Farewell to London

Good night's sleep and a very civilised lie in.  We'd bought our breakfast at Sainsbury's last night so had our brekkie in bed this morning. Then it was time to pack. I couldn't put it off any longer. I don't understand how rolling all my clothes up really tightly makes more room, but somehow it does.   We had been laughing how the mountain of clothes that was spilling out all over my suitcase were somehow going to fit, but fit they did - with room to spare and no need to open the extra zip area. And it is just only over the weight so I am doing very well.  With such a laid back morning, we decided that we would extend our hold on our room until 5 p.m. which is when we were booked for our shuttle bus pick up.  Eventually we we were ready to venture out into the Strand for another lovely day where we caught the tube and then a bus to Battersea to visit uncle Frank again.  He is such a sweetie.  He is quite intuitive/psychic and had prepared a written page each for both Jan and me.  You have no need to know what he had written for me, other than for me to be very surprised at how accurate he was! (Sadly there was no mention of a huge lottery win though!!!) We took uncle Frank to a nearby diner where we had a really nice casual lunch. I had finally had my typical London fish and chips meal!!!  Then it was time for us to head back to our hotel where we did the return bus and tube trip.  As much as London is a very busy and sometimes crowded place and I have no inclination to live here at all, the public transport system puts our local one to shame.  Anyway, a nice wander back towards our hotel and Princess Shiny Bright decides that she wants icecream so we happen upon a nice little Italian restaurant where she orders a 'Godfather Fragali' (Jan says I have to make it clear that it was the small one, not the large one) and out comes this very large high dish full of icecream, cream, and flavourings. I can't take the moral high ground here though, as I had baked lemon cheesecake which was very scrummy.  Then a waddle back to our hotel where we were able to sit quietly and watch the fluff in our navel for while (in actual fact Jan had the tv on and we were watching some programme on 'Hoarders' which I found particularly mind-numbing but then a programme called 'Cheaters' came on and we were 'entertained' by some ex-child star talk us through 2 separate stories where low lifes were caught on camera playing up on their respective partners.  Jan was a bit miffed that I dragged her way before then end of the programme and so doesn't know if the 2 women who were cheated one were stupid enough to go back to their respective a***hole cheating partners. For those who are aware of the tale of the missed ending to the World Women's snooker championship finals that Jan recounts with a tear in her eye, I think the 'Cheaters' ending will somehow also find its way into the annals of all time 'Karen turned the tv off before I got to see the ending' sagas. Anyway, freshly showered, all packed and accepting on the inevitable fact that our holiday is coming to an end, we checked out of our room and and had only a new minutes wait until the shuttle van arrived.  Traffic wasn't too bad and we were at Heathrow in about an hour.  We were dropped very close to the Virgin Atlantic check in counter and as we were Premium Economy we were able to go straight to the specific counter and book ourselves in, no fuss. we then went through the various check points and into departures.  Neither of us were particularly interested in last minute shopping so Jan thought it might be worth a try to go to the Virgin Atlantic lounge and see whether we could get in - even though she didn't have her Virgin Platinum card with her and we weren't at all sure she was entitled to take a guest in anyway. However the old adage of ""if you don't ask, you don't get" proved very true, as the delightful Larry who was at the Concierge counter let us both in even though he shouldn't have - he said he liked the look of us.  I told him that he was my new best friend (not sure if you have ever heard me use that phrase before???).  Anyway he took us into the lounge and showed us where everything was.  We pretended like we were so accustomed to such privilege and after ordering a couple of cheeky Savs, found a couple of very comfortable chairs and plonked ourselves down for the duration.  Ordered our dinner from the menu (each item chef prepared) so Jan had a field mushroom burger and chips while I had the chicken Tikka Masala - very nice indeed.  After a 2nd little white wine, Jan had dessert - warm chocolate fondant,  which she tells me I have to tell you was very nice, we only had a short wait until it was time to board our plane. So that is where I will leave you for now.  We have had a great time in the UK, weather has been really good, no big crowds and a lovely 'no rush' agenda to see and do things.  I have a new appreciation for the place. Not looking forward to the return flights, but needs must...