Once we finally arrived back to Heathrow airport dad and I jumped on the tube and headed to his hotel in Paddington. After walking around the block a couple of times with the suitcases, we made it to the "Ashley Hotel" and understood why there were actually vacancies. It was not too bad. Good enough to crash and have a shower. We sorted out our suitcases and I took a cab home.
We have two days in London together until we take off across the channel. The first day, I took dad to Portabello Road Market where we found a few treasures. After we were done looking at all the shops and market stalls of Portabello road, we got on the tube at some random stop near Notting Hill, but it was on the Hammersmith line so it was almost entirely useless. We zoomed around the tube until we arrived back in Kensington (which would have been a 10 minute walk, but I didn't know that at the time... haha).
I took dad to my favorite place to eat in London: The Muffin Man. Apparently it was a little bit too frumpy for dad (even though it is really laid back and cheap for Kensington). He had a smoked salmon and cream cheese toasted sandwich, followed by scones with Devon cream and jam. I had my usual finger sandwiches, cake and tea. Since dad got his meal, that turned into my go-to because it was simply perfect. Scones and Devon cream are the most fabulous thing on the planet earth. It is truly one of the main things that I miss from London.After 'Lunch', I took dad back to my neck of the woods and showed him where my classes were, where I ate dinner and where I slept. My little cave in London. It was nice enough for what it was but the shower was just unforgivable. We split up for a bit because I had a class to go to. Dad went off to the National Army Museum or something of that sort while I tortured myself in class.
After class I was to meet dad at the National Army Museum. I got on the tube and ventured off to Chelsea. What I thought would be an easy place to find, was actually quite difficult. I wandered and wandered. I walked next to the Chelsea Hospital for what seemed like hours upon end. It was so frustrating. The Museum was supposed to be right next to the Hospital... Eventually I found it but was forced to wait outside while a herd of people over the age of 70 exited the museum and piled into a bus. That was interesting...
I found dad sitting a table reading a paper or some sort. Together, we made our way to my favorite London pub! Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese. As per usual, the Cheese was packed and there were not enough tables for me, dad, Kristin, Jason and Firas. So Dad and I sat at a table for 2 while I occasionally skulked around the place to find a table. I finally did. My friends and I came back and sat at the same table again a few weeks later. Jason and Kristin showed up not long after I found the table, then a little while later, Firas joined us.My dad and friends made quite nice acquaintance with my best friends in London. When I slipped off to the loo, he gracefully told them not to call me a Nazi when we play bored games, or I will cry. He also asked them if I was bossy... Oh, I'm not bossy, I'm just assertive! Either way, we had a good laugh, some good food and a cheerful time. I couldn't be happier!
After dinner, we walked back to Blackfriars Station by the Thames. We passed St Paul and dad demanded a photograph. Once we made it back to Blackfriars, we all took the tube back together until we got off on Gloucester Road, and dad stayed on for Earls Court then Paddington. I was sad when the doors to the train shut and zipped my dad off to the next station. I was having such a wonderful time with my dad in England, I didn't want to be apart.
