Ambling and Rambling.

Bright blue sky, shining sun and an outdoor temperature FAR more bearable.

Perfect day to head outside and try and get my months worth of exercise in a couple of hours. I caught the tube all the way down to Harrods, and marvelled at that area of town. It's so flashy but deliberately so, somehow making you not feel completely out of place. That and the fact that only about 1/5th of people are speaking English. Tourist overload.

That was especially the case today but the lure of Harrods is enough to keep you going. I'll never tire of that store. In fact, today I went to a part that I hadn't even seen last time! It's huge. Of course, the big paddington bears are still there. Hurrah! So iconic.

I'm not going to complain and draw on about how busy it was. It's a Sunday. And just over a week till Christmas, I asked for it.

However when it really did get too much, I headed east alongside Hyde park towards Buckingham Palace! The streets were all closed off around Her Majesty's crib so the hoards of people, all rugged up, were filling the whole street, arms swinging with recent Christmas purchases.

Taking advantage of all the pedestrian space, I ambled along to Trafalgar Square, of course making sure to check out the giant tree that Norway gifted England (they did kind of lend a hand or a hundred during WWII) and the 'Norwegian strung lights' which means they're hung vertically rather than horizontally. It looked kinda odd.

I moved on to Piccadilly Circus, up Regent Street and down past Oxford Circus on Oxford Street, all the while becoming less and less successful at Christmas shopping (which considering my horrid start is really quite impressive..)

I did manage to go to Hamley's along that walk (Home Alone, anyone??) and while crowds kept me limited to the first floor, that shop really is something. Even the adults in that store walk around in wide eyed bewilderment. It's like Diagon Alley on steroids. I can't say I myself wasn't totally sucked in by the enthusiastic salesman advertising a see through remote control truck that could go UP walls. Yes Spider-Man, you heard me.

A week until I head off to Norway! Can't wait for a guaranteed White Christmas. If we have more days like today here there's no hope for snow! Christmas Day snow angels? Oh la la!

Off to listen to more Mariah, though I'm fairly sure I've got the jist of what she wants for Christmas.