Darlene becomes a Senior!

This will be an interesting blog post. We are in London, I am using a new blog tool, and hopefully it will go well, from the writing point of view.

Dan, Katy (Dan's girlfriend), and I had conspired to make this a special trip to England in many ways. But primarily, since it was Darlene's 65th birthday time, we had a surprise up our collective sleeve. We arranged to have Pat come from Victoria to London to be with us, so we would have the entire family together for the first time ever (I'm including Katy in the family now, you see). This was all to be a surprise for Darlene: Pat would also be there at the airport to meet us, and we would try to record Darlene's reaction.

And it went quite well. Pat had arrived about three hours before we did, Dan and Katy went to meet him and had some time with him. Then Katy and Dan came to meet us as we left the customs/baggage area, leading us carefully our to a spot where we would stop for a picture. Katy worked the camera, and while she was taking the picture, Pat came up behind her. Fair to say that Darlene was suitable surprised!

Stepping back a bit, there were some final moments of drama before we left Toronto. Our ride to the airport was uneventful, and we got checked in and through security without too much trouble. Then Darlene decided to go back out briefly before boarding the plane. Well, it turns out that there is an enormous number of people catching the flights about the same time as ours, so she was held up for a long time in the returning line-up, and we were the last people onto the plane, settling into our seats just as they were closing the doors. The good news is that we made it, and the seats were very good.

So, back to London. Long ride into town from the airport, some talk and snacks when we got in, then a nap for some of us (like me). A very pleasant supper, and getting our stuff to the room where Darlene and I were to stay, and we were tired enough to sleep again.

Friday was a lazy day. Dan was off work, Pat slept in, we slept in, so we eventually had lunch instead of breakfast, at the local pub. It was great! Leisurely, tasty, congenial. Some walking about, and then back to the flat. Darlene and I booked tickets to go to a concert at St. Martin-in-the-Fields: Bach and Vivaldi in a wonderful setting, while the sun was setting. Dan, Pat, and friends were at the Temple Brew House for a night of beer tasting, and so on. Photo is from our seat at the church, with the sun setting.

The following day, being a Saturday, meant an obligatory trip to the Maltby Market nearby. This is very classy market, with wonderful food, as well as a champagne bar and a gin bar — you get the picture. The morning went quickly, what with shopping and all.

Supper was to be a supper club event that Dan and Katy participate in, and was to be at their place. But there were a lot of cancellations, so he event was cancelled and we ate at home, another wonderful meal. (We should be thankful that the supper club folks missed out, so there was more for us.) And the next day was a barbecue at Katy's parents place.

We actually went there via a Hindu temple that Dan and Katy had been meaning to see. What a display of ornate carving of stone and wood! And the icons, and the prayers, were elaborate. I found it a bit too much (Protestant that I am), but I'm glad to have seen it. Then on to the Bennett's, where we saw Jim and Claire again, and were warmly greeted. They took Darlene and I out their "allotment", and proudly showed off the garden work that Jim was doing. And then back to the house for the meal of many meats, lots of food, and too much wine (for me). The elder men, +\- Patrick, held forth in vino veritas, and solved many of the world's ills, before being poured into a cab and driven back to our little room.

Fortunately (?) for me, I don't suffer from hangovers. The next day was to be our special tea at Fortnum and Mason, for Darlene's birthday. It began with a lovely birthday celebration and breakfast at Dan's hands (with, I'm sure, Katy's help), before heading downtown to the store. For those that don't know the store, it is high class even within the high standards of London shopping. And the tea did not disappoint. Lots of varieties of actual tea, many sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jams, and of course cakes. We left feeling well-stuffed. A tour through the store confirmed what we knew: lovely things for sale at only about three times what I would think they were worth.

And then some walking, more presents for the lady, and the birthday was well-celebrated.

More to come....

 

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