Nora's England/Ireland Travels 2002
London, June 6, 2002
Lovely dinner at the new Gordan Ramsey's restaurant at Claridges. The gorgeous old hotel's been rehabbed, and it looks marvelous. Wonderful Deco decor in the foyer and bar and into the restaurant, with a spectacular blown glass chandelier--must have been a Chihuly--setting it off.
We have a private dining room, where the Queen Mum often entertained, I'm told--for about 20 of us. Little chat time with champagne, then we sit down to the soup course. I meet buyers and wholesalers and more media.
Everything's very elegant and friendly, and makes up for the pouring rain outside. A long, leisurely meal with lots of conversation. The celebrity chef comes out to speak with us, and I'm invited back into the kitchen on my next visit, where he tells me things are much more entertaining.
We linger till after eleven, when I have to call an end to it due to my early morning the following day.
Back home, straight to bed. Asleep by midnight.
Alarm goes off at 6:40, and it seems impossible. Surely it's still the middle of the night! Slammed with jet lag, I drag myself out of bed and into the shower. Stumble around and into my TV suit. Decide makeup isn't going to hurt, but may not be much help.
Meet my morning escort, Laura, for the drive to the TV Center. Straight into makeup there, and a sweet lady makes me a cup of tea. I forget until it's too late that they automatically put milk in it. Why is this, I wonder? Hang out in the green room for about thirty minutes trying not to nod off.
Into the studio, do the interview. Probably about five minutes, which is good. I'm told BBC Breakfast doesn't often do this sort of segment, and the publisher's delighted. Drive home again where BW is just getting his breakfast. Snag some of his bacon, and it helps considerably.
Organize some of my stuff, do a phone interview with a Liverpool paper. Take a 30 minute nap to be awakened by jackhammers outside. Have a few minutes more here before a walk across the street to my final radio interview. After that it's finish packing and leave for the airport and the flight to Dublin.
It's gloomy, gray and rainy again today. The World Cup has replaced the Jubilee on television.
My main goal for today is to reach my bed in Dublin and stretch out.
Nora
ADWOFF > Nora's Travelogues > England/Ireland 2002 > London, June 6, 2002
Nora's Europe Travelogues are © 2002 by Nora Roberts & ADWOFF
Photos are courtesy of Bruce Wilder & © 2002 by Bruce Wilder
All Rights Reserved