Diana's Day Off,

so we were out,

 first stop to the bank opposite the refurbished cinema, as Diana's bank statement had not arrived,

 next coffee at the station,

 we were off,

 by train to London, passing in the distance Canary Wharf,

 as we approached the Walkie-Talkie Building,

 and Tower Bridge,

 arriving at London Bridge,

 we made our way past the bus stand,

 we were going to Borough Market, we had been there a number of times before,

 I took a few photographs,

 of buildings on the way,

 and there just a short walk from the station is the market,

 inside already decked out with a Christmas theme,

 as always we started looking at the stalls,

 and the goods they sold,

 mostly food items,

 but this one specialises,

 in crockey,

 and of course lots of stalls,

 selling cooked foods,

 and as we had not eaten breakfast,

 these were of great interest to us!

 overlooking the market, the Shard,

 we crossed the road that dissects the market,

 to Diana's favorite stall,

 with huge pans steaming away,

 and this what Diana wanted, a seafood paella,

 I looked at the seafood stall opposite,

 and was going to have some whelks, but in a change of mind,

 I decided on a salt beef sandwich,

 expertly prepared, 

 Diana's seafood paella in the foreground,

 and here it is, it is making me feel hungry as I type this looking at it,

 over to the Christmas tree, 

 to eat and watch the world walk past,

 the tree was next to Elsey & Best,

 who specialize in fruit and vegetables,

 the tree a popular stopping point, 

 whilst eating I could not help but notice this stall,

 so a prosecco it was then, 

 first of the day,

 loverly,

 back to the tree,

 'Cheers!',

I liked the sign on top of the stall next door, 

 my sentiments exactly, 

 now fed we were off, stopping to look at this,

 I am guessing a type of asparagus?

 a lot of stalls sell what they call 'Heritage' crops, these carrots, but on other stalls we have seen tomatoes, apples, etc.

 a first for Diana, she had never seen how brussel sprouts are grown, from the central stem of the plant,

 and what is this? cauliflower or broccoli? it is a cauliflower, a romanesco (Brassica oleracea var. romanesco), it is often called broccoli and you might find it listed among the broccoli seeds in catalogs, but technically, romanesco is a cauliflower,

 we carried on walking,

 and found these, heritage tomatoes,

 and also a favorite of mine, red currants, so we bought some with raspberries and strawberries for our dessert for this evening,

the three pots for £6.00,

 most of the stalls are specialized, like this one selling several flavours of honey,

 or this one,

 with so many different oils,

 another food that I enjoy is salumi,

 and there was plenty of choice,

 on this stall,

 I was so tempted, 

 but I did stop here,

 outside lots of spices,

this is what I was after, some cinnamon sticks, to break and put in our pine cone basket, to give our living room a nice aroma, 

looking at this stalls stock,

I am guessing the owner is hoping for a few panic buyers!

 this quarter of cheese was so large,

 a whole one really would have to be rolled away,

 do not touch the saucissons, and I am guessing the same message translated,

 we have to be so hard here not to overstock on anything, it all looks so tempting,

 having said that I noticed this bargain, a White Winter Truffle, (Tuber magnatum), at only £420.00 a kilo, that is so cheap, how could I resist? then I had a closer look,

 the £420.00 was for 100 grams, not a kilo, note to self, wear glasses!

 every inch of space is used here,

I could have taken hundreds more photographs, but decided to call it a day, having said that I had to stop and look at the flower shop,

 with their nice display of heather,

 unlike the ones we have seen in garden centres I am pretty sure these are natural colours, 

 so back towards the Shard it was then, 

 the building next door almost completed,

 a few posts ago I mentioned not seeing many red telephone boxes, well here is a repurposed one, being used to sell salads,

 it is a long way up, 

 waiting for the train, we, that is Diana, just had to have a look here, 

 the 13th on platform 13, what could possibly go wrong? I know do not tempt fate!

 we made our way back home,

 past the club, 

 and walked to the local Marks and Sparks opposite the church, for some fresh cream for this evening,

 all of this walking was thirsty work, so a larger and lime or two, for myself,

 and a latte coffee for Diana,

 then home, in the late afternoon Diana continued to dress our Christmas tree, 

 then our evening meal, a starter of poppadoms,

followed by lamb and chicken Indian dishes with rice,

 'Cheers!', 

 I had added some of the cinnamon to the cone basket, and nice was the aroma too,

  for dessert the fresh fruit we had bought at the market with fresh cream and merrigan,

what could be better to round off our evening meal?

  a look at Diana's hard work,

  the tree, now fully dressed,

so I had to give it a toast,

 and there it is, in our living/dinning room,

Diana still wants to open her presents early,

but our watchful angel will keep here eye on Diana! after our meal it was feet up for a few quiz shows, and a couple of episodes of The Tsars, next for us we were off to bed.