Christmas Lights – Travels with Ali

This is the last post for Natalie’s Weekend Coffee Share and I am sharing my busy and eventful week with you.

Starting Monday evening for Anthony’s birthday, we decided last minute to go for dinner. I was quite tired after having the munchkins all day, not that I am complaining, Monday is my best day! We thought we would try one of our favourite Greek places but when we got there it was closed and being renovated, never mind we drove to another favourite. This had been replaced with another restaurant but it was packed to the rafters with tables spilling out onto the street. Finally we found a small Moroccan place that could seat us. We had beautiful meal and we will definitely go back. I was amazed that on a Monday night this suburb was so busy with nearly every cafe and bar full. So different from last year.

I found some wonderful murals as well. The whole street was lit up and many trees were decorated with lights and baubles.

Tuesday, Thursday and Friday I played Bridge all with different partners. I think I am becoming a bit obsessed with the game. I have joined a golf club, not to play golf but to play bridge! It’s just a social membership but the club has fantastic views from the terrace towards the sea and the city skyline. It will be good for evening drinks watching the sunset.

I have been busy also trying to buy everyone’s Christmas gifts and my mind has been a whirl. The children were easy and I could have bought so many things, but had to limit myself. I’m nearly done and now for the wrapping, which is not so enjoyable and also to find somewhere to hide them. Lachie and Rosie pretty much know every hiding place there is.

I’ve also been pressure cleaning the tiles outside, which is extremely hard and dirty work, with the dirt spraying up my legs. All in a good cause I suppose.

Friday night we drove into the City to meet Elena, Damian and children to do the Rio Tinto Christmas Trail. First we were having dinner and the only place I could get into was an extremely noisy and packed pub. I thought Rosie would be scared but she seemed to enjoy the live band. Places now have apps on the table that you scan and order your food and drinks where you sit. It’s so convenient and saves having to line up at the bar.

Off we set to walk the streets of Perth. I have to say Perth has really outdone itself this year and is definitely on par with Sydney and Melbourne. Maybe I’m biased. Although I would have preferred the lights not to have been so far apart, 6,000 steps later…

**I think everyone had the best time and now definitely in the mood for Christmas**

Tonight we are off to our annual street party, walking distance of course. It’s going to be a very warm evening. Catching up with all the street gossip will be fun and meeting the new kids on the block.

🎅🏻 Have a very Merry Christmas everyone and hope you are on Santa’s good list 🎅🏻

On a freezing cold day we travelled up to London by train for the first time in two years. From Basildon to Fenchurch Street Station takes around 30 minutes. From here we walked around to Tower Hill and instead of hopping on the tube we caught a taxi to Brick Lane! We could have walked really. Our first stop was my dear hubby’s favourite clothes shop Son of a Stag where he buys his jeans. While he was shopping I had a quick walk around to see if there was anything interesting to see.

From here we walked to Liverpool Street to catch a bus to New Bond Street, but first we stopped for lunch. We decided on The Ivy City Garden. A truly magnificent restaurant, exactly like a garden inside. Our lunch was sublime.

**Roasted Scallops topped with crispy prosciutto on pureed potato in a red wine sauce**

Outside this restaurant was a building I had never seen before, in all the years I had worked in London! It was just amazing.

This building first opened in 1895 to cater for the growing demand for luxury Turkish bath houses. This is now a private cocktail bar and you need an appointment to look around. The turquoise tiles are still beautiful to look at.

We then caught a bus to our next destination, enjoying the ride through the streets of London. As it was “the eleventh day of Christmas” the lights were still up.

I was quite happy to wear a mask as it was getting colder by the minute, but at least the sun was shining. Masks are compulsory in the UK now but I don’t see any enforcement of this going on.

After walking down New Bond Street and South Molton Street it was time to head back. What a long walk we had before we could find the correct bus stop, then we found the road was closed and had to revise our plan. It was wonderful to walk though as I could stop frequently and take photos.

We had planned on having dinner at a favourite tapas restaurant near Fenchurch Street, but sadly this was not open. I had also made us get off the bus far too soon and we ended up having to walk another 20 minutes to our last stop! We walked around in a complete circle at one point due to the signal dropping out from Google maps. Dear hubby kept saying “you must know these streets, you worked here long enough”. Everywhere is so different now and there were certainly no high rise buildings when I worked there 30 years ago!

We had a brilliant day though and will be planning another day trip very soon.