Downton Abbey and the Guildhall of London

Back on terra firma, off the ship and in our hire car London bound ! Realising we would arrive too early for check-in, Wayne thought Portsmouth, I suggested Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey) and not only was it only 45 minutes away, it was the last open day for the season !!  It was a truly lovely castle, exactly as it is portrayed in the TV series! We had a lovely wander through the gardens and also through the house, unfortunately behind a bus load of pensioners, but we were well trained in queuing behind the aged and infirm after our voyage with Cunard !  Off to London, returned the car and then to the pub for beer and dinner - we had a lovely day. Unfortunately as we were preparing for bed, Wayne's school friend phoned from the restaurant, wondering when we were arriving for dinner? Oops we thought it was the following evening ...... Awkward and disappointing !  Today was a truly great day, Wayne had his Freedom of the City of London ceremony, followed by a tour of Guildhall. It was a lovely service, full of all the pomp and ceremony as only the poms know how! To celebrate we headed to Notting Hill to The Ledbury, a lovely 2 Michelin star restaurant, whose head chef learnt his trade at Scratchleys in Newcastle no less! Off we shuffled, next stop Ottelenghi's - (Yotam Ottelenghi, Israel born restauranteur and chef, Notting Hill, the first Ottolenghi, sells mainly food and pastries to take-out. Many Notting-hillbillies are now hooked on the legendary flourless chocolate tea-cakes and can’t do without their fix of broccoli that they take home with them on the way back from work.) now we too are carrying a box of cakes ! Bit of shopping in Oxford Street and then to the hotel, some frantic packing and of to St Pancras to cloak 3 of our 4 bags - we are only taking one to Paris, the rest can stay till in London till we return !!