June 21st (Sat)

Not up very early and amble around the neatness and tidiness of Ladbroke Close. Parents are away in France (envy) but due back later.
Paul calls at about 1 and we head out to put me straight hopeful on a few things. He is very very good, and it's not hard to see how he's a grade six instructor. It's a bit daunting all the same!
We get back and I suggest to Emsy we go to the station to pick up Ma & Pa. Again she happily agrees. I ring Dad to warn him and he leaves it as a surprise for Mum.
A great beast of a train is on their platform. It roars into life and departs, and then their monster heaves into the station. Mum actually spots me before alighting so the surprise ends there. We take them home. Good to see them, but Mum has yet another problem. She had a blister on her toe which has turned septic and the whole digit has now turned black. She has had no luck with her health in the last five years.
In the evening I take out Paul for a curry. We go to the Agora which apparently is the best in town. Dad had been up to have a look and said it looked a bit like a working men's club. I have to say it's hard to disagree with him. The place is vast, but just like a huge function room. It's highly impersonal. Waiters rush to the table and dump their food on you, before rushing off to their next task. There is a hen party going on and the music is booming. I don't like it. Food is good though.
Back to the Nags in the village then with P. We have three or four pints, and watch the Russians dispense with the fancied Dutch in the Euros, before watching a boxing match. It's a young English Asian who hits with awesome power. Interesting how easily he is accepted as on of us by the locals, who should they see his cousin on the street would presumably regard him as a "fookin pakki". Turns out Paul did a bit of boxing once.
The barmaid in the pub in eye candy and more appealing than any boxer though, and it's her I am thinking of as we wander unsteadily home.