Back in London again - 7 September 2008
Undoubtedly the greatest excitement during my last two weeks in London was provided when Kate and Bret successfully purchased a house in Queens Park. With the grandies growing fast, the need for a garden and more space were becoming more and more important. And it’s only a short distance from their current apartment so won’t involve a change of school – thank goodness.
The house is in a quiet street running at right angles to Queen’s Park, which is a stone’s throw away. And there was an annual party in the Park on my last Sunday so an opportunity for the girls to see the environment where they’ll be living, and for all of us to enjoy some of the many activities on offer.
Riley had a lovely donkey ride
And Tyla climbed up a very tall tree and abseiled down again!
But the house itself is a ruin!
It’s been occupied by the same man for over 90 years and, apparently, nothing has been done. No power points for example!
So you can probably imagine the dramas that happened during those last days. Contractors to find and interview, City Councils to visit, plans to fine tune and, most importantly, pigeons to evict from the attic! Unfortunately the cover to the loft access was faulty so the pigeons were actually in the whole house!
Professionals carried out the highly toxic job and the house became hygienic once more. A roofer fixed the loose roof tiles so that they couldn’t get back in and apparently they’re still sitting disconsolately on the roof, hoping to rediscover their long-time habitat! So the house was ready for serious renovation but it was very, very dirty as well as being in total disrepair! You’d never know from looking from the road though!
Apart from the new house dominating every waking hour, I did have time to slip off and enjoy a lovely lunch with David Aberdeen, an old friend from our days in Broxbourne. I had a special dinner with my good friend and former mixed doubles tennis partner, James Robinson. Another lovely evening out with Elissa who’d invited several friends round to her London apartment for a ‘girlie evening’. And finally, I met up with Katie Highet whom our Rotary Club had sponsored to Switzerland for a year in 2000-2001. We had a lovely lunch together in Bow Lane and it was a real joy to hear all about her amazing achievements over the past eight years.
But all too soon (hard to believe after five months!) departure day arrived. Julie and Suzi came round for a special farewell breakfast of all our favourite things and, with my bed no longer occupied, we started packing up the house for their move – albeit a few months ahead. Julie had to leave, but in the early afternoon Kate and Suzi took me to Paddington Station for the easy Heathrow Connect train to the airport. We were all very sad.