annhig

a raisin scone with clotted cream and raspberry jam. >>

A RAISIN scone with clotted cream and jam? oooh nooooo.

it ought to be a PLAIN scone, with the jam on first, then heart-stopping quanities of cream. I have this of a friend whose family make the best known Cornish clotted cream so she should know.

BTW, in Cornwall, instead of scones, they traditionally eat small buns called "splits" with jam and cream, or better still with golden syrup and cream, aka "thunder and lightening"

alihutch

I was treated to a glass of champagne at the St. Pancras Champagne Bar

Isn't it lovely? I took my Mum (who was born and brought up in London) there for her 80th birthday... If I have time to kill in that area, I go and sit with the paper up at the end of the platforms by the big statue....very peaceful.

goddesstogo

What's a girl to do, annhig, when they have raisin scones, not plain, sitting out there with little containers of clotted cream and jam? Let's not forget that I'm a guest in this country. I can't very well go up and slap the face of the woman behind the counter in the cafe at the National Gallery, can I? It might create a national incident. For the sake of continued peace between our two countries, I forced myself (forced!) to ignore the raisins and toss back the scone, cream and all. There should be a statue of me somewhere.

ali, what a good idea! Instead of waiting in the lobby of the BL, I could be quaffing champagne (or at least a cup of coffee) in St. Pancras Station. I know that big statue -- it's great, isn't it? And today we saw another that I loved. One of a life-size man standing on the station platform at the end of the champagne bar, holding onto his hat, his coat blowing in the wind.

emily71

You're in London at an interesting time with what's going on in Parliament.

November should be fun with all the Crimbo decorations going up. I always go to Harrods just to see their ornaments and displays. Was amazed at the elaborate Santa "grotto" instead of just sitting on Santa's lamp for a picture.

Could you stay longer? Don't know when I go overseas again and I'm living vicariously through your reports.

sarge56

<i>instead of just sitting on Santa's lamp for a picture</i>

sounds painful!

emily71

Sarge-

Only painful when it's lit.

(Damn this iPhone...)

Mathieu

Ah, a cream tea. Good for you GTG.
I've had a few, but the best one I recall was in a tea shop in Bibury in the Cotswolds. Warm, with melted butter, homemade raspberry jam/preserve (seeds and all) and thick clotted cream.

So whats your vertict on North Sea Fish ? I remember seeing all the posts and recommendations for it years ago on a Fish and Chips thread. Yea or Nay ?

ltr

GTG, I have been reading about your ventures everyday. What a wonderful time you seem to be having.

You mentioned little heaters at the table. I am a little worried about the cold. I am taking a London Fog raincoat with a lightweight zip out shell. I thought I could wear a sweater under it and of course a scarf. Those of us living in warmer climates have such a problem trying to figure out how to dress for weather.

LC, what day are you leaving? I am flying out of LAX on November 10. Maybe we could have a mini GTG in-flight.

Emily, am I going to be too early for the decorations? We will be there until November 21. Christmas is my favorite time of year.

Morningglory47

GTG, I felt the same way about the Eye.

London stores are fabulous at Christmas.

Waiting to catch the Chunnel train for Paris last year, I dragged travelling companion to the Champagne Bar - she wanted to order HOT CHOCOLATE. Blah, blah, blah "champagne gives me a headache"...I talked her out of that!

goddesstogo

Oh emily, could I stay longer? I could stay here for the rest of my life. I'm not kidding. I love living here. Now, I'm sensible enough to know that not having to work is part of the enjoyment of it but I do think this is a fabulous city and if it weren't for people I love back home (and the annoying need to earn a living), I wouldn't think twice about staying here forever.

ltr, I'm not sure but I don't think you're going to be too early for the Christmas windows. We've already seen a few done up in the smaller stores. The department stores are already selling Christmas decorations, etc. I wish I could be here over Christmas but we're going home mid-December.

Re coats, well, I don't know. I brought two light jackets (a blazer and a very casual cotton jacket) which I've now worn to death. Early on, just a shirt underneath was fine, now a shirt with a sweater over it. I've also brought a coat but haven't had to wear it yet. It's the winter coat I wear at home but it's thin -- no big bulky lining -- because I drive to work and don't do long walks to public transportation in the cold weather. I expect it will be fine here. My SO has a coat with a warm zip-out lining and I think that will be perfect. Bring gloves. I don't know about you, but I'm always warmer when my hands are warm.

