As a back-to-work gift to myself, I jet-setted to London before I lost all my freedom. Like a boomerang - I will keep coming back. A week zoomed by faster than a rush hour fast-train tube ride.
Catching up with friends and pretending I was still living my privileged London life was fun escapism. Even though I was playing tourist, it was coming home in some ways. What philosophical pondering is home really? Frequently moving and growing up all over the place meant my family made home wherever we hung our hats. I owe my adaptability to my parents embracing moves as new life experiences, acceptance and hopefully making us better citizens of the world. First day, started like it was the regular routine...
Hanging out.... |
| Oh, I miss those uniforms. Aren't they just so cute!! |
Walking to school...
After the "school run", catching up with Kirsty, Andrea and Leti at Costa's was in order. Costa's is like FiveBucks but better.
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| I'm really going to regret all this caffeine |
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| Yeah, we had better help you out there. |
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| Me, Andrea and Kirsty - Leti the photographer |
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| So excited to be back |
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| Pretty in pink! |
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| See selfie from the Summer 2016 post - same place at Piccadilly Circus. Leti - should we make this an annual event? |
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| Nothing says London like shopping for tea - of course nothing but the best at Fortnum & Mason's |
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| I just want to buy a pretty tin in every flavour. My tin collection is Adrian's bane... |
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| Merchandising at its best |
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| Does this not scream spring? Wait, it is British, it suggests a change of seasons |
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| Delisa - wonder what it would be like to get locked in at F&M at night? We've already tried Harrods.... |
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| Iconic London features - grey sky, red double decker, black cab and the majestic Regent Street architecture |
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| A quick visit to visit Hannah, Gilly's daughter who is working in London |
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| Embracing the drizzle and the grey!! |
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| Even in the grey, there is always some red to brighten |
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| The city buzz |
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| The constant motion of Oxford Street |
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| Another spot of red in Chelsea |
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| Check out the wisteria monster! |
The Underground
Living in London, I had a slight obsession with all things Underground. Everything about the Tube is fascinating. The logistics of running the Tube are amazing. The London Underground was the worlds first underground metro opening in 1863. The first line was the Metropolitan - which also happened to be the line we lived on and is now the most modern and spacious of the trains! However, there is a bit of a dark side with Aldgate Station on the Circle and Metropolitan Lines. It is built on a massive plague pit, where more than 1,000 bodies are buried.
There are 11 lines in the network carrying 1.34 billion passengers last year! Despite this, it is only the 11th busiest metro system with a bunch in China, Tokyo, Moscow, Mexico City, New York and Paris beating them out of top spot. During rush hour, the tube gets packed in enough - can't imagine riding a more crammed space in China!
Many tube stations were used as air-raid shelters during the Second World War, but the Central Line was even converted into a fighter aircraft factory that stretched for over two miles, with its own railway system. Its existence remained an official secret until the 1980s.
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| The steep escalators - where many accidents happen |
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| Even the steps are marked! |
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| Did not find Sherlock |
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| Note how the Central line is in the shape of a wine bottle? Wasn't me who picked that up, but dear E. |
Eagerly awaiting the Ottawa thaw from an endless winter, spring greeted me in Leti's garden. I was up early to take my favourite wooded running route.
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| Leti and Matt's splendid garden |
I did get out for a canal run with Rob that week. Dave opted out as he had man flu and you know how that is as contagious as the plague and he thought he was going to die and all. Unfortunately, there is no photographic evidence.
Wine...
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| Vintner's Hall |
The Vintners of London have owned the Hall since the 15th century. Interestingly, the Vintners have owned swans with earliest documentation from 1509. The Company's right to own swans is said to be 'by prescription', fixed by statute as starting from the accession of Richard I in 1189. Meaning the Vintners have owned swans since 'time immemorial'.
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| Greek god serving wine. |
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| Yeah, that's a bona fide Greek god |
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| Silver tasters |
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Celebrity sighting of Jancis Robinson. She is rarely seen at wine tastings, usually she's in a private room or she sends her staff |
What would London be without lunch?!! London's plethora of great restaurants makes it hard to choose.
Food...!
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If Pret a Manger wasn't the answer to
quality, quick and delicious food on the run,
Veggie Pret is.
The pop ups were so popular,
there are now 2 all vegetarian Veggie Prets in London.
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The problem with take-away food in London,
is there are few benches to sit on and eat,
unlike Paris with park benches everywhere.
Secret - to the side of the church and market,
there is a tiny park with some well occupied benches.
St. James Church is on Piccadilly
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| The succedent to Korean tacos? |
Social Eating House in Soho... a favourite hip place with fantastic food.
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We were ravenous and didn't take lunch pictures until dessert arrived. I think Anya liked it! |
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Elderflower panna cotta - how quintessentially English! |
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I'm happy! |
Sarah always knows the best food spots in London.
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Can't think of a better way to start lunch than with a glass of Champagne...
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Can you get a more English spring plate than cod, tender asparagus with pea puree and elderflower? Simple, delectable! |
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Panna cotta is the trend.. with English strawberries and a cuppa. |
Song...
A tourist trip to London is not complete without a show in the West End. Dreamgirls was a fun, feel good show with some fun feel good friends!
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| Hey, Carroll, do you think if this was empty it would make a good squash court? |
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| Anya, Pam, Eva, Carroll and Sylvie - the new and improved Dreamgirls |
I'm not done yet - just minding that cultural gap. All this waxing and waning about things British and how I missed them in the short time I've been back in Canada hasn't let me forget about quirky English things.
I had almost forgotten about British plumbing...Only one comment about plumbing here.... don't get me going on British plumbing now....
But its British... plumbing
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I forgot about the scalding/freezing cycle
for washing your hands.
Like, duh,
CAUTION, VERY HOT WATER!
How about mixer taps for
WARM water?
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| Well, to me, this is just funny. Like - men.., working.., danger... |
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Oh, never mind when you're sitting? |
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| Do you think the pun was intended? Cracked me up |
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| Appealing to my hedonistic tendencies. |
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| Funny how the sign kind of disappears too. Is it a secret spy agency seamlessly integrating into the fabric of society? |
A very big thank you to my hostesses Leti and Anya. You narrowed "the gap" between the ponds. Your gracious hospitality is fondly appreciated.
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| Minding the Gap from across the pond |
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