R has a good hair day

We wander back into the city-I don't know why London has such a bad reputation weather-wise.

R finds Nirvana in the form of a hairdresser on Strand St. while your dedicated blogger explores some of the seedier aspects of the West End.
We decide to have lunch at Leon, an upmarket healthier fast food sort of establishment-classic English food shop with most of the advertised items unavailable-I will be burning all my Leon cookbooks just to teach them a harsh lesson.
We cross the road over and enjoy a pint of Young's bitter while watching the darts on TV and partaking of more traditional fare.

In the evening we meet up with Claire and see The Scottsboro Boys-a very fine dramatic musical.

The Brazilian/United/Hotspurs/Tottenham/Japan/Manchester Fusion Experience

By taxi to The Wolseley for a lavish breakfast of kidneys, kedgeree etc in plush surroundings.

Then by train and shoe to White Hart Lane, home of my beloved Tottenham Hotspurs, as they take on the might of the  Manchester Uniteds. It was a game of 2 halves, each of which yielded a total of zero goals, but nevertheless the boys acquitted themselves manfully.

Then by train to Whitechapel and beers at the White Hart Brewing Company.

In the evening we go to the hottest restaurant in town, SushiSamba-South America meets Japan.
Cocktails 40 stories up and then a superb meal.

Hoi Sin Trousers

Porcini and Fir Cocktail(the next one had bone marrow)

Taxi home to billet.

Hangin' Out At Da Henge

We drive in Claire's car to Stonehenge. The parking area is about 2Km from the henge itself. My memories is paring on the side of the road and walking 50 metres, giving you plenty of opportunity to carve your name or adding graffiti.
Anyway, nowadays one catches a shuffle bus and the stones themselves are cordoned off. It is bitterly cold but nevertheless an awesome spectacle.

For lunch we visit Upavon for pub "food" and some Wadworths 6X-an old favourite of mine.

Then for the long tedious drive back into London. R & I catch the tube from Shepherd's Bush into the West End where we catch up with Charlie and Ruth for a dinner at Ottolengh's Nopi Restaurant-very delicious. Then to a pub for more beer , then back to our billet by taxi.

The Sauce Of All My Troubles

We stroll into central London via the Thames River, taking in the sites and trying to keep warm.

Very tempting to go for a dip

We then lunch at PingPong, a pleasant dumpling joint.

It is here that a I manage to up-end a bowl of Hoi Sin sauce into my lap and over my trousers: but tragedy is averted as the waiter noticing my distress returns with a fresh bowl of sauce.
Now, with an indelible stain on my escutcheon(look it up)

we brave the boxing day sales in search of a pair of Hoi Sin coloured trousers in order to avert another such event-big success!

The Mad Hatter for Ella

Thoroughly frozen and exhausted we repair to a fine pub where we become reacquainted with the joys of English ales.

"A pint of everything you've got, my good man"

This pub is fortuitously opposite a Five Guys fine eating establishment, so choice for evening victuals is, as the bard himself would put it, "a no-brainer".

By taxi back to our flat and then to beddy-byes.

Christmas with the Crantocks

Brisk walk to Claire's flat for Xmas muffins and champagne

and then by cab to The Savoy Grill,

where we meet the Crantock hordes for a very convivial lunch.

Thomas, Finlay, Morgan and Roland

 We all then stroll along the Thames and then to Trafalgar Square and then to Buckminster Palace.
Taxi back to billet and veg out in front of the idiot box

Goodnight Vienna

After breakfast it is off for a ride on the Riesenrad, featured in a pivotal scene in "The Third Man" movie.

Then back to billet via Julius Meinl, the best delicatessen in Europe, to pick up luggage and then to Vienna airport for our flight to London.
Our driver Hassan picks us up and delivers us to our new billet. Standing outside we have no idea of flat number and ring doorbells randomly, before deducing correct number. Our hostess is in a rush to leave and gives us only minimal instructions. The flat is the antithesis of the Vienna flat which was spacious and empty; here we are cosy and cluttered.
Dinner is at the famous Spice Namaste, a sort of Anglo-Indian fusion: in order to accomodate local sensitivities we have mostly vegetarian dishes including a spicy brussel spouts-all absolutely delicious.