"MEMOS."

Sat. Nov. 15

Danny's birthday is the same day as Prince Charles'. I hope both have a great day. British papers full of speculation over Charles' choice of a wife. Smart man is in no hurry. Paper also refers to Ronald Reagan as "King Ron". Keith and Sandra come to flat early for sticky buns and coffee. Sandra brings gifts of custard powder and a beer kit. I really like her, she is so bright and cheerful. Keith takes round-about route to New Castle rail station. Houses and countryside just as I had pictured it. Would like to know the Bohills better.
Train leaves New Castle at 12:00 noon. We have reserved seats. Lunch is served almost immediately. I drink more cider and have a cold meat and salad platter for lunch plus apple and blackberry pie with heavy fresh cream for dessert. Riding the train is great - so relaxing. The country side is beautiful but very wet.
Arrive at King's Cross Station just before 3:00 pm - 450 miles in 3 hours!
Cab takes us down Wimpole street on way to hotel. The Intercontinental Hotel is very lavish. As we stood at the desk to register I saw a lady wearing a chinchilla hat and coat that probably cost as much as our whole house. The amount it costs to spend 2 nights here more than pays 1 month of our mortgage.
After short rest in our room and checking on missing bag - it has not yet arrived - we head for Harrods department store. What a mob. Very hard to see anything. I buy a toast rack just to have something from Harrods. The store is beautifully lit on the outside for Christmas.
Find a Reject China shop and buy some pretty China jewelry. Stop at my first British pub. They open at 5:30 pm and close at 11:00 pm (also open from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm). Do not like Guinness stout. Walk past the Victoria and Albert museum. Return to hotel - still no bag.
Leave hotel and walk up Park Lane to Oxford Circus. Park Lane is very exclusive. I never saw so many Rolls Royce autos before. People going into the Grosvenor House in full evening dress. Oxford Circus has stores more like we could afford to shop in. Cabbie took us from Oxford Circus to the Seashell seafood restaurant where we stood in a "que" (sic) (line) for fish and chips in paper in a take away (carry out). The food was great, we ate as we walked and enjoyed every bite. Stopped in a pub for beer and cider to wash down dinner. Then we walked past the U.S. embassy on Grosvenor Square - a huge ugly modern building. After much walking we discovered Shepherd's market and the King's Arms pub. The decor is very early and rustic. The whole area is full of narrow streets, shops, pubs and restaurants. We shall return. Walk back to hotel. Air France has finally delivered the bag.