Birthday celebrations!

We were off down to London today but on our way we dropped off a bootful of recycling in Milton Keynes.

Mostly pet food pouches!

I felt very pleased that we'd managed to divert all of this waste from landfill to Terracycle, who will make new garden or playground equipment from it!

We made good progress down to London and took the M25 and then the M11 as we had booked a parking space in Greenwich. Mike has been staying with Abbie since after the Aries concert on the 16th January, but will be coming home with us today.

We found our parking space very easily and then looked on Google maps for the nearest coffee shop, which was a short walk away. Avocado and Coffee was a busy place serving brunch and coffee and there were lots of families and couples enjoying a leisurely Sunday morning.

Keith and I had a Flat White while Sophie enjoyed a Mocha and after enjoying our drinks we carried on towards Greenwich. The road was filled with lots of shops and ethnic restaurants at first and then we came to some very grand buildings indeed. Up on the hill was the Royal Observatory and we also spotted the National Maritime Museum and The Queen's House.

Mike had texted us to say he was at the Gate Clock pub where he and Abbie were having breakfast so we arranged to meet them there. We wished him Happy Birthday and after they'd finished their drinks we strolled down to the river and had a look at The Cutty Sark.

There were stunning views over the river to Canary Wharf and we could see The Shard further up.

Thankfully, it wasn't raining but it was grey and damp. We walked along the river for a little while and then went into the Naval College's Chapel which was beautiful.

As the sky looked ominous, we decided to visit the Greenwich Market which was right next door to The Admiral Hardy, our lunch venue! The market was bustling and was crammed with stalls selling arts and crafts, jewellery, paintings and lots of food! The smells were divine!

Sophie spotted a silver cat ring that took her fancy but it was £75 so she said she would think about it over lunch! Keith had disappeared to the pub to have a beer and after a good look around the stalls we joined him. Our table was booked for 2pm and we were shown to the restaurant part of the pub where a table for five awaited. The menu was short but had some delicious choices. I chose a Scotch Egg to start while Keith, Sophie and Mike opted for the fried chicken and Abbie went for the Calamari.

Yummy!

For our mains, I chose the pork belly, Keith and Mike enjoyed the roast beef while Sophie and Abbie opted for fish and chips. The food was delicious but the roasts were a little on the cold side. The gravy was gorgeous, though!

We were all stuffed after the meal and couldn't find room for pudding! We had another walk around the market and I bought Mike three slabs of fudge from one of his favourite shops. Sophie decided ti ring was a little too big for her so we noted the name of the people running the stall and I said I would look online.

By now it was pouring with rain so we arranged to go back to our car in an Uber while Abbie and Mike returned to her flat. We would then pop to get Mike and his bags and open the presents we had taken down with us.

The Uber took us back to the parking space very efficiently and very soon we were heading back towards Greenwich to Abbie's flat. Unfortunately, there was no parking near where she lived as it was for permit holders only so we had to cut short our visit. Mike went to get his bags and we made our way home via the Blackwall Tunnel, the M11 and the A14. I had wanted to see the new road layout around Huntingdon and it was completely different to how it used to be! It was very smooth and fast!

Back home we relaxed with a drink and Mike opened his presents - he was very pleased with his new jacket!