journey to the end of the (northern) line

while he has been up in london (the great wen) 

horsemouth has been reading doris lessing's the memoirs of a survivor. there's a film (directed by david gladwell).

this is a novel of daughterly relationships and of societal collapse (the book was written in 1974 and is very much of its time). the collapse is well underway when the book starts. waste tips are being mined for reusable commodities. the skilled work at bringing these back into use. the youth group together into gangs before becoming restless and moving away. 

the book contains some good gardening advice. 

horsemouth prepared for his journey using queens road walthamstow in the direction of gospel oak, a route that he has only used once or twice ever and a visit to archway (where he lived for a few months back in 1983 or so). 

horsemouth has to report than london is not in a state of collapse but is in fact in rude health. 

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in high barnet he met up with paul clark and away they went for a wander (after a coffee), a free bookstore, lunch  and after that a wander (there was a battle and the site of an angry brigade action), and then a beer or two and after that back to paul's place to listen to some music and drink some wine while paul cooked dinner. 

at the free bookstore horsemouth acquires  great reckonings in little rooms a phenomenological account of the theatre. (there was another book on theatre too but horsemouth didn't want to be greedy).

paul's partner returned and they ate dinner and discussed bellringing among other things (because paul's partner is a bell ringer - what are the odds?). 

horsemouth has to pronounce it a great day. he had a lot of fun. 

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horsemouth has had a cancelation for this morning but is looking to book up further visits with people.

anyone around?