It has been 10 days or so since I left Bologna and headed for London. 10 days without a post. Its been a busy 10 days and a wonderful 10 days.
Arrived safely in London on 17th December with Hammy at the airport to meet me. Good thing that was too because I had so much luggage and duty free that I could hardly stagger out of the gate.
It really was so good to be with Ham and Az. Family time was overdue. So I happily settled onto the blow up mattress. Told my knees to just man up and get used to it which they dutifully did.
That was Wednesday. I had a couple of days to take in London again before the weekend and this I did. She is such a grand old dame you just have to love her really. Back on the Tube and the buses. So easy to get around and impossible to get lost.
First night Ariane was out and Ham and I went to the local pub for dinner. That was lovely. English pubs are really something else, so cosy by the fire but the prices are a bit of a shock when first hitting London from Italy.
Day 1 got to know the new neighbourhood where H&A live now. A whole different area since I was last in London. Off down to Upper Street Islington to peruse the shops, make sure Ottolenghi was still there. On a mission to find a decent coffee which I didn’t manage on Day 1…H&A told me where to go but somehow I missed it.
Then I got on a bus and headed off into town to wonder around the obvious places Somerset House, along the Thames, Trafalgar Square etc. Back on a bus and home. All good and feeling very acclimatised already.
Day 2 A perfect coffee at the place I finally managed to find and then on to the London Museum to see the permanent collection which I had never done. I’d been there for exhibitions e.g. Dickens but just loved their permanent collection. It was really great. Then walked down to St Pauls and got on a bus to Oxford Circus for a walk along Oxford Street. But so many people and dark so early so didn’t stay there long. On the tube and home. We were going out to dinner to a local restaurant LeCoq. Ariane was working late so Ham and I had a delicious pre-Christmas pub crawl before we all met up. Mulled cider, mulled wine and just plain wine…or a combination of Lager and Ale as the mood takes you (Ham for the beer, me for the wine). Mikey also joined us for dinner before he headed to Australia next day. Delicious meal.
Saturday we all went to the Borough Market (so crowded it was impossible), some shopping for Christmas Day and then to the Christmas Markets along the Thames. That was lovely. But very cold. Over the bridge to St Pauls then home for a break before Christmas Carols at the Royal Albert Hall. This is of course right up my alley even to the shedding of the mandatory tear at the first carol. It was however a little marred by the fact that Ham and Ariane were both unwell. They had the Killer Bug that I had yet to experience…but wait for it!!
Sunday Ariane felt crappy (and so did Ham but he carried on for my sake) so Ham and I went off to have a Yum Cha in Chinatown. It was delicious. Then we went to the Portrait Gallery to see the Permanent Collection. That was nice too but Ham was feeling crappy. Then to Somerset House to buy some supplies for Christmas Day such as Mince Pies and Marmalade. Then home to takeaway and to watch The Fall.
Monday I was starting to feel Killer Bugged but went off and met Hammy for lunch at his work which was lovely. Then I walked from his work to Brick Lane and down Brick Lane to Spitalfields Market, around the market for a while and then walked until I found a tube to take me home. Tea and home and more of The Fall.
Tuesday…chores to do for Christmas. Last minute presents to buy. Then I met Chris at the tube and we went off to collect the meat for Christmas Day (and Christmas Eve). Of Duck and Gammon and pigs in blankets, as well as cheeses. Having done the essentials Chris and I went to the Victoria and Albert Museum which was lovely, stuck our heads in the Museum of Natural History and then came home. That night Hammy took Chris and I around to Mikey and Wana’s flat to get us set up and then we all went out to The Albion, a pub near H&A, for a most delicious meal in a gorgeous pub. Chris and I then slept at Mikey and Wana’s for the next 3 nights.
Christmas Eve. Chris and I set off to the Tate Britain to see the Turner Exhibition only to find that the Museums had all closed for Christmas…bummer!! What to do?? All Museums closed we discovered after trying the National Gallery next. So nothing for it but to find a wine bar known to Chris from 40 years ago!!! Have some wine, go shopping for travel books and then to the matinee performance of Charles III. My early Christmas present to Chris. It was a great show. Then home and let Christmas begin!! And what a lovely Christmas it was….except for the Killer Bug that was haunting us. Christmas Eve it was Pigs in Blankets, Sausage Rolls and Christmas Pies. Then Christmas really got into full swing with presents over Skype with Rose, Ang and Kirst, what better way to start Christmas, it was Christmas morning in Melbourne. I got a Kindle which tickled me pink!! Then off to M &W’s place and to bed.
Finally…we arrive at Christmas Day. A very special day starting with presents..all very successful and very special. I got a kitchen Magic thingo to make soups etc in Italy. Great idea. The day was so relaxed and lovely…a day of grazing, drinking and culminating in the most divine meal of Duck, Gammon, delicious vegetables, Marmalade pudding and trifle…who could ask for more. We watched the movie Elf between main course and desert…perfect. Chris left on Boxing Day morning, I re- ensconced myself at H&A’s and we had a quiet and relaxed day eating leftovers and drinking. Then more episodes of the addictive Fall.
Next morning a car to Heathrow and flight to Zagreb and on to Dubrovnik. Pick up car rental and head off to Kotor. It was dark and wet by the time we got there. Hotel Monte Cristo….lovely old building with good restaurant for our sustenance before bed.
PHEW…That’s a very boring match up but will suffice to keep the record alive.
MONTENEGRO…what a beautiful place. The weather is patchy at best. Thunder and lightning overnight and rain on and off all day but with enough rain free periods to get a few walks in. We drove around the inlet, the Boka Kotorska. Walked along the waterfront at Perast, admired the gorgeous view of mountains with a sprinkle of snow on top, the bay and the little villages all around the inlet…just lovely. We made our way to a charming restaurant called Restaurant Catovica Mlini, an old mill by a millstream. It was lovely and the food fabulous. Seafood is the go here although the meat is also good. We then got a ferry over the inlet and headed home in hail!! Down time now as we put our minds to accommodation in Sicily for next September!!!
Up to date at last. Sorry about a long and boring email but I’ll try and be better at keeping up from now on given that I’m on the move again!!! Bye for now…even though Hammy and Ariane are only upstairs!!