Mathieu, I didn't see any posts about North Sea Fish. Were they positive? I just happened to notice it in the Fodor's London Guide when I was tearing out the map of Bloomsbury. (Yes, I do this. My well-used guides are torn to pieces by the time I'm finished with them.) We wanted a place where the fish was done simply, just grilled, with boiled potatoes, not fish and chips, and they had a very nice choice there. It was perfect for us but others may find it too plain. It's not exactly "cuisine" if you know what I mean.

Unlike your friend, mg, for me, a glass of champagne is better than an aspirin for curing a headache.

I have an earache this morning (started yesterday). I think I might have a little ear infection and may go to the doctor next door and see if I can get some antibiotics, unless one of you has a home remedy that works.

lizziea06

GTG - I know what you mean about the cute kids here. My office is around the corner from Eaton Square School and the kids uniforms are to DIE for. They even wear those little straw boater hats. My ovaries basically explode every morning when I come across a pack of them on their way to school.

It is COLD here right now. I know part of it is that I haven't yet adjusted, but man, it was 32 when I left for work yesterday. It looks like it might warm up a bit tomorrow, just in time for the weekend.

PatrickLondon

Sorry to hear about the earache.

>>One of a life-size man standing on the station platform at the end of the champagne bar, holding onto his hat, his coat blowing in the wind.<<

That is a statue of Sir John Betjeman, the poet and nostalgist (if there is such a word), who managed to stop the modernists from tearing down St Pancras station. I think the idea is of him surveying the restored roof in all its glory.

goddesstogo

PL, thanks for that! I love that statue.

lizzie, and just a few weeks ago it was hot as summer! And omg, if I saw a kid in a little straw boater, I'd have to pick her up and run off with her.

Morningglory47

GTG, the students at Eton in Windsor wear morning suits; Harrow School, too, "Harrow has many traditions and rich history, which includes the use of boaters, morning suits, top hats and canes as uniform as well as a very long line of famous alumni including ..."

Don't even state school students all wear uniforms there?

goddesstogo

We stuck close to home today -- you know, laundry, grocery-shopping, etc. I was going to go to the doctor next door to have my ear looked at but he has no office hours on Thursday afternoon and besides, it's feeling a little better now.

Even close to home (at the laundromat, of all places) we had an interesting adventure. We met a writer. A real writer, not like me. His name is Stephen Benatar and he's written several novels and children's books. Since we were right across the road from the library, we went in and he picked several of his books off the shelf. I asked him to choose one for me and he gave me the first, The Man on the Bridge. He was a very nice and interesting fellow. The three of us went for lunch together and had a long and interesting conversation that covered everything from mystery writers to religion. He told us that one of his novels (I can't remember which) is now a screenplay and is being read by several actresses and/or their agents. I think we'll probably see him again while we're here. It's very nice to chat people up at the laundromat. After all, what else is there to do there besides read old Hello magazines?

ltr

Thanks for the info on coats. I agree with wearing gloves AND a scarf. If my hands and neck are warm, I am fine. I hate the feeling of being weighted down with a heavy coat.

I checked the Harrod's website and they have their official opening of the Christmas season and now I see some parts of London have started advertising the lighting of the streets etc. I could be in big trouble. Why do I think I need something just because it has holly and a bow? Maybe I can limit myself to taking pictures of the streets and window displays.

goddesstogo

Think about carrying everything you buy home. That's what keeps me in line. That and the cost of mailing everything. Now, if you just buy small thing (like very expensive jewellery, for example), you'll be fine!

goddesstogo

PS which websites are you looking at for that (besides Harrods, I mean)

goddesstogo

And I can't believe Harrods has a dress code for its customers!

ltr

Yes, I read the dress code as well. I wonder how often they reject customers due to inappropriate attire.

I was looking at About.com for London. Here is the website:

http://littleurl.net/73069c

Christmas Lights in the West End are switched on:

* Oxford Street (mid-November)
* and Regent Street (mid-November)

There is also a Country Living Christmas Fair.

It is a good thing I am a light packer and think about getting things home. I like the idea of small expensive jewelry, unfortunately, it will be more like small, inexpensive jewelry since I am going to Paris and Amsterdam in May. I need to save some money for a few baubles there as well.