London, My London! How Fabulous to be Back Again!

Friday, June 7, 2019

London

London, My London! How Fabulous to be Back Again!

Hiya from London!

A new day dawned while I was airborne from Rio to London!

Arrival in Heathrow:

It was a smooth touch down into Heathrow airport at 12. 30 pm (scheduled time of arrival was 1.10 pm, so, to my good luck, we were 40 minutes ahead of schedule). I managed to speak to the British Airways stewardess who gave me a Fast Track pass that allowed me to glide through Immigration without waiting in an endless line—but, in the end, it was unnecessary. The Immigration procedure at London has been completely streamlined now and is all electronic if you have an American passport (among others, I guess). There is no need to pass through any human beings at all. I was out of there in no time—less than 10 minutes—and so excited to me back in my favorite city in the world after exactly two years! You can just imagine how thrilled and excited I was! Not even the dull grey typically soggy London summer weather could dampen my spirits as I went out to meet a new day in London. 

As I had checked my case through to Bombay, I had only a small backpack with me. Careful planning had led me to include a large black tote in my back pack (for the edible goodies I intended to buy). Making my way smartly out of Immigration, I was in the Arrivals Lounge of Terminal 5 looking for signs leading to the Heathrow Express (as I’d had the foresight to actually buy and print my tickets in Bombay before leaving). This saved me more valuable time in purchasing them.

Taking the Heathrow Express to Central London:

I had never taken the Heathrow Express before (it is expensive compared to the Piccadilly Line on the Tube) but since time was of the essence, I decided to splurge this time. I had about 9 hours to spend in London on probably the longest layover I have ever had anywhere—Moscow, a long time ago, was 8 hours and I had stayed at the airport then. Return fare on the Heathrow Express cost me 32 pounds because I booked two weeks in advance of travel. It can go as high as 50 pounds if one waits too long to book.

The terminal and the crowd taking the train are very disciplined indeed. It took me just 15 minutes to get to Paddington station and much of the journey was above ground which added to my excitement at being back as we passed through London’s western suburbs. I pulled out my black tote bag and organized the gift bags and the two kurtas I had bought from Bombay for Cynthia and Roz. 

Shopping at Paddington:

Arriving at Paddington concourse, I discovered, before I found the stairwell that disappeared into the Underground, that there was a massive shopping area at the station itself. With signs advertising both Sainsburys and M and S Simply Food, I decided it would be wise to pick up the goodies I wanted from here itself—this would save me time running along the King’s Road in Chelsea trying to find them later on.

So thinking on my feet, I disappeared into M and S and found the cookies I wanted. Alas, there were no chocolate eclairs. Next door, in Sainsbury’s, I found the Fruit, Seed and Nut Muesli (new, I believe, as I usually get the Fruit and Nut  one) and picked up one packet. Armed with these buys that went into my large black tote, I went down the stairwell for the Circle Line Tube—very pleased that, time-wise at least, I was still ahead of the game.

Of course, there had to be a glitch somewhere—and the Circle Line had earlier signal problems on the track that was delaying trains. I had to wait for over 10 minutes to get the train I wanted...but then inside I was and chugging off to my Sloane Street station. The rain had abated and while it was still cool and damp outside, at least it was not bucketing down.

I did not realize how long the stops are on the Circle Line and how long it took to get there. But I calculated 20 minutes.  Once off the train at Sloane Square, I braved the gentle drizzle (delighted again to be back in London as I dodged black cabs and red double deckers) and, five minutes later, my friend Cynthia was opening the door and letting me in at Grosvenor Court.

Great Union with the Colcloughs:

I had a great reunion with the Colcloughs after two years. And Biggest treat of all? I got to meet their new grand son, Michael, now 11 months old, and...get this...as I discovered, the little blighter shares a birthday with me!!! How cool is that? And, of course, he is adorable! Although there were a few tears when he first saw me, they melted away quickly enough and he became the friendliest little fellow. After hugs and kisses to Michael and Cynthia, I settled down to take in a sight of their living room which looks now exactly as if it has been taken over by a toddler. 

