22.02.25 | The Hoop in Stock

I recently discovered by chance a pub called The Hoop. It's located in Stock, a small village in the city of Chelmsford. I've been back twice because the food is very good. Nothing "gourmet," but everything is very well made and well presented. Special mention goes to the chickpea fritters and the perfect fries – thin, crispy outside but fluffy inside. Then I popped to Chigwell Nursery to buy daffodil bulbs for the pots in front of the house. I will be planting spring bulbs in the fall so that by February/March the flowerbeds will be full of daffodils, snowdrops, crocuses, primroses and muscari.

20.02.25 | Clapton

Coca cola and journaling at the Princess of Wales + a stroll along the canal.

19.01.25 | Walking in Wanstead

11.01.25 | Cyndi Lauper at the O2

I waited several years to see this lady who was always present on my teenage years playlists. As a final act bonus I got Boy George (with a theme by Yayoi Kusama, my favorite Japanese visual artist) and a performance of "I'm Gonna Be Strong" that left me speechless.

10/10 no notes, Cyndi. Congratulations on your five decades of music and thank you.

05.02.25 | Pubbing in Epping

Beer and cheese fries at the Forest Gate Inn in Bell Common. Seafood at a generic Italian restaurant in the same neighborhood and the inevitable stop at Belgique (which used to be better) to pick up cake to take home.

05.02.25 | Canning Town