London swings like a pendulum...

Ahh! I do like to be beside the seaside.  Blithely partaking in the sea air with those near and dear in Whitstable this past week has been a tonic for the soul.  But one really does miss the hurley burley of a bustling city so it is with some pleasure that I find myself back in old London town once more.  The colours, sounds and the life of London can hit you like a sledgehammer but it can also nurture you in a way that only a large metropolis can.  Too soon, I know I will be far away in other climes so a quick whip around the streets to take my fill is totally in order. But one can not be sated by sights and sounds alone, so what better accompaniment to the senses than a large brandy (a Courvoisier Exclusif in this instance) at Buck's in Mayfair...an old favourite club, deliciously warm and chocolatey, a hearth of sublimity that only London can provide. 

Oysters for all in Whitstable...shucks!

The amazingly diverse county that is Kent! Castles, cliffs, Canterbury...and Whitstable. A charming seaside community of some beauty.  Quaint...yes...boring never. One only needs to wander down the shingles and over the groynes  to the Old Neptune or "Old Neppy" to those in the know, to partake in a pint or four and a rousing knees-up to one of the many bands that get the place jumping.  A fabulously mad construction, it stands out on the shore, weathering all attempts of storms to blow it down, a beacon to the libation of Neptune himself.  Its proximity to the village centre makes it a great place to whet the whistle before a short stroll to the many renowned seafood restaurants along the harbour.  You simply can't beat the voluptuous and milky oysters that Whitstable is so well known for.  Many partake of these pearly wonders with a sparkling, fruity Champagne but, I prefer an ice cold shot of Vodka for this pleasure... the exciting Jewel of Russia Classic turned out to be the perfect choice; clean, smooth and delicious...and so versatile. One can also enjoy it with caviar!

Dominating domes and...happy funerals?

You always know where you are in London when you can spy the magnificent dome St Paul's Cathedral.  A casual and often mindless wander through the lanes and alley ways of old London town can leave one totally flummoxed as to one's exact whereabouts. But once you spy the dome of St Paul's in the distance you can find your place in the world again. Sitting proudly on the 'highest' point of London, it is indeed...a bit difficult to miss! While not the tallest structure in London, it does apparently have, the highest of celestial influence.  Deep in contemplation of said celestial influence and hence, the hereafter, I was spookily but not unpleasantly surprised to find myself before...a funeral parlour...not just any funeral parlour mind you, but one purporting to be "Happy-Go-Lucky". What larks! What high jinx! Chancing upon such an establishment deserves more than just a passing reference and what better drop to consider the opportunities such an establishment offers than a reflective dram of Benedictine; that delicious liqueur distilled from herbs, roots and sugar with a Cognac base...heavenly.

Cry me a river...

Though the Thames is the bloodline of London, it is a much maligned feature.  Described at times as a sewer or drain, a cesspool of refuse or a stinky stream of despair, it is nonetheless, London's artery of some repute and does indeed, have it's charms.  I was pleasantly surprised while staying with friends this last week on the banks of the Thames in Battersea, (yes, that side of the river), when I was asked whether I would like to take an evening stroll along the river to Chelsea Bridge and across into Chelsea.  I will give anything a go, even exercise in London, and I must say, the stroll turned out to be a marvellous expedition through otherwise untapped delights of this city...I found it invigorating and recommend it to all those weary of the usual merry-go-round of London's attractions.  These river banks are alive with somewhat 'interesting' new architecture and enclaves of young city dwellers with views to the world.  What's more, at the end, one can rest the bones in a favourite old haunt in the back streets of Chelsea and enjoy, as I have, a well earned snifter of Lecompte 12 Year Calvados, a drop guaranteed to revive the spirits of foot-sore travellers everywhere.

Shere magic....

After all of the hurrah of London in the grip of the recent royal wedding, one must simply recharge the batteries and take some time out and visit the glorious English country side with some cherished friends.  What better place than the hills, lanes and villages of Surrey?  I tell you what, on a good day, Old Blighty really turns it on...and you can't get much more endearing than Shere and surrounding hills . I am totally enchanted by this charming locale.  Apparently though, Hollywood has also fallen for the wiles of Shere with moving pictures being filmed here....ergo, The Holiday with Kate Winslet and Jude Law. Haven't seen it but at least have...well...seen it!  The perfect place for a late picnic and a jug of Pimms cocktail, of course, to share.  Much maligned, a Pimms cocktail is ideal for the onset of the warmer weather and a day in the country and a good starter to any evening with those close and dear.