Stratford Sunday

Off to find the Baptist church in Stratford this morning. The church's building has an unusual frontage in a simplified classical style, but I didn't take a photo at the time, and as I write it's pouring with rain so I'm not going back! Good to meet and worship with some friendly people. Then it was back via the Sunday market, between Bancroft Basin and the RSC Theatre.

First up was the stall of potter Roy Clarke, with some beautiful designs and glazes.

We've been wanting a bulkhead clock for Erin Mae for some time, and I have most of the wherewithal for making one, but this was very tempting.

In the end, we decided it wasn't quite the thing, and pushed on. Half-way along there was a stall from an owl rescue centre. My best beloved was very taken with this little chappie, but he probably wouldn't fit under the bridges.

Of course, a local owl might be a way of keeping the birds from decorating Erin Mae during the night.

What we did purchase, unexpectedly, was lunch.

A very nice chicken and chorizo paella, followed by a generous cupful of churros to share.

In Brazil, these would have been fatter, hollow, and filled with doce de leite – the sort of soft toffee you get by boiling condensed milk (think banoffee pie). Here they were crisper, showered with sugar and cinnamon, and came with a chocolate dip. All very good, but I'm not sure what happened to the low-carb diet.

On we went, and found ourselves serenaded by the London Youth Gospel Choir, on the steps of the theatre,

and, as we walked back over the bridge and through the recreation ground, not serenaded by the Stratford concert band, who seemed to be waiting for something to happen.

Between the bandstand and the 50p ferry (picture here because I didn't post it before, and because we used it last night) we passed within 2 feet of Brian Blessed taking a stroll with others. Not sure what he was doing here, but I don't think he was looking for Erin Mae, even though his picture adorns the Canal & River Trust website (if you follow the link, scroll down to near the bottom of the page).

Dogs for the Disabled seemed to have a big presence on the river bank today, so perhaps he was supporting them.

Had little idea, at the start of the day, what it would bring, apart from running the engine for too long to keep the charge up in our batteries, which are on their last legs / plates / terminals / whatever. It was good. But more about the batteries tomorrow.