Daffs in June, use of refrigerator?

I love Hockney and used to visit the old Salt's show in Saltaire pretty often, but apart from the stained glass shot (which is truely fantastic) I think your photo of the canal is up there with David's art

Great report, great pictures!

Palomar group also runs The Barbary in Convent Garden. That sounds like a good spot!

Living in SoCal my garden has become much more drought resistant and full of agaves, salvia’s and succulents. I reserve my water for my citrus trees. This looks lovely-English gardens look very exotic to me now!

Tuesday / Wed May 23-24 Cont. The boring bits - out to LHR, heading downmarket from San Domenico House to Holiday Inn Express T-4, and REALLY downmarket from Elystan Street and Champagne Brunch to the Holiday Inn Express Cafe

Wandered around the show until about 5PM - planned on staying a little longer but after the 3PM contingent started arriving it really got crowded - plus I was well and truly pooped. Walked back to the hotel planning to take the tube out to LHR - but decided I'd maybe try booking a car service instead. Rang up JustAirports but they had no drivers available until late in the evening. Asked the hotel staff and they called their 'recommended' driver - he could pick me up at 6:15. A little more expensive than JA . . . but since JA wasn't available beggars can't be choosers. Sat in the lounge and had tea one last time and the driver arrived on the dot at 6:15.

Weirdly he had never picked up nor dropped anyone at T-4 so was a bit confused where to go - tried to plug the hotel into his satnav and it wasn't recognized. I explained the HIE shares the same building as the Crown Plaza and is across the road from the Hilton - the satnav liked the Crown Plaza so we were set. I don't have much status with IHG but a one night staycation a few months ago at the Holiday Inn in downtown Sacramento after a late night comedy show had earned enough points to cover the HIE T-4. Free is good.

The room was totally fine - tea/coffee maker, comfortable king sized bed, good shower, soundproofed - what else do you need. Sissinghurst or San Domenico House it ain't. Unpacked every single item in my carry on and handbag so I could do a complete, top to bottom 'airport pack' which is entirely different than what's needed on land. Anything and everything I might need on the plane in the tote bag - noise cancelling ear buds, liquids baggie, iPad, passport case, etc etc. (I'm too short to open the overheads on a jumbo so no accessing my carryon til DFW)

Before tackling the re-pack decided to go downstairs and get something to eat -- had choice of a 'real' restaurant in the Crown Plaza part of the lobby or the cafe-bar on the Holiday Inn side. Chose the HI cafe -- big (BIG) mistake. Had what is probably the worst pot pie I've ever tasted -- I wasn't all that hungry so no big problem and the half of Caffrey's did help a bit. Plus I have peanut butter crackers and chocolate digestives up in the room if I get peckish. Went up and packed and crashed about 10PM

Next morning I took the free Elizabeth line from T-4 to T-3 about 9AM. My flight isn't til noon but my plan is to Lounge hop the various One World lounges. Easy because they are all essentially next door to each other. Checked in and with expedited security i had two full hours before my gate would be announced. Went first to the regular Cathay Pacific lounge - had never been. It is beautiful and not at all crowded - nicer IMO than the First Class / Flagship BA and AA offerings.



View from my recliner in the Cathay Pacific Lounge



Cathay Pacific

Had champagne and pastries / tea. Stayed about 45 minutes. Then I moved next door to the Qantas Lounge . . .



Upstairs in the Qantas Lounge

This lounge is two stories and the baristas and circular bar are upstairs. . . . but the lift is out of order (no wonder the downstairs areas were so crowded) and its a long sweeping circular stairway. My carry on only weighs about 20 lbs but I didn't fancy hefting it up those stairs. The manager offered to take me around through the 'secret' passageway and back/non public lift. Had another glass of champagne and a latte/biscuits. Figured I could manage down the stairs OK, but when I got up to leave the bartender came over and asked if I'd like him to carry my bag down. So helpful.

By then my flight's gate displayed so I didn't make it to either the Admirals Club (have visited it many times) or the BA Club (never been in the T-3 BA lounge)

Boarded in Group 1 and settled in. Very smooth flight except for about 20 minutes over the Maritime Provinces. Lunch starter was 'Latin shaved beef' with guacamole pico de gallo, etc. followed by a salad of mixed greens, cranberries, feta and roasted tomatoes. My main course was herb grilled beef filet with twice baked potato, spinach and roasted butternut squash (made up for the nasty pot pie last night). I was too full to have dessert, but got a chocolate sundae a couple of hours later. About an hour before landing at DFW the 'light meal' was a Mediterranean pasta salad with roasted asparagus/eggplant/bell peppers and pine nuts.

