Our Christmas visit to London 2020, Day 10, Boxing Day, 26 December

 Late up again as usual. Cami is an early riser though. We had another nice breakfast of Dorset cereal, banana and coffee. We got to know Cami better - she is so cute and recognises us. Richard is good at walking her around on his shoulder. I just like talking to her, and she smiles back.

Another festive outfit

We packed our case for our return home. I managed to forget my make-up mirror - annoying - but remembered to pack my big fat Radio Times double issue - still more in it to read. We had lunch with Laura and Dan - toast with cheese for me.

Dan very kindly gave us a lift to Heathrow Airport. The traffic wasn't very busy today. At check-in they also checked our C-Permits, as only Swiss residents are allowed to return home. Then we had a beer and mandatory "substantial meal" - a snack in the London's Pride bar upstairs in Terminal 2. I missed visiting Boots which apparently was on a lower level. No Guardians left but I managed to buy two magazines for the journey.

After waiting over an hour, we boarded our Swiss flight with seats by the emergency exit. There were very few people on board, maybe 20? Our flight landed on time, again we had our C-Permits checked in Zurich, and we got a taxi home. I was happy to find that my neighbour Val had left a sliced loaf and some UHT milk in our bottom mailbox! Very kind of her.

Our Christmas visit to London, Day 9, Christmas Day 2020

Laura and Cami

 Always exciting to wake up on Christmas morning! I had a quick shower, before we enjoyed scrambled eggs on toast for breakfast. One of my favourites! Cami was looking lovely today - she has lots of special outfits.

I made up a tentative quiz for the Clixby Clan which I thought was planned for Boxing Day. However, Paul planned to hold in in the afternoon of Sunday 27 December, when we would be back in Switzerland. Much better for us. To be honest, I have lost all track of time and what day it is since we went to London for what has become an extended visit.

We all spent the morning preparing for our Christmas lunch. The main dish was to be beef wellington with mushroom duxelles and pancakes inside the pastry covering. Dan was head chef!

Then we took turns to open our gifts, all tastefully arranged under the tree. I gave Laura and Dan the portrait of them as a family group. I hope they weren't just being polite about it. I did well for presents, getting nice soft black gloves and a copy of the next Private Eye annual to add to my collection. Richard got new slippers so now he can throw out his old pair, and he also got a nice bottle of dry sherry from Dan. Hugh sent his new calendar featuring birds and other sights of 2020, and Paul sent a hand-picked and made CD, which we brought home as L and D don't have a CD player. 

For lunch, we enjoyed the delicious Christmas Lunch featuring beef wellington with braised red cabbage, roast potatoes, peas, green cabbage, beetroot and gravy. Everyone's favourites were there!

Opening presents

In the afternoon we relaxed and watched One of our Dinosaurs is Missing, featuring lots of famous actors. For tea we had a home-made cheesecake with berries and almonds. 

Then we watched a compelling film called Dark Waters, about chemicals leaking into the drinking water supply from Dupont chemical plant in US.  I'm reading a Donna Leon book at the moment with a similar subject, set in Venice.

Our Christmas visit to London, Day 8 - Thursday 24 December, Christmas Eve

Up late again, at about 9 am. I managed to wash and dry my hair today. For breakfast we had nice porridge with blueberries. We talked to Cami again - she's getting to know us.

Richard explored the garden from below

Laura and Dan went for a walk  while we did more Times Christmas puzzles. Laura and Dan have been receiving a free copy of the Times since moving in - not their preferred choice, but we were happy to enjoy all the Christmas features. 

Then Richard and I made the pancake batter for the Beef Wellington, and Richard made five large pancakes. Laura and Dan went to visit Lorsey, an old family friend of Dan's parents, to cheer her up. They didn't go inside though. 

Gravadlax with spicy mayonnaise

We stayed at home, and later Laura put up the Christmas stockings on the fireplace.  For tea we enjoyed gravadlax with spicy mayonnaise, and then watched another University Challenge Christmas special. 

I also enjoyed watching Carols from Kings on TV, which was very moving. We slept well.

'Tis the season to be jolly - not sure how Santa will get in!

Our Christmas visit to London - Day 7, Wednesday 23 December 2020

 There was a power cut while I was in the shower. Panic! It turned out to be caused by the waffle iron we bought for Laura and Dan - they said they had done something wrong. Anyway everything was soon put right again. Phew! I still haven't got round to washing my hair though.

Laura with Cami - lovely photo

We had another nice breakfast. Laura, Dan and Cami went for a long walk. Richard and I made braised red cabbage from a recipe of Laura's. We used one red cabbage, 2 red onions, 4 cloves of garlic, brown sugar, red wine and sage. We simmered it in a pan for about an hour. It smelt good!

When the others came home, we had a nice lunch and talked to Cami. Richard had a rest and I joined him after a while. Then we watched Pointless on TV. 

For tea  we had chicken casserole with kadaif on top, a sort of straw made from shredded filo pastry. We also had broccoli and tahini sauce, and red wine. All very tasty! 

After tea, we watched QI. We were then able to rebook our flights back to Zurich for Saturday 26 December at 17.55. Good planning!

Our Christmas visit to London - Day 6, Tuesday 22 December 2020

 Another leisurely day - breakfast as usual. We both nursed Cami - she smiles at us now.

