The Charity Chapter

And on the other end of the spectrum, Harrod's

I need more Charity. It's a fact.

Woke refreshed after going to bed at a slightly more reasonable hour. Café Corso, only steps from our flat, was a delightful way to start the day. The man behind the counter was rolling out a crust by hand when we stepped in the door. Sharon and I shared slices of homemade chicken quiche and salmon spinach quiche, served with a salad! As someone who can never get enough salad, this is wonderful! How could one not be healthy over here? Everything seems much more basic with simple ingredients; less preservatives and additives.

Good thing we came prepped for rain! Definitely used our umbrellas today. Light drizzle most of the day. Little kids wearing rain suits and boots, toting tiny umbrellas certainly are adorable! Other adults strode along bare headed, oblivious to the rain, unfazed. I didn't mind it either. Being raised a farmer's daughter, rainy days = shopping days, so it was the best kind of day.

First stop: Harrods again. At least for some us who hadn't finished earlier. Sharon and I spent a long time experiencing all 7 floors! From sniffing perfumes to ogling $ dresses, and taking in the bustling food hall which is basically an indoor market. Barber shop, coffee shop, books & stationary, restaurants, clothing, electronics, toys, home goods - Harrods has it all!!! I purchased a green Harrods note book for my souvenir. Helpful employees directed us to where we could obtain an iconic green paper bag for free. By this time, others had marked several places off their list. Fortnum and Mason was a short tube ride away. Another department store but on a slightly smaller, more charming scale. Sharon and I went down to the food hall for lunch. I got a bagel with olive cream cheese, pesto, fresh mozzarella, tomato, drizzle of balsamic and pastrami. It was deelicious!! Sharon got traditional English fare: a Scottish egg and a sausage roll; which of course we shared. Floor two for the toilet, but otherwise we didn't experience Fortnum and Mason. There's always next time, right? Managed to catch up with the others at Liberty London. This was high on my list as I'm a fan of their cotton tana lawn fabric! Last day of 20% off sale, how fortunate. Determined to shop at the Speed of Others, I didn't experience all the floors of Liberty either! 😇 Next up, Charity Shops, aka thrift stores in the States. America could take lessons! These shops are set up as small boutiques: clothing and books sorted by colour, artfully arranged displays of bits and baubles. One of my wishes came true. I bought a dress from a London charity shop. Joe & the Juice for some really healthy tasting drinks and delightful acaí bowl. Some headed back to the flat. Sharon and I were still shopping. By and by we also rode the tube homeward, stopping in our own neighborhood for salad supplies, etc. A couple of the girls had lasagna in the oven and garlic French bread. The table was set fancily and we had a feast at the flat, followed by cheesecake and coffee and show and tell.

I need more Charity. It's a fact.

As the Brits would say with a hearty pocket slap, Right then, I'm off! (Goodbye)

-rjk

P.S. For those of you familiar with London, the charity shops we visited are in the Islington area.