CHERRY BLOSSOM.. OLD COLLEAGUES & SUPPLIERS.

Sometimes, jurst sometimes, things do go right! Do YOU have days like this, I hope so, Dear Readers, I really do hope so.

SHE was going to disappear down a hole and go to north London by the underground but upon walking to the station, SHE realised it was much too nice a day to do that, so SHE hopped onto a bus instead.

Sunshine, blue sky, no wind.. it was as if Spring had sprung. But there were no spring flowers dancing in the park which made HER realise that, officially, we are still deep in the depths of winter.

The traffic was a bit slow going up Park Road and oh, how glorious, the first SHE has seen this year. Outside the smart block of apartments called Hanover Gate Mansions are a pair of ornamental Cherry trees and they are in bloom.

The bus turned right onto Prince Albert Road. The trees have no leaves on but the whole grassy side looked 'fresh', as if the ground knew that Spring would come, eventually!

Along it trundled, up into Camden, then up and onwards towards the Caledonian Market. SHE got off the bus and walked the rest of the way.

Rang the bell, very high security at this place, the door opened and there, after over twenty years, was an old friend, a colleague from HER days at The Savoy. HeeHeee, how nice it was to chat and catch up, to swop news. 

Business done, work will be ready next week.

Back on the bus.. trundle trundle back through Camden, along Prince Albert Road and whoosh, 
down into Baker Street.

Traffic gruesome, bus crawled along and stopped at the lights on Portman Square. SHE looked to the left and wished, how SHE wished, that one of HER old suppliers was still in business.. sigh.

Albarry Linens, Portman Square, London W1 had been one of London's treasures. Owned by a large, charming family who were passionate about finding and stocking some of the world's finest linens and some not quite so expensive!

Constance never bought her linens anywhere else and gave them to friends as presents. When she and Hugo moved overseas in 1973, she did a HUGE shop of their beautiful linens to take with them. And the extra large sheets made wonderful summer blinds and curtains.

SHE has a beautiful set, with a very high thread count, that were designed by Vera Wang. SHE bought the sheets and pillow cases. Then six months later, SHE was staying with some friends in South Carolina and was as happy as a clam to see a Queen sized bedskirt and a quilt in the same pattern.

SHE uses them in the summer.. the quilt is the perfect weight and the pattern so pretty. Sadly, this shop is no longer there and no one has been clever enough to fill their place. Pity, a great pity.

But SHE is not sad today, no, SHE is very happy! For when SHE finally came home, after four on the afternoon clock, it was still in daylight, no clouds had covered up the pretty pale blue winter sky.

Spring will spring, in her own time, WE jurst have to get through norty old Winter first.

GeeGee Parrot.
January 9th, 2014.