South Bank Leaf Peeping

So as previously reported it transpires NYC is trying to claim that it is the only place in the world to have falling leaves in Autumn and that you must travel there, thus becoming a valuable toursit leaf peeper and a boost to their ailing economy. Well London needs to get in on the act, walking yesterday to Borough Market along a sunny South Bank was a real joy and as the video below illustrates there were plenty of brown leaves. Ok I'll admit I wasn't knee deep in them but I doubt anybody books their long haul flight hoping they won't be able to walk the streets due to the sheer volume of leaves they are peeping at.

It was so sunny yesterday that people genuinely lost their minds, the tide was out and a group of kids were so happy they were running up a sloping bit of concrete and then flipping through the air onto the polluted sand below.

People would never really consider swimming in the Thames (unless drunk or mentally unhinged), however, if it is November and there is some unseasonal sunshine then they are quite happy to frolic in the sands. Now I'm no marine biologist but surely if the water is of a dodgy quality then the underlying sand will be of a similar nature? But, sand is safe right, so get the kids rollicking around in it. Then again I think I'm all for it, I hate the hyper hygine gang, frankly they can fuck off and ponder how humans have survived for so long amongst the germs.

I only went to Borough Market for a quick raid on the Ginger Pig to pick up some bangers. I accomplished this mission with ease (8 cumberlands and 8 traditonals) but I also donated £8 to some artisan bread makers, bagging some rosemary and sea salt foccacia and an excellent London Bloomer. Having now found my more generous side I thought it wrong not to buy an award winning pork pie from the store next to the Ginger Pig (surely these boys do the best pork pie crust) and then allowed myself to get fleeced by some wiley Ities buying some pancetta and pecorino. Oh and I also popped into Neal's Yard Dairy and came away with some amazing stilton. Whilst typing about this champion cheese shop I should mention a British soft cheese, the Tunworth, which I had to buy for Mum, well she had requested the Brie but fuck the French, it's damn tasty, get some.

Bangers bought it was time for the rugby; I was convinced we would thump this young-ish Aussie team at HQ. Not so, they totally outplayed us in the 2nd half and the young scrum half showed Care what it's like to play well whilst being young. Care's education had to take place from the stands as Johnno hauled him off - a good move, Hodgson was a lot more effective.

Having watched England get outplayed it was time for the Welsh to show how they could be out thought by a weak All Blacks team and therefore beaten. Yeah they think it was close and are moaning about a high tackle; get over it, you aren't good enough (but you are better than England). What riled me about both Northern teams was their lack of concern in defeat, with Jones positively beaming. Oh well at least Jonny played well as did Mad Dog Moody.

Popped down, with Dan and Bracey, to The Ship for a few pints of G which I have to say were amazing. I got a flyer from The Ship the other day talking themselves up and saying that with their Irish connections you could be assured that they do one of the best pints of G in London, well on this evidence they weren't lying. I'm already looking forward to my next pint there, undoubtedly it won't be a long wait. I should also take this moment to salute The Ship's commercial operation, year in year out they astound me. This summer they pulled off a coup, the double burger at around £16 - who's going to buy one of those at that price, well once you shrink the regular burger and effectively call out the alpha male status of burger consumers then an awful lot and profits rocket. Anyway, very cleverly they've converted the bit where they used to keep the bins into a little patio, only one prob, it stinks of refuse but that won't put people off this summer - another cunning money spinner.

Returned to the Towers to watch the Haymaker take on Valuev, I don't normally do pay per view but this wasn't at some silly bugger hour and so I took the risk on this big fight night lasting more than 30 seconds and didn't it just. It would have been absurd if Haye hadn't won as he demonstrated all the skill against the giant and even had him wobbling towards the end. Eventually the bread and sausages I kept wedging in coupled with red wine saw sleep wash over me and I found myself on the sofa at 4am, shit! Still at least I did eventually make it to bed.

Overall an excellent day; gym, sunny South Bank, rugby, best mates, booze, some time with the old man (he came to watch the rugger) and great grub from Borough Market, just a shame we didn't win the rugby.