London Fashion

Today was the last day of our short break to London, and a very nice day it was too. Our Christmas present from Jennifer and Russell was a joint membership of the V&A so after breakfast we set off to the museum district by Tube. We noticed that there were several school parties heading in the same direction as us. One little primary pupil in our carriage looked a bit pallid and I saw his young teachers start scrabbling in their medical rucksack for a sick bag (ah how well I remember carrying one of these rucksacks on school trips, stuffed with medication and epi-pens!) Too late! The young boy vomited copiously down his front and then cheerfully reassured his teachers that he was feeling much better, as they attended to him with handfuls of wet wipes! It made me feel quite nostalgic!
At the V&A we went to the Christian Dior exhibition which is extremely popular. No queues for us; as members we were waved straight through, which was brilliant. The exhibition was interesting. I know nothing of haute couture, but even I could tell that the dresses were absolutely exquisite in their material and design and detail. When James and I discussed it, he pointed out that designer clothes influence what is later sold on the high street, and that fashion design is a strange but historic industry. James was also very interested in the construction of the clothes, after all he is a fan of The Great British Sewing Bee. Jennifer and Russell’s generous gift also entitled us to entry to the members’ lounge, so we went there for coffee and scones and enjoyed the relaxing and luxurious ambience. Hopefully we will be back.
It was another sunny day so we walked through Hyde Park, pausing to visit the Princess Diana memorial fountain on our way. We eventually arrived at Covent Garden where James perused the South American section of the amazing travel book and map shop, Stanfords. I then persuaded James to treat me to a late lunch at the Ivy before heading for London City Airport and it was just delicious; when we got home in the evening neither of us were hungry for dinner! A couple at the next table had a terrible quarrel though, and after telling him that she was tired of everything being about him, she actually walked out. The waiters were discreetly agog, but I thought it was kind of sad. I hope that they made up later. Ally kindly picked us up from the airport and although it has been a marvellous long weekend, it was awfully good to arrive home. There’s no place like it!