Our friend and Brendan’s former work colleague, Tegan, arrived in London on Monday, for a brief stopover before embarking on her own European tour with Topdeck. We met up with Tegan and her friend, Alysha, for dinner at Museum Tavern, close to where the first place we ever stayed in London is (Brendan still holds this area as his favourite place in all of London).
Unfortunately, due to them having arrived earlier that morning (poor flight time planning girls!), they were very fatigued and so dinner was relatively brief. We aren’t really sure whether they even remember having dinner with us… but we hope to have them over in Clapham to show them the real London life once they return from their travels. On the tube ride home, we spotted a young Asian guy wearing a shirt with a classic bad English translation. The shirt, which was probably intended more for females, read “Rock! Never mind. We are best”, in a ‘cute’ pink and silver glitter encrusted font. Was hard to keep a straight face!
With thanks to her new found connections in high places, Roslyn gained access into Australia House on Thursday for drinks at the exclusive, invite only Duck and Dingo bar. This bar is off-limits to the public, and only those who work in the Australian High Commission and their invited guests are even allowed in the building. There she enjoyed Pimms and even bought some Chicos and Shapes home!
On Saturday, we visited the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. Although not as well known as the Chelsea Flower Show, in its 25th year Hampton Court Palace Flower Show has grown to be the world’s largest flower and gardening show. A half hour train ride away from our home, one could be forgiven for thinking they were no longer in London with the quiet streets and expansive open space. It was a warm day, wearing jeans, having no sunglasses nor sunscreen were all definitely bad moves.
The massive Festival of Roses marquee was amazing, both to see and to smell. We saw plenty of ideas that Brendan is keen to try and implement in our own home once we return to Australia. He is particularly hung up on the concept of a garden room. His interest in Landscape Architecture actually looked to be returning!
After the show, we strolled around the grounds of the adjoining Hampton Court Palace, once the home of Henry VIII.
On Sunday we headed to North London, out to Islington for a picnic at Newington Green Jazz Festival with the Aussies in London crew. When we left our Clapham Junction home, the weather was looking overcast and the temperature was mild. We were tricked, and for the second time that weekend, heavy pants and no sunglasses were bad wardrobe choices.
With one of the world’s biggest tennis championships currently being played at nearby Wimbledon, later that evening we went over and watched on the big screen at Wimbledon Piazza, drinking British Pimms accompanied by traditional Wimbledon snacks, strawberries and cream.
Highlights for the week:
- Dinner with Tegan at Museum Tavern
- Wednesday was the hottest July day ever recorded in London
- Roslyn gained exclusive access to Australia House and got to check out the Duck and Dingo
- Hampton Court Palace Flower Show
- Festival of Roses marquee
- Strolled the gardens of Hampton Court Palace
- Had a picnic at Newington Green Jazz Festival with the Aussies in London crew
- Watched the tennis on the big screen at Wimbledon Piazza
- Pimms plus strawberries and cream
Hi guys, great blog, just out of interest did you get any photos of the bar inside the Australian commission. If you can email me on sarahl_robertson@hotmail.com I would really appreciate it and I will explain more then.
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