The last day in the UK and the the full scope of Mrs Reid's retail assault became clear. Ably assisted by her mother we now have reached the very limit of our combined baggage allowance - 160kg! The purchase of two additional large bags (I got them for 10 quid each at a north London market so they will probably explode in transit) have allowed us to accommodate the multiple garments and pieces of fabric siphoned out of the London shopping precincts. Uncle Barry joined us for a farewell lunch at the Orangery restaurant at Kensington Palace, probably one of my favourite places in London. It combines massive open light spaces and minimalist finishes with classical details like ornate Corinthian columns to just spell opulence while not being over the top rococo. For the first time in several weeks the rain came out of nowhere so we were rather damp by the time we'd walked from our flat to the palace grounds and the restaurant. As soon as we were seated the sun, predictably, emerged.
After lunch the car picked us up and all praise to the driver who managed to squeeze our 10 items of luggage into his vehicle. In about an hour from now, as I write, we will board the flight to home. Mrs Reid has been exploiting all the benefits of the business class lounge with a massage and a la carrye dining. It has been a marvellous trip and we owe a tremendous debt to Mrs Reid's mother who underwrote most of the cost of the trip as an antemortem bequest to her family. Her generosity has given the whole family a memory to last the rest of our lives. Good on you Ma.
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