Ladies Who Lunch

Afternoon all.

As you may remember I mentioned in my previous posts how I was treating my long term bestie Claudia to afternoon tea at The Palm Court in The Park Lane Hotel for her 21st!!!
Not long until mine now! We've been friends for nearly 10 years how the time has flown.

Last Wednesday morning, after a stressful clothing decision the night before (which resulted in both of us feeling fat and with low self esteem) we headed to the train station in our best fitting finery. As per Claudia looked classic and beautiful. I on the other hand looked like a complete heffer.

We were both so excited and couldn't wait for all the tea and cake to get started. I however being the useless goon I am soon ruined the happy mood by realising that I had forgotten the virgin experience day vouchers for the hotel.!! I couldn't believe that I had forgotten the one thing I was solely responsible for and the whole reason for our trip. How Claudia has put up with me all these years is beyond me. After some frantic phone calls to both my mother and the Palm Court manager the day was saved. If my mother sent me pictures of the vouchers with the codes on we were able to show that as proof then post the vouchers to them later.

Thankfully the solution meant I was back in Claudia's good books and the death glares stopped. *Hehe I joke Claudia loves me too much*

I've not been to London much and have only used the underground on two separate occasions in my adult life. I wasn't that successful on either attempt. However I discovered a hidden secret of my gherkin's...she is a blummin pro at the underground. She knew everything there was to know, With her nimble guidance I was soon a pro myself easily navigating the network of tunnels and trains as though I had used them every day.

Success I had made it as a slightly more accomplished adult.

The first port of call was of course the shops and as luck would have it the first shop outside of Oxford Circus was none other than Topshop! My goodness me it is a huge shop, the mecca for Topshop lovers everywhere. I swear Claud and I spent nearly 2 hours in there and we must have only seen half of the stock.  We were trying on everything within our clutches sadly not all of it was meant to be and all I bought were my now trusty daily worn black Joni jeans. These beauties are my life and soul. Not only are they super comfy and actually high-waisted sitting above the belly button but they were from the TALL section.

As a girl with a tall stature just scraping 5'9" and a half, clothing length is a constant pain. Regular dresses become micro mini's on me; revealing areas that are normally covered in polite society. Yet this dark tunnel of being above average height lies beneath the beautiful glowing light of the Topshop Tall range. The Joni jeans were a refreshing 36" leg!!! Huzzah my ankles will be kept nicely warm and covered this winter. Victorian men will no longer swoon at my scantily clad lower calves to ankle regions. I shall now go forth in a ladylike manner.

For those of you fortunate enough to not be burdened with legs a mile long Topshop do jeans in leg lengths from the very petite to the more average 30" and 32" leg.

With much sadness and difficulty we tore ourselves from the beautiful bosom of Topshop round the corner to H&M another favourite and another amazing shop with about a zillion floors. I was rather lucky and had a gift card for the grand total of £8 so I was blummin loaded. My cold black goth heart was in heaven, the new season was clearly for the inner goth in everyone and I had a mini squeal when I saw all the lovely black clothes. Trying to pick one item was a mission in itself. I settled for a gorgeous lace kimono that was surprise surprise black with a very AHS Coven vibe to it. It was a bargain at £9.99.
We looked in many shops all up and down Oxford Street yet I felt we went in hardly any.

The main event soon circled around and we hopped on the tube to get to it. The street it was on with a lovely park on it which I soon realised that could have had an impact on the name of the Hotel. In our excitement of all the beautiful Edwardian architecture we nearly walked into the Japanese Embassy by mistake. Though I'm sure they would have been very hospitable and provided us with our much needed tea.

We arrived at the Hotel and blimey it was beautiful!! I felt utterly underdressed. I wasn't exactly sure what I was expecting but a harp player in a gorgeous evening gown was not on that list. It was mesmerizing to watch and the music fit beautifully with the Japanese art deco vibe that the room had. Claud and I were in heaven. A tea menu which was rather vast and exotic made choosing very difficult. The service was fantastic and we were treated like ladies of high standing. My inner aristocrat was very pleased to see correct etiquette being followed from the teaspoon and tea cup handle being parallel. I know I know it makes me sound like a real posho. I'm really not I just wish I was.

If you've ever had a really really good sandwich the likes of which you've never had before seriously think again. The sandwiches at The Palm court were above and beyond. The bread was all flavored bread and sadly I did have to remind them of my vegetarian dietary requirements after being presented with an array of beef and salmon. The day was a scoff fest. Extra complimentary sandwiches were brought out. Suffice to say Tomato and Avacado sandwiches are officially my life.

My promise of photos sadly failed the second the food arrived.

Despite escaping Gainsborough for the day it followed us. Apparently they actually made silver products in Gainsborough. I knew they did in Sheffield but Gainsborough was a shock.

 Selfridges windows displays for LFW this dress was my favourite.

This Selfridges window display was just the most fun and colourful I loved it.

Never before had I tried Passion fruit curd but damn did it make the scones taste amazing. Scone like cones not gone. The scones were lovely but nowhere near as good as my Nannoo's. The sentimental value of those make them best. 

Claud and I both have a hearty appetite however the afternoon tea (technically High tea as it was after 4pm) had us well and truly stuffed. The cool evening walk to the tube helped to settle it but needless to say the food babies were in full podge mode. We both had a second pot of tea my first had been a dissapointment so I had a berry and rosehip infusion foe seconds. Claudia's first pot of flowing rosebud tea was so delicate and sweet I drank most of that instead of my own Gunpowder green tea. For the scones and patisserie she had a more spicy Assam to balance with the sweetness of the food.....

Blimey I sounded like a real tea connoisseur there.   

It had been a really lovely day but we both get very tired when we are full of food so we just strolled through London mostly in search of a Primark where in true bestie fashion we bought matching t-shirts. 

What is life without a little A.S.O.I.A.F

The t-shirt was a bargain at £6!!! Primark really know what the nerd population want.

The journey home was long and by that time we were hungry so we got a cheeky Boots Meal Deal from Kings Cross. 

In conclusion the day proved I am an amazing friend and a really all round awesome person. I get people the best Birthday treats as I get to enjoy them too!!! 

Claudia and I will hopefully be collecting Afternoon Tea's in all the places in London.  

I hope you all enjoyed this very long overdue post. My excuse is the drama of beginning Uni which will be thoroughly dissected for you in a blog post later this week.