Na rathaidean fada, lùbach tro Chuimrigh agus Alba

It’s Friday the thirteenth, the weather is bleaker than yesterday, and what could possibly go wrong?

Today’s trivia:

Wingecarribee Shire Council is 61% larger than London (2,600km² vs 1,600km²)  and the population is 0.66% (60,000 vs 9,100,00).

We didn’t trip on one of those 178 steps on our way to or from breakfast🙏 So the 13th looking good so far.

Our first port of call was the Statue of Diana over in Hyde Park. It’s not exactly well signposted and the sunken garden it is in is gated. Probably a good thing. Not sure about the likeness but H & W have commissioned a statue that depicts their mum’s affection to children.

Then we walked back to London Town to Mercato Mayfair, Marks & Spencer and Selfridges via Hyde Park.

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The Mercato Mayfair is one of those, money talks more than having a conversation with god. It was closed in 1974. Coffees are reasonably priced unlike the gelatos.

Niether of which we had!

I tolerate the cold but the relentless chilly wind was getting to me. Annette was looking for some underwear thingie, so I started looking for a jacket thingie.

Marks & Spencer had +£1,200 jackets and  Selfridges at an eye watering +£6,250. So it wasn’t to be.

We walked along Maryebelobe Lane and St Christopher’s Place where the shops oozed elegance, chic people and a price tag to suit.

and finally Reiss, had a reasonably priced  coat.

We passed the M&M themed store. Holly molly, consumerism gone made.

and we hear world wide about the cost of living! We did learn that M&M go back to 1954.

Then it was over to Leicester Square to see a few status.

We passed the National Portrait Gallery, the word free caught my eye. Thinking it would be like the one in Camberra, we went in. There were some interesting portraits including lots of royalty. Well worth a visit.

I read about this unique cafe called Café in the Crypt. You think I’d know better these days being a bit travel savvy, but probably in denial as google photos made it look interesting. It wasn’t to be!

By now it was time for our afternoon hot chocolate ritual back at Caffè Tropea.

After dinner Annette found a Kmart equivalent nearby, Primark and finally got her underwear. I thought the thingie was something along the lines of what Robert Clayton Dean in Enemy of the State was buying for Carla, but alas, no.

The 13th finally caught up with me . . .

Today’s travels . . .