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!