Home Again!

After ten jam-packed days in the UK, I arrived home on Friday evening, totally exhausted but full of happiness with all that I’d done and everyone I’d seen! It was a great trip, almost completely flawless, including the weather, with only one day of rain.

This trip was different from any others I’ve taken to the UK for several reasons. I used AirBnB to book my accommodations and had three very good experiences.

I stayed on a canal boat in Regents Canal in London, a town-house in Cardiff and then a 300-year old warehouse conversion in Brick Lane in London.

The hosts at each place were terrific and it was fun to meet new people. After a few minutes chatting, we found commonalities, which made it an experience that you’d never have at a hotel.

For me, this trip was about the people and the experiences, not the shopping or sight-seeing, although I managed a bit of that, too. I met up with fellow bloggers, CouldaShouldaWoulda, Yonks, and House of Beauty & Culture, who was one of the “original” design bloggers. These friends, who were once virtual, have become real friends and my life is richer for knowing them.

CouldaShouldaWoulda took me to the Royal Academy, which I’d never visited! It was simply amazing and it will become part of my next London itinerary. She also took me to see Ham Yard Hotel because she knew I’d love it, and she was right.

Our visit to Assouline Books right across from the Royal Academy with their selection of new and vintage furniture and books was so much fun so see.

Even more fun was chatting with the handsome book repairer who gave me some tips on restoring and preserving old books.

Yonks and I spent the afternoon at an auction just outside of Cardiff. I’d met her on-line and then in person two years ago when we spent an afternoon touring my old school on the coast of Wales. The auction was so much fun, and even though I swore I wouldn’t bid, I couldn’t resist the pieces and their prices.

We worked out ahead of time which pieces each of us would bid on, and even split one lot of silver. Check out her shop here, and check to see what new things she’s adding, because they’re going to be great!

House of Beauty & Culture, was, as I mentioned, one of the early design bloggers. I met him at his stall at Westbourne Grove off Portobello Road, and we became fast friends, spending most of our time together laughing our heads off!

We did that again over a leisurely late lunch of seafood, some of which was new to me like the delicious but badly named whitebait.

Next post will be my favourite images from the trip! Stay tuned.