The other weekend I went on a journey into the unknown - to the East. To East London, to Stratford. To visit my daughter in her new home there. I still hadn't seen it since she moved last year.
Stratford, East London [Photo courtesy of Time Out]
She was away on school camp with her youngest, (Hey!) Jude, my grandson.
(Hey!) Jude at camp [Photos: Amy Gibbs]
Arrival in the unknown
So, I had to find her flat and get in, as it turned out, without the aid of Google Maps, since my mobile had no signal and then it ran out of charge.
My UK bank card was constantly declined so I popped into a local branch of said bank, Santander UK, the biggest bank in Britain, by the way, to try and resolve the problem.
"Sorry, sir, your card has been blocked, We'll have to issue a new one."
I explained my situation, ie that I don't live in the UK and I was only in the UK for a short family visit.
The nice lady said they would send a new card to my home address in Spain.
"That will take ages and won't solve my current problem. Can't I pick one up here, say tomorrow, Saturday morning or Monday?"
"Sorry, sir, it isn't that fast."
[Santander Bank UK logo]
I was beginning to hate my bank with a passion ..... until the nice lady said I could get cash from her if I could ID myself.
I handed her my passport and Spanish residence permit and she gave me 500 pounds in cash.
500 pounds [Image courtesy of FinSMEs]
First things first
I was starving. I had eaten a very small and very early breakfast on the plane, but now needed something further.
Nowhere was open, until I discovered a Bulgarian cafe which was doing a roaring trade in breakfasts and also had a range of beers from that former eastern bloc country.
So I ordered a fry-up, which I washed down with two different beers from Bulgaria.
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My Bulgarian breakfast [Photos: PW]
When it came to paying I had a choice of cash or my Spanish credit card.
No such luck when I boarded a bus. I had no Oyster Card and, I thought, no functioning UK bank card.
"Sorry, sir, we don't take cash!" the polite West Indian bus driver informed me. So I tried tapping my cancelled bank card. It worked! Or so the driver said. I think he had taken pity on me.
Finding the flat
Having acquired some cash, all I had to do was find Amy's flat without a mobile to lead me there.
Well, I managed it in the end, but it had taken a while.
I settled in, then went for a walk to The Westfield Centre, where I bought some little gifts for the grandkids and Amy and Tom. I could pay with my Spanish credit card.
I had left my 500 quid at the flat, but I had enough small change for a half pint of Beavertown at The Crown and Anchor, before heading back to Icona Point.
Icona Point [Photo courtesy of PW]
Amy's flat is in an excellent location with views of The Olympic Village from its two balconies. West Ham United FC has taken over the former Olympic Athletics Stadium and the highest tunnel helter-skelter in the world looms large.
Between The Olympic Village and Amy's flat lies Stratford International Railway Station, a noisy junction for trains to the continent, Southern Rail, the DLR, and the London Underground.
But you soon get used to the constant noise. Let's face it, big cities are noisy places.
The Olympic Village [Photo: PW]
The East London Beer Scene
The East End is a veritable real ale drinker's paradise, with a range of cask ales from various brewers, as well as a few brew-pubs.
I knew Tap East; King Edward VII; Ye Olde Black Bull; The Bow Bells and a few others from previous visits.
The Bow Bells, Bow
Tap East Brew Pub, Stratford Centre
King Edward VII, Stratford [CAMRA] Ye Olde Black Bull, Stratford [CAMRA]
All the above photos by Paul Whitelock, unless otherwise stated.
Thursday night in Stratford
In the evening I went for a stroll in the Olympic Village area looking for something to eat. Can you believe it? Everywhere was shut or in the process of closing. So I had to dine on good beer!
Then I found somewhere open, another pub with its own brewery, the quirkily named Jim &Tonic.
Jim & Tonic, Stratford [Photos by Paul Whitelock]
Friday Fun
Amy got back from camp late morning, so after she had freshened up went for lunch at Riverside East.
We sat outside and had a nice time, "great bantz", tasty food and quality beers from the US and Italy.
Map: GoogleMaps Photo: Paul Whitelock
Then it was time to go and pick up the boys from school.
School 360, very soviet-sounding, but a great school with an amazing OfSTED judgement - well deserved, in my opinion.
I had been an OfSTED inspector during my career and was very impressed with what I saw on a prior visit to the school a few years ago, when Felix first started there.
[logo courtesy of school360.org.uk] [Photo courtesy of e-architect] Jude, Amy and Felix [Photo: PW]
After school we went to the nearby shop for ice creams and drinks, then headed home via the park.
[All three photos by Paul Whitelock]
Saturday down south
I had offered to replace Amy's en-suite shower, which was yucky and loosely fitted, so I went out early to a nearby branch of Travis Perkins to buy what I needed.
When I returned I got Felix to be my plumber's mate. This entailed him passing me things, while I explained what we were doing.
I think he could turn out like me, his grandad, and like my son Tom, his dad. We are both competent DIY-ers/amateur builders who learned from our dads.
[Cartoon courtesy of Facebook]
After br
eakfast we got ready for our trip to Hastings on the train, where we were going to stay with Tom and Su to celebrate Buckley's birthday at a BBQ/garden party with extended family .....
..... and Father's Day on Sunday.
'Standing room only' [PW]
You can read about that experience, the second part of my journey, here:
Long weekend in the UK - Eye on Spain
Other links:
Hey Jude (Remastered 2015) - YouTube
The Building History of a 72-year-old DIY Fan - Eye on Spain
The “Crazy Guy” gets his house finished just in time - Secret Serrania de Ronda
© The Spanish Fly
With thanks to:
Eye on Spain, The Beatles, The Spanish Fly, www.help-me-ronda.com, YouTube
Pictures:
Amy Gibbs, e-architect, Facebook, Santander Bank, Susannah Austin, Time Out, Tom Whitelock, Tony Gomersal, Paul Whitelock, school360.org.uk,
Tags:
amateur builder, Amy Gibbs, BBQ, Bow, Bow Bells, Buckley's birthday, DIY-er, East London, Edward VII, en-suite shower, Felix, garden party, Hastings, "Hey, Jude!", Jeryl Burgess, Jim & Tonic, journey to the east, Jude, Paul Whitelock, Riverside East, school 360, school camp, Stratford, Stratford Centre, Stratford International, Susannah Austin, Tap East, The Spanish Fly, Tom Whitelock, Tony Gomersal, Travis Perkins, Ye Olde Bull's Head