Who needs friends...

I DO!!

Well here I am in dear old Blighty, or to be more precise in Chingford E4, currently residing with Carla and Nick (and Frankie).

Yesterday evening I arrived into Stansted to  a wet and windy, yet mild welcome from the British weather, and a much better one from Nick, and Carla thank goodness.

Today I've been out and about on the town, and by town I mean Central London, the Big Smoke. My first shock of the morning was the price of the ticket into central London. It was just after nine and the ticket clerk advised me that the price of the ticket was something around £16, she was kind enough to suggest, however, when I was clearly taken aback by the price, that I could wait just fifteen minutes and get a ticket for just £9.80 which would take me all over London until Midnight.

My first appointment of the day was with Judith, and daughter Tenelle. We met at Oxford Circus, where I received another shock. This being the way in which Oxford Circus had dramatically changed. On meeting we dived into a Costa coffee shop for refreshments. This was my first meeting with Tenelle, and I have to say she was a delight. We enjoyed our drinks and then took a short wander around Regent Street and Carnaby Street. AS we left the coffee shop Tenelle slipped her hand in mine and held it until she and Judith left on the tube later. I was touched and honoured that she had so readily accepted me on first meeting.

12.30 and time to meet up with Jennie at Green park. We used to work together in some of the best hotels in London. Having Birthdays just a day apart has meant that we have always got along well, and meeting up today, despite a long gap since our last meeting, was just like always and we fell into easy chatter catching up with each others' news. Jennie works at The Palace - Yes THE palace, and had brought her Jubilee Medal along to show me.

After lunching with Jennie I headed to Regents park tube for my final meeting of the day with Michael. We went to yet another coffee shop, not far from the BBC on Portland Place, where we caught up on each others' news too. I last saw Michael much more recently, at Tony's birthday surprise, and as always we were well at ease in each others' company, chatting and giggling as per normal.

So three reunions later I had drunk too much bad tea, yet had some wonderful catch ups with some great people. BTW I only drink tea in coffee shops in England as the coffee they make here cannot compare to the good stuff I get back home.

I had intended to round the day in town off with a bit of shopping. However all the shops were sale crazy and so full I gave up after a couple of forays into one or two. Instead I headed to one of our old haunts - The kings Arms on Poland Street - for a quick pint before returning to Chez Brennan.

Strangely wandering around central London where a lot of 'Winner' is staged I herd echoes of my characters an remembered various conversations they had in some of the places I passed or visited.

This evening Carla cooked a delicious soup for dinner. I had bought Cream slices for dessert which went down well too. Over dinner (and indeed all evening) I/we enjoyed more comfortable conversation. Conversation without taboo I am happy to say.

All in all a great day. Great friends, great conversation, great times - even though the tea was rubbish (all except the one Nick made a little while ago after dinner!)