Braved the heat

We had to change our day this week, that is to say the week just passing, but we braved the heat and took lunch at TB, otherwise the Blen or the Blenheim. Our usual front table was available and only required a little adjustment of the seats to get us comfortably under the awning. Pot plants round about looking well, including, as I recall, some pink gladioli.

BH's fried fish looked to have reverted to the brand she had on our first visit just about a month ago, noticed at reference 1. A dull brown, rather than a bright brown. But rather better than on the first occasion, with better fish inside the overcoat. While my burger had dropped its 'Wagyu' tag, but looked and tasted much the same otherwise. Supplies of fat cut chips had been replenished. Supplies of the red relish to go with them had been replenished; relish which might be characterised as tomato ketchup which someone forgot to put through the blender. Not usually a relish fan, but I rather like this one.

BH went for a Pimm's, a reasonably priced affair in a special large glass, awash with bits of fruit and vegetable. At the price, probably not very much alcohol, but BH was well pleased. While I reverted to the Yellowtail chardonnay, first tried a fortnight previous and noticed at reference 2. And I was well pleased too. Does this signal a shift from Sauvignon Blanc to Chardonnay, which I have, in the past, found a bit strongly flavoured for regular, day to day use? Only time will tell.

Young staff friendly as ever. At least one of them new to us. Different day? Different agency?

Passed a fine ornamental sage bush on the way home, covered with what looked like honey bees. Which caused me to wonder why our culinary sage bush, massively brought on this year by repotting, does not flower. Second year wood thing, so next year maybe? If I remember next week, I will take a photograph, from which I might be able to identify it from among the dozens turned up by Bing. Although thinking with my fingers, I might have trouble with the telephone out in the afternoon sun, when I won't be able to see anything much on its screen. Which makes photography rather hit and miss.

PS: after a long time, I have finally worked out why some outdoor French restaurants have living rather than plastic awnings. I vaguely remember one with a luxuriant vine of some sort and hop plants might do quite well too, being quick growers. A live green roof really does soak up the heat, with the photosynthesis converting it into sugar or something, making sitting under cool green a much more pleasant experience than sitting under hot plastic. Will England get hot enough, often enough to make it worthwhile here? Possibly not given that we are usually a wetter country and the present viral conditions make sitting outdoors mandatory for us pensioners: green might be cool when it suns but it is also wet when it rains.

Reference 1: https://psmv4.blogspot.com/2020/07/a-meal-out.html.

Reference 2: https://psmv4.blogspot.com/2020/07/changing-guard.html.