20-22 October
Sitting at Heathrow Terminal 4, killing time. Set about 5 different alarms last night (including 2 set by our host David who arrived Friday night) to ensure we got up in time and of course both of us slept about 2 hours all up, ending up turning off all alarms by 5.15am and just getting up. Actually managed a seamless transfer to Heathrow this time. Taxi to local tube station with minimum number of stairs for Stephen to lug our bags down and onto the Piccadilly line to Heathrow. Train full of sleepy looking people clutching large bags. Even claiming our VAT refunds went through easily. Slight hiccup at security as Stephen's backpack got pulled aside and we realised the very very well wrapped glass bowl we had bought was impenetrable when going through the machine. And of course we then had to unwrap every little bit of paper and bubble wrap. Still better than trusting it to the checked in bags we thought.
Had a good last weekend in London. Our friends from Edinburgh arrived very late Friday night. Long after we had gone to sleep. Caught up in the morning and went to Greenwich Saturday morning to see the markets. Jumped on a boat so got to see some more of London from the Thames. So many apartment buildings along the waterfront now. Greenwich is still lovely. Compulsory stop at a pub for a pint or 2 (for the men), chips and onion rings. In the afternoon checked out local London Gin Distillery. That was great. Very understated place. Stephen and I had checked it out already - twice actually. We tried 4 different types of gin - Sloe Gin, Old Tom, Christopher Wren and Square Mile Gin. We each tried one - not 4 each or we would not have made it to dinner. Only gin distillery in the Square Mile area. Dinner was at a local restaurant called the Paternoster Chop House. Very popular restaurant, in part because some dating show in the UK called First Date is shot there. But was actually very good food and service as I will admit to having reservations. Mind you, lots of young couples where I think the young man was trying to impress his date. Very cute.
Sunday we ventured back to Spitalfields Market. Like it around there. Wandered around a bit - well actually we stopped quite quickly after we arrived as I was desperate for a coffee and the others obliged. It turned into a coffee/tea and tapas early lunch break. After a bit of a walk we indulged Stephen and David and went into a pub close to home - very old atmospheric pub. More pints and just generally chatting. For some reason Paternoster Square was full of dachshunds when we were walking back to the flat and some had these little black bat wings around their collars. Looked to be a dachshund Halloween gathering. Lots of very excited little dogs tearing around this square. Dinner was at a local restaurant around the corner - Cote Brasserie. Good fun. Then back to flat to throw things into bag and get ready for early start today (Monday).
There was a large march Saturday in opposition basically to the Brexit debacle. Seems to have gone smoothly but we skirted around it. Our Scottish friends seem fed up with both sides. The Scots voted against Brexit so can see why the Scots are annoyed. Our cab driver this morning said he wasn't sure why there was a vote in the first place and he had no idea whether it was a good idea or not to leave the EU. He did say 'except for immigration'. I'm not sure what he meant by that but am assuming he was referring to the rest of Europe being able to easily live (and work) in the UK. Who knows.
Was good fun catching up with friends and very very lucky to get hold of the flat. Weather still held for us over the weekend - sunshine still. Can feel winter creeping in though and is now dark until after 7am. Time to eat some more food I think. Until next time....
Had a good last weekend in London. Our friends from Edinburgh arrived very late Friday night. Long after we had gone to sleep. Caught up in the morning and went to Greenwich Saturday morning to see the markets. Jumped on a boat so got to see some more of London from the Thames. So many apartment buildings along the waterfront now. Greenwich is still lovely. Compulsory stop at a pub for a pint or 2 (for the men), chips and onion rings. In the afternoon checked out local London Gin Distillery. That was great. Very understated place. Stephen and I had checked it out already - twice actually. We tried 4 different types of gin - Sloe Gin, Old Tom, Christopher Wren and Square Mile Gin. We each tried one - not 4 each or we would not have made it to dinner. Only gin distillery in the Square Mile area. Dinner was at a local restaurant called the Paternoster Chop House. Very popular restaurant, in part because some dating show in the UK called First Date is shot there. But was actually very good food and service as I will admit to having reservations. Mind you, lots of young couples where I think the young man was trying to impress his date. Very cute.
Sunday we ventured back to Spitalfields Market. Like it around there. Wandered around a bit - well actually we stopped quite quickly after we arrived as I was desperate for a coffee and the others obliged. It turned into a coffee/tea and tapas early lunch break. After a bit of a walk we indulged Stephen and David and went into a pub close to home - very old atmospheric pub. More pints and just generally chatting. For some reason Paternoster Square was full of dachshunds when we were walking back to the flat and some had these little black bat wings around their collars. Looked to be a dachshund Halloween gathering. Lots of very excited little dogs tearing around this square. Dinner was at a local restaurant around the corner - Cote Brasserie. Good fun. Then back to flat to throw things into bag and get ready for early start today (Monday).
There was a large march Saturday in opposition basically to the Brexit debacle. Seems to have gone smoothly but we skirted around it. Our Scottish friends seem fed up with both sides. The Scots voted against Brexit so can see why the Scots are annoyed. Our cab driver this morning said he wasn't sure why there was a vote in the first place and he had no idea whether it was a good idea or not to leave the EU. He did say 'except for immigration'. I'm not sure what he meant by that but am assuming he was referring to the rest of Europe being able to easily live (and work) in the UK. Who knows.
Was good fun catching up with friends and very very lucky to get hold of the flat. Weather still held for us over the weekend - sunshine still. Can feel winter creeping in though and is now dark until after 7am. Time to eat some more food I think. Until next time....
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