Mooching

CK window

Our little trip to London was a pre-birthday treat (for me!) and I reckon there was no better time to visit our capital.

The Jubilee has yet to happen, everywhere is decorated (with great imagination in places) but the crowds haven't yet arrived.

There was bunting literally everywhere- and beautiful blue skies....

This time we stayed in a little apartment recommended by Alistair Sawday (Special Places To Stay) which is above The Troubadour, a 50's cafe and club in Earls Court. Many of the greats have payed here - Jimi Hendrix, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchel, Bob Dylan and earlier this year Morrissey! It feels like it hasn't changed since the 60's!

 The staff were really friendly and helpful and the food was good. It was such a treat to sit in the sun in the ramshackle garden with a delicious breakfast (amaretto french toast with walnut butter and maple syrup) and good coffee.

The accommodation above  is called The Garret and is a little self catering apartment up a good few flights of stairs. There we found bread, french butter, milk, fresh coffee and a fridge full of drinks in a well stocked mini bar style. 

roses in every room!

The bed was HUGE (and so high I had to climb on like a toddler...no dignity!) and v comfy - I can recommend as an alternative to a hotel. It sleeps 4 if you use the sofa bed so great value for a future family trip.

Really annoyingly we forgot our well packed toilet bag - but luckily there was pretty much everything we needed (just had to purchase a toothbrush!)

yep - that's Durex Play!!! they thought of everything...

We spent the couple of days happily mooching - and since we were at that end of town we perused The Conran shop

Beautiful glass plates. Wish I'd bought one - some were less than £10
[edit: Cleggy has just informed me the prices I saw were for the plate holders...the plates themselves were considerably more!!! Doh]

I DO love clocks. That turquoise one is knitted.

...and walked The Kings Road (so called because it used to be a private road only used by King Chares II to travel to Kew!)

Of course my main intention was to visit Anthropologie - apologies for the sheer amount of photos, but it IS merchandising heaven...

a rail of pinnies....so gorgeous

After all that excitement we enjoyed a jug of Pimms in the Bluebird Cafe (No rash for Cleggy this time Cuckoo! seems it wasn't the pimms he was allergic to!) 

It was just lovely to wander with Cleggy - and that part of London is so beautiful. Apart from the obvious there are some wonderful little gems hidden from view - my favourite find was this road (Cranley Mews, Kensington)

..where the teeny tiny houses are beautiful colours, along a cobbled street. Yours for almost 2 million! (unbelieeeevable)

I never tire of looking at the front doors of streets like this:

and wondering about a little house like this right in the middle:

When I worked for Monsoon/Accessorize (in my other life) I used to stay in an apartment in Sloane Gardens - and we had to visit Kings Road stores for the 'walk around' at the start of each season. It feels a million miles away now - but makes me smile to revisit it with some comfy shoes on!!!

Our main reason for visiting was to see Sweeney Todd. It was BRILLIANT, dark and funny. Highly recommend.

Apart from the obvious sunshine - here are the other things making me smile this week:

1) Ned the tortoise coming home after his travels. he disappeared about a month ago - but was found by the kindly neighbour three doors down. Phew.

2) Cleggy's first book having a super first week of pre-order sales! (not boasting Cleggy FYI, just proud.)

3) GB celebrating the Jubilee at school with a day of fancy dress. His year were doing the 80's. I give you Axl Rose:

and 4) loving all the Jubilee styled packaging around at the moment. My favourite purchases are

M+S biscuit tins (natch)

Ma'amite (genius)

and fairy liquid (so nostalgic)

Since our dishwasher packed in this week there's no better time for hands that do dishes!

fee x

(200 followers celebratory giveaway to follow...I've got my thinking cap on!)