Back in London again and sponging off the Canberra nurses in Hammersmith, the first task for the day to renew the rego on the Kombi, which we did with no problems. I then caught up with cousin Peter for lunch before making my way over to the Chelsea apartment of a good friend from Sydney, Janie. I chatted with her and her flatmate Annie before we adjourned to the pub for several jars. We then decided to hit a flash joint on Kings Road for dinner. It turned out to be its premiere night, with good food, much hilarity, and free sherry and cognac to celebrate. The downside was the exorbitant bill around the 10 pound mark. Through a cause unknown, I managed to break my watch during the nights activities. After the night out, we split back to Tooting Bec about 2am to the apartment of Alan and Ell (Dutch hostie) who we had teamed with at the restaurant. We had a further couple of benedictines before Janie and I crashed on the thick carpet in the lounge of Alans luxury bachelor flat.
work and left us to make our own way out, which we did around 9am after consuming numerous orange juices. I discovered to my shock that I had lost all my money and travellers cheques – a huge scare and subsequent retracing of steps until fortunately I found them back at the previous nights restaurant. I returned to the Hammersmith flat via the Student Travel Centre just after lunch, then went with Bob in the Kombi doing the rounds of mechanics and panel beaters, finally managing to get a booking for both the following Monday. It was a quiet afternoon before going into the city that night with Janie, Julie and Bob for the movie ‘Chinatown. Given it was cold and drizzly when we got out, we just took in a quick snack then home by midnight.
I slept through until late next morning, then spent the balance of the morning chatting with nurses Joan, Catherine and Dale over breakfast/lunch. I took off into town around 2pm to pick up photos, check out AA insurance and look at some forward travel options. There was not much action until I got a phone call from Janie around
inviting me over to Cheyne Walk for dinner. A few others were there, but they were generally a pretty private school set, so I spent most of the night chatting to Janie and another gal, Marie. A few bottles of vino were consumed, and all were pretty pissy by night end. Her flatmate Annie shot through around midnight, ending up giving me a bed to crash for the night.
We rose early and cleaned up all the dishes from the party like good children. I dropped Janie off at South Kenso station for her planned trip to Yorkshire and I made my way back to Hammersmith. I spent the rest of the day at the flat, arranging photos, cleaning up my suitcase and ejecting unwanted clothes and gear.
Next day, being a Saturday, I made it down to Kings Cross station, where I transferred to the Hatfield train for the ride to catch up with cousin Peter and his family. After lunch, we all went for a drive around the Hertfordshire countryside, which is amazingly serene and peaceful given it is only 20 miles from central London. I played games with their kids Kate and
Lucy in the afternoon, before a Chinese dinner and an evening of coloured BBC telly. A late scotch to the of Shelley Berman preceded the cot at midnight.
It was a good nights sleep, followed by porridge, eggs and bacon to follow – I didnt think there would be many more of those in the following couple of months! I spent the morning just lazing around, reading my various books and magazines prior to a magnificent lunch of pork and veges followed by rhubarb crumble. Then we took a good old English stroll around Hatfield House and surrounding area in the cold and the drizzle. After an early dinner, I took the train back to Kings Cross and eventually to Hammersmith, where I was in time to join a game of cards at the flat before retiring.
It was a typical revolting wet London morning on the Monday as we took the Kombi to Earls Court for repairs.
