Making Memories

A weekend of making memories

Board announcing Gatwick Express train arrivals

We have a saying in our family (that we borrowed from a favorite minister 32 years ago) when events take place in good times or in tough times, that we are "making memories."  The weekend of September 23 was definitely a weekend of making memories.  It was a birthday weekend for me.  A birthday in which I had been dreading.  (6 candles on the cake, if that's any hint).  Tom asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday knowing that it would be one we would want to remember.  My reply:  "We haven't been together as a family since last Thanksgiving".   So we planned the weekend to make some memories.  The boys were able to get away for a quick trip and so here are some highlights of our making memories weekend.  Thanks to Tom, Adam and Dan, it was a terrific weekend.    Dan flew in from Charlotte on Thursday morning.  After a non stop flight from Charlotte to Gatwick, he took the Gatwick Express to Victoria Station. Our flat is an eight minute walk to Victoria Station, so it was easy to meet him there.  Thursday and Friday, Dan and I spent visiting Harrod's food hall, Borough Market and walking around the city.

Flowers at Borough Market

Biltong-South African Beef Jerky.    

Borough Market is an incredible food market by London Bridge.  This area attracted food sellers as far back as 1014 selling grain, fish, vegetables and livestock.  In the 13th century traders were relocated to what is now Borough High Street and a market has existed there ever since.  It now includes about 130 stalls with produce, bakers, butchers from all over the U.K. and Europe.  It is an experience not to miss when in London.

Sausages from France

Hand carved Serrano and Iberico hams

                                       

                                                       Flowers from Pimlico Market (thanks Tom and Dan)

Adam, Tom and Dan in front of the Royal Gates to Green Park

Adam arrived on Saturday morning from NYC and after a delicious lunch of Serrano ham/cheeses from Borough Market, we walked around the neighborhood, past some famous celebrity houses including a stroll around Buckingham Palace and St. James Park.

Queen Victoria Statue in background getting a facelift before the Olympics

delicious cake from Peggy Porschen cakes

 Dan discovered a new restaurant on King's Road,  Medlar, so on Saturday evening, that's where we celebrated my birthday dinner.  It was excellent and apparently we just missed Pippa, as she had dined there two nights before us!  After dinner, we headed back  to the flat for some more celebrating.  My birthday wasn't until Sunday, but we celebrated early since Adam had to fly back on Sunday.

Six candles, how appropriate....

Late night champagne and coffee. 

Sept. 25, Sunday morning:  Adam left at 11:00 for his 2:00 flight back to NYC.  As I said,  it was a quick trip but what a great memory maker.  Luckily, he's used to the schedule of a touring musician so jet lag is an everyday thing for him.   He had been in Germany two weeks prior to his London trip.
 After Adam left, Dan, Tom and I had tickets for a matinee performance of Lion King at the Lyceum Theater.  I had only seen it one time 10 years ago, so it was great fun to see it again.   The Circle of Life... how true.    We ended the day at one of our new favorite spots, Pantechnicon on Motcomb St.

Sept. 26, Monday:  Brighton:   post celebration. 

Dan had one more day in London so we decided to take a day trip to Brighton.  We both wanted to get out of the city and see the English Channel.  We headed to Victoria Station for the 9:30 train to Brighton on the Southern coast. Our first stop was  The Royal Pavilion which was redesigned from a farmhouse and villa by the early 19th century architect John Nash.  He turned it into an Indian fantasy of turrets and minarets for George IV.  George loved fun and food and he lived here with his mistress until 1827.  He filled the rooms with elaborate furnishings, carvings of dragons and snakes and red walls filled with Chinese scenes.  Queen Victoria also used the Pavilion for a seaside vacation spot but found the place vulgar and sold it to the city of Brighton.  It's a fun place to tour and is an easy walk into the town from the train station.  I found one of the most interesting facts of this place was that it was used as a military hospital during World War I to house wounded Indian soldiers that were fighting on the Western front. 

Royal Pavilion

After our tour of the Royal Pavilion, we went out to Brighton Pier, watched the water roll up onto the rocky beach and had a seafood lunch before heading back to London.  My memory making weekend was perfect.  This special birthday celebration will be one in our memory making book.

A Day in Brighton

We do not remember days; we remember moments.  ~Cesare Pavese, The Burning Brand