Nov 17 Walk in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens

Again, I'm writing here in my living room in East Point by the fire with Poesie at my feet.  It's December 18, 6:53 pm.

November 17:

Ralph came home on this overcast drizzly day inspired with the idea of going to Hyde Park.  And we went.  He had figured out our route so I tagged along.  We "alighted" at Marble Arch and made our way across the street and traffic to the park entrance.  Several paths offered themselves.  We took the middle and headed off between green lawns and old trees.  There was a lot to see.  We came upon an art gallery and walked through.  Mostly film clips and a nice book store.  Back out along the trail where it seemed to me, because they had their dogs, that there were mostly  Londoners.  Lots of dogs running loose.  We passed what is called The Serpentine which is a long lake, the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain, various statues, and came to the Albert Memorial.  I had read that this was a tribute by Queen Victoria to Albert to whom she was devoted.  It is impressive if for no other reason than it's over the top lavishness.  Albert all in shiny gold sits atop a platform under a sort of cupola.  It's ornately carved and painted.  On the four corners are settings of statues meant, I take it, to represent corners of the empire:  elephants, camels (I think), etc.  There are long steps up to it.

Across the street was Albert Hall.  In front were gathered young people in caps and gowns and what I took to be their friends and relatives.

We went round Albert and entered a gated path which turned out to be the flower garden.  Naturally, there were few, if any, flowers blooming but it was a lovely walk.  Some joggers.

We came out close, we figured to Kensington Palace and walked over to find it.  It's impressive in size but pretty plain and drab, I thought.  Prince Harry purportedly lives in the carriage house.  The palace is in part open to the public.  We did not go in.  We turned in the direction of the park entrance we had come in and walked along the Serpentine.  It was dusk.  I'd been a little concerned about being in the park after dark but there were people everywhere.  We stopped at the Lido Cafe Bar, got glasses of wine, and sat on the porch overlooking the patio to the water.  Such moments of contentment.  Then we headed home.

Albert Memorial

Royal Albert Hall

November 13 Selfridges

I'm writing this in my living room in East Point sitting by the fire with Poesie at my feet and Ralph upstairs creaking his father's old oak desk chair as he writes.  Blissful.

I wanted some boots.  The only closed toed shoes I had were some black suede knee boots.  It was chilly but still warm enough that knee boots made me hot.

This was a sort of funny, sort of humbling experience.  I dressed as comfortably as I could.  I suffered so with the side-effects of my med which made me prone to break into a sweat after walking far.  Perspiration would pop out on the temples of my head which I wiped  frequently with kleenex I made sure to keep in my purse.  I wore my cotton green military style jacket (satin lined cuffs, very cute), blue jeans, and white sandals.  I believe I had on my pink sleeveless blouse.  And I put on and took off my London Fog frequently.

I planned my journey and arrived safe and sound at the door to Selfridges via a bus from Camden Rd.  I looked around, oriented myself, and dove in.  Sparkly Christmas lights everywhere.  Spectacular display windows.  But I was focused on the boots.  I'd researched them online.  I walked into the store into what turned out to be the cosmetics department.  Very high ceilings, gleaming floors,  columns, pretty people.  I started perspiring as usual after walking.  I wove my way through the cases and located a store directory which directed me to the third floor.  Up the escalator.  Turn to the left and into the largest shoe department in the world!  It turned out to be fortunate I came upon the cheapest shoes first.  I looked and looked and looked.  I passed on to the next room.  Dune shoes among others.  99 pounds at the least.  (166 dollars)   Beautiful boots.  On to the next room.  More expensive.  I sensed a trend.  These prices were out of sight and I was only maybe 1/2 way through.  Back to the cheaper shoes.  I was conscious of having perspired.  Didn't want to take off my jacket.  Struggling.  Requested three pair of shoes to try in two sizes as I wasn't sure of British sizes.  I sat down across from a full length mirror.  There I was.  Summer WHITE sandals, regular slim fit jeans and all around me had on tight jeans and boots.  Felt like a pauper.  Lordy.  Couldn't decide so I bought a straight-forward pair of low heeled black ankle boots with pointed toes and a flat black biker boot.  Try them on at home.  Couldn't wait to get out of there.

