The weekend is here and we had already decided to head out to Soho today for a bit of a wander around. The day did start like many others, being fairly lazy but of course managing to blog and get ourselves together for the day.
We head downstairs and are approached by an older guy asking for directions. He had been out all night with nothing but a plastic bag in hand. I really only knew he was asking for directions because Matthew could understand the very thick accent.

Apparently he was looking for a pub to have a pint before he headed home on the tube. We can’t seem to locate the pub he is after, as his phone is out of battery and had no other way to locate where he was heading. We farewell him as he thanks us anyway, and we order an Uber to head over to Soho. As we are driving I notice a man driving with a clipboard in front of him, ad wonder what it might be. It didn’t seem like he had deliveries so I was intrigued. Apparently he was doing something called ‘the knowledge’. It’s a test for cabbies who want to work in London. They need to have an intimate knowledge of the roads as they will later be tested on various routes, without actually even looking at a map. Seems quite intense, but understandably explains why cabbies here know where they are going.
Now Soho is an interesting area and most commonly know for being the LGBT district of London. We are dropped off in Carnaby Street, which is actually a fashion strip. We wander up and down but eventually deciding to weave through the back streets to see where we might find. For those that are observant, there is so much more to see than what is in front you.

If you bother to slow dow, look up and around, there’s many cool things, like the clown in a high window, or the beautiful flower covered doors of Bill’s Restaurant. I also learnt about the blue plaques. They are proudly displayed on the outside of homes where people of notoriety have lived.It’s an interesting way to see the history of London. But you have got to continue to keep your eyes peeled so you don’t miss opportunities to stop and see.

We eventually stumble across Old Compton Street that is as vibrant as the rainbow flags that line the perimeter. Being straight allies, Matthew and I feel quite at home here, as we pass the many shop windows and cafes up and down the street. Such history here, with the Admiral Duncan Pub who has a plaque out the front marking a very dark history of a bomb that was set in 1999 by a crazed neo-nazi to target the gay community. 3 delicious people never finished that night, and were killed at the hands of this extremists. It’s insane to think that these views, so many years on, are still shared in parts of the world.

But today, there is clearly openly gay couples walking up and down the street, drinking coffee, walking their dogs. All intertwined with a melting pot of all walks of life. We decide to head to a cafe that I had sat in a couple of years ago called Balans and I knew they did a killer espresso martini, so before we decided about lunch, we headed there. Not only are the drinks good, but the people watching is prime time.

We are loving the characters we watch passing us by, who some peer into the window to see us looking back at them. Others jus so engrossed in sight seeing, or going about their day to notice. My seat is the exact same one I had sat in a couple of years ago. It was also the spot I had met Harry who we’d caught up with a couple of days ago. It holds special memories indeed.

After being a bit peckish we realise we are just around the corner from ChinaTown so we decide to indulge in some delicious food at a ‘Dim Sum’ restaurant. For Aussies its like Yum Cha. Yes people……..more dumplings.
Always a light but tasty meal, we settle in for some food and some more conversation. Something we are never short of.

Heading out we are distracted by a street performer who is playing acoustic guitar. His very eclectic play list. We stop and listen and sing along. He is soon joined by a friend of his that brings a makeshift drum and their perform many recognisable tunes. From Ed Sheehan to Bon Jovi. We are literally taken over by the music and soon we are actually dancing in the street. People around us are enjoying the music and smiling as we have no inhibitions as we experience fun and life to it’s fullest.
I have never understood why people care about what others think about them. Life is for living. No regrets!
As the guys finish up we thank them both with our words and but contributed a few quid to the open guitar case in front of them. We decide to head back to a pub called the Duke of Wellington, which we’d popped into for a brief drink before lunch. A very rainbow pub indeed, but super friendly. We instantly meet a number of people around us, and I guy and his partner spotted me and recognised that I was in there earlier. We exchanged a little bit of banter when I had needed to locate the bathrooms. Now he comes bounding over with partner in tow and they introduce themselves to us.
He is Craig and Ian is his partner. Craig is a larger than life character who we immediately warm to. We are invited to head up the 1st floor as they have other friends there they were meeting and wanted us to join them. We did exactly that, and in doing so have added to the collection of people that are around the world that we can now call our friends.

It continues to be something Matthew and I love doing, and I can already see our future together is bright with shared interest and shared values, and of course a sense of fun.