There is something quite special about a friendship that has lasted for 30 years. A friendship that has spanned not only time but also across the world.
In 1989 I headed to Sweden on a student exchange. Ylva and I met and were fast friends.
It is funny to hear today our children and husbands giggle about how similar we are – when we tell them the next plan or pull out some wet wipes to wipe down a table.
We met the Disheden’s at Balthazars in Covent Garden for breakfast. The last two years melted away as everyone started chatting. Our children and husbands have met on three occasions in the last 14 years. Not bad when you live in different countries.
London turned on blue skies and we headed to Hyde Park for the Winter Wonderland Festival. We were told that there are 800000 neon lights in the festival, and that it extends a mile through the park.
The boys in particular were excited about the Roller Coasters and had picked out their rides. They started with a roller coaster that looped five times. The girls started with a VR ride through time. We met back up and headed to the Bavarian village for lunch. We got a table, cider, mulled wine, soft drinks and plates loaded with ½ a chicken, potatoes and mushrooms and sauerkraut. Yes ½ a chicken on a single plate. It was delicious.
Amelia’s second ride was faster and had more spin than she is used to, leaving her feeling a little green. She opted out of the last ride – Mouse trap. Ylva stepped up in her place. Anthony, Simon and I kept our feet firmly on the ground.
Primark is a store in London that has a great range of Harry Potter licensed clothing and more at great prices. Amelia and I couldn’t wait to get back. Lydia loves Primark too so the girls headed to Primark and the boys headed to a bar. We shopped hard in the 45 min shopping window. The Christmas crowds were thick and the cash out lines long. We met the boys at the bar and enjoyed a lovely Gin and Tonic – mmm – becoming my favourite drink.
We walked through the bustling streets of Soho to our restaurant for an Italian dinner at Mele e Pere. Soho was full of life as people celebrated the festive season. The boys were taken with a group of drunken Santas singing carols in the streets with pints in their hands.
After a dinner of delicious share plates and pasta we headed back out onto the street. An Uber drive home for us past some amazing Christmas lights. We felt privileged to get home. The driver squeezed into every inch of space in the traffic and surprisingly the traffic seemed to accommodate him. We are a bit nervous about driving in London traffic on Monday if this is what it takes!
One thing that I had forgotten about London is their lack of respect for a decent shower. Our quaint little flat is on the fourth floor. The water pressure at this height is low but we didn’t realise how low until the first person had a shower. If you are in the shower and someone turns on a tap in the kitchen – the shower stops. When the shower is going full force it is more dribble than spray. It is the most unsatisfying thing you can do in London everyday!
Our little flat is quaint and very English. The bathroom is in a big cupboard. The floors are higher near the walls than in the middle of the room and the heat is hot and not that adjustable.
But it is our little home away from home.
