When I was caring for Hamada my son Jo asked what would I like to do when I was able to spend some time away from home. When you are a carer well for me anyway, I seldom thought beyond the next day prescriptions, caring, or hospital appointments. We still had great occasions but going anywhere in the past few years was of course difficult. You give of yourself gracefully when you love someone deeply. Still somewhere tucked away was a wish to see the old haunts of London again.  I had worked there in the sixties and have never lost my love of  this wonderful city.It had been a long time since I have spent anytime there and you probably know the old saying   “When you are tired of London, you are tired of life” and I am certainly not tired of life! 

So last week I drove down to my son Jo’s beautiful barn in the Chilterns,  such an amazing weeks stay, right  from the moment I arrived to the lovely on-suite room on the first floor.

Jo had arranged some wonderful carefully selected treats that he knew I would just love. Starting straight away on the first night with cocktails at a very exclusive club in Beaconsfield  called “Crazy Bear” www.crazybeargroup.co.uk  The stunning elaborate decor was something else! take a look at the link.  I spent the whole time admiring the setting and the beautiful young people that adorned this trendy place. I selected the  pretty coral pink cocktail “Singapore Sling” the base being Bombay Sapphire Gin which is a firm favourite of mine. It was absolutely delicious!  From Crazy Bear we went on to a rather cool Moroccan restaurant “Ayoush” www.ayoush.com  we had a Mezza starter and  then a delicious chicken and spinach dish which was supremely buttery, something I will try to recreate at home. Then a Lamb Tagine which is so typically Moroccan and with the Arabic music playing, it really set the scene, I felt as if I had already had a little holiday in some foreign clime.

The weekend brought the best surprises with a real reason to dress-up!  Jo drove early to London the first stop being  the exciting, simply amazing Vertigo42 ! www.vertigo42.co.uk  this cool champagne bar overlooking almost the whole of London. We sat on high stools in front of sheer plate glass, going through security and then whizzing –up in the fastest lift possible I was beyond excited.  This magical vision which delighted me as I quickly spotted,  St Pauls Cathedral, Tower Bridge, The Millennium Wheel, City Bank in Canary Wharf and all those sparkling lights of old London Town. The shining curves of the River Thames slithering like a snake between the old and the new buildings of this wonderful capital. Even looking down! on the aptly named Gherkin which shadowed below us made my heart beat faster. What a thrill, I could have stayed there forever watching and looking at the amazing history of this sensational  twinkling  city-view, from what seemed like the middle of the sky.

Next stop was a treat beyond compare and a place that I had long to visit again, having gone there for afternoon tea in the late 60’s when as a young girl I was working in London. Yes you’ve probably guessed “The Ritz”  This beautiful old hotel which dates back to 1906 and opened by Swiss hotelier Caesar Ritz. The building is neo classical in the Louis XVI manner, built to resemble a stylish Parisian block of flats. It was the first substantial steel-frame structure in London.  Elegant beyond compare with service of  exceptional perfection. From the moment the door of Jo’s car was opened for me and the doorman taking the car for parking, to the warm welcome and  perfect attention to the visitors needs and just ultimate luxury throughout. With its faded pinks and gold ornate ceilings and priceless crystal chandeliers, it is a delightful place to visit. We had cocktails at the art deco Rivoli Bar which was divine and with a perfect “Iceberg” I drank  this beautiful azure blue drink in these quite perfect surroundings as my eyes feasted on the splendid soft lighting and perfect elegance of this stunning hotel. I thought later as I tip-toed down the pink faded carpet to the Ladies Power Room, just who had walked those stairs before. Edward VII,Charlie Chaplin, Sir Winston Churchill, Noel Coward for sure, Judy Garland,Evelyn Waugh,Elizabeth Taylor. Oh! such names to conjure with.

The Rivoli Bar, built in the Art Deco style, was designed in 2001 by interior designer Tessa Kennedy, to look like a bar on the Orient Express.It certainly looked like that and so much more. It is wonderful to know that these elegant places still survive in this sometimes harsh world of ours. Stunning and spectacular!

We are not really supposed to take photos but I will insert these two that were taken by mobile phone – so does that count I wonder?

                                                 “Putting On The Ritz”

Jo is a perfect host, looking after me so well during my five day”special treat” stay, he has inherited many of his Fathers elegant and stylish ways. I am supremely proud of him, how clever his wonderful distraction therapy has been at this time.

Thank you Jo. Mummy will return to her quiet little village content and thrilled at this fabulous treat and my memories of this delicious time will stay for always.