Borough Market 2011

'If there's anything you want, it's probably best to set it aside,' says the chap behind the counter at Laithwaites. I look around at the deserted aisles and raise an eyebrow.
'A bit quiet, isn't it?' says the lady. 'I wonder where everyone is….'  And then, perhaps in solidarity with her colleague, she adds, 'I'm going to ring the other half to see if he wants anything setting aside as well.'
I dither over a couple of bottles of bubbly, end up paying for both, and promise to come back for them before four.

This year, I am at least a bit more organized with the cheese shopping.
There's a crowd in Neal's Yard, but it soon parts for a determined shopper.
'I need three interesting cheeses for a cheese board – one hard, one soft, and one smoked!' I say.
'We don't have any smoked cheeses,' mulls the young man in the apron, 'but, here, try this…'
'Mmm – a bit mild. How about something bolder on the palate?'
The Devon Blue is just the ticket, so I eventually leave with one hard, one soft and one blue.

For a moment, I contemplate popping into Brindisa for a bottle of Valdespino ('Christmas pudding in a glass!'), but decide otherwise.  I have enough to share at the party this evening, and the diet and detox start tomorrow!