Sky High Afternoon Tea At Duck And Waffle

What better way for Derek and Eric to complete their "tourist in their own country" visit to London than by partaking in a very special, sky high, afternoon tea .........

...... forty floors up at the 24/7 Duck and Waffle, next the iconic Gherkin!

It was, I believe, quite the culinary and panoramic experience, although not of an emotional type nature, for once!

After traversing up said forty floors in a transparent Willy Wonka lift and being shown to their table, they were greeted with a glass of proper, real life champagne .........

....... which was both Derek and Eric's very first time with the tipple!

They weren't sure if the high altitude would affect it's potency or their sobriety,  but the bubbles certainly went up their noses. For them, perhaps it was a little on the dry side, but then they'd both be the first to admit to being philistines in all matters of the posh beverage!

There was also tea, but that immediately seemed to go by the wayside, I'm afraid!

And what, do I hear you say, was on the menu?

Well, they started off with egg and cress: water cress puree with a pan fried, brioche soldier, which was absolutely, blooming gorgeous!

This was followed by a variety of delicate savouries, to wit duck and waffle, oak smoked salmon and coronation chicken sandwiches plus cabano ????? No, me neither!

And then for afters ........

...... scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream, raspberry tarte citrons, jaffa macarons, sticky toffee waffles and dark chocolate delice! 

They said that they were stuffed to the gills and had to request a doggy box each to take what was left home with them and that, considering their robust appetites, just about says it all! 

They had a fabulous time, they said were so unbelievably spoilt, their every need was catered for, including several champagne top ups and being told that if they wanted, there were extra sandwiches in the back if they wanted, as the chef always make a few spares!  Regretfully, they just didn't have the room. 

Would they go again? Yes, most definitely and would they recommend it? Absolutely!

Sky High Afternoon Tea - click on links for details

Duck & Waffle London 24/7 restaurant

Keeping Their Heads At The Tower Of London

No trip to London, would be a proper tourist in your own country trip to London, without visiting the The Tower Of London ........

.......... making this Derek and Eric's first, actual, proper trip to London, if you know what I mean?!!??

I believe they were up at the crack of dawn to make sure they were among the very first to be admitted, as they'd really set their hearts, after being privy to seeing the Queen's clothes yesterday, on now viewing the crown jewels, that she'd also handled and worn! 

Let's just say, it was worth all the effort, as they just sauntered straight on in (sorry, no taking of photos permitted) ......... to have their socks well and truly blown off!  

It was both emotional and awe inspiring, they said afterwards. All that historic history and honestly, all that flipping bling!  They travelled the travellator several times over, just taking it all in and picking out the odd diamond and other precious gems they wouldn't mind owning. They didn't want to be hurried, despite knowing that the queue outside, in the time they'd been in, had grown to completely fill the winding barriers.  This was most a once in a lifetime "thing" for them.

The next big thing was going into the Royal Chapel of St Peter Ad Vincula, because, as you know, we all very much like to visit the odd church or two ........

.... however, as Eric thought he'd read somewhere that you have to be on a lead tour to enter its portals, they didn't think they would get in, but that wasn't the case and once again, they found themselves overcome by the history and awe.

Needless to say a candle, as tradition, was lit.

After that, they just followed their guide book and crowds, drinking in every single bit of  information  ......

.....trying to imagine what it was like to actually be there when so many historic  moments were being made, when it was a zoo ........

....... when the Kray twins and Rudolph Hess were incarcerated there ........

....... not to mention Walter Raleigh, Anne Boleyn and Guy Fawkes (to name but a few),  but at the same time not wishing to dwell on the fear, torture and executions it had also witnessed ......

..... as well as keeping their distance from the ravens, especially as they were an awful lot bigger than they anticipated .......

...... and feeling sorry for the Tower Guard and Beefeaters trying to keep cool on really hot summer days! 

It was quite the day out .......

And the gift shops, of which there were quite a few? Well, Derek treated himself to a fridge magnet, replica orb from the crown jewels and Eric a coronation crown badge to wear in future, when watching royal events on the tele! 

He also took inspiration from a display of rather lovely, glittery trinket boxes, something he's always seeing for not a lot of money, in charity shops, that were displayed beautifully, on a cake stand, perhaps ...... just perhaps, he could start collecting them as souvenirs of all that mooching, holidays and days out when he gets home? 

