My Very Own Self
"Sugar and spice and everything nice, My Dearly Beloved and then Some
Nanyang My Tagboard, the Scribble-Scribe
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|  || Saturday, January 20, 2007 || Thurs, 21st Dec - Sat, 23rd DecDays 107 - 115: London Passfield Hall If you should ever have to go to London, and are in search of lodging, may I heartily recommend Passfield Hall. Run by a Singaporean couple:  who also provides facial services,  and co-owned by another Singaporean pair,   Passfield Hall is a subsidiary of the world-renown London School of Economics. Centrally located (nearest Tube station Euston a five minute stroll away, and walking distance from West End), recently renovated as well as reasonably priced (as I booked early, my stay was nearly free), Passfield Hall is the accommodation of your dreams! Very friendly and warm service, which includes free tour guide facilities! Anyway, my London trip (Query: do people read or even care about finest details of one’s personal itinerary? Quick reflection leads to conclusion that they probably do not; but unshakeable impulse to scribe faithful record impels continuation nevertheless): Day 1 - Arrived late due to Freezing Fog (a true English welcome: frigidity). Was nevertheless provided with an escort service from Euston station. (Note to ex-classmates: XM has greatly improved!). Coincidentally, this was the day that JK Rowling released the title of her 7th book. Did not find this out until very much later. Reproach self for not having kept up better with Current Events. Day 2 - Drury Lane (Home to the Muffin Man), Convent Gardens, Ben’s Cookies (should have got more), Leiceister Square (or Chinatown) and lunch with Jo and Shuwen and friends at Wong Kei (famous Chinatown restaurant run by a triad!!). Introduction to that infamous Müller Yogurt. Hui Mun, Lilian and Yinwei and Magician arrive. Passfield hall turned into Refugee Camp with 7 under one room in all.       Day 3 - Long, long walk to Portobello Market because we got off at the wrong stop. Could have been vexing but lovely scenery of quaint English architecture generally pleasing coolness of weather make walk very enjoyable. Passed a house in which George Orwell once lived. Did not go in or even think of going in. There’s the good of University education nowadays. Portobello Market very lovely. Started with the Antique Street. XM and Pam not too keen, but was in my personal haven. Will return, when (and if ever rich) to furnish my house with knickknacks and such as found there.    Pass the Hummingbird Bakery. Pam recalls that Shuwen greatly recommended its cupcakes. Stop to procure some. We settle on cupcake luxuriously named “Red Velvet”. Do not regret, except that we did not get more. Resolve to return later on for second helpings. View quaint shop full of Russian dolls. Ponder whether to buy a Penguin set for sibling, who in youth was nicknamed “Penguin”. Sibling once cried about nickname, but has since been reconciled. Counsel from XM assures me that boys do not appreciate Russian dolls so abandon idea. Reach Food Area. Obvious lift in spirits on the part of XM and Pam. Spot an Oxfam. Brief hope of entering and spotting row after row of rare Chalet School titles as various other people on my Chalet School Book Group seem to do. Hope quickly crumbles upon entry, so comfort myself with a William book, Stories and Sketches by Charles Dickens and The Diary of a Provincial Lady, book whose style I am emulating while writing this entry. Very pleased with my investment thus far. Am greatly enjoying last-mentioned title.       Very happy to see so much food. Invest in Cherries and Blackberries I later enjoy. XM and Pam spot White Chocolate Digestives being sold for a song. They buy 2 boxes and spend the later days regretting not having purchased more. Lunch at Four Seasons at Bayswater. Try that Duck that is apparently Very Famous. Not disappointed. Duck very delicious and was a Culinary Revelation. Happily overdosed on Duck, eating both fat and skin. Feel effects of this later in the night when I feel Very Sick. Am apparently incapable of taking too much rich food. Proceed to Harrods. Much impressed by the food section and gaze longingly at displays. Buy Krispy Kremes. They are good. Spend time wandering around Harrods. Layout of Harrods could be improved. We were rather lost. Pam and I go in search of the Harrod’s Bear, which we later find has been sold and shipped to Russia, and wrapping him was a Nightmare.    Fish and Chips from Harry Ramsden’s for dinner. Effects from an over-rich lunch kick in. Greasy odour of fish and fries was too much for me to handle so gave share up to XM. Enjoy Marks & Spencer’s Minestrone Soup instead at Passfield Hall. |
