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Yes, Julie gets up early to go off to Oxford. She was supposed to leave at 6:30 but was late leaving again. She made the train on time, probably by running all the way with her suitcase, and arrived at Oxford. Julie is staying overnight in Oxford. Her accommodation was a long way away from the station, she was going to the physio, hairdresser, etc. Julie logged up 22 KM that day.
With the cold / wet weather I stayed inside until the late afternoon. Ryan and Tanika come back around 5 PM and after a quick wine we go out to go to a local Pub.
Our selected Pub, not that far from homeThe Pub is from the 1880s, note the Halloween decorationsRyan went to the bar and ordered drinks, this beer came back for him and a wine we eventually sharedBangers and Mash for me, just OK
Ryan said that there were so many foreign type people working there they did not know the term bangers and mash.
Beef burger and triple cooked fries for Ryan, fries were greatFush and chups for Kiwi Tanika, with mushy peas
The chips were also triple cooked and bigger in size that the fries. The fish was one I did not know but was said to be pretty good by the guys.
Back to the apartment for me and more good wine. No word from Julie in Oxford.
Thursday, 25 October, 2018 – nice but cool, cold at night
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Today we go to the Borough Market near London Bridge. Two trains does it. Now we have been to this market several times before and I don’t take many photos.
I suggested the night before that we go at 11:30 which was a dumb idea because the market was packed with people as it was the whole time we were there. We fight our way through the crowds and eventually find the shop that does confit duck.
Selfie of me and my Confit Duck roll
It is clear that there is nowhere to sit. I stand behind a pole next to a stall that labels itself the best Burger in the market. There is a queue for that stall that just keeps growing. A big black guy at the front takes the orders, collects the money and cooks many of the burgers. There are also two other assistants madly cooking away too.
Julie wanders off to theoretically order food but is unsuccessful. She initially could not find me when she returned empty handed. She then spotted a wine bar across the way. We go inside and I take a seat while she goes out again to get her Salmon for lunch.
Fine slicing of what looks like pateUsing a blowtorch to melt the cheese on a pulled rollLooks like Julie buying Salmon from an outdoor grillI invested 35 Euro in a bottle of wine and a seat for an hour or twoMain bar areaThere is an upstairs completely booked out
There is also a downstairs which has a private room, not in use. It also has 4 clean toilets. There were that many mothers that came in, pretended to look at the menu while the kids went downstairs to the toilet and then said nothing suited them and left. I imagine that these guys have seen it all many times before.
Finally Julie returns and has her 3 course meal – wine, coffee and (sparkling) water. Although she doesn’t drink any of the wine, just yet and heads out again into the market. Apparently it is still just as crowded.
When Julie comes back again, she is keen to leave as she has to go to Oxford tomorrow and do some packing / rearranging. We go out the door on the street and straight to the train station. Two trains and a walk and we are home.. No more photos
Wednesday, 24 October, 2018 – nice but cool, cold at night
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Today we are going to The Little French Restaurant (LFR) in Earls Court, a place we have been to several times before.
In the morning Julie goes out to get her hair done. This normally takes 4-5 hours. After she finishes she stops by Covent Garden for a bit.
South Hall of Covent GardenI don’t see any ApplesA bit of music
Julie returns to the apartment to pick me up to go to The LFR. She has come back with straightened Blonde hair – too blonde for my tastes.
The Blonde Vamp outside the LFR
We have come today because of the Cash special advertised out the front. The LFR is now being run by young Asians who were nowhere near as friendly or flexible as the previous French management. We did see the French Lady who used to run the front of house – perhaps she is now the Chef.
At the other side of the tableOur wine order which is extra of courseJulie’s Onion SoupMy mushroom caps with spicy Tarragon butter – Julie scared a fair bit of thisJulie’s Salmon parcel with cucumber saladTurkey Escalope with two sauces and fries
Overall the food was quite good but the attitude of the staff means we won’t be going back there again.
Thai restaurant we have been to a few times just up the street a bit
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Today we are going to Amaya restaurant. It is a Michelin starred Indian restaurant. We have been there several times over the years. Our friend Gary calls it the best restaurant in the whole world.
Confit Duck Leg with grilled figs and mash from last night
But first the girls are out early to go get facials. I dress up in my loudest possible outfit.
