GOOD
Going to the smoke is easier than when I was a kid, except
it’s not smoky anymore, not at London’s St Pancras International Shopping
Concourse anyway. One hour and five minutes and I’m there, meeting up with Lovely Daughter.
NOT SO GOOD
Descending the escalators to the glittering mirror-ball
world of shops at Christmas, I’m caught unawares by the policeman and police
dog. “Keep walking! Don’t stop! Let the dog sniff you!” How could I help but
have a moment’s falter in my step?
GOOD
OK, so everyone else was photographing the enormous Christmas tree
made up of 2,000 Disney character teddies and it didn’t feel cool joining them but I did it anyway. I love teddies.
And because it was so difficult to get the full effect on camera, here's a close up of one tiny part of this huge, huge tree:
NOT SO GOOD
Lulled by the Christmas lights and festive shop displays we
were jolted back to reality as two policemen walked past carrying machine guns,
not just-in-case-holstered, but in their hands as if they might have to use them at any moment.
GOOD
The opulent surroundings of Searcys Champagne Bar and
Restaurant provided the perfect location for quality time with Daughter. We ate
well, chatted loads and almost managed to put the entire world to rights. It
was posh fish and chips for me followed by ice cream – delicious!
NOT SO GOOD
Meeting Daughter on a one-day return means that the time
flashes past. We were soon hugging and waving our goodbyes and it was too
quickly over...
GOOD
...but how great that we can do it. When I was a kid the steam train
took hours of slow and dirty chugging. Don’t you just love today’s
high-speed world... even if it does have its 'not so good' moments.
I think the good outweighed the "not so good". Very lovely tale of your day. A train ride, teddy bears, and fish n chips, plus time with your daughter - all made me smile. I hope you have many more "good" moments this Christmas season.
ReplyDeleteHi Ros - I was aware of more police at Victoria ... but we didn't have no Christmas tree - I shall sulk! Yes the trains to St Pancras and Euston seem to be rather good - I used Euston the other day for a trip up to Milton Keynes .. very fast. Still I can pop up to London plan a few things and get them done - no daughter to meet ... or did I forget one along this aged person's journey!!
ReplyDeleteSo pleased you were able to meet up as you did .. and the Searcy's bar sounds delicious and a great place to meet ... cheers and yes, we are lucky with our high-speed world ... enjoy - Hilary
I'm heading that way tomorrow and I suspected there would be increased security. I suppose it's necessary at the moment, but I'm not sure it doesn't increase anxiety.
ReplyDeleteI do hope all those policemen with dogs and guns didn't spoilt your day. Time with daughters is precious!
ReplyDeleteHi Ros, I was in St Pancras International last Tuesday, and security was incredibly high. I love the shops and bars, within the station, St Pancras is a destination in its own right.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear you appreciate the trains, if you knew what went on behind the scenes to deliver the service you'd be shocked, as I was before working in the industry.
I had my handbag searched twice last week, once in the National Portrait Gallery going into the excellent Goya exhibition, and also going into a nearby restaurant. Sadly it reminded me of a trip to Northern Ireland during the troubles.
What a lovely day you had though, quality time with your daughter - priceless!