Sunday calls for a roast at our nearest pub, The Marquis of Westminster London, ‘a Gastropub with signature cocktails’, London English for ‘we charge more because we can’. Of course there was an Aussie behind the bar. It’s London. Aussie bar tenders are omnipresent. He was from the Gold Coast, had been here a year and also tired of the cold. The roast came with Yorkshire pudding which I find such a strange name for a dry puffy scone, but despite this, it was a delicious lunch.

That same day we had agreed to catch up with friends in the evening. It’s dark at six and 7 degrees is cold and when it’s raining it feels even colder. The bus stop was a 600m walk and we were relying on Google which isn’t always precise. The city’s different at night in the rain but from the upper deck we easily spotted the stop we needed to get to The Three Tuns, Marylebone.

So glad we made the effort and got to catch up again with friends we met on our first teaching contract in London-twenty-three years ago! Max and Paul and Max’s dad, Bryan had been on a tourist bus and were in for the roast. One roast a day is enough for us so we had soup. Bryan is one of the original physicist from CERN- 88 and sharp as a tack and a great conversationalist along with the banter from Max and Paul’s wicked sense of humour it was a wonderful night!

The buses have been amazing. Yes, they are way slower than the tube, but we get to see and enjoy the sites. Today we are on the 11 to King’s Road, lunch at the Bluebird Café followed by a movie at Everyman Chelsea.

The theatre is delightful. Food and drinks are available and delivered to your seat during the ads at the beginning. The seating consists of huge plush lounge chairs with tiny tables attached and footrests. The screen is massive and the sound is fabulous. So pleased we went and to add to the experience we saw a quirky little English movie set in the 1930s called ‘Wicked Little Letters’. An all-round wonderful experience.

We even managed get to a charity shop where John was able to get a warm coat for Tromso. Mind you this was the only bargain of the day. We were on King’s Road, Chelsea…really..what was he thinking? John said he bought a square of chocolate from an ‘artisan’ store and a block of chocolate and a cannoli from the most expensive Italian deli on earth!!! He’s a worry!

Back on the 11, through the chaotic traffic and passed sterotypical London contempt for authority.