    Lunch was served soon enough and it was just delicious. Michael made a delicious Shepherd’s Pie for me with steamed broccoli and cabbage which we thoroughly enjoyed. Dessert was almond cookies with strawberries and vanilla ice-cream. We caught up on everything that has happened in two years time, on both our sides,  Needless to say, little Michael kept us on our toes as he joined us in his high chair for lunch and made sure he was a part of our conversation. Who knows where the time goes when one is having fun...but in the process, the rain dried up and the sun made a brave attempt to peep out, just in time for the second part of my afternoon’s plans—a meeting at M and S with my friend Roz with whom I planned to have Afternoon Tea.

I walked briefly into Jo Malone at the corner of the street as I can never resist going in there and since I had some time on my hands, I passed by Peter Jones/John Lewis department store on the corner and hurried towards the charity shop inside the arcade where I was very fortunate to find two DVDs for the huge price of 2 for a pound. I am cursing myself now that I didn’t buy Simon Shama’s History of Britain—they had the entire boxed set for just 6 pounds and I might have got them for three. But oh well! That would have been one more thing to cart off to Bombay and then to the US in two months’ time. I am pleased with The Riot Club and Philomena and hope that I do not have the latter already. 

Then, I hurried off to meet Roz who was in the store as decided. I nipped in, found my chocolate eclairs (a set of four) which I was pretty sure I would not be able to take through Security as they are full of cream. I would scarf them down on the Heathrow Express on the way back to the airport in the evening.

With my shopping done, Roz and I hurried off first to the Oxfam charity shop where I always find abs fab vintage jewelry for peanuts. No luck today! They did have a sterling silver cuff set with a large piece of amber (but it was 35 pounds--more than I wanted to spend!).  So it was off to Paul’s for Tea. I was sorry that Boots is no longer carrying Max Factor’s Max Express nail polish—I was so keen to pick up a few bottles, but neither the airport Boots nor the ones on the King’s Road carried them. Probably Superdrugs or some such place will. 

Roz and I then sat down for a natter. She treated me to Belgian Hot Chocolate and an Almond Croissant (my two favorite things to eat there) and she gave me the good news that she got married last week! Of course, I had to give her a hug and a big kiss and was so happy to hear everything she told me about the wedding. The lucky man is her partner of at least two decades! Indeed, what great news it was and how grand! I should now send a WhatsApp to Christie (whom I had last met a few months ago in Chennai) to congratulate him. Roz and I then took some pictures before it was time for us to part. She was very keen that I had enough time to get to the airport as neither she nor the Colcloughs wanted me to miss my flight.

Roz had an errand to run at Peter Jones/John Lewis on the way out and so we nipped in there at the corner of the King’s Road and Sloane Square while she bought the Thank You cards she needed. And with that we were out, in the light drizzle which began again. I was absolutely chuffed to be a Sloane Ranger again even if it was just for a few hours. Indeed, I got what I call “My London Fix”—it is time to get back there again soon, that’s for sure! 

Then after hugs and kisses, both Roz and I took the Tube from Sloane Square—she was off to the Tate Modern for a 7.00 pm appointment and I was off to the airport. The train was crowded at peak hour, but it calmed down soon enough. Laden with all my shopping, I paused again at Paddington and went and bought some more muesli from Sainsburys before I hopped into the Heathrow Express and 15 minutes later was at the airport—and yes, I did scarf down ALL my eclairs!--with an enormous amount of time to actually nip into Harrods and other duty free shops to do some browsing. 

And then I found my gate, made my way to it on the Heathrow Terminal Shuttle monorail and was soon making my way back to Bombay. 

Flight to Bombay:

My flight left London at 9.30 pm and offered different in-flight entertainment than what was available on my sector from Rio to London. Hence, I could not finish watching season one of Killing Eve and will have to find Episodes 5 and 6 somewhere else. Instead I followed the flight map and watched The Favorite. I did not quite make much sense of it—clearly it is a movie that must be seen on the big screen. But I can see why they gave the Oscar to Olivia Coleman who was wonderful. I also see that at the Queens Birthday honors (the Trooping of the Color) that followed a day after my departure from London, she has been made a Dame! Wow! When honors come, they flow right in. What a long way she has come since Broadchurch when we had all thought she was simply outstanding. I have also just finished watching a British TV series called Flowers on Netflix and she has a very important and good role in it as well. As usual, she has done a great job. It is funny how finally she has been recognized by the world for the fine actress she is. 

Until tomorrow...