"Kit Kat Is Going To London, Again" a London Travel Page by keida84

I love coming back to London, I never thought I would love this place so much. I have some dear memories and in 2008 I have yet to add more on this recent trip. I like the winter time to visit as there are cheaper airfares and better hotel deals.

The second time around I wanted to slip in quietly and spend time with my dearest friends, Berni and Carl Shand. They met me at the arrivals hall at Heathrow and my first glimpse of them was of their sweet, smiling faces waving in unison as I came down from the jetway. Never will there ever be a more suited couple. I love them both dearly! Thanks you two for having me in your home and I will carry the memories we made forever in my heart and soul.

Having spent a wonderful week in the Northwest of the UK it was time to head back to London and to spend some time with another dear friend, Jen aka Jenniflower and her sweet husband, Lance. Prior to the exchanging of the Kat with Berni and Carl, Jen had arranged a lovely get together with several of VT's finest members which are MariaJoy, PetraE, Sue Stone, Jo104 along with Berni and Carl. Jen is the sweetest gal who is such a pal and together we had a great deal of fun together. Everyone referred to the meeting as "The Sneaky Kat meeting" hahahahahahahahaha!

I did not make a second trip into London as planned as Jen came down with a very bad cold and since the weather was rather blustery we stayed in and watched the "Pride and the Prejudice" much to Lance's chagrin. I did make the trip to Putney for a bit of shopping and overshot the trip on the bus back home and walked several miles out of the way beofre finally figuring out what I did. Hahahahahahahah leave it to Kat to walk more than I had to but it earned me a lovely dessert aka "pudding" when we went to lunch up in Wimbledon Village. Lance also took us on a driving tour of Richmond and Richmond Park which was spectacular to see all the deer running loose and grazing.

My first time in London outside the airport was a very special one. The first night I was "katnapped" by my dear friend, Kristi Dabs who led me around the tubes to get to the first stop on the agenda a wonderful restaurant called "Galileo" and what to my wondering eyes should appear walking through the door? My very dear friend, Jen Jenniflower Those two were in cahoots the whole time! Then they surprised me again (although I did guess correctly) with theatre tickets to see "The Phantom of the Opera." I enjoy the "Phantom" I have seen it twice with Michael Crawford and once with Robert Guilliame. The movie absolutely was awful..."The Phantom of Some Other Opera"

On Friday, Carmen Carmela71 and Beach_Dog were to meet me at my hotel and then Kristi Dabs was going to swoop us up and go to breakfast at St Martin's in the Field Crypt Cafe. However, there was a yet another guest of Carmen's, her girlfriend, Juanita was to join us. Well "Juanita" turned out to be HansWaalewiener who thought he was going to surprise me (I knew he would be there, trust me I did. I even wrote him a parting email with "see you in London!") he he he, eh? You have to get up pretty early in the morning to fool me Waalewiener!!! Our LoriPori stayed back in sunny Spain to enjoy some quiet time by herself. But Lori my dear sis, you were sorely missed!!

But what fun we had! We are all firmly convinced that Hans has that camcorder permabonded to his hand. The running joke became, "Hansi, Put The Camera DOWN!" if you have ever seen the Mel Brook's Film "Young Frankstein" you may recall the words, "Put the candle BACK," ok ok it was funny at the time. But I digress, we not only had a sumptuous meal at the Crypt Cafe but we went on a walk and ride bus tour of London. We hooked up with Ed Kaspian who was thrilled to see Hans and the merry band of VT'ers on the street just as he was arriving from the airport. We all gathered at Buckingham Palace for the changing of the guard (way too many people to see this properly) and then we went on to tour to Westminster Abbey and Big Ben. I never knew there were statues dedicted to both General George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

We ended up in a nice pub (Ed was having Guinness withdrawls) in Chinatown. After that we headed back to our respective hotels to prepare for the coming evening at "Tas" restaurant in Bloomsbury.

I, however, had the distinct pleasure of sitting downstairs in the hotel lobby and have a bit if quality time with GillianMcLaughlin Gillian is a delightful gal and she had just come from the foundry where she picked up her precious bronze sculpture. Gillian had Jen and me in hysterics as she regaled us with a very funny story about the decision she made about purchasing this bronze or buying a second hand used car!

After bidding Gillian adieu, Jen and I went upstairs and got ready for our private group dinner at Tas which is a Turkish restaurant. It was quite lovely (I never knew I liked Turkish food!). After dinner, Jen and I sat in the Lobby of the Montague again but with the lovely and statuesque Kay Haldane Kay brought Keziah who was feeling a tad under the weather so her father came to pick her up. Keziah has the same beautiful lips as her mother and the prettiest complextion as well. Kay is a hoot, I did not expect her to be so tall! Wow! She certainly is the UK "Amazon woman" along with her other Amazonian "sisters" emilienoelle and Coair13.

Then came Saturday and a tour of the Tower Of London and then the actual VT Meeting at Il Pomodorino restaurant. It was there that I first laid eyes on a very special lady and friend, BerniShand I was so happy to see her that I began shaking very hard, it was so great to hug and hold on to her. When the group photo was taken she sat in front of me but our hands remained clasped through the entire slew of happy VT photogs.

What to do, where to go, who to go with. These are the questions that one asks when trying to see London in a day! It is advisable to travel with someone very tall who can take better pictures of the sights in a crowd.

Two of my favorite VT'ers one from Upwell and one from Slovenia have infectious smiles and laughter. Here they are enjoying a "corny" bar.

I have so many more photos to share. Please follow this link to see even more hijinks and hilarity in the travel logues England