Time out

It really happened.

After much planning and jumping through hoops, I managed a short break, the first time away from home in two years.

Right up to the last minute, cancellation looked inevitable but, with the mister, dog and cats miraculously placed with their respective carers, me and the Boy boarded the London-bound train for a few days of just simply enjoying.

To say this was much needed time out is something of an understatement.  Settling into the journey with a novel and the Christmas edition of Good Housekeeping, there was such a sense of release I ended up with a soggy face mask (no, you're a crybaby).

Arriving at Kings X and being too early for the hotel check-in, cases and bags were dumped in left luggage. We had a wander round Coal Drops Yard before a most delicious lunch and festive cocktails in Dishoom, followed by a visit to the British Library.  It was a very good start to what promised to be a fun time.

After a mooch around Spitalfields and a nosey here, that first evening was spent strolling along the river before a relaxed dinner, then ending up here for a couple of glasses of champagne, spectacular views and indulging in a favourite activity of mine, people watching.

 

We'd pre-booked some tickets including ones for the Alice in Wonderland exhibition at the V&A which I'd been very keen to catch and which didn't disappoint.

Avoiding the underground because it seemed the appropriate thing to do, we travelled the city using black cabs and Uber cars (and sometimes Shanks's pony).   Yes, it's a more expensive way of getting around but you do get to see sights you'd otherwise miss.

London was looking fabulously festive.   As we weren't staying there this visit (we were based here),  we popped into the Ritz for a gawp at the Christmas tree. 

On the way out, I somehow managed to end up on hands and knees on the red carpet at the bottom of the steps.  In my defence, there was no champagne involved.  I'm blaming the steamed up specs.

A night at the theatre was on the cards and, after a spot of shopping in Old Compton Street and several bookshops, we settled down for three hours of supercalifragelistic entertainment.  

I love wandering cities at night and London surely has to be one of the best for doing just that. 

 

A trip to to the capital is never complete without a visit to Borough Market.  We arrived early as the stallholders were finishing setting up, allowing easy unhurried browsing and prompting much deliberation of what to buy, what to eat. When it was time to move on,  I was amazed to realise we'd spent three hours there.

The weather was glorious as we walked south of the river, hopefully shaking off at least some of those market calories and heading towards the Tate Modern.

This free exhibition was fascinating.  (I've tried to add a video of these floating machines but Typepad isn't playing ball.)

 

We did all of this and so much more, packing as much as we could into this visit whilst never feeling rushed.

Returning home to pets and snow, there were still a couple of days to catch up with family and slob on sofas with takeaway pizzas before normal life resumed, though with batteries well and truly recharged.