Monday night and off to dinner with the three "S's" Sandra Papier, Simone Nicholls and Sybil Cornell who had now arrived in London. Phillip, Simone's son joined us for what would be the best meal I had in London. A mall bistro called La Rotissori provided an excellent mushroom soup, prawn cocktail and scalliops. Back to Sandra's place for tea/coffee and a kind lift from Phillip to a station close to Hammersmith saw me home around 23:00.
Well, last day in London. Not much to do as I have been living out of my suitcase and everything is basically packed. I decide on a relaxing morning and walk down Chiswick High Road and lunch at Carluccios - as in Antonio. It is a plainish but comfortable looking cafe where I had the mushroom soup with Italian bacon which was exceptionally good. Washed down with a passable coffee and Italian Granita I then bus the 2 kms back to the house and the taxi calls for me at 15:00 as arranged. Now I would have taken the underground but Stamford Brook station had no lift hence my seeming laziness.
Off to St Pancras station which, by London underground standards is quite superb. Modern, clean, well sing posted. I collect my ticket from the automatic machine, clear security and immigration and wait a few minutes before boarding the train. Unfortunately the seat is facing backwards but there is nothing I can do about that. In a blink we are in France - if the beautiful countryside wasn't enough to let me know where I was the next announcement was "ladies and gentlemen this is your train manager. The train will be stopping shortly to pick up approximately 200 passengers who have been stranded on a TGV train which has broken down. We don't know how long this will take (assume in France longer rather than shorter I think to myself) but we estimate 30 to 60 minutes." Sure enough 1 and a half hours late we arrive in Paris.
I had arranged to meet Michael and Vivien Cornell at a bistro and am told last orders will be at 22:00. The train arrives at 21:23 and I race to the hotel - getting a taxi with minimum problem except they still haven't worked out how to queue the cabs and load up more than 2 at a time - check in to the hotel and race the restaurant. For those who may be visiting Paris I would strongly recommend a visit to this restaurant: Beans with crayfish salad, sate scallops and a creme brulee that I would count among the best I have ever had. The only downside to the experience was the heated discussion with the waiter wherein I had to explain that I was the "paying" customer and that if I wanted butter with my bread he should bring it - which he finally did after refusing to do so - I thought he was joking to start with and would bring the butter - silly me.
Home to bed and for some reason the best night's sleep in a long while. The hotel is ideally located two blocks from L'Opera and the Grand Magazins. But in keeping with European hotels small room, very high ceilings, nice bathroom and functional I will call it.
Next morning breakfast with Michael and Vivien at their hotel near the Rue de Rivoli. Bidding them adieu for 10 days I stroll down the Place Vendome looking at shops which had watches, jewellery and other luxurious items in the window with what looked like SKU codes for prices - 122,000 Euros for watches etc. Anyway eye candy for me.
I walk to Galleries Lafayette where I buy a few sale items and then mid afternoon back to the hotel where I catch up on emails and other things.
A little disappointed that Mum won't be able to make it to Poland with Danielle and myself due to an impending operation but as mum is - she is upbeat and positive about the outcome and wishing us to have a good time and not to worry - but worry we will I am sure. So we will rejig some of the trip and still plan to go to Bialystok.
More in a few days.
David
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