Friday evening we decided to meet in central London and go out to dinner. I told HWMBO that anything (except fish) was OK with me, and we decided after much toing-and-froing that a burger restaurant, Hamburger Union, in Soho, was our destination. What a disappointment. Since the last time we were there, the burgers have become smaller and less tasty and the buns are much less appetising. We shared one salad and one portion of fries. Probably too much information, I suppose, but if you are in London and want a burger, Ultimate Burger is much better than Hamburger Union, in our considered opinion.
On Saturday we decided to go to Tate Modern for the Helio Oiticica exhibition. Luckily, we had already seen the Dali exhibition, because Sunday was its last day and it was absolutely mobbed to the gills. As members we would still have jumped the queue, but who wants to see an exhibit along with 1000 tourists who like nothing better than rubbernecking.
I wasn’t very impressed with the Oiticica, I fear. After exhibits, HWMBO and I give it points out of 10, and he gave it 5-1/2, but I was closer to 4. First, I’d never heard of him. Second he was fond of colour (so am I), but he was very monochromatic in each work, with only one or two at most colours represented.
We ended up at Starbucks, and then walked home. Nice to be within walking distance of so much in London.
On Sunday I attended St. Matthew’s. The Rector has decided not to talk to me unless it’s absolutely unavoidable. In one way, this is good as I don’t have to put up with his inanities. In another way, it puts me in a tight spot as tensions run high. I suspect that he has twigged that I spoke with the Archdeacon. I don’t know who has spilled the beans, certainly not the Archdeacon. In any case, we are at a stand-off. I’ve asked not to be put on the rota for altar duty more than once every two months. When I asked the churchwarden in charge of the rota to do this, she said, “There are only three of you so what can I do?” I told her, “Find some people who get along with Neil (the Rector) to train to be on the altar.” She laughed out loud and said, “Where would I find people like that?” We are all cynical and, I fear, will remain so until the leadership situation is sorted out.
Sunday evening I went to the commissioning of the new Area Dean, Andrew Dodd, at St. Mary’s Newington. It’s the old “cardinal” parish of the Elephant and Castle, from which most of St. Matthew’s was split in the 19th Century. Their building was destroyed by our German friends during World War II with the exception of the bell tower, which still stands in front of the 1950’s unfortunateness that is their current church building.
The interior is very spare, with a high altar and baldachino with, more to the point, a tabernacle suspended from the top of the baldachino by a cord. When it is required, the tabernacle is lowered by an acolyte so that the priest can access the sacrament. Outwardly, it looks like a crown with a curtain attached to the bottom of it. I must say that it’s one of the more garish church furnishings it’s been my fate to see. They really need to ditch it and attach a tabernacle to the side wall of the sanctuary.
The service was Evening Prayer with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. I think it’s the first time in 40 years that I’ve attended a Benediction, and with the exception of the fact that the Archdeacon wore no cope, only a humeral veil, and Tantum Ergo and O Salutaris Hostia were sung in English rather than Latin, it was exactly the same as the Roman version. One hundred years ago, a vicar could have been jailed for conducting Benediction; how things have changed!
In any case, I read the second lesson, attired in suit with a nice blue bow tie. Many other attendees complimented me on it, and women in particular seem taken with it. However, afterwards, when I encountered St. Matthew’s Rector in the congregation, he said not “Hello”, but “Does it spin around?” I should have said, “Yes, and it seems to attract women, too. Why don’t you try it?” but I didn’t think of that until this morning, sadly.
Sometimes I suspect you af being just a tad naughty 🙂
i wasn’t too impressed with hamburger union as well. i think i liked mcdonald’s more for the price that we paid.
There is an Ultimate Burger and a Gourmet Burger, both of which I think are better than Hamburger Union, and HWMBO agrees.
I would hesitate to eat at McDonald’s. I prefer Burger King if I must eat fast food burgers.
I shall probably get a few centuries in Purgatory for that thought…fortunately, being a Protestant, I don’t believe in Purgatory.
Moi non plus.
corner time then!