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.
What a beautiful time of year to be back in the Old Dart. Yes, after being pickled in port for a few weeks, I felt that I really must be in London for the up-coming nuptials. And of course, the city is positively heaving with anticipation of the day. Bunting everywhere and a buzz on the streets that is difficult not to get caught up in. I have however, found time to wander through the park and meander along the Thames to, what I think, is one of the most stunning institutes of art in the world... the Tate Modern. Marvellous!!
In celebration of my return, I thought it most fitting to rest the bones at a small establishment within view of the lions of Trafalgar Square and within a lion's roar of the abbey. A perfect place for a rousing gin and tonic, made with one of my favourites, Tanqueray Rangpur, with a wafer thin slice of lime on the side. Chin chin!!
