London on the Razz

I have finally shaken the weekends excess off, and feel in a fit enough state to report on the ins and outs of our antics. Me, Shouty and Crespo took off down on the train, to hook up with Paulcano, Hefner and Steve, to firstly watch the bantams take on the Bees, and secondly to go on bender around London town. The football game is reported below, and i will post an Away Day thread for the actual game. Unusually for such a trip, the weather was lousy, but seeing this was an expedition on home shores, namely dear old blighty, it was indeed to be expected.


So too our first stop. It was decided to stay away from the tourist traps, and try to find a more traditional London experience. Crespo kept pushing for Shoreditch, Shouty wanted Soho (more of which later) and I was up for whatever, so we went with the Paulcano's suggestion, which made a lot of sense. Cambden is just up the road from the digs we stayed in, and we went for it. The first bar was pretty cool, but expensive. The next one I liked, but it was definitely not to Hefners taste. The music was old school Rock and Roll, and the pub seemed to appeal very much to the alternative crowd. Hefners commented on the stench of sweat, beers were drunk quick, and it was off to the tourist haunt of Leicester Square. we found a bar full of foreigners and got pissed. We split up in search of somewhere to find more beer, and found a place on the outskirts of Soho, that was full of Dutch people, who we proceeded to share our Amshterdam accshents with, much to their amusement. Highlight was the Lesbian who took an instant dislike to Kev, when he enquired as to which sex she was. She was the size of a mid size family saloon. Scary. Next up, a night club which we made our way to by rickshaw, much to Shoutys amusement. I bailed at three, after my attempts to dance were seriously impeded by the wobbly legs that I had acquired by this time. I decided on a walk back to the digs, something which I gave up on after an hour or so lost, a fate that also befell my erstwhile partners in crime.





The next morning, Paulcanos crew had a home emergency, and made their way back to Bradford, just as we were falling into our first pub. A Sam Smiths boozer ( you can play spot the cock in the picture to your left) which might be fine and dandy for the real ale connoisseur, but I was in need of Guinness, and they didn't sell it. We had to make do with nasty old Alpine (my arse) lager, which is shit. Off to St Pauls was the next mission, and we made it! Everything was closed, it was Sunday and church stuff was going on, so we had a quick look inside and hit the pub. A stroll along the river, with more than a few beer stops, including a Cologne stand in the Winter market which sold Kolsch, and we were out front of the Houses of Parliament. The plan was to go and shout "Wanker!" at Gordon Brown, but Shouty needed a piss, and we ended up getting rousted on a boat. We made an executive decision to catch the last trian, and everything got a little lairy. Back up to Soho to satisfy Shoutys curiosity, and after a couple more pints and a stop off in a sex shop, we were there, and as predicted we ended up in a gay bar. A very swift beer later, we were in danger of missing the last train, so flew up to Kings Cross, to be met by a 90 minute delay, and the train ride from Hell. It usually takes just over two hours to get to Leeds, but on this night it took over four hours. We decided to open Crespos porn stash, only to be less than impressed by his choice, as you can see in the picture to your immediate right. Got in at around 4:30, but it was well worth it. We are already planning a return trip next year.


For a full gallery please follow the link below;

http://bendersquad.smugmug.com/gallery/6849262_ggaAi#437970299_vTNuC