Plan or improvise?

[london1967]

Do you prefer to do things on the spur of the moment or to have everything planned?

I am a planner but I seem to enjoy spontaneous activities more, probably because there is no time to build up expectations.

Having so many friends who are neighbours means that on spur of the moment social activities are very doable.

Last night, for instance, Lynne popped round in her car so to deliver the cherries and plums that she had bought earlier in the countryside for Miranda and us. Neil was at Miranda's and Emma (visiting from Berlin) was with Lynne so they all called for a drink/cuppa before dinner, and it was lovely.
Even though I was in the middle of washing up pans, saucers, cutlery after making some jam for the competitions linked to Saturday's tea dance.

(Hopefully the Tea Dance will live up to expectations – Adrian’s put so much work into it).

I am not a jam-maker but I thought it'd be nice to enter something to boost numbers. Sadly my first jam (blackberry) went into the bin (too solid and caramelised); the second (kiwi and lime marmalade), although firmer than expected, was rather nice and the third (chilli jam) turned out well.

After washing up, my hands were burning because of the chilli and couldn't get them to cool down: I had to put on some aloe vera gel for burns!

On Saturday we had an impromptu outing: we went to the Lambeth Country Show at Brockwell Park (only 7 minutes away by train) with Lynne and Miranda.

It was the expected mix of funfair, food/drink/plant stall, charity and organisations stall, and the competition tent.



The most popular section in the tent was the one with the vegetables 'dressed' to look like animals, celebrities (MJ of course!), etc.

Of course we had to stop for tea and cakes. We were joined by Claire, a friend of Miranda's and then bumped into Graham, another friend from Penge, and we

A sight that wasn't as welcome, was a large (about 30) gang of black youth, sporting yellow scarves who were walking in our direction near that stage. That sort of encounter would end up in hospitalisation under normal circumstances, but in this case they were closely followed by a group of policemen.

Here are more pictures from Saturday:

Comments

[erstexman.livejournal.com]

These are great photos and look quite fun. I am really looking forward to the State Fair of Texas here in Dallas in October. It is the largest fair of its type in the US, with competitions similar to those you came across at your fair. I am entering the amateur photography contest this year.

Your chili jam sounds wonderful. Here in Texas, a favorite appetizer it to put pepper jelly/jam over a block of cream cheese to spread on crackers - a bit white trash, but a staple at many a party.

I really wish I was there for your neighborhood party next weekend. Our neighborhood here does nothing - I do not even know the names of any of my immediate neighbors and I have lived here for over 2 years now...that is suburbia in the US for you though.

[london1967.livejournal.com]

Yes we are lucky with out little neighbourhood.

Good luck with the photographic competition!

[london1967.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Glad you enjoy them.