A lovely First Class Virgin Atlantic flight, a successful key hand over at Clare Court, and I was settled back in my little English flat.  I have a wonderful feeling of coming home in this pleasant neighborhood sitting between Kings Cross and Russell Square.

After my pal Nigel warned me that Foyles Books, my favorite London book store, was under attack from Amazon, I made an early pilgrimage to Foyles.  As I entered I went up to the information desk and said “say it ain’t so..”  He looked at me strangely.  I said, “Bezos, Amazon”.  He assured me the deal wasn’t done and agreed that buying more books might help.  So, I obliged.

I had an early Saturday wake up to make it to the Tate Modern’s special Member’s Hours for the last week of the Picasso exhibit.

I love Picasso and this chance to see the exhibit under less the jam-packed conditions was great.  His use of shape and color and his imagination were so exceptional.  It made for a great morning.

A weekend walk took me past St. Pancras Church, or “the Church of the blessed Pancreas,” as Sally Krahn and I call it.  It is a lovely old church and the church yard has some wonderful pieces of sculpture in it.  Its oe of the lovely things about London.

Today is September 11th and I decided to visit Saint Bride’s, “the journalists’ church on Fleet Street.  It was  a touching visit and the memorials to journalists past and present on this

  solemn day had special meaning.  The church crypt had exhibits and artifacts from churches on the site over some 1500 years.  So glad John Kelly suggested this place.

In a few days, I will be starting  a new journey to London.  I think  some things have changed with this blog site since I last posted.  So bear with me as I figure it out again.

These have been three days of pleasant reflection.  I visited Foyles, my favorite book shop and pick up a few more books,  On Monday I returned to Elite Barbers, the Turkish Barber Shop on Marchmont Street to get spruced p before going home.  This time I tookupl their offer of a cup of Turkish Coffee while waiting my turn in the chair.  Served in a cup sitting in a filigreed silver basket with a top.  Good Coffee.  Great haircut!

Later in the day, I, once again, t9ook the tube journey to Tooting, South London for dinner with my good friends James (son of Nigel and Gwynne),) Katie, and Edie (honorary niece and fairest 2 year old in all of Her Majesty’s realm).  Oh yes an Teddy  Grant- Maine Coon cat who in spite of his feline nonchalance also insists on attempting to bring his dander to my dander-allergic self.  Edie is now at the age where she is entertaining and enjoys being entertained.  She loves to engage, loves to talk, and warms my heart.  James is an accomplished cook and we had a great dinner.

After dinner we had an animated discussion about London’s transportation future (James works for TfL (Transport for London).  London is in the midst of introducing a number of initiatives to de-emphasize the private car over the next several decades.  Having lived the carless life for the best part of two months, and having strong opinions on the transportation initiatives at home in Alexandria, VA,  our discussion was a real mental exercise.  James is a person I love talking with because we can dig into each others ideas with respect.  The London  plans are thrilling and, to me, shocking, sensible, and necessary,  It made me even surer that Alexandria has skipped several important steps along the way.

Today was for packing, a final walk and this last London based blog.

It was a great day for a visit with Nigel and Gwynne Grant.  We arranged to meet at Hatchard’s Book Shop at the Blessed Pancreas (better known as St. Pancras International Train Station).  Hatchard’s has been a convenient meeting place for us as we three are all bibliophiles and Hatchard’s has sold coffee and tea which could be drunk at little tables in front of the shop.  I arrived a bit early, looking forward to a cup of tea while waiting, only to find that Hatchard’s had stopped their “café service” and taken away their tables.  Just next door, however, Fortnum and Mason (purveyor of fine foods) has a branch, with food service and tables outside.  So, I sat down and waited for service.  While there were menus on the tables, servers never came!  Eventually, though, Nigel and Gwynne arrived.

We walked the short distance from the train station past my flat on Judd Street and then turned down Tavistock Street where we could see several of the restaurants I had suggested for lunch.  We settled on “Bon Vivant,” a delightful French themed restaurant that I had tried once before.  The meal was great and the staff was very patient, letting us linger and chat as long as we wished.  The patrons of this restaurant all seem relaxed and enjoy the time spent here.

When we had finished our coffees, we moved down Marchmont Street so that I could give my friends a sense of the pleasant surroundings I have called home these last two months.  It was also a chance to take them to “SKOOB,” the used bookshop that I have mentioned in an early blog post about this trip.  As I anticipated, Nigel and Gwynne liked Skoob as much as I do and we all left with purchases.  After a tour of the rest of Brunswick Shopping Centre.  We then walked back up Judd Street and Nigel and Gwynne left me at Clare Court and continued back to St. Pancras for their trip home to Kent.

I have mentioned several times, the remarkable book called “The Lost Way,” I read during this trip.  It was, for me, an important addition to my understanding and spiritual growth.  Based on a discussion I had had with the young man who serves at the concierge desk at Clare Court on Saturday nights, I thought this book would be of interest to him.  So, deciding to brave the winds of Brian, I walked down to the Gower Street Waterstone’s to see if it would have a hard copy of the book.  Alas, they did not.   But, this Waterstone’s is a remarkable shop.  It is 4 floors accessed by stairways of various kinds.  The outside looks like a staid old establishment. The inside is a mixture of old, hippie/indie and new.  It was a fun visit.

Keeping on the French word theme, an American friend contacted me seeking help looking for a particular French word used in French contract negotiations.  I contacted a good friend in Normandy, France and she and her very clever partner, who I unwittingly reached at dinner, proceeded to send me several brilliant suggestions to pass along to my American friend.  So, all, in all, another grand two days for me in London town.