It would have been awesome had you been there, Limey. Alas, in my usual haphazard way I ended doing it all at the last minute (only finalised dates of my trip and booked hotel four days prior ;p)) and as I only had saturday evening and Sunday free, it would have been a hell of a haul for you to get down here just for an overnighter.
Gotta say it was great fun. Sundae's a peach for coming, as I basically dropped it on her mere days before. Much as I enjoy my own company, and as naturally solitary as I am, I am not used to extended periods of time on my own. I may only spend half an hour in a day with Mum, or my bro or J, but it's a rare day I don't spend time with someone I am close to. The prospect of 10 days away felt like an awful long stretch of time 'til Sundae agreed to come over Saturday.
I have promised fair notice next time lol.
I have photos, and was going to sort them tonight, but after nearly two hours wrestling with the travelodge central booking system in order to extend by one night (want to take advantage of Thursday's late night opening at the National Archives) I have had enough of computery activities.
Couple of points:
Firstly, re: the Jedi robe. I am wearing it currently. I reallly wiish I had a light sabre. In fact...I am just about to watch the second half of Phantom Menace. I started watching it on Friday night, but was shattered so only made it to the midway point.
It's not actually a Jedi robe of course :p It is a gorgeous bathrobe, with hood. Having been on an intermittent quest to find the perfect dressing gown/bathrobe, for about the last ten years, I was finallly introduced to The Bathrobe Company, Covent Garden. They were all lovely. Lots of russets and ochres and terracottas. kind of Persian weave type things. Heavy and substantial, with gorgeous details and proper big hoods. All lovely, but I saw one that I just had to have. In amongst the autumn colours was this one blue robe. Ahh but it's sooo nice. I just fell instantly in love wiith it. And what's brilliant is, the design is suuch that even when it fades in the wash, or if the dyes run, it'll still look gorgeous. The kind of thing that actually looks better when it's been worn in.
The shop and its wares came highly recommended by past customer, Sundae
And I can now tick that quest off as completed.
I really like bobbing about London, but I never know where to go. Having someone there who knows it well is so different. I got to see way more of the sights than I normally would, and ended up eating in the wonderful belgian restaurant pictured above. It's a hidden gem of a place. You'd have to know iit was there. And I truly could not believe the prices. I'd expect those prices at a restaurant or good pub round my way, but this was Coven Garden ffs. And the food was really good. Cooked to perfection and well-presented without being showy. Lovely relaxed atmosphere to the place too.
The night before we'd had a very pleasant evening watching and listening to stuff and generally laughing our tits off. Sundae is very funny. (vunny). I suspect the staff thought we were slightly mental. Also very funny was the DvD commentary of Blood on Satan's Claw, as recorded by the League of Gentlemen, and provided by Sundae. As a horror fan it's great to hear other horror fans pull apart a movie, but so much better when those horror fans are themselves writers and moviemakers. They have a real insight into the technical stuff. And since all the contributors are thoughtful, witty and erudite, the resul;t is very entertaining.
Right.... I'll post other stuff soon. But I have to go. Got a pressing engagement on Tatooine... *swooshes a lightsabre*