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?? Day 38 – London Town…
Today I’m off to the Big Smoke to catch up with an old college friend whom I haven’t seen for nearly 20 years.

It was a bright and sunny day…the British start every conversation with some observation about the weather and today’s sunshine is particularly noteworthy because:
1. It seems to be a rare occurrence and…..
2. Yesterday it snowed in some parts of the Country… I know, I know, it’s not even winter yet…that’s the point….
3. A true Aussie lass would never dream of leaving home without her sunnies, and today I gave up on British sunshine and regretted it…

I jumped off my National Express coach from Oxford at Marble Arch trundling my old battered ‘yes of course this fits the criteria as hand luggage’ suitcase through Hyde Park, past Speakers Corner and around the Serpentine Lake with paddle boats and tourists feeding the ducks and the cyclists wobbling around on their blue TFL bikes... all enjoying a last and grateful boost of vitamin D….

London looked fabulous, I got lost in Knightsbridge and ended up at Sloane Square. I reckon I could happily ‘do’ London if the opportunity ever presented for a couple of years…Especially in this part of London…Dream on! I hear TIM saying…

Having grown up as a country girl this was interesting to me, a lightbulb moment reflecting that as my entire adult life has now been spent in the cities I was more a city chick than country….

We had arranged to meet at the main entrance of Britain’s most famous store Harrods, which should have been easy except that there are a gazillion ways in…

Sorry Madam you can’t come in…..

….What the …? But I have my posh I’m going to London clothes on….?????

…Madam, you need to leave your luggage at the Baggage storage department….

Phew! Five minutes later and £3 and my bag lighter, my old blue suitcase is nestled amongst her new Prada friends and I’m in….

Gotta love Harrods, as we settle in for the long haul at the outside
Terrace restaurant, gentle wafts of warm air blow onto our laps from underneath the table……… I kid you not…..

Everything is Posh – here is my Ploughmans lunch, complete with quail egg!

It was brilliant to meet up again after all these years. The thing about good friends is that it feels like you have never been apart, even though we were both only on Baby No. 1 when we last met! It was fun filling in the gaps in each others lives and swapping stories about Africa and the Middle East, Asia and Australia. We stayed so long that afternoon cream teas were being served when we left…..

The last time we meet we had one year olds…..

Afterwards I could not resist the chance for a quick peak in The Harrods Pet Spa, especially as my poor little pooch is sitting at home poorly and feeling very sorry for himself….

The Harrods Pet Spa offers the ultimate pampering and grooming experience in a 3,000 square foot pet-delicious haven – all VIP’s: Very Important Pets are invited to enter the store by one special door only……

Dogs and puppies can choose from the following:
* Wash and fluff
* Blueberry and Vanilla Facial
* Aromatherapy Bath and Body massage
* Oatmeal Healing Bath
* Thalassotherapy Mud Bath

Each Pet being groomed, preened, indulged and revitalised can be watched through a special glass screen – see above a mutt like ours having a pet-icure and not squealing and protesting so the whole street can hear, ‘like wot happens at our place…’

The family Pet – cat, rabbit, hamster or tortoise can all come and enjoy these indulgent spa treatments including tear stain removal, fresh breath treatment and my favourite…Tortoise Olive Oil Treatment and Pedicure!!

Whilst the pets are pampered their owners can indulge in some break-the-bank retail therapy with exclusive brands such as Holly & Lil with the “Jimmy Choo of dog collars” made from Italian calf leather and decorated with Charms, beads and semi precious inlays….

Or a perhaps a little something more down to earth and patriotic…?

These animals will be hungry when they’ve finished but no worries The Canine Cookie Company have plenty of attractive hand-made, gourmet pet treats and celebration cakes.

Their promotional material explains Our hand-made gourmet pet treats and celebration cakes are made with organic, human-grade ingredients – free from additives, preservatives, added salt and sugars and all products are tested on humans!

Get Well Soon Mutt – shame you are not over here as you could have had some pet pampering to cheer you up….

Little Wandering Wren

Location:London