Found another little local gem in Oslo for dinner last night. Real locals' restaurant, not one word of English on the Menu, which was brilliant we reckoned, so definitely NOT catering for tourists.
Good food and good beer, and not expensive, although every meal and a couple of drinks for two ends up costing about A$100.
Went to check in on-line and were offered the chance of an upgrade to Business for about $120 - what was not to like about that. Jumped at the chance - more room on board, and a larger luggage allowance... Not to mention, champagne on the way over.
Left Oslo on another brilliant sunny day, and arrived in London to rain. Surprise...
Took the plunge and went all the way by train, which left us with about a 5 minute walk to our hotel, which is a very quaint, small, rather uppity hotel, in Mayfair. We're staying with the beautiful people; sadly, we only have our grotty, trekking kinda clothes, but I guess if we pay the bill, they'll get over it!
Whilst we were getting ourselves organised, I turned on my telephone to find a message from Andrew Parsons, telling us that sadly Libby had passed away on Thursday evening Sydney time. We knew she had been in dire straights for a few weeks, but the end seemed to come so quickly. We are so sad, and so far away from everyone....
There didn't seem to be anything else to do, so we went out for 2 or 3 hours, just to wander around, and ended up on Oxford Street in the rush hour.... OH-MY-GOD.......
I have never seen so many buses - hundreds of them, nose to tail, and coming out of side streets as well; there was literally a tsunami of people on the streets, all hurrying along, most with their heads down (it was still raining of course), mostly dressed in black (wielding umbrellas), and rushing down into subways like rats into a drainpipe. Honestly we just stood there in amazement, our mouths gaping in awe at this mass of humanity - on a mission!!! Melbourne suddenly seemed SO small, and so empty!!
We headed in the direction of home and ended up in a very ordinary little pub - sky high prices for wine and beer, grubby tables, and staff who spent all the time gossiping amongst themselves!! So, not being in any mood to put up with nonsense (or warm beer in Arch's case), we went back to our hotel and settled ourselves into the bar for several drinks. We drank a toast or two to Libby, and to her family at home, and proceeded to pass a couple of hours away very comfortably; except when Arthur had to sign the bill - THEN he nearly fainted!!! I mean, we ARE in Mayfair!!!
No dinner, not in the mood.....
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