Saturday 5 May 2012

Déjà Vu

If you have been reading me for a while then you might see a similarity to my posts when I go to London with a child or two. Last year I took Helen to London for a one on one mother and daughter day. I love these days. The dynamics change so much when your child has your exclusive attention. While I do wonderful things with the two of them together, days like today are very good for all of us too. And today was Emily's turn. The delay in her turn to go was only because she wanted to save money for this outing. She finally deemed that she had enough and off we went.

Our first stop was Oxford Circus. Emily wanted to look at clothes. I think that for a child to take their own money to a shop and decide for themselves what they wish to buy is a huge step in growing up. Such a responsibility, and it gives them a better sense of the value of money.

Plus, what a great girlie moment - wallowing in clothes shopping!

Our next stop in London is pretty well written in stone.

Chinatown.
Woohoo!
(Careful cultivation of a love of food since birth
means the girls get as excited about this as I do.)

Emily looked like this on arrival.

But a quick visit to the ladies with her shopping bags
and she transformed had to her new look.

Then there was the food!
Yay!

Gratuitous photos of food mostly to make the child who wasn't there sick with envy.

And I just love that the girls are so proficient with chopsticks now. Only Emily got to practise today though, obviously.


When we could eat no more we headed out for the other inevitable stop (for the present time at least) when we go to London. The Sylvanian Family shop. Those with a natural aversion to these toys please look away now.


After much humming and ha-ing purchases were made and catalogues for half the girls in their school were obtained. I got to carry the bag containing those. Lucky me.

Happily the time for the cultural element in the day arrived. Emily decided on the Natural History Museum after a long debate with herself. Does this façade ever fail to impress?


Unfortunately that façade had a line up in front of it that was long. Very, very long. Too long to stand in long. But, on the bright side, there are two absolutely fantastic museums within spitting distance. So we went over to the V&A. (Stop grinning, Nicky!) And we had a fabulous little wander. Emily was particularly taken with some Chinese artifacts and the fact that there was a Ming vase of about 450 years of age that she was allowed to touch. How often do you get to touch something that old during your lifetime? (If one person cracks a joke about my age I will --- well, I'm not sure what I'll do, but I'll think of something!)

We eventually returned to Marylebone for our journey home only to find it swarming with (noisy) football supporters. I was very much relieved to find that our train was not stopping at Wembley on our journey home!

Susan

27 comments:

  1. Sounds Iike a wonderful day! You sweet girl is beautiful.

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  2. Great day!!
    Did you point at Baden Powell House from the V&A and say 'that's where mum's going'!?

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  3. Haha! Great choice!

    Glad you had a good time and hope you are not too exhausted!

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  4. I`m salivating!! I love China Town and that restaurant looks very familiar - is it the Golden Something or Other? Anyway, what a great idea to go up to town with Emily - did you stare at the Baden Powell House as you were queuing at the Nat.History museum? Only a month now...or less!

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  5. beautiful girl she must take after her mother

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  6. Love! And do you know my (selfish) favourite thing from that post? I'm going to be there too in less than a month. I'm at the stage I'm going to mention that daily i hope you know :D. Hope himself had fun with the house inspection while you were away ..

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  7. Oh Emily is growing up fast! And how pretty she looks with her hair short! Time with mummy is invaluable. Looks like you weren't too far away from where we'll be in June! Jxo

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  8. Emily looks very stylish in her new top. I'm glad that you both enjoyed your girlie time. The V&A is a wonderful place. The toilets near the restaurant take you back to a different age! Di x

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  9. Emily is an excellent shopper, love her new look. And the food looks amazing, glad you had a wonderful day.

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  10. Ha, indoctrinating them with fabric again - admit it, not standing in that line was just a ruse to go to the V&A... ;o) Glad you both had a fun day!

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  11. What a great day you had! Ah, memories of my visit to the V&A last June! Emily is a beautiful young lady. She will break some hearts one day!

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  12. Sounds like the perfect day, and Emily looks very cute in her new shirt. I love Yum Cha, you lucky things. My baby learnt how to use chop sticks at a very early age too.

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  13. sounds like a wonderful day - hope helen wasn't too miffed??

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  14. looks like you had a fab day, love Helens new top. The NHM often has very long queues in my experience! And I have always popped along to the VandA instead-a choice i am never dissapointed with

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  15. What a fab mum you are. Emily looks like she is having a great day.
    PS My little Ava was brought into the shop this week and at 8weeks, I was pointing out important stuff like ribbons, bias binding etc, need to start young!

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  16. so glad you had a good day... and what memories for you both to treasure xx

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  17. Looks like you had a great time. It's a shame you couldn't have made it a weekend and joined us for the LMQG meet today.

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  18. Sounds like a great day out (and your photos gave my saliva glands a wee work out). Was that the same vase you touched when it was only 400 years old???

    Cheers,

    Big Bro

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  19. Great day and photo's I have two questions. What is the food on the plate in the front - first picture. And er...what is she eating out of that bowl? It looks like whipped cream. But I'm sure even the Chinese themselves can't eat whipped cream out of a bowl!

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  20. oh my goodness that looks absolutely wonderful! what a great way for you guys to spend time together. well done, mama susan.

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  21. Looks like an amazing day! Will we see photos of the Sylvanian purchases?! I love Emily's new shirt - she's got a good eye!!

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  22. Emily looks like she's having such a good time. Love her shirt. I wonder if I can get one in big people's sizes?

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  23. Em looks lovely in her new gear :-) Such a lovely day too, I'd ask to be one of your girls too if I werent scared of what you'd make of the underlying age implications ;-)

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  24. What a lovely day out. The V&A is such a special place. Much better than the Natural History Museum (grin).

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  25. what a fantastic trip out! I love how Emily changed her look too. My Emma would delight in that Sylvanian store as she loves them, me too tbh! And well done on the chopsticks!

    p.s. the village haberdashery is now stocking Aurifil! You may already be in the know of course! awesome colour choice too! hooray x

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  26. Oh my goodness, that saturday was the day I took my three older bridesmaids up to London for dress shopping - it's weird to think we may have walked past each other! xx (yes yes, I know it's a big city, but still!)

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