The Queen's Life In Style

As you all know we all loved and adored The Queen so much, but it has to be said, that Eric has always had the greatest affinity with her, though never presented in person, he has been an actual, real life guest at one of her garden parties way back in 2013 (where he did however partake in polite conversation with the ex Duke who we no longer mention) ........

 ....... so it goes without saying that while in London, it only seemed fitting to pay homage to the great lady by visiting the Kings Gallery at Buckingham Palace for the "Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life In Style" exhibition.

It was, as I had expected and according to Derek, very emotional for the little fella, perhaps not so much for Derek, but just seeing his beloved friend so enraptured and captivated was, he said, very, very moving in itself!

The Queen, Eric sighed, was just as petite as he had imagined (and, of course, having seen her from a distance at said party), with small, delicate feet.  Her shoes, were, he thought all of a very practical and comfortable nature, even the sparkly ones, worn in, he believed, by her various ladies in waiting with the same size feet, beforehand.

The Queen with a blister plaster on each heel and a slight limp, stepping out of her carriage or royal car is simply unthinkable. 

Obviously, it was her posh frocks that drew the most gasps ........

 ...... however, for Eric it was her wedding dress that captured his heart, imagining how our own, dear, fragrant Alice would look in it.  It was the stuff of true fairy tales.  

As for Derek, he fell in love with the Coronation dress with all it's symbolism, although he thought it might have been a bit heavy for the poor Queen, what with all her other regalia on top.  No one ever said being a Queen was easy. 

To Derek's keen eye, The Queen didn't appear to make many mistakes with her clothes  ........

...... but he wasn't exceptionally keen on the blue ensemble behind him, however, after tutting under his breath, Eric told him that it was very much of its time and obviously of some significance to be included in the exhibition, considering how many outfits she must have got through in seventy years of reigning! 

Being in Buckingham Palace again was enough of a thrill to be honest, walking where royal people may have walked, without being within inches of clothes worn by The Queen, as I said it was emotional.

The gift shop was impressive too, if a tad expensive, so no considered purchases, on this occasion were made, Eric said his memories were more than enough, although he might still have a bit of a mooch online when he got home! 

As for the "facilities", probably never used by The Queen, unless in an absolute, dire emergency ...... 

...... they were exemplary, with, as you can see, an ample sufficiency of supplies!  As for the handwash? Well, we always knew Darrell had the taste of a connoisseur, as it was the exact same flavour of Molton Brown that he always puts out on high days, holidays and when we have visitors!!!  What are we like? 

Derek And Eric Board The Titanique ........

Sooooooooooooooo .........

Picture courtesy of https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/b/titanique-criterion-theatre-london-uk-february-rd-billboard-above-entrance-piccadilly-circus-promoting-musical-391554143.jpg

........ after their slightly disappointing sojourn to the Tate Modern, Derek and Eric were still very much up for even more London culture ....... 

....... this time of the musical theatre persuasion.........

 ...... which I believe DID NOT disappoint. In fact, according to Eric, it went far beyond anything they had anticipated, to wit, it was William Hanson's final night playing Ruth (he of the last word in etiquette coaching fame, author and podcast host). Darrell was so unbelievably jealous, as Mr Hanson really is one of his idols when it comes to anything of a protocol, formality and decorum type nature.  

Plus, as their seats were at the very end of the third row where the actors came in from the sides of the stalls all through the performance, they were literally inches away and up front and personal with them, this was such a totally unexpected thrill, if they dared, Derek and Eric could have copped a cheeky, yet discreet, accidently on purpose touch!

Then, add our beloved Celine Dion to the mix (Darrell and I having seen the real Celine three times, in concert, in real life), what's not to go head over heels, overboard about!

According to our intrepid tourists, it was an absolutely wonderfully glorious night, from the second the curtain went up to the second it, sadly came down.  There may have even been a few tears, including from Mr Hanson.

Derek and Eric's sides were sore after laughing so hard and then they were left with a whole plethora of ear worms stuck in their heads on the bus home, with "I Drove All Night" being the most persistent. If they could have done it all over again, trust me, they would have, in the blink of an eye. Let's just say, it's already on their bucket list of second time rounds.

And, any regrets?  Well yes ........ they wished they'd done a more classic Titanique pose on the ships bow, they just couldn't decide who should be Jack and who should Rose! I said they should have taken turns, which they hadn't even thought about!  What are they like?