One day

So, I went to London to see Anna H. and Thalia, just for the day. Due to numerous and varied logistical complications, staying over wasn't much of an option. Normally, I would never attempt to go to London and back in one day, unless it was for work- and even then, under the circumstances I would almost certainly decline. However, when Anna H. comes to town, all kinds of exceptions are to be made, and for good reason.

The itinerary involved my getting up at 4.15 am to dress, wash and drive self to the airport in time for a 7am flight. Landing by 8.30 am, on the Gatwick Express to Victoria by 9.30am and then by sitting down with friends to Sunday brunch- a soup bowl sized latte and basket of fresh baked bread in a charming little restaurant in Marylebone High Street by 10am.

Despite our long internet association, none of us had ever met in person before and yet within about half an hour we were dissecting our marital relationships, our varying bouts with infertility, parenting, what happens when parenting doesn't happen, career paths, plans for the future and a little bit of gossip about ye old blogosphere of old.

Having made time to come and meet us that day despite having other things on, Thalia endured a certain amount of grilling about the state of her marriage and even paid for our meal afterwards, which was extremely nice and good natured of her. She is delightful, in a measured and searingly intelligent way. Very kind. Very perceptive. And we both marvelled at how she manages to juggle all she does, and we are selfishly wishing she had time to blog more about it all.

We parted ways with Thalia after a couple of hours, with Anna and I heading off to make our way the East End and Spitalfields market. It was somewhat astonishing that between the diversionary tube works and the amount our mouths were running that we didn't end up completely off piste in, say, Hackney, but with the aid of a bit of old fashioned and Google mappage combined, we made it to our destination. Proceeded to wander and gab and sometimes pause for breath in what had potential to be total sensory overload. We wandered the stalls with no particular agenda- I hoped to buy Botany something shiny but nothing caught my fancy. We drooled over stylishly cut dresses and covetable fabrics. Trinkets and baubles, retro cameras and old classic Penguin edition books. We bought more food- Anna partaking of a delicious, savoury Caribbean flavoured dish and me a chocolate cream filled donut item aptly named "the Kong".

Rounding a corner, we came across a stall selling skirts- and a wonderful coat with a pig patterned inner lining and circular embroidery up the back, which I instantly fell in love with. After much swithering and a further wander before returning to try it on and then an endless wait at the world's slowest cash machine and no doubt testing poor Anna's patience, I bought it. It's a kind of wrap-around cut and should be serviceable as a winter coat to fit me for the duration of my (caveat) expansion right through to December- or so I hope. I usually have all sorts of guilt pangs about buying myself expensive stuff these days. But each time I look at it hanging up next to my bed, it reminds me of my day with Anna and all I feel is joy.

Sated on the market (and now out of money) we hopped the tube again for a wee detour to look at something in John Lewis in Oxford Street. Afterwards, carrot cake and tea in the coffee shop. It started to rain a little and it was time for me to start to make the long trek back to Gatwick. We parted at Oxford Circus station and the whole way home I thought of the 1,001 other things I meant to ask Anna. I think we could have quite honestly filled a whole week and not scratched the surface of things to discuss. She is hands down some of the best company I have ever enjoyed- warm, gorgeous, bright, witty, easy going, kind and entirely worth the effort of traveling for one day in London.

Tube. Sweltering in the relative London heat. Back to Gatwick on the overcrowded train. Exhaustion starting to set in and realising I urgently needed to eat something other than cake and cream donuts. Rushing through security, only to have endless wait in terminal. Loitering by seafood bar watching people swilling bubbly and eating £395 caviar. Made do with £1 Boots chicken salad sandwich. Flight finally called, mad dash to the gate. Boarded then sat for over an hour on the runway while overtired baby in back treated us to operatic wailing. I won't tell you how many times I nearly threw up. An hour flight, then finally back on home turf, stagger to car, drive home. Circle the block endlessly unable to find parking space. Park miles from flat. Limp in the door, bedraggled and utterly wiped out at 10.30pm.

To sleep, smiling.

Comments

[Hairy Farmer Family]

Oooh, the Jelus!

[Summer]

I love hearing about other bloggers meeting each other even though it always makes me feel a bit envious! I had the pleasure of meeting Anna H. once and she is lovely. Just as you described. And how I wish I could meet Thalia one day.

Sounds like it was a great day even though the traveling was a bit of a pain. Thanks for sharing!

[Lynnette Baduteandeggs]

I came really close to meeting Thalia on my teeny layover before Cape Town, in May '06...just couldn't make it work. Regrets. :)

Now, I'm happy to have them both as FB friends. You are spot on about them.

[thalia]

thank you lovely. It was so nice to meet both of you and I wish I could have accompanied you for longer. Must make it to spitalfields one of these days.

[Anna H.]

Sweets, you are the very best to have come all that way - next time I promise I will come up north. And there will be a next time! There must.

And thank you, T, for rushing out on such a busy day to meet up! It was lovely.

Big, big kisses.

[PiquantMolly]

OH! So jealous!!