Out on the street.  Glittering lights all around.  Christmas.  I window shopped my way back to the street I'd identified as the location of the bus stop I needed for home.  I couldn't wait to bring Ralph back here.  And thank goodness I found the right stop.  Once safely on the bus, I relaxed.  I put the big yellow bag of shoes on the floor in front of me and waited.  Unsure just how far in home direction this bus went I decided to get off near Whole Foods.  I slipped past my seat mate and onto the street and blended in with the fast-paced sidewalk crowd.  My shoes.  MY BOOTS!!  Running back towards the bus which was coming my way.  Glimpsed my seat mate standing up with my bag in hand.  She spotted me and moved to the driver.  In a moment he stopped.  Thank god!  I jumped on thanking the miffed driver, effusively thanked the woman, and ran off the bus.  Again, Lordy.  What an angel that woman was.  I was incredibly lucky and so absent-minded!

Oxford St decorations and not-snow

In front of Selfridges

Oxford St decorations, not snow

Oxford St Selfridges-not snow

This looks like snow but it's actually the large white lit Christmas balls strung across the street.  I had not been to Oxford St before I went that day and the profusion of decorations was an exciting surprise.  Unfortunately, I had not taken care in dressing for the occasion except to wear sandals I thought I could easily slip off to try on boots.  I wore some jeans too long for the sandals and a military styled jacket.  Getting there was an exploration.  I was a bit tense.  And I entered the door to find an elegant polished interior and a door man dressed in black with a bowler hat (The hat part--I think).  I had the beginnings of a sinking feeling that I was slightly (or more) outclassed in my shabby tourist garb.  And, to boot, I was perspiring as predicted as a side-effect of my meds.  It was chilly outside, mind you.

I braved the stroll across the floor to the escalators where I found a directory.  Up a couple of floors to the shoe dept. which is reputed to be the largest shoe department in the world.  Fortunately, I was to soon realize, I happened on the lowest priced department first.  Still, pricey.  I had done my online homework and these prices were a little better than I'd hoped.  I asked for some advice from a young male clerk with a French accent and a sort of skirt type garb.  I made a choice of three styles and we estimated my UK size.  I sat down across from a full length mirror and fought my urge to run out of there.  I truly looked mismatched and out of season.  Humbling.  I toughed it out and took two pair home to try.  I was going to need some skinny jeans to go with the fashion.  

I determined from which entrance I'd come in and fled through the door carrying my big neon yellow Selfridges' bag.  Consulted my map and my navigation notes carefully.  I walked then took my bearings.  Wrong direction.  Back the way I came while glancing at the Macy's-like show windows and gawking at the lit-up sides of buildings.  Found the bus stop.  Cold.  At last the bus came and I piled on with the crowd.  Safely in my seat, I placed my big yellow bag in front of my knees, exhaled, and dropped into a reverie.  Sooner than I'd anticipated, we were in Camden Town, passing Whole Foods, and nearing Camden High Street.  For fear I might overshoot the best stop, I pressed the button, stepped over my seat mate, and jumped out the door to the street.  Relief.  Ambling home and thinking, "boots".  Jeez!!!  MY BOOTS!!!  ON THE BUS!!!  I ran waving madly towards the bus which was coming my way on the dark busy street.  I spotted my ex-seatmate walking down the bus aisle with a desperate look holding up my BIG NEON YELLOW bag.  She saw me and moved quickly to the driver.  THE BUS STOPPED!  I rushed through the opened door thanking the disgruntled driver profusely.  I met my seatmate and gushed thanks to her.  I rushed out the door onto the street.  Oh my.  How incredibly spacey and lucky was I?  Nice London people once again.  Thoughts jumbled I stumbled the many dark cold blocks home.  Safe.  Soon I would find The Gap and regain my self-respect with some skinny jeans.