, to hear a recital by The Rose Trio. They played a variety of pieces; my favourite was definitely the Vaughan Williams' Studies in English Folksong, played on bassoon with a piano accompaniment. Particularly admired bassoonist Tammy's pairing of bassoon (undeniably a sexy instrument) with a tight black satin dress. Was genuinely 
amazed to learn from Barbara that Maidenhead Music Society has been going since the 1940s; indeed, I gather she herself has been a member for most of that time.While waiting for Ray and Barbara to arrive, I was amused by this flyer on a table encouraging me to Enjoy Maidenhead. Conveniently Mine, apparently.
Took advantage of the freakish week of late summer by taking a walk up through Bugs Bottom on the Saturday. B. Bottom, properly called Hemdean Bottom or Hemdean Valley, is a strip of green land with some woodland attached which seems to have mercifully escaped development, though a new housing development was built on its perimeters
in the 1990s. Emerging at the far end onto Gravel Hill, I noted that this narrow country lane appears to have been permanently closed to traffic. I chickened out of walking up it as frankly, it looks a bit spooky now. One needs a few speeding cars for company.On Friday 21st, went to a free lunchtime concert given by the Open University Orchestra. They opened with the Pirates of the Caribbean theme (the woman sitting next to me confided that it’s her favourite piece of music ever – fancy) and then played Dvorak’s Cello Concerto with visiting young hairy soloist Bartholomew Lafollette. I had been half-expecting the audience to be composed of a scanty 20 or so people and had partly
gone along to show support, but the place was packed out and standing room only by the time of kick-off. Obviously a campus full of music lovers.
Day out in London on 22nd, though of a fairly goal-free variety: met Ray for another breakfast at the St Pancras branch of Carluccio’s, before wandering along Pancras Road past the back of the stations towards the Camley Street Natural Park, which I had come across while browsing Secret London. In fact we arrived slightly before it opened, so walked further along and came across the lovely St Pancras Gardens, a peaceful enclave tucked away behind St Pancras Station – we had it to ourselves the whole time we were there. Dutifully admired the elaborately mosaic-ed Burdett Coutts Memorial Sundial, and thought the tomb of Sir
John Soane suitably atmospheric with its closed-off steps leading underground.After that, Ray decided he wanted to walk to Tate Modern (spurning my suggestion of going up to Highgate to visit Pond Square, apparently haunted by a frozen chicken - next time), so we set off down Gray's Inn Road via St Andrew's Gardens and past the Mount Pleasant Sorting Office down to Smithfield Market where we veered off to have a quick mooch around the Barbican. During a break for a herbal tea and a bit of a rest, we decided we were knackered but that there was nothing for it but to carry on to Tate M anyway. By the time we finally arrived we couldn't be arsed to have a look around, so got on a bus straight back north, getting off on the Strand near Somerset House and nipping into the Thai Square for a delicious light lunch.
Had a domestic day in the flat on Sunday, making carrot and orange soup and a banana cake. Also found quite a pleasant walk up the canal a bit and then through Woughton on the Green and the northern part of Ouzel Valley Park. Still not sure about MK though.
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