The Big Smoke

Well, against my better judgement (and I write this rather sheepishly after airing my views in my previous post!)...We made a visit to London yesterday. Youngest daughter had been nagging (in the nicest possible way of course...smile) that she'd like to look for a 'prom gown with a difference' for her forthcoming school prom, and London was the only possible place to find such a garment!

It being the Easter school hols this week, Wednesday was the obvious day for us all to make the trip. So, 6am. we were all up ready to make the epic ('epic' for me, seeing as I'm a country girl at heart and would be more than happy to never set foot in the big smoke...) journey to the capital.

Camden was her desired area to start her search, which is where we arrived at around 11am. We trawled the market for a long time, but everything seemed rather 'tacky', if I'm being honest.

So in the end we decided to leave Camden empty handed and to head for Carnaby Street instead.

A few stops on the tube later and we were stood outside the beautiful Liberty of London.

I do have a soft spot for this wonderful department store, as it is where I spent a fabulous two weeks work experience when I was at college, many moons ago...

A very quick flit inside was required...just for old times sake...

Then it was off to Carnaby Street to find that prom gown...

Ahhhh...how times have changed; now I do admit that it has been many years since I was last in London, particularly the Regent Street area, but what has happened to Carnaby Street in that time? I remember it being a quirky, one-off sort of an area - slightly 'scary' in some ways, as everyone was either 'weird' or extremely fashionable and cool! ;-)) (Especially to the 17 year old that I was then.)

So, I was surprised to find it quite ordinary and of not much help in the prom gown department!

So we actually headed back to Camden again, where youngest did buy a jacket, but that was all.

I'm sure if we knew London well that there would have been hundreds of ideal shopping haunts for her to explore, but as it was, it wasn't to be...
So, cutting our losses on an exhausting day, it was back underground and a quick few stops to China Town...

The perfect place to refuel tired shoppers!

We stuck with the savoury dishes though, which the Chinese do so well...

Delicious! (and very filling!)

As the evening drew in we thought we'd walk-off our excesses around Leicester Square...

...

And Trafalgar Square.

By which time our legs were beginning to give in...

So we said our farewells to the bright lights...

and headed home to our beds.

I have to say that I won't be heading back to London again in a hurry...and will try to persuade our baby that there is just as an exciting choice for the fashion diva here in the West Country! Hmmm, will she believe me? Perhaps a vintage gown will be the answer? Hope so!!!

In contrast, back to slightly sleepier Shepton today(!)...But there was actually a little bit of excitement in our end of town...BBC Somerset Radio were near the Market Place promoting their next visit in around two weeks time, which will involve a live broadcast, no less!

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Finally, for today, I would just like to thank Merille who came to visit my shop last week and who took some beautiful photographs - She is a very talented professional portrait photographer, but wanted to extend her skills by snapping some pretty close-up shots of some of my merchandise. The pics can be seen on her blog here.

Enjoy the rest of your week,

Niki x