Power and the Passion

 

Michael and I headed over to London to stay for the weekend with Amber and James.  We have this journey down pat now, breezing through the security at Dublin airport, enjoying an efficient flight followed by a trouble free train journey to arrive at their home mid afternoon.  Naturally it was lovely to see them again and we spent our time catching up with their news and enjoying a few different gins.  Dinner was at a fabulous gastro pub within walking distance of their home, called the De Beauvoir Arms.  It was so nice dining in a pub without the distraction of televisions on every wall and the food was delicious.

 

On Sunday morning, we took a lovely walk along the canal to Victoria Park to see the newly opened market.  There were all kinds of seasonal fruit and vegetables for sale as well as an array of meats, cheeses, fish and baked goods.  Everything looked lovely and fresh however I knew that Amber had arranged a lovely lunch for us, so I refrained from purchasing anything other than a cup of coffee.  Michael couldn’t resist buying a Scotch egg for his morning tea.  The next stop was the Hackney City Farm.  Yes, there is a farm in suburban London.  We saw pigs, goats and chickens along with donkeys and geese.  It reminded me of the Collingwood Children’s Farm in Melbourne, where we used to take the boys when they were little.

 

Amber booked a wonderful restaurant for our lunch – ROKA Aldwych.  Situated right opposite Australia House, it is a Japanese robatayaki restaurant.  The meal was unbelievably good, with dish after dish being delivered to our table with unlimited wine as well.  It would definitely be worth a return visit and the service was amazing.  I waddled out of there and certainly didn’t need any dinner that evening.  James and Amber continued home whilst Michael and I took a much-needed walk down Regent Street.  The street was closed to traffic for the day and food stalls and entertainment had been set up along its length.  It was good to have the opportunity to walk down the centre of the street, as we were able to have a good look up at the building facades as we walked.  There are some really lovely features, like mosaics, on some of the buildings, which you don’t really get to see when you walk along the footpaths.

 

The main reason for our weekend in London was to see Midnight Oil in concert.  Michael and I caught the train to Hammersmith and we didn’t need directions to the Apollo Theatre, as it was directly opposite the train station.  The theatre itself is a beautifully restored Art Deco style building, which opened in 1932.  The band came on stage and the crowd instantly came alive.  The music was awesome and Peter Garrett has not lost his touch, belting out hit after hit and dancing in his unique style.  I swear that man has unnaturally long forearms!  He is still politically motivated aiming a number of barbs at Trump, May and Australian politicians.  The song lyrics are just as relevant today, which is a little depressing when you realise that some things have not changed since the ‘80’s, like the plight of the indigenous population and environmental concerns.  It was a fun evening and it was good to see old and young people appreciating the music.  My only disappointment was that they didn’t play my favourite Oil’s song, King of the Mountain.  Still, I can’t complain, as they played just about every other hit song over the course of the evening.

 

Our time in London was drawing to a close but there was still one special, magical treat to come.  My Mother’s Day gift from James was Afternoon Tea at The Ritz.  I had been looking forward to this for months, as James had to tell me in advance so that I could pack a suitable outfit.  I had purchased a dress (the first time that I have worn a dress since leaving Australia), new shoes and handbag, and was feeling pretty swish.  James looked especially handsome in his suit and I felt a little guilty that Michael wasn’t joining us.  What can I say about the occasion, other than it was perfect?  We dined in the spectacular Palm Court, which is decorated with beautiful mirrors and chandeliers whilst a pianist played softly in the background.  The food was superb – delicate finger sandwiches, fresh scones with clotted cream and strawberry conserve and gorgeous, little cakes.  There were silver pots of tea and fine china plates.  A serving cart was brought to our table and we were served thin slices of gateau.  It was a thrilling experience and will always be a special memory of my time in London.  Thank you James.