Birthday drinks and curry 2011 & 2021

Top picture was from last night and bottom was 2011. Monty, Trev, Dave and I used to work for Tower Hamlets Council Housing. We were also UNISON activists. Thanks to Aromas Restaurant in Forest Gate for great food now and then. 

Lots of reminiscing and putting the world to rights.  

Post lockdown beer & curry

Last night I met up with 3 friends who I have not seen since pre lockdown March 2020. We were celebrating David Boyles birthday with Trevor Dean and Montrose Matty. We were all UNISON reps in Tower Hamlets Housing department back in the day. 

It was great to meet up with comrades in person and have a few beers in a local pub, then to go to Aromas Restaurant in Forest Gate for a slap up meal. During the course of the evening we obviously put the world to rights. 

We could have legally met up earlier but we had decided to be cautious and wait until all of us had been fully vaccinated and that things seem somewhat settled. 

Ironically both Trevor and I received the 1st AZ vaccine in March that was made in India, that the EU has not yet declared to be an accepted vaccine in order to travel to Europe and avoid self isolation. 

Hopefully this will be sorted out soon.

This was to me a very welcome sign that things are getting back to "normal" but no one really knows exactly what will happen next with Covid and we do need to be prepared for the unexpected. 

(Photo of Aromas mixed grill which is a main course but also an excellent starter when shared between 2 very greedy people. Our table had 2 mixed grills as starters between the 4 of us)

Montrose Turns 60

Happy birthday to my Tower Hamlets UNISON Housing and Labour Party comrade (and old friend) Montrose Matty on his 60th birthday. 

We have just finished a virtual beer and curry with various mates and his family and look forward to meeting up in the real world when safe. 

Hat tip marvellous YouTube to his daughter L. Great to see his lovely Grandchildren. 

Happy Birthday Trev

 

Yesterday was the birthday of my Tower Hamlets Housing UNISON colleague, Trevor Dean. Normally we would have gone out for drinks and a curry at Aromas to celebrate. Instead we will have a virtual curry next month on Montrose Matty's birthday which takes place on 15 January to celebrate both. 

Dave Boyle and I will send the curry to both of the birthday boys via internet and we will meet up on zoom. 

You cannot stop Eastenders (new and old) celebrating birthdays with a beer and a curry! 

Tower Hamlets get together

Picture from birthday drinks last night with my former Tower Hamlets Housing UNISON work colleagues Monty, Dave and Trevor.

There is another "get together" being planned for this month in Stepney Spoons for all former LBTH Housing staff.

It is also the 20th anniversary of the Tower Hamlets housing strike next month.

Watch this space!