I had such a great day yesterday.  Woke up at the crack of dawn, was out by 7am (you could tell already it was going to be a beautiful day in Paris) and was curled up on the Eurostar with my coffee, croissants and book by 8am.

I arrived in Oxford without mishap and went off to have a snoop around the two houses I was going to look at before seeing them properly with the estate agents so that I could see if there was anything horrifying about either address; one was bliss, one was dodgy and wonderfully, the bliss house later turned out to be even more blissful inside, so deposits were paid, forms signed and it's all ours in October! Huzzah! Never let it be said that I don't get things done when I put my mind to it.  I didn't even see the 2nd house in the end, but in between all that I did succeed in having a gorgeous lunch of king prawns in black bean sauce with jasmine rice at Opium Den on George's Street.

By wonderful good fortune I was able to meet Laura in Oxford and take the train back to London with her, after which we parted ways and I went off to do a bit of window and real shopping, resulting in a box of Charboneel & Walker chocolates for me and a bag of Topman goodies for my husband.  Then I went to Liberty...

I really think it might be my favourite shop in London, and it certainly has the most pleasing building.  It is filled with everything good - almost as if a personal shopper went out into the world to put together a department store just for you.  And then made her own range of products (i.e. Liberty's wonderful recent venture into beautiful leather goods stamped with a beautiful art deco pattern yet somehow stays perfectly contemporary and elegant.  I sigh for all of it, but perhaps this bag most of all...  Don't you just *ache* for it?

Finally, I made my way back to St. Pancras where I had a fabulous dinner of pan-fried's liver with roast potatoes, red onion jam and green beans at Carluccio's (I brought my dessert of honey and orange polenta cake away with me) and was safely back on the 8pm train home and sound asleep by midnight!

Comments

[Robyn]

Oh! I miss living in London so terribly. I miss the sights and sounds, the smells...the shopping. *cheeky grin*

[anne]

How fantastic. Are you moving to Oxford, hopefully I will get to meet you. I was in the Opium Den the other day.

My sister used to work for Liberty but the Cambridge branch, which I don;t think is there anymore.

You will have to tell me by email which area in Oxford you are going. Hope you get in touch.

It sounds such an easy trip..quicker than we can get to most places in the UK and we live here!!

[Anna]

What's prompting the move? And is your pa staying in Paris? Do tell!

[Pamela]

You are speaking my language! Liberty is my absolute
favorite store! In the world! I love the shawls and scarves, the gloves, and the handbags! I love the fabrics! Oh, this makes me want to go back so badly!