Sunday, 23 July, 2017 – weather: grey but not too wet

Julie has a bit of a sleep in, until nearly 10:00 and I get some extra as well. The rain has mostly stopped but it is still grey and cool.

Last time we were in Earls Court, probably about 5 years ago, we had gone to a little French restaurant in one of the side streets. I had asked around about it but nobody seemed to know. So I did the right thing and Googled it, sure enough I found it.

Website for the little French Restaurant in Earls Court

I then discover that LFR was open for Lunch and Dinner on Sundays. After much discussion and consideration of the menu, especially the f13.95 three course meal, we decide we will have our main meal of the day at lunch time and at LFR. We go there and are a little early so it is not yet open.

I go run another errand and when I get back Julie is settled in, there is one other couple in there too.

Julie settled in – the restaurant had not changed at all from 5 years ago
The Bar area

We decide to go with the three course meal, especially since Julie had worked out with our Waitress that we could substitute the dessert for salad or French Fries, which we do. I also order a Cotes du Rhone.

Julie picked this table because the ledge there was useful bottle storage
Julie’s starter was a smoked salmon terrine
and I had to order the French Onion Soup
and had to have the Coq au Vin
The fries were among the best I ever have had
Julie ordered the baked salmon including her side salad
With language difficulties sort of overcome, Julie has an Irish Coffee

Tons of really good food, way too much. I go back to the apartment for a couple hours nap. As I get up, Julie returns from more prancing.

So Sal, what is the Oils is Oils stuff? It is when it refers to Midnight Oil who is on a great circle trip appearing in many places around the world. Tonight they are playing at the Hammersmith Apollo. Julie had booked tickets for the show back in Australia. We catch the Tube there, two stations away.

Outside the Apollo

It is a very impressive theatre with around 6 bars in the foyer with tons of service staff so no customer has to wait long for drinks. We are up a floor in the circles and there is a bar the full length of the back wall, again with tons of service staff.

There is a support group which we go into see. An 8 piece group of decent musicians but we really did not like their music at all. Then Midnight Oil appears after the stage is rearranged.

Best shots I could get at that range

The Oils were good doing all of their hits plus many others. They did Beds Are Burning as their second number. They played for nearly 2 hours without a break. Peter Garrett was defying his age, bouncing around and all over the stage like a 20yo. The gig was a sellout with the audience really into it, singing out the well known songs and dancing at their seats, annoying me when people in front did that.

When it was over, after an encore of two songs, including Truganini we slowly walked out of the Apollo and through Hammersmith Station. We boarded a train that seemed to be waiting for concert goers. We have a nice discussion with the people on our carriage who had all been to the concert and were marvelled by the performance of Peter Garrett and Rob Hirst the Drummer.

Back home around 11:15, it is too early to go to bed so various drinks before crashing out. No further food for the day for me.

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