As Roslyn was working in Barcelona through to Thursday,
Brendan was left to carry on “Life in London” solo for most of the week. We
were still in the last few days of November but winter was sneaking through
early, with a crisp 0°C to start the day on Tuesday. In the evening he went
across to the West End, where The Infinite Mix had been set up in an abandoned
office block. Marketed as an audiovisual art exhibition, there were ten short
films spread throughout the dark and decaying building and reminded him a bit
of Tropfest in Australia.
Wednesday morning was even colder, Brendan emerging from the
flat to the sight of frost covered cars and a temperature of -3°C.
In the evening he went in search of Christmas lights, walking from work past the lights in Duke of York Square and Sloane Square, and then on the tube over to Oxford Street. Packed with Christmas shoppers and tourists, it was a struggle even to get out of the station as masses of people were stood motionless on the footpaths. From there it was onto Carnaby Street, down Regent Street to Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square. By chance he saw someone from back in Australia.
In the evening he went in search of Christmas lights, walking from work past the lights in Duke of York Square and Sloane Square, and then on the tube over to Oxford Street. Packed with Christmas shoppers and tourists, it was a struggle even to get out of the station as masses of people were stood motionless on the footpaths. From there it was onto Carnaby Street, down Regent Street to Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square. By chance he saw someone from back in Australia.
There was a big party on Wednesday night for Roslyn in Barcelona, and she didn’t return to her hotel until after 3am. The next morning she and plenty of the other exhibition staff from across the globe returned to their stands, feeling worse for wear.
On Thursday evening and the first official day of winter,
Chelsea-based pub The Phene hosted a Winter Garden opening party with
complimentary mulled wine and fruit mince pies. Brendan went along with
colleagues Laura, Nadine and Wendy where Lucy and Tiffany Watson (of Made in
Chelsea fame and whose father conveniently also owns the pub), had been
advertised as being in attendance to officiate events. A bartender called for everyone’s
attention, the garden lights were turned off, he delivered a brief speech and
then the Watson sisters flicked the lights back on without either of them
saying anything to the crowd. After those fleeting few minutes they disappeared
and weren’t seen again.
Roslyn returned on Thursday night and we then went together
to see Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park and the lights of Oxford Street on Friday night. Earlier in the evening,
Roslyn went for drinks with Florence from work, while Brendan went to check out
the John Lewis winter roof garden complete with private garden lodges available for reservation.
Roslyn left home early on Saturday to attend Beauty Con with Florence and Isabella, meeting up prior to nab a cronut from Dominique Ansel Bakery (flavour of the month - Gianduja (hazlenut milk chocolate) with English Rose Jam). Florence being quite skilled in the art of instagramming food achieved an image that Dominique Ansel should be using for marketing. Indeed the official Dominique Ansel account liked the photo, quite a feat considering how many of the photogenic pastries are posted.
In the meantime Brendan strolled the areas around Embankment
and Covent Garden, before we met up again for lunch at Homeslice pizzeria,
where they serve gigantic 20 inch pizzas.
Later we joined the elite in Knightsbridge, calling in to
Harrods and having a look at their Christmas displays.
On Sunday we headed around the corner from home for a
traditional British Sunday roast lunch at The Four Thieves pub. Soft lighting
and lots of dark wood downstairs make this appear like a run of the mill
old-fashioned English pub, but then the entire top floor houses a large and
unexpected games room with arcade games and even mini golf.
Following lunch we trekked over to admire Big Ben and the
Houses of Parliament as the sun descended behind the historic buildings.
Highlights for the
week:
- Roslyn in Barcelona at IBTM World
- Early winter temperatures of 0°C and -3°C in the mornings
- Christmas lights
- Winter Garden opening party at The Phene with Lucy and
Tiffany Watson
- Winter Wonderland
- Beauty expo
- Dominique Ansel Bakery
- Homeslice pizzeria
- Harrods
- Sunday roast at The Four Thieves
- Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament
- Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament
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