London Love

Normally, around this time of year I start feeling a bit homesick for Mississippi and start pricing flights for January. So far, though, this holiday season I am really feeling the love for London and even though I had an opportunity to jump across the pond this week, I ended up saving up my travel karma for a time when I’ll need it more.

To be honest, a lot of my good cheer for Britain probably has to do with the fact that is has been so crisp and sunny and wintry the past few weeks. I’ve hardly had to use my SAD light at all, when just going outside for a little walk will do. Of course, clear skies bring cold temps, but that’s been lovely too, waking up to a winter wonderland where everything is covered in a fine layer of crystalline frost. And the starry nights and firey sunsets have been sublime, too. The Daily Fail got in an uproar about this “beast from the East” cold weather front coming through, but it hasn’t been bad at all, more like super lovely and I’ll have more, please!

Besides the weather, London has just been generally killing it all around.

The food scene is more vibrant than ever. I finally got to eat at Duck and Waffle (pic above) (rather than just have a drink like the other eleventy times) and really enjoyed it. The street food scene is also getting better and better. I was stunned to find some crazy good burgers at KERB next to 30 St Mary Axe the other day, and just behind that is the fabulous Association Coffee, which serves Postcard Teas! And all of these fabulous places are just within spitting distance of Liverpool Street station. Unprecedented.

Christmas shopping is a bit funny for us this year, so I haven’t really been hitting the shops to leche le vitrine as much as I would normally. Personally, I just pummelled Amazon into submission to sort the stocking stuffers for everyone and now I’m getting loads of packages in the post every day which is v. exciting, sort of like an advent calendar in and of itself. I mean, I clicked to combine delivery, but they still seem to send them one item to a box regardless, so 20 packages instead of one…okay. It’s quite funny, as long as everything gets here intact. Besides that, shopping on the high street has never been better, and I keep finding the most amazing little bits and bobs in the most unexpected places. I had the most lovely time doing a big dash around town picking up a few amazing pressies a few days ago, and was really feeling the Christmas cheer instead of the need to murder. London is just feeling quite cheery and lovely and hot chocolatey lately.

Anyway, what with the chilly weather out and the tree up and stockings hung, mostly I just hang out at home. I got an Amber Oud scented Diptyque candle, and we light it every night so the house smells wonderful. I’m drinking lots and lots of tea since I may have been indulging in some Mariage Freres since they now have a concession at Selfridges. Generally I’m all cozy in my usual cashmere + uggs uniform eating Christmas oranges. And I’m not alone, since Tamara Ecclestone (yeah yeah I know) said in this month’s Tatler: “I totally live in [Uggs]. Isn’t it tragic? That’s why I prefer London to LA. I can’t wait to get back for Uggs and cashmere.” And you know what? Right now, I totally agree.