Waiting for the Rain

Today is a day for reading and lunch in the garden of the house I'm using, waiting for the rain that's followed me from England.

Yesterday began with a train to Paris, a taxi to Gare du Nord, and the EuroStar to London. I visited Edward Green, where my intention had been to see if I could get a better fit in a narrower width on the 82 last. But of course, they had no appropriately sized shoe for me to try (Hilary, this is your flagship store - why don't they have fitting shoes?). I did pick up a great pair of dark navy hose with subtle burgundy stripes though.

From there I went to Fallan & Harvey where I couldn't have my fitting as Peter Harvey was in Portugal (more fallout from the delayed start of my trip) but accomplished my other objective, that being some time with the cloth books. I liked Lesser's air force blue 13 ounce mohair and a 14 ounce Saxony tic weave.

After lunch and more shopping I visited W. S. Foster, maker of the pictured bespoke oxfords (about which I'll have more to say later) and finished the visit with a couple hours of backgammon with its managing director, the delightful Sarah Adlam who, I learned shortly before she beat me, sits atop the 13,000 member Royal Automobile Club's backgammon leader board. Then it was two more trains and a taxi before bed. But I am re-stocked with four English-language books and a supply of Monte Cristos.