Sunny Saturday in London

I have gone awfully quiet and it’s not because I haven’t had anything interesting to write about but it’s been a very stressful and emotionally challenging few weeks at work. Perhaps I can reflect on this in a little while when the dust has settled…

For a while now I have wanted to write about a local restaurant that we have visited a few times this summer and I’m finally getting to it.

The weekend before last weekend happened to be a perfect sunny one, although so far we haven’t been having the best summer. There have been days when it’s absolutely lovely during working week and then come weekend when I’m always off it’s grey, dull, windy and rainy. “Thanks to” living in Ireland I am well versed in weather conversation and can comfortably smell the rain in advance, passionately describe what horizontal rain looks and feels like and convince you that 16 degrees and sunny is definitely good enough for sunbathing.

No, the whole post is not just me rambling about the weather but it’s more about me appreciating those days when the weather is good. Again, “thanks to” Ireland I’ve come to treasure these days a lot more because let me tell you: summer in Ireland does not exist! and, boy, did I suffer during my seven years there.

So, as I said, it was a lovely sunny Saturday and we had a little picnic in Primrose Hill, followed by a walk along the Regent’s Canal. It’s wonderful to have these locations at such a short walking distance from home and I’m amazed at how many people have never visited the canals in London before. My husband always has his camera or iPhone ready for some snaps and he regularly posts them on his Facebook pages: The Vale W9 London and Marc Mordant Photography.

There is a wonderful restaurant near the canal in St John’s Wood (not in my favourite W9 but we do venture out every now and then! 🙂 ) that re-opened late last year – Crocker’s Folly. It’s a bit on the pricey side but a truly spectacular venue. The opulent interior with original period marble and chandeliers make you feel like you have stepped back in time to an elegant 1920s speakeasy. We’ve had a few Sunday lunches there before and the service has been a bit of a hit and miss, resulting in a few free drinks and dishes as a compensation but the situation has improved greatly. The staff are very attentive, knowledgeable and professional. I recommend trying their Lebanese wine (the owners are the Maroush Group) and my current personal favourite – Tian of Crab & Avocado served with Tomato, Cucumber & Mixed Herbs Dressing.

Featured image credit: The Vale W9 London