Walking in a Winter Wonderland

I just love winter in London. Oh I know, it's cold, gloomy, gets dark ridiculously early and rains a lot - but there's such a charm about the city when its a cold, dark night, wandering around the brightly lit up shops, seeing the Christmas shoppers scurrying past with their purchases, anxious to get indoors and out of the cold. That's when all those old carols about 'chestnuts roasting on an open fire', or 'city sidewalks dressed in holiday style',all 'in the bleak midwinter' - that's when they make sense. And there really were street vendors roasting chestnuts - yum! Now don't get me wrong, I wouldn't actually like to spend the whole of Christmas here (I mean, I have done that, but Christmas is for family, which is why I will always go home for it), however there is still a certain magic in the air when wandering the stores of London at Christmastime.

This was brought home to me tonight, as I found myself driving along the beautifully lit King's Road en route to the lovely Knightsbridge. This trip was made in honour of a certain new niece, as I was making my way up to a certain exclusive Department Store to procure that most elusive of gifts an Aunty living in London should give her gorgeous new niece - a 'My First Harrods Bear'.
Now can I just say, these things have been sold out for months! I've been trying to get one ever since I knew young Bethany was on her way - phoning up to see if they're in stock, each time being told they're still sold out. Finally, today, when I phoned up - they informed me there was ONLY ONE left. They reluctantly agreed to put it away for me on the proviso that I picked it up before close of sale today - 8pm. So, I drop everything, jump in the car (its too cold for the bus, honestly) and rush off to Harrods.

Finding a place to park in Knightsbridge is no mean feat. Normally I park at the Brompton Oratory (albeit illegally), as the Traffic Hitlers don't seem to check there - but tonight it was full. Fortunately Holy Trinity Brompton church came to the rescue, and I parked quite happily in their grounds before making the actually very pleasant short stroll in 6 degree temperatures up to Harrods. Oh my, the Christmas lights and the storefront decorations on Brompton Road just took my breath away!

But it was the decorations in Harrods itself that won the prize. Gorgeous storefront decorations, glorious Christmas scenes, expensive jewellery draped everywhere glittering like tinsel, - oh it was beautiful. Wandering around the store, with the glamorous decorations, was like walking in a winter wonderland. And the price! Way above my budget, I can tell you.... Not to mention the wonderful food in their food halls - rich Christmas puddings, chocolates to die for, and the entrancing smells of the Harrods Christmas coffee (a personal favourite of mine). Then there was their 'regular' items. Amethyst stone carvings at £900, a mammoth tusk for £2000 - an 'Armani Junior' t-shirt (T-SHIRT, I TELL YOU) for £70 - oh the lifestyles of the rich and famous... oh to have that sort of money...

About the only thing I could actually afford was my Bethany's bear... and some Wensleydale cheese for Mum... oh and some Krispy Kreme donuts coupled with a Starbucks Eggnog latte... not a bad evening's shopping after all...