Richard called Swiss about our return flight info. No news - check again after Christmas. Not very helpful.

We did the jumbo cross in the Times puzzles supplement, and managed to complete it! For lunch we had ham, Somerset Cheddar cheese and nice bread.

We watched a compilation of Mock the Week on TV. For tea, we had fish stew with healthy lettuce salad and bread. Then we watched more of our TV favourites - Only Connect, Upstart Crow, University Challenge alumni and a repeat of Yes Minister when Jim Hacker became Prime Minister. 

Our Christmas visit to London - Day 5, Monday 21 December 2020

 We had a very quiet day. Got up, had a shower, enjoyed cereal and banana for breakfast. Then we played with Cami. 

Delicious fish, chips and mushy peas!

For lunch we had fish and chips from Ken's fish bar. Laura and Dan had to queue for ages, but it was really tasty!

Holding Cami - she looks happy

For tea, we had the vegetable and chicken soup that we helped prepare to a small extent. 

This was the day we should have returned to Switzerland. We registered with the Swiss Travel Admin app for a possible return flight. We weren't very hopeful.

Our Christmas Visit to London, Day 4 - Sunday 20 December 2020

 We were up late again. Enjoyed the Dorset cereal for breakfast again. Then I made two dozen mince pies - one of my few signature dishes. For lunch we had beer, taramasalata, ham, cheeses, tomatoes - nice to enjoy the English food. 

Making mince pies

The Swiss authorities, BAZL, announced that they were stopping all flights from UK after we had checked in for Monday's return flight. We decided not to panic yet. For tea we had roast chicken, potatoes, stuffing which we helped to make, carrots, fried cabbage and gravy - very tasty. 

We had a joint phone call with Newton Tours. Later, at 22.30, we had a message from Swiss informing us that our return flight was cancelled. Rather worrying.

Anyway I managed to watch the second half of Saturday's Strictly final. Bill and Oti won - everyone seemed to be pleased with the result.

Cami looking happy

Our Christmas Visit to London, Day 3 - Saturday 19 December 2020

Richard enjoying tasty dinner

 We managed to get up at our normal time, and I enjoyed a boiled egg for breakfast. Then we passed the time doing all the quizzes in the Times and the Saturday Guardian. They have extra quizzes and puzzles at weekends. Cami started smiling at us.

We had the usual nice lunch, with some bread made by Frannie. We also listened to the Messiah on Laura's and Dan's sound system. I tried to sing along with the choruses. Tricky to find the alto line.

Cami enjoying her seat

Boris Johnson made a press announcement about a new Corona Virus variant in UK. Tier 4, which includes London and the south-east, is affected and must be in lockdown - Christmas is cancelled. Shocking!

I helped Dan to knead some pitta dough - hard work! He grilled chicken thighs with coconut and pistachio which we ate with tomatoes, runner beans and freshly made pittas. Very tasty.

I started to watch the final of Strictly, but had to stop after the first round of dances. Hope to pick it up later on i-Player or whatever.

Our Christmas Visit to London - Day 2 - Friday 18 December 2020

I slept well and got up late. For breakfast, we had nice Dorset cereal with banana, plus coffee. We have to stay indoors now due to a ten-day quarantine. Laura bought us a Guardian so we could do the crosswords. They also have the Times delivered free every day for some unknown reason. It has different crosswords for us to try. We read all the papers available :-) 

For lunch we had a good selection of English products - taramasalata, hummus, bread baked by Frannie, Lincolnshire Poacher cheese - nice, and beer. All very tasty. 

While Laura and Dan went out for a walk with Cami, I made two dozen mince pies. They didn't last very long :-) We also helped to prepare veg for chicken and vegetable soup.

We enjoyed watching Have I Got News For You, the 2020 compilation of 'highlights' such as Covid, Brexit, Boris. I was happy to have brought my double issue of the Radio Times to see what's on TV. We also enjoyed splashing Cami in the bath!

Robbie popped round to drop off some presents for Laura and family. We had to wave from the living room. For dinner we enjoyed spinach and ricotta pancakes; R made the pancakes and Laura did the filling. Tasty as usual.

Our Christmas visit to London December 2020 - Day 1 - Travelling

 We were taking the 16.20 flight with Swiss to London Heathrow in order to visit Laura, Dan and Cami. We travelled to Zurich airport by bus and direct train to the airport, arriving a good two hours ahead of our departure. After checking in and getting our boarding passes, we went for a drink in the bar (not our favourite one) until it was time to board. Our departure was delayed by a missing passenger whose luggage had to be removed from the hold.

Leaving Zurich

The flight wasn't full and our seating was spaced out well, and we enjoyed a glass of wine (beer for Richard) and the complimentary Swiss choc. We landed on schedule thanks to a clear flight with the wind in our favour, but had to wait for a place to dock and a discrepancy in the passenger numbers which wasted twenty minutes. However, our single suitcase emerged to join us eventually, and we found Dan waiting in the short stay car park at Terminal 2. 

On arrival at Beckwith Road about an hour or so later, we met Laura and Cami. She is so sweet. There was a glass of champagne waiting to welcome us, and for dinner we enjoyed a takeaway Indian delivery of chicken curry, naans, fish curry, rice and aubergine - very tasty! We had an early night in our room on the first floor, and were not disturbed during the night.