I meet up with my three university friends four times a year, as near to each birthday as possible. This time the venue was Daylesfords in Chelsea. The food is both healthy and delicious. And downstairs they have an excellent deli.
Daylesford’s coffee passes the critical test …
Many years ago, John and I rented a flat in Ebury Street. You can read about that in my biography. The shops at the end of Ebury Street, leading to Lower Sloane Street, were to me then, palaces of expensive elegance.
I once stood in a rain soaked queue for the January sale at ‘Casa Pupo’, where I met a handsome young architect. He chivalrously shared his umbrella with me and I went home on a high, carrying a giant, white porcelain bowl and two twirly candlesticks. ‘Casa Pupo’ has long gone. I often wondered what happened to the architect.
I wasn’t a ‘Sloane Ranger’ but because of a hitch hiking adventure and a long shot chance, we met the landlords of Ebury Street and ended up renting one of their flats. We could observe Sloane Rangers at close quarters and Belgravia turned out to be a great place to live. I was able to walk to work past Buckingham Palace and across Green Park.
I was curious to see where we had lived forty odd years ago and being a little early for our rendezvous, I walked along the road. Our flat was being renovated. Nobody about. I slipped in and stood in my old bedroom. The garden was still beautiful. The builders found me but were fascinated by my stories of living here forty years ago. Now it will become one rather grand and luxurious home. I wonder if the ghosts of Christmases Past will flit through it from time to time? I felt like one but bricks and mortar don’t recognise times past.
The shops are still expensive and elegant. They do not have ‘sales’. But they are lovely to look at and a little ‘lèche-vitrine’ was in order!
Chelsea mirrored …
Chelsea birds …
Chelsea fish …
Chelsea stove …
Very one-off. Later on, I walked up Lower Sloane Street to Sloane Square, where the Christmas lights had just been lit. Was I just a little bit squiffy? I don’t think so!
Christmas lights Sloane Square 2015
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