Timothy Belmont was at large in Balmoral today. Balmoral, Belfast, that is to say, as opposed to Balmoral, Aberdeenshire.
My first port-of-call was Agnew's Mercedes-Benz dealership, where I admired the shiny, polished metal on display, viz. the SLK variant.
I was offered a cup of
Americano coffee and a miniature buttered scone, which I gladly accepted.
Thence, I motored in the direction of Marks & Spencer's food store and Fulton's emporium.
At M&S, I bagged a bot of
Pinot Grigio wine.
Fulton's furnishings is now sadly closed down, though the splendid Hawthorne Restaurant upstairs remains in business.
I have been a customer at the Hawthorne since the eighties, when it was across the road in more modest premises.
This afternoon, I decided to have the magnificent chicken, mushroom and onion tart, accompanied by a fine mixed salad, with a good portion of coleslaw.
Their creamy dressing is simply superb. It sits in a large receptacle, complete with ladle, on a counter behind the cash-till.
My salad was treated to a liberal amount of this thick, ambrosial concoction.
If anything the Hawthorne is better than ever.
I complimented the staff thereafter and bade them
adieu.
On my way home, I stopped at a bicycle retailer on Ravenhill Road, where I inquired about that Range-Rover of traditional cycles, viz. the Pashley.
I call it the Range-Rover because one's sitting-position is somewhat elevated.
These sit-up-and-beg type of two-wheelers are admirable pieces of traditional British craftsmanship. I was apprised that 5% discount would be as much as patrons might expect.
UPDATE: At Halford's I was informed that they are selling Pashleys at a £60 discount until Tuesday. That includes delivery within several days.
