. A friend from work recommended it and he wasn't wrong. It is only a 20 minute stroll from home. The food was gorgeous. We had anchovies for entree, they were so meaty. For main we had quail and chorizo paella. If anyone visits us we will be taking you there.

On Saturday Ben had the experience of seeing an old man in a pub wearing no shirt while he was trying to watch the Liverpool game. As soon as the temperature is over 25 degrees the shirts come off and the ladies take their tops off and lie in their bras. Hyde Park was filled with people sun tanning in their underwear and a few even were wearing their togs. Liverpool luckily won so Ben was in a very happy mood.

On Saturday afternoon we went to Stuart and Josie's place some people we met a week ago at some drinks. They live up the road so we could walk there. The nine of us there were treated to an amazing dinner, it looked like a Donna Hay photoshoot with candles and beautifully presented food. I just wish I had my camera.  We sat in the sunshine and watched the sun go down as we drank and ate beautiful food. One of the items was a roast sweet potato salad with chilli, as summer is coming I can highly recommend.  We met some great people there, one who was actually a few years ahead of me at Somerville. In British tradition we finished the night with brandy, whisky and port. It was lovely to be able to walk home and not have to wait for a taxi or tube.

On Sunday we got up to another sunny day. Ben got up early and watched the rugby. We decided to get shopping out of the way as shops have weird hours on Sunday and tend to close before you know it. This weekend and next we have an art exhibition throughout homes in the Putney area. Artists open their homes and display their art and you can buy it. Luckily for me there was an open home in our street so I went for a slight detour and bought a nice vase and coffee cup for under ten pounds, a bargain. Ben and I are going to have a look at the other open homes this weekend. After the shopping was done we jumped on a bus to Richmond where there is a famous park. The park is huge and filled with deer. It feels like you are somewhere other than London as the landscape is so different. We lay down on our brand new picnic rug and ate lunch. My pictures don't do it much justice. We heard from a friend that the deers are runting at the moment which explains why we heard quite unusual noises. I recommend you have a look at this link of a photographer in the area who has taken some amazing shots. More photos..

You can just see the deer

Sunday was finished with a drink at our new favourite pub The Coat and Badge in Putney with some friends.