Back In The High Life Again

[f4f3]

So, back in the Smoke again at very short notice, but organising things on the fly so to speak (I've always been fond of the model that says first you jump out of the airplane, then you build your parachute).

Arrived on Monday, delayed two hours on a three hour train trip, but still had a great night. I'm staying in Bayswater this time, a part of the city I've never been in but which seems to have a thriving street life and some great wee restaurants. Or maybe that's just the World Cup.

Tuesday night I was royally entertained by Frankie and K, drank far too much, and have been threatened with Asparagus. I also had a fab fashion parade by said Frankie.

Wednesday afternoon my son arrived in town to stay with me, fresh from his final A-level. In a few weeks we'll find out if he's off to study architecture or looking for a job.

We immediately went on the sort of whistle-stop tour that seems sensible for a boy with an SLR camera and a new wide-angle lens:
St Pauls
The Tate Modern
The Globe
The City - with special attention for the Gherkin and Lloyds
Canary Wharf (shouldn't that be Cannery?)
Westminster, and the Strangers Gallery for a late sitting of the House of Lords (just missed Neil Kinnock on the Education Bill, which was a pity)
and so to bed.

I'm meeting him for lunch in Picadilly, and then we'll think of something fun to do tonight - probably Chinatown and maybe The Eye, so he can get some late shots.

This afternoon I'm suggesting he heads over to Camden Lock, and gets a Manga haircut at the market.

I'm thinking of extending my stay through to Saturday, and taking an afternoon train back up to Newcastle, but I'll play it by ear.

Any suggestions for "must sees" in the next couple of days? Apart from the music festival that's going on in Hyde Park, that is.

Comments

[unblinkered.livejournal.com]

In a few weeks we'll find out if he's off to study architecture or looking for a job.

Oh no! The poor lad...he does know what he's letting himself in for, right? :D

[f4f3.livejournal.com]

It's not as if I haven't spent the last 14 years trying to talk him out of it...

[unblinkered.livejournal.com]

Oh god! That sounds like me at that age...in which case he's doomed. He'll be fine, provided he drinks lots of coffee and his self confidence can withstand a few knocks. Where's his first choice?

[f4f3.livejournal.com]

After the visits it's now Leicester De Montforte - he got on really well with the faculty and I think their hands own approach and the feel of the campus really impressed him. Mad fool.

[unblinkered.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm....I'm not familiar with the English unis at all, but seems like he's done his research. My office minion is hoping to get into Dundee, which for some reason is a really popular choice for kids wanting to do architecture here. Weird. They're all nuts, I tell ya! Fingers crossed for him, though!

[f4f3.livejournal.com]

Dundee, the city that has more than once done duty as a filmic stand-in for Moscow?

The city of jute, jam and journalism?

How of Oor Wullie and The Sunday Post?

I wouldn't let him near the place...

[unblinkered.livejournal.com]

That would be the very one. I've been trying to explain that to him, but he ain't listening... His other choice was Strathclyde and I think he might've been put off by how incredibly amused I was at the thought of him ending up in the same uni as me! Maybe I'm just biased - my only experience of Dundee has been as a stop-off before going to Castle Huntly prison (long story), so my memories of it are somewhat tainted....

[parthenia14.livejournal.com]

Well, I've just been to said music festival, which is quite pleasant, really, depending on the bands and your predilections.

The New York satirical musical Avenue Q is previewing at the moment, and that's supposed to be very funny, but maybe a bit older.

[f4f3.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'd read a bit about that. Could be...

[liadnan]

Was going to say come for a drink in Lincoln's Inn but I see you already have plans for tonight.

[f4f3.livejournal.com]

Now that would have been very attractive -but my boy would probably be carded, and sent packing, which would be a bad thing...

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

If you're in Bayswater, and it is not an area you know, go for a walk a long Westbourne Grove. (Bizarrely, I typed Growth and couldn't work out why it looked wrong...) It is an interesting road between Bayswater and Notting Hill, with some good restaurants on it. Last time I was there I ate in an Iranian or Kurdish restaurant... Something like that, anyhow.

And if you like curries, one of the great London curry houses is in Bayswater - Khans - http://www.khansrestaurant.com/mainpage.php

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

And there are some good pubs in the backstreets south of Notting Hill Gate, and a great fish and chip restaurant. (Though I guess you have chip shops in the west coast... otherwise where would you get your deep fried mars bars?)

[f4f3.livejournal.com]

We have our own machines for making these - the second most popuar wedding present in Carantyne after toasters.

[f4f3.livejournal.com]

Ah, now Khans sounds attractive to both of us - maybe for tomorrow night. I'd forgotten I was close to Notting Hill too.