Crikey. A further sign of getting old — watching Steve Davis play Stephen Hendry in the UK Snooker Championships. Looking at Hendry’s cratered visage, I don’t think I could ever call him “fresh-faced”, but when I last saw them head-to-head, they could at least reach back to their teens without using a rest.
No more. Now I see two rugged, middle-aged guys strutting their stuff. Steve “Interesting” Davis turns out to be shockingly… interesting. No surprise to learn that he also plays pool professionally, but it seems he’s also a top poker player. And very keen on chess too, having been President of the British Chess Federation, no less.
Spoke with Antonio this evening, and was disappointed to learn that our planned walk tomorrow is off. He and his students are going to the Changing of the Guard in the morning, which would have fitted in well with the plan, but they now want to go to Notting Hill in the afternoon instead of taking my Grand Alternative Tour. A shame. I’d put together a good plan for entertaining a bunch of 17 year old Spanish students in London. Jokes prepared; maps printed; prizes and mince pies assembled; attractions chosen. I think you can only understand a city on foot, and this is more true of London than most places. You have to get into the, er, the very bowels of the… the people. As it were. For anyone reading this who doesn’t know the city well, walk the river sometime. You’ll see the place in 3D. Even to old hands, it’s like seeing the place for the first time.
In the meantime, what do you do with 36 mince pies?
I know, I know.
That’s what I’m worried about…..
