The rest of Wednesday

The rest of today was a gain step back in time for me - a trip down memory lane.  After leaving Buck Pal and (Peggy and Tink too), I walked with the kids through Belgravia firstly to show them where I worked.  The hotel I worked in, the Sheraton Belgravia, is still there, but is unrecognisable. It is now Belgraves hotel - an American chain took it over and have given it an amazing facelift.  It's completely different - very modern, and much better use of space and light, but so strange to see the window of my old office is now part of the main bar (that could have been handy at the time). From Belgravia we walked up Sloane Street and I showed the kids Harrods.  We had a lovely pizza lunch in one of their outlets, and bought disgracefully rich cake treats in the spectacular foodhall.  From there we shopped around Knightsbridge - Em bought a jacket as the cold is too much for her too, then we jumped on the no 9 and went down Kensington High Street to Kensington Olympia, and Sinclair Rd where I used to live. For the other residents of 28 Sinclair Rd, some important points to note...the door is still green, the Frigate and Firkin pub is now called the Beaconsfield and it's under construction, 5 Star Kebabs is gone (shocking I know), Sticky Fingers is still in High St, but no sign of the Hairy Palms (The Palms) either. So strange to be back and so many funny, funny memories.  The best part of today though was meeting up with my favourite Scottish girl ever, Fiona McLeod, and her wonderful husband Danny, both from Sheraton days. Em and I met them near their pub at the Barbican and had a great meal at another pub, before moving to see their pub and home above it and enjoy the beautiful chocolate dessert Fiona had made for us. Speaking of funny memories, Fiona pulled out a pile of old photos and we laughed the night away over too many drinks (tradition!) and pieced together stories and worked out who the people were and the photos and what became of them all. We called Loic and Wendy during the night so we could chat to them too.  It is seriously time we all had a reunion somewhere - I'd be happy to come back here again to do it.  What a great night - thanks Fiona and Danny for a fabulous night - I hope we can do it again much, much sooner!