Saturday, our last full day! Sam wanted to sleep in and didn’t want any breakfast. J and I went out to breakfast at a local hotel. It was fancy but they had eggs and their fruit plate was divine. Before we left, I got some good writing in, a meditation, and my French lessons too!
We took off toward Hyde Park. I had told J that I wanted to walk on the bottom half so we could make sure and walk past the Diana water memorial which I remembered being beautiful. J kept walking off to examine every different statue, which was fine, but he didn’t communicate what he was doing and kept waving goodbye like he wasn’t going to hang with us which was slightly confusing. But Sam and I had a nice walk and talk and when we finally reached the lake and went the south side, J came by.
The memorial was so nice. I do love the rushing water. There are several different water features and it’s meant to show her spirit in times of peace and turmoil. I had already walked the full thing with Cindy when I was last there with her, so we walked over a portion, and then walked on.
The park was filled with people, walking their dogs, playing on the grass. J and Sam loved watching the dogs. We walked up to Kensington Palace. I would have liked to tour it but these two wouldn’t really be interested so we looked at the Diana memorial in the front – which is SO weird, btw, why do they have 3 random children with her. I mean, I know why, I read the reason, but it’s still weird.
We were all hangry at this point. I know better but finding a random restaurant on the last day of the trip when you are hungry is irritating. I wanted to go one way, J wanted to go another – which was clearly a bunch of fast food. We went the main drag way and then I think he realized it was all places I couldn’t eat at so he was then giving me the option to pick. Which, we had bad service and I couldn’t easily research and we already walked the way I didn’t want to go. I knew there were cute places in Notting Hill but we were still a 10m walk away. The pub we walked past at had the stuff we liked, so I said that’s fine. It did look good.
It wasn’t the best food, which was unfortunate. The burger reminded me of the place in Scotland which made me feel ill. This one didn’t make me feel super ill but it was close. The ambiance WAS good though, and the guy behind the bar was hilarious. You had to order at the bar and when he was getting us water, he tipped the jar and it spilled ALL over Sam. So she got a free drink out of it (she wasn’t drinking – it as mocktail) but still, that was nice. I left them a good review. But maybe I shouldn’t have. LOL
We were happier after that and did the 10m walk to Notting Hill. I think Sam was amazed. The people, the tables of antiques, the shops.
It was fairly amusing, when we came to London a few days earlier I realized that Europe’s Mother’s Day was on March 30th so I made the comment that Mother’s Day was different here and I expected to be wished Happy Mom’s Day twice!
So when we were shopping, Sam and I were looking at rings and she offered to get me one for Mother’s Day. I thought that was sweet and thought she meant for May. I didn’t really think about it too hard but the rings were 10 pounds and I saw a cute one and she got it for me.
The next day at the airport there was a sign about Mother’s Day. I was just coming out of the restroom (we all take turns while standing at the luggage) and she looked horrified and J was laughing. She thought they had forgotten to wish my Happy Mother’s Day and she was quickly searching the data up on her phone and was OUTRAGED that she bought me a ring for the UK one. hahaha – That was so amusing. My ring is so pretty though!
She got herself an antique watch that went well with her bracelets and some other things.
I tried on a lovely hat.
I did not buy it.
After awhile, she was done. J wasn’t shopping at all, just following us around. He said something about taking the Underground home and I said, I will be taking an Uber, thank you! Uber was 20m and metro was 50 with 2 changes. They both decided they would come home with me!
We relaxed for a bit but I wanted to go be out with everyone on a Saturday afternoon and walk around a little. They didn’t want to go so I happily took my iPad and walked through Piccadilly Square. I sort of thought about shopping but every time I came on a store, I just didn’t feel like it. It was nice people watching and I found 2 restaurants that were calling to me but I walked out of one.
The next one looked nice and was called Balans SoHo No. 60 and I stopped in and had a glass of champagne and wrote for 40m. Right as I was sitting down, they texted and wanted to know where I was. By the time they got there, I had finished my drink but they wanted to sit down and try one.
We then made our way over to dinner. J had found a seafood place that had amazing oysters. The restaurant was called Wilton’s. It was lovely. Sam still feels uncomfortable with the prices so I ordered her an appetizer that I could share with her. I got oysters – which were amazing and incredibly fresh – and I got her the crab and avocado which was equally good. We all had the halibut and we got a few sides. Very nice place!
J had a dessert but Sam and I wanted gelato. They didn’t have mint but I got chocolate and chocolate chip, and ordered a bunch of delicious chocolate for the plane that I slightly regretted (not really) and we made our way home!
What an adventure!
The trip home was uneventful and long but 4 hours after I arrived home, I think I got the norovirus which was the worst thing EVER. And I promptly gave it to J two days later and I’m crossing my fingers that G doesn’t get it because his play is this weekend! Yikes.
But the trip flew by and it was really lovely.
Day 1 – Edinburgh
Day 2 – Loch Lomand
Day 3 – Glencoe & Loch Ness
Day 4 – Inverness
Day 5 – London Tea
Day 6 – Sky Garden & Dinner
Day 7 – St James & Much Ado
