NG2NZ 1. Oh yes it is

12-Dec-24 London, UK

Well hello again. How are you, dear reader? It’s been a few months at home but now on the road again. For 27 days this sector. Quite apt that my overland trip from Nottingham starts with the Robin Hood panto at the London Palladium. Panto at 1430hrs. Lunch is booked for 1215hrs. To meet Miss Lymington. Train scheduled to arrive Kings Cross 1138hrs. A leisurely 15-20mins taxi from station to club to dump bags followed by leisurely stroll down St James’s Street to Chutney Mary. Or. So. I. Thought.

Train does indeed arrive near Kings Cross at about 1140hrs…but not AT Kings Cross. No. We’re in one of the tunnels. Stuck in the scary darkness of Victorian England. Waiting for a platform to become free. Train actually arrives 10-15mins late. No problem. Will make that up in the taxi. Ho ho ho. Unbelievable queue at the taxi rank. So not actually in taxi until about 1205hrs. Hmmm. Ring Chutneys to bump table to 1230hrs. It’s usually a 15min taxi ride. But not today. Utter gridlock in the capital. Miss Lymington has now announced herself at the restaurant to ensure table is not released.

At Old Bond Street. Sat in traffic. Taxi driver suggests it would be quicker for me to get out and walk the final 400m to Chutneys. Agree. Out I get. As you should know by now. TT travels light. A simple flight case. Striding down St James’s Street. Quite a sight. Taken 50mins to do three miles.

As per last year Julian Clary is hilarious. Though quite a sight to see Nigel Havers in a Superman costume hanging in mid air from the roof of the Palladium.

A good start to the trip…

Oh yes it is!