The 8.27 train from Sheffield to London on Friday was fairly empty, which is always a good start. I stayed close to St James’ Park. Before seeing anyone I did a bit of clothes shopping on Kings Road then wandered along to Hyde Park where I enjoyed a glass of wine in the Serpentine Bar. Nice relaxed atmosphere and mixture of Londoners and tourists. Shame about the nasty weather (I got rained on while walking along Eaton Square), but at least the sunset in Hyde Park was pleasing. It was amusing to see some members of staff clicking away while I was taking my own pictures. Maybe they are foreign students. More rain as I leave Victoria Station. Dinner was Jugged Hare Pie at the Jugged Hare on Vauxhall Bridge Road, one of my favourite pubs for food in London. Nothing fancy, but always very good. The pub was once a bank and combines a vague air of grandeur with a laid back feel. The clientele is a real mix of people, occasional and regular visitors, tourists with a sense of adventure, and in the early evening, some civil servants from the Home Office and Ministry of Justice.
The first part of Saturday I went over to Leigh-on Sea to share happy memories of a dear friend with her parents and brother. We had some lunch and visited her grave. It is desperately sad that she died so young and her absence will always leave a gap. On a happier note I meet some friends in Brentwood. We had a short walk in a nearby park and later go for a Chinese meal. Back to central London feeling quite tired.
On Sunday I visit my friend Stewart and his partner Lydia. They have a brand new flat near Richmond, very stylish. We popped into Kingston and then went to central London. After taking in an Indian art exhibition at the British Museum, we decided it was time for a drink. The Bedford and Strand was our intended haunt, but it is closed for refurbishment. We find somewhere else nearby and then decide to go to Kuttners, a retro Champagne Bar on Romily Street. It feels as though we have stepped back at least three decades with the decor and furniture. Even the champagne glasses were those wide short glasses which no one uses any more, fine for serving ice cream in, but not ideal for Champagne. That said I like the bar because it is unusual and would go back. We were in need of food so went into a Thai place we found on Charing Cross Road. Just okay. Time was unkind to us and Lydia and Stewart had to rush off to catch the last train.
Monday was time with the family, my older brother his wife, his oldest and pregnant daughter and her husband. I met them at Waterloo and we walked to the London Eye to collect some tickets we had ordered. We took lots of pictures on the South Bank and looked every bit tourists (are we?). The promised sunshine comes out before we board the London Eye. Great views of the City, Canary Wharf and of course the Houses of Parliament. We spent the rest of the day enjoying three of London’s Parks. We had a picnic in St James’ Park. I love the views from the bridge, the Palace in one direction and Whitehall in the other. After lunch we walked to the Palace then to Green Park. There are some fabulous buildings overlooking the park, but also some extremely ugly developments. It would never have been allowed in Paris. Our day ended in Hyde Park. The weather was fabulous and the day even better. We shared stories from the past, teased one another and took sheer enjoyment from just being together.
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