Party animals (who, us?)

We’ve had a great weekend in London with friends, celebrating a couple of birthdays and generally enjoying their company.

It was an early start yesterday morning, but early starts mean the roads are clear and we were there at our hotel by 9.30ish.  Plenty of time to drop our bags, check in and have a leisurely walk to our lunchtime destination.

We pottered around Monmouth Street and Seven Dials for a while.  I’m glad we did, for not only did I find a couple of interesting things in my favourite art supply shop, I thought I’d step inside Eileen Fisher in Slingsby Place, just to see what’s what.  As you do.

Well, there was the black boiled wool coat I’d seen in September; the same one as Mary bought for me in Beverly Hills and brought with her when we went to Liverpool.  Except that the version in the shop yesterday had sleeves – very nice.  £495 reduced to £195.  Hmmm.  I tried it on and my hero declared that it looked good.  I think “Buy it” were the words he spoke

I began the transaction and offered my postcode as evidence of my “frequent buyer” status (!) and couldn’t quite believe my ears when the assistant announced that I had a gift voucher to spend on my account which would bring the price of the coat down to £94.  A bargain, or what?

Time to start the party then.  Lunch at Joe Allens with our friends, their friends (many of whom are also our friends) their rellies and especially nice, Edward and Amy (who are also their friends).  It was a quiet sort of do.  Not!

In the party spirit, then (but having put our feet up for an hour before heading out again) we had pre-theatre drinks in The Savoy before the brilliant, amazing Guys and Dolls.  What a show!  A fantastic cast, a full house and a really memorable performance.  Wow.

I can tell you, we were both pretty pleased to climb into our super-comfy bed last night!

This morning, the celebrations continued with the opening of a new pair of Falke socks, fresh from Strumpfstadt

Off we went again, meeting our friends for a morning concert at the Wigmore Hall.  Well, a little culture on a Sunday morning is good for the soul, isn’t it, and it has to be better than hissing at Rob’s utterances on The Archers Omnibus!

Edward and Amy were waiting for us at the Chiltern Firehouse when we got there, ready for a spot of lunch – or more accurately, brunch.  Fantastically tasty dishes, really well served (on hot plates!) with a glass or two of prosecco…well, why not?!  

Desserts were spectacular – well, we had to sample such interesting offerings, didn’t we?  (This is pannacotta with a burnt meringue surrounded by granita)

Sadly, all good things come to an end and this was the point where I wished for a teleport home.  Leaving London late on a Sunday afternoon isn’t good, but at least we were in our own comfy car and not on a rickety train (and bus replacement) to Eastbourne…

How blessed we are to have sweet friends who share such fun with us.  How lucky we are to be able to enjoy it, too!