random acts of senseless beauty

A glimpse of summer has been offered to those in the UK… well in London certainly, I’m not sure if it’s not raining in Scotland or Belfast.

It’s been beautifully warm and sunny and, as always happens in these instances – particularly the first one of the year – is that almost everyone goes way over the top and bares far too much flesh, and sits outside in the parks for hours and hours till they’re sunburnt and/or drunk.

Yesterday afternoon I bared a little flesh (capri-lemgth trousers and a short sleeved t-shirt) and took myself for a bike ride.

I only really anticipated that I’d head down to the river and find myself a nice pub that I could sit outside and read my book for an hour, but before I knew it I was nearing Barnes… and getting sunburnt.

It was beautiful (not the sunburn of course, but I found a chemist and bought some lotion to fix that), all along the river people were out and about; walking, cycling, sitting, rowing, drinking, or just being. Being part of something, part of a group, part of a relationship, part of a family, part of the beginning of summer.

Me and my trusty steed just whizzed on past and breathed it all in.

Then last night Karen, Simon, Jamie (in from Oz for the weekend) and I went to discover The Ship, Wandsworth Town’s only river pub. And to our delight it’s fabulous. We had a massive meal of utterly delicious food in a great setting for about £15 each… including starters and extra chips and bowls of olives…

Anyway… it was halfway through the evening when I realised that for the first time in a long time I was happy. Properly content with my little lot. Great food, great friends, great beer, great sunshine.

How Great Thou Art.

edited to show you the photo!!!