London – great city!
Needed to renew passport and decided after being divorced now for nearly nine years time to revert to maiden name! Had to pass through London on my way back to Spain from the States so perfect opportunity to do it.
When passing through UK, like to stay with lovely Auntie Sheri! Very little age difference between us but that makes it even more tempting to call her Auntie, but only do it in public! Fun times! She works shifts and has all her shows set to record but when I am visiting gets very behind on her TV viewing, to the point that she starts getting quite anxious! Really is a telly addict, but love her loads! Always amusing to watch her flicking through all the recorded things muttering about how she will never catch up, how it will take marathon 3 day weekend to get all viewed and so on. On top of that she becomes sleep deprived as we up late chatting (cos I have jet lag), laughing and prank face-timing her friends. Have to have a bit of a nap myself while she is at work just to keep up, but don’t tell her! Is a laugh-a-thon from start to finish and we suffer severe jaw strain from so much laughing which is much more serious and painful condition than it sounds, is not to be laughed at (ha ha). Have taken to doing jaw exercises before visiting to lesson strain!
So appointment booked, lovely Auntie plans out best way to get into central London, details such as where to park and where to catch train. Off we go, get to passport office, timed to perfection, drop off paperwork, all very simple, must return in 4 hours to collect. Now had not planned anything beyond passport appointment as not sure how much time involved in the office (very little as it turned out) so now had four hours to kill. Suggested lovely day of being tourists, even suggested using foreign accents and asking directions to add realism to tourist status, but lovely Auntie gonna loose it laughing so had to forget that.
Walked off up Buckingham Palace Road! Found sign saying Buckingham Palace Road so asked lovely Auntie to take photo of me there for all my lovely American friends to see had been in Buckingham Palace Road! Had lovely photo taken right next to sign, only to discover later had been walking around our capital city with fly down, recorded now and forever on digital photo, shocking! Walked to Buckingham Palace only to discover they had laid on massive “Welcome back to London Sarah” party. Thousands of people in front of Palace clapping as I turned corner, have no idea how lovely Auntie organised all that without spilling the beans. Didn’t recognize anyone I know but you know haven’t been to London for many many years so people change! Special changing of the guard laid on as well for entertainment although odd choice of music included things like LA Law theme, Rockford files, Star Trek Theme etc. Lovely Auntie too short to see so took photos by holding camera up above head then showing her, am nice like that. Suggested all people at the front by the railings switch places with people at the back so could have a turn with a good view but tourists all very selfish and rude, starting to suspect some of them were not actually invited to my party and in fact gate crashing! Tried suggesting the police were in agreement with me but tourists either very stubborn or just don’t understand English!
Once band marched off and crowds dispersed, freak hail storm attacked. Was like being shot by frozen peas, had to huddle with Auntie, who was regretting choice to wear flip flops, by the gates of Palace, unfortunately lovely Queen must not have seen our plight as feel sure she would have asked us in for a lovely cup of tea. To be fair hadn’t let her know was visiting as not sure how long passport appointment would take and didn’t want to get her hopes up! Am considerate like that you see.
After hail stopped lovely Auntie whisked me to lunch in very cool Hard Rock Cafe! We were given star trek type communicator on entering to advise when table ready, all sorts of lights flash like winning on a slot machine. Had most enormous burger in the world – delicious. Was welcome relief to sit down. So after lunch, get up to leave and walk out of restaurant and lovely Auntie does shocking old lady walk, saying for all to hear, “argh, my hip has gone”. Honestly was hobbling like panto wicked witch! Coolest cafe in the world and Auntie does most believable impression of woman needing hip replacement. Left her behind! Well, is embarrassing!
Rejoined me outside thankfully having regained normal posture. Quick photo next to red telephone booth, iconic item in London, had to have photo! Collected lovely new passport with traditional awful photo, am officially a Catlender once again! Lovely day out in London with Auntie!
