After 2 fantastic weeks in Menorca, we headed to London. Justin and I spent 2 weeks staying with Dave and Piero in their amazing Bermondsey apartment. During that time I went to Glastonbury for 5 days and Justin went to Dublin to visit relatives. Outside that we spent time exploring the city (Justin's first visit) and lots of time with friends in that week off.
After the 2 week holiday, it was back into (semi) work mode. Justin and I took a one bedroom Airbnb flat in Islington and I worked remotely from 7am - 3pm each day. Justin was still on hols so did as he pleased but mostly we would grab a late pub lunch or do an activity in the afternoon. And then of course see friends in the evening. The flat was not what we were hoping for bit in the end it was functional and served as a good base for us.
Having access to all those cultural activities on my doorstep again was brilliant. We went to my favourite Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy, saw Patriots at the Almedia Theatre, Jitney at the Old Vic and went back to see The Book of Mormons musical. We briefly popped into the Tate Modern and British Museum. A new experience was a walking tour of the Barbican which I'd always wanted to do and that provided a fascinating insight into the architecture and design of the space.
I exhausted Justin trying to squeeze a decade of life and love for the city into a matter of weeks. Hours were spent walking through the streets of London, and even more spent eating and drinking in pubs and some of my favourite restaurants. Having quality time with friends was the best part.
I loved every second of being back in London. Justin mostly loved the pubs ;-)
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Lunch with the whole gang at a pub in Marylebone.
We walked through the city with Dave & Piero to get there. |
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| Laleh, Laura, Jaimee, Kris & I |
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| From the boy's balcony in Bermondsey with the Shard in the background |
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| Pint before lunch kicked off |
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| London showing off in Summer. |
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| The Fourth Plinth |
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| Post-Royal Academy lunch at Cecconi's |
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| All packed and heading to Glastonbury |
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| Successfully-boarded-train gin. |
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Tent up. Solo effort always makes me proud.
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All tents up!
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Here we are again.
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| Hot day. Impulse shower. Not sure I came out any cleaner. |
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| In the green fields |
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| View of the Park Stage |
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| Just a regular morning queuing for the toilet |
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| Spontaneous song |
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| 50 years of Glastonbury. Thanks Michael Eavis. |
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| Delicious lunch. |
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| Hanging out with Neil Oakley's buds - Mark & Marlon |
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| Seeing Wet Leg |
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| Bring-the-Alps-to-Glasto Raclette. |
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| Fireside 3am chats. |
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| Delish kedgeree for breakfast |
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| Seeing Self Esteem |
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| The Gang rugged up for the evening |
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| Paul McCartney |
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| Vibes in Shang-ri La |
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| Perfect breakfast roll |
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| Just a bit of morning latin dancing |
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| Back to London. Hanging out in Bermondsey. |
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| Me and Dave |
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| Birthday dinner for Piero (as I stole his thunder for my pub lunch) |
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| Mailie, Kris and Stu popped over for dinner at our flat in Islington |
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| Dressed up with Laleh & Jesse for Laleh's birthday party (80s themed) |
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| Checking out Brixton with Jaimee |
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| Brixton market |
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| London Bus. Tick. |
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| One of many pub lunches. |
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| Justin at Borough Market |
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| Dinner with Rebecca |
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| Film at the Electric in Notting Hill with Stu & Kris |
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| Ordering a superb pie at Holborn Dining Rooms |
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| Revisiting the John Soane Museum |
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| More Guiness, at the Ship Inn |
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| Obligatory Pimm's at Wimbledon |
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| One of the local Islington pubs |
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| The local 'hood in Islington |
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| Seeing Pearl Jam at Hyde Park (and the Pixies) |
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| Walking tour of the Barbican |
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| The Barbican |
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| Lots of water features at the Barbican |
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| Justin's birthday dinner at Hawksmoor |
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| Piles of my very favourite Dorset Crab, which I miss so much. |
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| Walking in Islington Fields |
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| The street of our flat |
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The unfortunate looking front door to our flat
(not as pictured on AirBnb!) |
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| The Duchess of Kent, our local pub, on Justin's Birthday |
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| I ate as many roasts as I could while we were back |
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And I couldn't miss out on Gokyuzu
which I still haven't found an adequate replacement for in Melbourne |
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| View from Primrose Hill |
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| Another post-work pub lunch at The Albion |
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| Tower of London moat filled with wildflowers for the summer |
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| Day trip to York to see Laura |
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| York Minster |
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| My favourite Christmas German Christmas decoration shop has an outpost in York! |
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Night out in Hammersmith with Stu & Kris
 | | Beer at the Dove on the Thames down at Hammersmith |
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| Hammersmith Bridge |
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| The private gardens along the Thames |
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| Cute house in Islington |
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Working from home (the Islington flat) on the record-breaking hottest day of 40 degrees
Curtains closed to keep out the sun. Only had a fan to keep cool. |
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| Escaping the heat at another Islington pub... |
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| Jaimee came up and joined us as the day cooled down |
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| Our local |
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| Belated 40th birthday afternoon tea at Claridge's with Mailie |
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| My happy place ;-) |
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| An overnight stay in Deal for some classic British seaside action |
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| Deal |
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| The Rose Tavern, Deal (where we stayed) |
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| Columbia Road, London |
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| Pit stop in Soho (our last before leaving) |
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| Soho |
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| Royal Academy |
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| The Wolseley |
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