Friday, May 22, 2009

Day Four

It was so exciting to meet my friend from blog world, Kristina. She lives in Teddington and came in to meet me at the B&B. After happy hello's and an exchange of book gifts we set off on a stroll to Persephone Books. It was so wonderful to finally be amongst these fantastic books and as I stood there soaking up the surroundings, Kristina set about gathering the books on my list. I bought seven titles, a postcard featuring the shop and a package of watercolour postcards featuring scenes of Bloomsbury. The shop assistant kindly placed my books in a Persephone book bag as a free gift! It was over all too soon but Kristina and I would be back in a few days for the book chat to discuss Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple. After walking back to the B&B to drop off my book bag of treasures we took the tube to Marylebone to visit some shops on the High Street. Window boxes are absolutely everywhere in London! I would love to suggest that they be mandatory in my city, so beautiful!
Emma Bridgewater was a fun, not to mention colourful, shop and I purchased a tea towel for a friend. It says 'Happiness is a cup of tea, a magazine and a bar of chocolate'. I couldn't agree more!
Daunt Books was a gem and is, as described on the internet, an original Edwardian bookshop. It was full of literary works, they go light on the commercial fiction, making this a notch above your local Waterstones. I couldn't resist picking up Stella Gibbons, Nightingale Wood, just reading the synopsis brings a huge smile to your face and the promise of a terrific read.
Kristina took me out to lunch, we had a lovely chat over baguette sandwiches and salad. It's amazing to me that with all the people on the internet I became friends with someone so far away and here we were having lunch together in London! After walking around a bit more we parted ways with plans to meet up again in a few days and I headed back to my room for a cup of tea and a rest. Later on, I rode the tube to Piccadilly Circus to purchase a couple of shirts for R from Lillywhites. They carry sports clothing and I had my eye on a Tiger Woods golf shirt. Once the dinner hour approached I made for the hustle bustle of Leicester Square. There's a pub called the Bear and Staff and upstairs finds you in a quaint dining room. They carry sausages by the people that supply Fortnum and Mason and they are delicious, I have been wanting more of these since my last trip. So a very English dinner of sausage and mash and by 8:30 pm I was knackered as they say. With the Evening Standard under my arm I made my way back to my room to send emails home and write in my journal about another lovely day.

10 comments:

  1. I am so enjoying seeing your pictures and hearing about your trip. looking forward to the next Blog entry. :)

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  2. I have got to make note of these fabulous bookstores and make time to visit them next year.

    Your photos are wonderful and the next best thing to being there :)

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  3. Hi Dave! I'll have to post some pub photos just for you later on. Hope to see you soon!

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  4. Molly, I highly recommend taking a nearly empty carry-on just for book purchases!

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  5. So what are the seven Persephone titles?? I'm waiting for a library hold on Someone at a Distance...it should be coming soon. The window boxes in London were one of my favorite sights last summer - so much color! Wonderful photos, once again!

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  6. I would love to be able to wish myself into your photos--especially the Persephone and Daunt ones! :) Please do tell which Persephone titles you bought. And I love the window boxes too--so very colorful!

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  7. Fabulous photo diary of your adventures Darlene!

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  8. Let's start a window box movement...especially if they will be as beautiful as those in your picture. I am curious, too...what were those seven titles? If London has a department of tourism, they need to put these posts into a brochure. I have never wanted to visit London so badly.

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  9. JoAnn and Danielle, Here's my list:
    House in the Country by Jocelyn Playfair
    The Fortnight in September by RC Sherriff
    The Village by Marghanita Laski
    Hostages to Fortune by Elizabeth Cambridge
    Family Roundabout by Richmal Crompton
    Greenery Street by Denis Mackail
    Alas, Poor Lady by Rachel Ferguson

    Kristina kindly gave me a copy of The Priory by Dorothy Whipple

    Looking for a new bookcase is next on the agenda!

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  10. Book Psmith, LOL! Brilliant idea about the window box movement, I have several at my house so I'm doing my bit. More than glad to do my bit for London tourism as well!

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