I had a blast with the family here in London for Christmas. Goodness, but we did an awful lot in a week!After a horrific delay from the weather for their departure (they were supposed to leave at 10:30 p.m. from NY, which was pushed back-back-back to --gulp! -- 5:30 a.m. the next morning!), Mom, Dad, Tante Helga, and David all arrived at their hotel in St. James. I met up with Mom and Dad the first evening and we hopped down to the Alexander, a quaint pub on the corner. They'd all not only visited London before, they had, in fact, stayed at the same hotel...and even popped into the same Alexander pub. Perhaps London isn't as big as I think? (winks)
The following day, we went to Kensington Palace to see "The Last Debutantes" exhibit and all of the Princess Diana dresses on display. As we wandered through the palace, it started to snow...hard...very hard... We hopped into a nearby pub for a late-afternoon lunch/early dinner and decided to call it an early night, fearing the transit situation. (In fact, it took me about an hour
and a half to get home, though it should've only been about 40 min. Ugh.)
and a half to get home, though it should've only been about 40 min. Ugh.)We went to the German Christmas market near Oxford/Regent streets, which wasn't exactly a market per se, but did provide a place to pick up a yummy hot mulled wine, aka gluwein, in between our shopping stops. David had a chance to stop at his favorite HMV with Tante Helga, and my parents and I checked out M&S for some edible goodies that they could take home.
One highlight of the week was hearing Handel's Messiah at St. Martin's in the Field. We had our own little wooden box on the left side, with a partially obstructed view, yet the music was still 
phenomenal and a real treat. The narrow, wooden benches on which we were seated, however, may have left my heiney with a bit to be desired. ("That's so you don't fall asleep," quipped Daddy. hehe)
phenomenal and a real treat. The narrow, wooden benches on which we were seated, however, may have left my heiney with a bit to be desired. ("That's so you don't fall asleep," quipped Daddy. hehe)We also went to Westminster Abbey on Christmas Eve for the 4 p.m. service. It must be noted here that as I've never lived in London before, I'd no idea how long of a line would await us when we arrived. Crikey! The line to get in stretched for blocks...though we were able to find a place 
within it. We won't say how here, but thanks Tante Helga! hehe...The service was quite nice, though it was standing room only in there. The choir sang traditional English carols, and when I say "traditional," I mean from the 15th and 16th centuries. Um. Ok. There was no humming/singing along for us until we got to "O Come, All Ye Faithful" and "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing," the only two with which I was familiar. It is a beautiful place, nonetheless, even if the service was a bit unfamiliar to us.
within it. We won't say how here, but thanks Tante Helga! hehe...The service was quite nice, though it was standing room only in there. The choir sang traditional English carols, and when I say "traditional," I mean from the 15th and 16th centuries. Um. Ok. There was no humming/singing along for us until we got to "O Come, All Ye Faithful" and "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing," the only two with which I was familiar. It is a beautiful place, nonetheless, even if the service was a bit unfamiliar to us.Christmas Day lunch was a lovely, memorable experience. With so many restaurants closed for the holiday (and no buse
s nor tubes operating either), pickin's for a place were slim. We went to The Artisan, a very nice restaurant at The Westbury Hotel in Mayfair. The pricey outing provided us with a -- yikes! -- seven-course meal, including a traditional roast entree. Thus, while we'd all likely have been quite satiated with the generous portion of roast duck and turkey and all of the trimmings, they brought over three starters and three desserts in addition. I think we all had to roll out of there with so much food. Yikes. Ah, but The Artisan also provided for a bit of celebrity spottings, as James Earl Jones (the voice of Darth Vader and the king in Coming to America) and Phyicia Rashad (aka the mom from The Cosby Show) were 
seated at the next table with a half-dozen other friends. Good times.
s nor tubes operating either), pickin's for a place were slim. We went to The Artisan, a very nice restaurant at The Westbury Hotel in Mayfair. The pricey outing provided us with a -- yikes! -- seven-course meal, including a traditional roast entree. Thus, while we'd all likely have been quite satiated with the generous portion of roast duck and turkey and all of the trimmings, they brought over three starters and three desserts in addition. I think we all had to roll out of there with so much food. Yikes. Ah, but The Artisan also provided for a bit of celebrity spottings, as James Earl Jones (the voice of Darth Vader and the king in Coming to America) and Phyicia Rashad (aka the mom from The Cosby Show) were 
seated at the next table with a half-dozen other friends. Good times.The family even had a chance to meet up with Steve a couple of times, which was fun. I think he passed the test. (winks) Oh, of course he passed the test; he's too fab not to. I, too, had a chance to see Steve's family on Christmas Day, as he kindly picked me up from Victoria and drove me to dinner at his parents' house. It's nice when one gets along with the other's family, and to me it's even quite essential, as my family is so important to me.
My first London Christmas was so incredibly special, and I realise (yet again) that I'm the luckiest girl in the world to have the family that I do. My uber-fun aunt was the one who concocted the idea of hopping across the pond for the holiday, and I can't be grateful enough that they all actually did it. It's a 
big deal to travel during the holidays, especially to another country. The laughs and love during the week made me feel so warm and reiterates yet again how Christmas is always a time to be with family.
big deal to travel during the holidays, especially to another country. The laughs and love during the week made me feel so warm and reiterates yet again how Christmas is always a time to be with family.Thank you Mom, Dad, Tante Helga and David. You'll have no idea how much Christmas 2009 will forever live in my memory and it's all because of your oh-so-kind-and-generous-and-fun selves coming here to visit lil' ol' me.
