We got up late, and wandered downstairs very ready for a sunny weekend. Alex had promised Leila the day before that he’d make the second metal chair so that they could have breakfast together on it. They listened 80s classics in the background and Leila wrote the blog while Alex bodged together the chair. Leila loved the chair in the sun and was even happier when we got knocks on the door and her tahini order arrived. Was £40 worth of cornichons, olives and tahini (and 1 aubergine paste)
As Alex finished the chair, Leila made coffee and we read together in the sun. Alex read about Gully Foyle, a hyper-determined mechanic jaunting through space, and Leila read about post-colonialism, relationships and families in Nigeria. We stayed in the sun for quite a while, really enjoying the slow life and the feeling of weekend. Leila made an amazing omelette with peppers, chilli, spring onions, leeks, etc. We ate it in the sun and agreed that we should do this every weekend. Leila also called her Grandma in Dar Es Salaam because it was her 91st birthday, she was looking super chill in the sun and she had her neighbours round to celebrate with her.
After a lazy brunch, Alex tried to call his Grandma but couldn’t get through so listened to Unfiltered where his friend Sam E talked about her life and decisions. He then jumped on a call with the Ethiopian response team, and we organised how to deliver our research insights to the Ministry of Health. A new Health Policy PhD had joined the team which was super encouraging but he still worries about the overall efficacy of the leadership team. Leila read the Economist (filled with Covid articles and not much else) and baked some super healthy cookies with spelt flour and without sugar and then did a barre class.
At about 5.30, Alex called his Grandma again and we decided to walk over to Barbican in order to fix her microwave and hoover. It was a really nice 45 minute walk, we found a really nice park on Leila’s typical walk to work and Leila bought some Kimchi from a Korean restaurant that was still open for take-away. We walked down Gray’s Inn Road and commented on the flat that we were thinking of getting and Leila got excited about Modern Pantry. Alex showed Leila around the places that him and his family go in Barbican and then he put on a new pack of gloves and went up to see his Grandma. The colour of the buildings had changed since he was little and he found it quite surreal. The microwave was easy but heavy, the hoover had always worked (it doesn’t turn on when plugged in). Alex had tea with his granny (breaking Leila’s rule) and sadly Waitrose was closed but Leila procured gin anyway. We cycled back, which is very un-Leila but she actually enjoyed it because the streets were empty, and picked up tonic from M&S in St Pancras.
After getting back we cooked a mix of Alex and Leila cooking with Linda McCartney sausages, Kimchi, olives, chickpeas and leeks and some G&Ts on the side. We watched Sherlock which Leila actually liked. It was a super nice evening and we had dinner in our pyjamas which was weird for Alex but normal for Leila.
Overall a really really nice day and one that felt like a proper weekend.
Coffee, Wine and Isolation 