Don't be fooled into thinking from the post below that London is an unpleasant place. Far from it. I went shopping this evening, mainly Christmas presents, because I'm seeing my mother, siblings and neplings this weekend. I was also looking for an outfit to wear to a friend's wedding in a week's time. I saw a gorgeous dress in Ann Harvey, but concluded it was slightly too 'evening' for a wedding. Plus, I don't pay for £89 for something I'll only probably wear five times.
I have to confess I also treated myself to a couple of boxes of candles from BHS, £10 each reduced from £15. One's in cream, one's in red. Each contains a floating candle bowl, two votive holders, two tealight holdres, a dinner candle holder, a couple of dozen beads, and 27 candles in four different designs.
It was a very stress-free experience. The shops were not too busy, just like a *normal* Thursday night. Admitttedly, I am a very focussed shopper, not into browsing and dithering. the shops looked lovely, and the lights on Oxford Street are, for once, worth seeing - all white, but with no ghastly commercialism-sponsored-by-Tango.
The only shop in which I got annoyed was the Disney Store which is just the most cretinous place on the planet. All I wanted was gift vouchers. It takes a combination of three staff to get them - unlike every other shop which keeps them in the till. The woman on the till said there were no cards. The man who passed them to me said there were cards. The man who got them from the store said there were no envelopes. I told them they were 'tacky'. I do not understand why they want your name, as well as your signature, on the switch receipt. I hate the way they call you a guest. As in "Please stand aside so I can serve the next guest." Next time I go in I will wear a big sign saying "Just serve me, dammit. I'm only here on sufferance."
And there wil be a next time. My sister gets Disney vouchers for birthday AND Christmas. My nephew looked like following in his mother's footsteps when he requested Disney vouchers for his sixth birthday. He was a lot easier this time: HMV, DVD. More like his father. Although my sister and nephew both collect Beanies. My brother-in-law and niece do not approve. My mother has already bought the Barbie keyboard (as in, piano) from me for my niece, which saves me lugging it.
I decided to get a cab home - I don't have a car, so I don't apologise for the occasional taxi ride. He took me the slightly longer, but quicker route - via Sloane Square, Albert Bridge, Battersea and across Clapham Common. We went to Sloane Square via Eaton Square, one of the world's most exclusive addresses. It is a gorgeous square, with magnificent houses. As we drove through there, I thought, if I were rich enough I would live there. It would be handy for the office. Then, I remembered, if I were rich enough to live there, I most certainly would not be going to the office!
You may be interested to know that the dominant christmas decoration style on Cheyne Walk is trees with white lights. I think that's how mine will be too. (Or the two foot artifical tree I bought from Woolworths in 1991).
Incidentally, in attempting (unsuccessfully) to find pictures of Cheyne Walk, I came across these the photos taken by people who have walked from Teddington to Charing Cross and the Width of the A-Z, which only reminds me of how little I know of this great city of mine.
Then I discover that Teddington to Charing X man also has pictures of Nottingham University campus, including the famous cherry trees at the top of Cherry Tree Hill and - sob - demolition of the cowsheds.
