A Christmas tour 2010

We left for England on a blustery, rainy Friday evening, heading for the 04:00 ferry from Dunkerque to Dover. No problem there, reach the channel with plenty of time to spare. We then headed up the M20 over the Dartford Crossing or was it through the Dartford Tunnel around the top of the Orbital and into London to Linda’s Niece Nina with plenty of time to spare. We had a shower and a change, Nina was kind enough to give us the use of 2 Oysters (travel cards, not edible ones). We then legged it onto the tube and got off at Tower Bridge. We had a couple of hours to spare before the Wildfood Meet, so we dropped of some stuff at number ones place of work,"The George", as some of us had arranged to meet up there, prior to going to TAS. I had been clad in beige coloured slacks (are they still called that?) and while getting stuff out of the car boot had brushed against the bumper, I didn't notice until on the tube, oh my dear what to do, asked son where to get a new pair and he pointed us in the direction of NEXT, it is situated in the smashing Hays Wharf arcade, over looking the Thames, HMS Belfast and the Gherkin.

Now suitably attired in dark cords, we headed towards Borough Market.

Had a quick look round, wonderful display of world foods at wonderful prices. But Linda did like Neil's Yard and all the goodies on display (it could also have had something to do with all of the free tasters she put away)



Hand Dived?



We then zoomed back across to The George to meet up with the other Wildfood board meeters, first having to circumnavigate a couple of hundred merry making Santas.

 Question: How Many Santa's can you get up a back Alley?

Answer:  As many as you can get out of "The George" backyard


We (the meeters) met and had a bit of a chat No 1 son, Jason came out to meet us (he was in the process of doing a 150 head buffet) went across the road mob-handed to TAS, others had already congregated and they had sorted out a nice corner for us. (I think they wanted to keep us away from the other guests).

We had agreed in advance to have menu 2 from the Christmas Menu:

http://www.tasrestaurant.com/tas_borough_high_st/christmasmenu.htm

Jacquie going crackers



A Stern (because she was at the back of the table?) looking Gill



Mamta seeing if it was raining

A couple of our good friends had supplied a little extra, in that Ian had brought the best part of him "His Liver"
and our dear Uschi, not able to join us, sent a magnificent box of self-made Praline, she is such a darling xxxxxxx

The food though nice was not special, I have eaten a lot of Turkish food as has Linda and we both agreed that it was nothing out of the ordinary and I would say that the starters had the edge over the mains.

I found my "stew" of lamb, potatoes, onion, tomatoes and oregano, tasty, but not a patch on what I would expect from a Turkish restaurant in Berlin



Squid





TAS SPECIAL

Lamb with potatoes, onion, tomatoes and oregano



With afternoon feeding time finished we made our way to the Westend, visiting Whitehall, (Big Ben, Houses of Parlement, Westminster Abbey, etc.)

Trafalgar square (meeting up with another load of Santa's).



some just mooching around



While others waltzed to Silent Night (well it was Christmas)

 Then on to Piccadilly , we had booked Les Miserable and having a half an hour to kill went next door to the Shaftesbury (oooh isn't it pink) for a pint and waited to go in. We had seats right in the centre with a wonderful view, this is the first time I have been to the Queens and found it a smashing theatre, with no bad lines of vision. Wow I thoroughly enjoyed the show, music and cast fantastic, the scenery and mechanics of the set wonderful, I certainly would go and see it again, I most probably will as Linda slept through most of the performance. I bought her the DVD as part of her Christmas present so she wouldn’t feel left out when others talked about it.

We got out and got into the tube to take us home. It had been a very long day, I had been on the go since 06:00 on Friday morning and it was now time for beddy byes.



Sunday morning up bright and early, had a quick breakfast and I leaving the girls to do there thing (they where to Camden Market0, went to do my thing, that was to go to Hyde Park Corner via James Park tube station, going to see if Buck House was still there, it was and so was the tourists plus 1 more now.

I next ventured through Green Park and went to the RA memorial.

The Silent big Gun in rememberance

"They will not grow old"

Took a couple of photos of old Beaky and went across the road to the German market , well blow me down with a feather, a bloody Brattie costing a fiver ????? call that a rip off.

Next I walked along to speakers corner, passing a flock of grazing geese, well I remember it far more vibrant, maybe I caught them on an off day (the speakers not the geese)? Come back Tony Soper!!!

Next along Oxford street to do a bit of shopping, passing a steel band all in green playing Christmas music..

 Got to  China Town for a spot of Lunch!

I love the winow food of China Town, I get hungry just looking!

I had some fantastic Dim Sums (4 different sorts) at Wan Chai Corner, this is not so well known as Gerrard's Corner (other end of the street), but I couldn't fault the quality, price or service, will certainly go again.

I Stood and watched for a while as a group of Gospel singers, done their thing! It was really good.

I then made my way back to The George to have an afternoon session with my son, starting off at "The George" and then going along the street to "The Old King's Head" to watch the game on the big screen.

After that it was back to Nina's to cook an evening meal for the girls, stopped off at M&S to buy the ingredients.

Next morning it was to be an early start as we where off to Trowebridge to spend a couple of days with friends.