Saturday in London

1 April, 2017

As we got our feet under us a bit after a couple of days it was time for some shopping. I find that planning some choice activities for the second full day helps to motivate everyone and facilitate adjusting to the time difference. My wife is currently waiting for a kidney transplant and will have a significant amount of down time in the next year or so. In anticipation of this she has begun to learn how to knit, and as part of that process she discovered a store in London that is known for having amazing yarns. Thanks to the magic of Google Maps and a London Tube app, plotting our course to Loop couldn't have been any more convenient without a personal guide and professional driver to drop us at the door.

It's a small-ish shop, a short walk from Angel station on the underground, with a convivial staff willing to answer questions and decipher yarn requirements for patterns (which is no small feat when translating from 'American' to 'European' and English to Metric before making adjustments for yarn size.)

It is tucked around a corner in a small alley that is populated by various street vendors depending upon the day of the week. While there are several other neighboring shops they may not be of general interest (a perfumery and a fish monger come to mind) so you may be at a loss to pass the time if you're the spouse of a knitter.

I suggest navigating to the shop, then tracing your steps back a block or so to The York and enjoying a pint or two (or however many it takes to wait out the shopping expedition - you're on holiday, no need to get in a twist over a few skeins of yarn as long as your better half allows you the same consideration with respect to a few pints of proper ale.) In addition to a nice selection of ales provided under Cask Marque registration their menu has some tasty items, including one of the best Scotch Eggs I've ever tasted. In my experience tables are easy to come by (if one isn't empty just wait a few minutes) and the staff is polite and efficient. Definitely a nice place to spend an hour (or more) and made even more so if you sit outside on a sunny day. Pro Tip: Have the rest of your party collect you at the pub when they've finished shopping, it's a no-brainer to offer them a libation which will give you time to have another pint before you go!

When our adventure was over we hopped back on the tube and headed to Mayfair to visit familiar haunts. It was just before Easter, so Fortnum & Mason was replete with eggs and bunnies of every description. Along with candy treats for the crew back home there are a couple of their teas that are a particular favorite (even though we have access to hundreds of teas of our own, there are some blends that we can't quite seem to replicate...) A brief stop at Kath Kidston to see if there were any compelling new lines and then down the arcade to Taylor of Old Bond St to replenish depleted personal grooming supplies.

While I can (and do) order their products from Amazon when needed, nothing compares to visiting the store to see the new products and smell the new scents. If your skin is on the sensitive side I cannot emphasize enough how strongly I suggest you seek out a quality line of shaving and skin care product. Over the years I've tried dozens of "sensitive skin" shave creams and gels from cans and countless aftershave creams, gels, and lotions. Nothing compares to shaving cream from a jar applied with a brush, followed by an alcohol-free aftershave lotion. For a true indulgence (call it a "male spa day") book an appointment with Jermyn Street Barbers (located on-site) for a Luxury Wet Shave. Let your beard grow for a couple of days prior for full effect. I've never had a better shave and it's as relaxing as a good massage. (Not a GREAT massage, but a good massage.)

We dropped off our purchases at the flat and headed to our favorite London Chinese restaurant, Phoenix Palace in Marylebone. (Near Baker Street Tube) We were first introduced to Phoenix Palace by friends in 2014. The clientele is varied (tourists to locals to Chinese expats) and the food is uniformly delicious and well-prepared. If I were to offer a criticism it would be the menu is inclusive to the point of being overwhelming. We're no strangers to Chinese food and still took several minutes to digest the menu. I consider the spices to be appropriate, without being overwhelming - unlike many restaurants who simply add heat for the sake of heat. The balanced and restrained use of spices is the difference between a chef and a cook, and their kitchen is filled with chefs. Call for a reservation, they do a brisk business!