Saturday

Summer is here, it seems - and it's only April 10th. We get up early, refreshed by the fact we only took on a minimal amount of alcohol on a most atypical Friday night for a boozy couple like us. The weather is gorgeous outside, and I throw a little strop because I don't want to go and do the Big Shop on such a nice morning. As it happens we end up staying in until 11 or so playing video games - I download the demo of 2010 World Cup and play New Super Mario Bros Wii for a while - and making curtains in K's case and then head to Sainsbury's via Wood Green, baking in the sun.

We get back ready to start enjoying the lovely weather - but not before some lunch. We hear that others are planning to gather in the massive beer garden at the Edinboro Castle in Camden, so I get in touch with Will and invite him down too. K's twin sister is also on the way up from Cardiff so there should be a good party of people around.

We arrive in Camden at around 4, just as the sun is starting to fade, though it is still very much nice enough to sit outside. As expected, the garden at the Edinboro Castle is absolutely rammed, but we manage to squeeze onto a bench and even occupy some space for the later arrivals. The bar staff look like they're having a hellish time of it, but I suppose this is when they make all their money. As much as I sometimes miss the work and the camaraderie, I think working behind a busy bar again would probably kill me off.

At 5PM the FA Cup Semi-Final between Chelsea and Aston Villa is due to kick off, and in no mood to desert my friends or sit inside, I manage to load up ITV1 onto the iPhone and prop it up on the picnic bench. This is a great idea - all the fun of a beer garden, drinking and smoking with lovely people while still being able to enjoy the day's football! In the event Chelsea win 3-0 in a low quality match on Wembley's apparently-still-rubbish pitch. The goals are from Drogba, Malouda and Lampard, the last two of which coming in the last couple of minutes. The double is still on!

It starts to get nighttime-ish and people huddle around patio heaters, remembering that it is still only early April, and K and her sister leave quite early. Feeling a little bloated on Staropramen, I too make my excuses at around 10.30 and, feeling too chilly to be bothered waiting for the 29 back to TPL, hop on the tube.