Monday, April 27, 2015

London

Chris getting measured for his shotgun.

Today, Stevie, Chris and I are going to Purdey Guns to order a new shotgun for Chris.  I'm along for the ride.  Purdey has made guns for two centuries.  I guess they've figured it out, because they sure get a "purdy" penny for them!!

We were greeted at the Purdey Store at 8:45 and Chris's salesman, John whisked us away via taxi to the West London Shooting School, where Chris 

Shotgun shell mountain.

was measured and fitted for his shotgun.  The visit to the WLSS was quite entertaining.  Chris got to shoot guns as Stevie and I watched the clay pigeons shatter!!  The most interesting sight was the towering pile of shot gun shell casings.  The casings are piled in a walled area.  All shapes, colors and sizes!!  The mountain of shotgun shells looked like an art project.

Chris selects the perfect wood for the stock of his gun.

After shooting and finding the perfect fit for Chris's gun, we went back to the Purdey Store to select the gun stock and engravings and several other necessary shotgun specifications.

Stevie finds a new hunting hat.

Stevie and I shopped for accessories.  I bought Chris's Christmas gift, which, for obvious reasons, I 

cannot mention in this blog.  

All of that shopping was exhausting and it was close to 

lunch time, so we were in search of refreshments.  We spied little spot called "George," just across the street, but the sales clerk explained that George was an exclusive private club.  

However, after what Chris was getting ready to spend, the manager felt certain he could get us in.  So John escorted us over to George, found us a nice comfy table and the ordering began.  

Purdey Store Shotgun Shopping.

While Purdey was tallying up Chris's bill, Stevie, Chris and I were being well cared for at George.  The club was not very busy this time of afternoon, but still quite entertaining with very a proper "British" crowd.  

Chris seals the deal for his gun.

About two glasses of wine and a Cesar Salad later, John came in with Chris's bill.  It was all quite civilized.  Chris went back to the Purdey Showroom and settled his bill.  

They got it ALL!  

He came back a bit wrung out, but smiling and sooooo happy.  Another two years from now, he'll have that gun.  I hope I'm with Chris and Stevie to see that!!

Ellen and Susie arrived in London today and met us for one final dinner.  This evening, Stevie made reservations at The Guinea Grill.  

The Guinea Grill.

The last time I visited London in the 1980's, I had dinner here with Ramsay, Stevie, Jeff and Rosemarie.  Rosemarie met up with us in London after a trip around the world.  She'd been to many exotic places, but hadn't had a potato in weeks.  An Irish Girl needs her potatoes!  I remember entering the restaurant and being greeted by a friendly waiter standing alongside a refrigerated butcher's display case filled with various types of steaks, enormous potatoes, mushrooms and asparagus as big around as hot dogs.  We were asked to select our cut of meat and side dishes and then we were seated.  Jeff liked to tell the story that Rosemarie ate two of the huge spuds.  Not true, of course because the potatoes were about the size of a football.  But it sure made for a good story.  And she DID enjoy that potato!  The Guinea is quite different now.  The case is still there with various cuts of meat on display, but they no longer serve HUGE baked potatoes, nor do they serve Asparagus. 

It was nice to revisit the Guinea Grill and the memories.

Farewell dinner at Guinea and hello to new memories.

After dinner, we bid farewell to Ellen and Susie, as I am scheduled to leave tomorrow morning to go to Southhampton to meet Jeff's ship, and Stevie and Chris depart for Houston.

We were too tired for after dinner drinks, but we stopped at the lobby bar anyway.  With droopy eyes, we almost completed one drink and then turned in for the night.   But not before riding the elevator, equipped with an attendant and a comfy couch, upstairs where Stevie found "oxygen tanks."  Damn country bumpkin!  (That's a little inside joke that only Stevie will get.  Sorry.)

Elevator at Claridges with attendant to "drive" and a comfortable couch to "rest."

Oxygen Tanks???