Landed about 20 minutes early and I spent about an hour in the Flagship Lounge before boarding the flight to SMF. I know they served some sort of meal but for the life of me I can't remember what it was. Landed a little early at 7:15, hopped in a cab and was home before 8PM

Enjoying your TR and photos, thank you for sharing.

Thank you for a wonderful, detailed, report.

Great report Janis, love hearing about your travels and especially the food and drink you enjoy.
I definitely have Prada Shoe Envy! If I had a pair I think I'd just keep them in the box and gaze at them!

Your Harrods visit! Just wow. I'd go there again if almost deserted.

Another fine TR.

Thanks for all the kind words - to address a few specific comments:

I wouldn't say all my trips are logical, but I do try to make the logistics work.

Embarrassing admission I actually have two pair of the same shoe. When I bought the first pair and found them sooooo comfortable yet dressy enough to wear to posh places -- and knowing they'd probably be discontinued at the end of that model season, I ordered another pair. They are in the original box on a shelf in my closet just waiting til the originals wear out.

It was a WHOLE different world. More staff than shoppers - total run of the store and everyone is free to talk to you, demonstrate things - just can't sell you anything.

I usually don't start out intending to include all the teeny details - but can't seem to help myself LOL

I'm really enjoying your report too.

Up the the Sacramento Valley an "English" garden isn't really doable either but using the right sorts of annuals, drought tolerant things like agapanthus (I don't really like the plant but the color/form works), yarrow, lavender, penstemon, bearded iris and sage I can get a similar mood / color/colour (I'm bilingual )

Yes -- they need to hold back the spring bulbs and boost summer/fall things like roses and asters -- it must be really complicated.

I went to the big Hockney at Tate Britain in (I think) 2017 - that one was much more 'extensive' than this one but the combination of all the moving images and having his voice overs makes this a stunner.

I did see the Coal Office in my wanderings - at the time I was still intending to eat at the Wallace collection so didn't really check it out. Next time . . .

Very appreciative of another outstanding trip report from you, janisj. I have had a visit to Sissinghurst on my list for quite some time and your pictures and descriptions have inspired me to move it closer to the top.

I loved your Harrods story .Glad you got to Sissinghurst -itwas onmy bucket list for 30 years and eventually i got there.

What time of year did you visit Sissinghurst? It was lovely this time but I was really between seasons and not as much was in bloom as my 2 previous visits --- but it was still really memorable because of the wonderful accommodations, the special staff/service and being right on site so I could come and go back and forth as I wanted.

janisj-I was there in May 2015 just after we had lunch with you. Only a few tulips out and the white garden in flower. Still i loved it.
We had set out a few years before that but the traffic was so bad we went to .Hever Castle which was lovely . .

That is a really interesting trip report, thank you. I enjoyed reading it a lot. I have never been to Sissinghurst, but after looking at all the beautigul photos you took, I feel inspired to plan a trip to Sissinghurst in the near future. All the views are beautiful and the flowers look amazing. It looks like a really fun trip.

I just found this, JJ and it's been such a treat to read. I love how you throw yourself into the life of wherever you are visiting and find the most amazing accommodation and things to do but it's the way you seize the moment that so impresses me - getting a dry cut at Harrods and having your shoes cleaned there - all for free! At least that was some recompense for your awful footpath experience. And such fab photos - I loved the ones of Chelsea in Bloom particularly. When I grow up I think I'm going to travel like you.

Thanks. Yes Sissinghurst is beautiful -- it actually wasn't at its best during my visit because Spring weather was so wonky so a lot of plants normally in Bloom in late May weren't yet in flower. Its probably 10X better now.

Thanks bunches coming from you that's quite a compliment -- I've really enjoyed a lot of your adventures too -

Only 6 months late but I've FINALLY figured out how to post videos (slow learner )

I'll just post a few - two of Sissinghurst and a few of the David Hockney immersive exhibition. Hope this works . . .












(apparently a few won't be visible until after midnight PST - still new at this)

Beautiful to see these inspiring flower pics just heading into December. Nice report, I didn't have time to read it when you first posted.

janisj -loved the videos-clever. I saw a David Hockney exhibition in The Bellagio in Las Vegas-a lovely surprise