This picture is for my friend Brenda.  We were having an online chat about my trip, EastEnders (our longtime shared interest), and what things seem most different between the US  and the UK.  We started talking about how people in the fictional Walford of “EastEnders” often ‘go out for a curry.  I told Brenda that I had had many a curry here in London.  And here, Brenda, are a few of the Curry sauces that you can buy in the local supermarket here.

One of the lifts was out in Clare Court for a few days.  Luckily, there are two. Not so lucky, the Tate.  After a wander around the permanent collection, I thought I would head up to the Members Lounge that is at the top of the dome in the museum.  Guess what, the lift was broken.  The security guard a spry gentleman well into his 80s, chuckled as he told me that the lift was custom made so each part had to be custom made.  The marble spiral staircase was an adventure.

There’s an estate agent right across the street from the flats.  OK, I gave into temptation and paid them a visit.  Don’t worry Sally, no messages for Jennifer.  It was an interesting experience though.  The visit also  led me to having lunch at a sweet little neighborhood pizza place called Pizza Sophia.   The pizza was great and there was a real neighborhood vibe.  The waitress was a real “Italian Girl.”  This is important.  While I was eating an unpleasant young man came in to the restaurant and said to the waitress: “do yous do coffee?”  Things rapidly went downhill an there were a few tense moments before the man left.  The waitress was 5 foot nothing, the man was big and she did not give an inch.  We could have been in Brooklyn.  Meanwhile, the chef came out with a “pizza soufflé” which he shared with several regulars.

Sorry this one is short.  I’m a bit out of juice today.

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