Love the colour schemes?We meet the girls on the street. Julie’s lipstick is too bright in my opinionC0nstruction everywhere surrounding AmayaFinally we arrive at Amaya
In the past when we have been to Amaya, we tried to take pictures of the food. They then told us off and asked us to stop because “there are too many famous people who come in here” who don’t want to have their photo taken. Geez, all we were interested in was photos of the food.
Any way, some unknown person in our group with a Kiwi accent managed to sneak a few shots this time.
Tanika’s Grapefruit Negroni with our Rioja red in the backgroundTruffle NaanBlack pepper chicken Tikka – the best dish in the world according to Gary
Tanika was concerned that it might to be too spicy for her – in fact, she loved it. We did get to see all of the dishes cooking in front of us as we were just next to the grill.
Tandoor Broccoli, Yuk!.Smoked Chile Tandoor cutlets for Ryan and IGood looking Chicken Biryani for final course, with cucumber wasabi raita
The Kids wander off to do shopping etc. Julie and I go back to the apartment but once she arrives there goes out prancing all over London, again.
Although a great meal at Amaya, I become a bit hungry so break out the Ham Julie had bought the previous day and cut up a bit for a piece of baguette probably from Emma in the morning.
Early evening snack of Ham in baguette
I believe that Julie would have had the same but with Smoked Salmon.
Monday, 22 October, 2018 – Drizzling, who cares, we are leaving
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Yes, it is time to leave our paradise here in Versailles. It has been great.
Last look at the wonderful breakfast spread
At breakfast this morning a Dutch couple have stayed overnight and join us at the table. After some discussion it turns out that the guy works in Rotterdam and with some of the people that Julie met with while she was there. Interesting coincidence. They exchanged business cards.
Emma has booked Patrick’s large van again. However, it was not that van that showed up but a smaller taxi. Ryan is able to cram the 4 large suitcases in the back but he has to ride to Gare du Nord with the fifth suitcase on his lap and Tanika another heavy bag on her lap too. Emma tells me that she has permanently fired Patrick.
The driver is an absolute champion at darting in and out of traffic and crossing lanes. Once again there is construction going on everywhere, including along the Champs de Elysee which makes things even more difficult. But we get there in good time.
Then there is the shemozzle of the immigration exit from France. The queues are not as long as the ones at Versailles Palace but they are pretty horrendous. Eventually after some mishaps by me we get through France only to now have to deal with entering Britain and then security. These aren’t too bad and we end up standing in a queue waiting to board. Finally, we are on our way into the Eurostar. They allow Ryan to enter with the bags from the car in front so we are quite close to them as we sit in the front of the carriage. The assigned seating is strange but we work out an exchange with a French girl and so we are all sitting together.
Ryan and Tanika are hungry, not having done breakfast, and go down to the catering car and come back with food, wine for me and beer for Ryan. Nice.
We are in “middle class” on the Eurostar and eventually they bring us a meal and some more wine. Also nice.
As we arrive in London we get off at Kings Cross / St Pancras. We go over to the Piccadilly line to go to our apartment. Ryan has worked out that by going a few extra train stops we will have the shortest walk to the apartment, pushing all the bags. We get off at Earl’s Court where Julie and I have stayed a few times in the past and see a lot of familiar sites.
When we arrive at the apartment we are let in and greeted by Jenna, deputising for the owner. Jenna shows us around and then departs.
Large bedroom in the apartmentThe Bathtub and Sinks set-up in our bedroomPart of the kitchen area and lounge room. I am already set up at the end of the dining tableMore of the lounge room
Naturally, Julie goes out prancing to get supplies while the kids go their way to shops etc in London. I read the instructions and recommendations from the owner. He has suggested a few places including two just down the road a block or so – Italian and French. After a glass of wine or so, we go down to check them out. The Italian is just a pizza place but the French looks quite good. We go in, first guests in the restaurant tonight, and the staff are quite nice to us. The menu looks good so we agree to stay.
We order some wine and then food starts coming.
Amuse bouche of olive and caramelised onionsJulie’s starter of Smoked salmon and vegies with a nice touch of HorseradishPouring Stock into Julie’s bouillabaisse
I had a large confit duck leg with grilled figs and mash potato. For some reason the photos won’t load. Julie scored the figs, one of her favourites.
I found it ironic that we did not go to a Bouchon while in France but did on our first day in London. I suggested to Julie and Irish coffee but she has bought some Jameson Irish Whiskey today. Thus we go back to the apartment for said Irish Coffee and some more wine.
Another days of ups and downs but the ups prevailed eventually.
