There is something so decadent about Bank Holidays. Something so naughty about lying in bed on a Monday morning instead of doing usual Monday morning-y things. And this long weekend at the end of August is always particularly bittersweet as it’s the last Bank Holiday until Christmas, which seems oh so far away.
We spent the weekend with Brother Yogini and his girlfriend who have just bought a flat in Loughton, East London right on the doorstep of Epping Forest. Brother Y taught me how to podcast (I know!!! Watch this space and be afraid, very afraid!).
We played the Wii (please note my look of epic concentration)…
…and walked through miles of foresty-y goodness. It was hard to believe we were still officially in London!
(photos courtesy of Himself)
Then we had lunch in the oddest named pub I’ve ever seen.
Sixteen String Jack was a dandy highwayman who apparently tied his breeches with 16 silken strings! You can read more about him here. This led on to a conversation about Dick Turpin, another dandy highwayman who I always thought came from York. In fact he was a butcher from Buckhurst Hill, just down the road from Loughton. The York connection comes from the legend of him riding his horse, Black Bess, 200 miles from London to York to escape arrest. Personally I think Black Bess is the hero of that tale!
Himself, less interested in history lessons, tucked into a huge roast dinner of the kind he rarely gets at home (ie real meat).
And we were home last night after sitting on the slowest train in the world in time for sunset.
The forest looks beautiful – and interesting to hear of Sixteen String Jack, I was imagining a very broad-necked guitar for a moment there!
Love those forest pics! There is something very calming about walking through tall trees.
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