After spending three days in hospital with my big girl, a relaxing day out with one of my best friends was just what I needed to recharge my batteries. Days out in London are usually hectic – we go into town so rarely these days that there often seems to be pressure to see and do as much as possible while we there. But this wasn’t one of those days. This was a day with no pressure to go sightseeing – just a day enjoying the company of a friend; a day to sit in tea shops and watch the world go by or just wander. An almost perfect day – except for one sad event scheduled for the afternoon – the funeral of a lovely lady who was a part of my midwifery days.
Other than attending the funeral, Gillian and I had only two aims for the day – to visit the Primrose Bakery and sample their yummy cupcakes, and to head to the Yumchaa café for some of their fabulous tea. Hubby was taking the girls to see Nanny and Auntie Fizz so I could enjoy a rare child-free day out – and get to use the lovely handbag I got for Christmas for the first time. Is it just me who gets excited about being able to swap the big change bag for a tiny handbag?
The Primrose Bakery in Covent Garden was our first stop of the day. The cupcakes and brownies on display looked and smelled divine – choosing which ones to try was a challenge! I opted for a peanut butter cupcake to start with followed by a cinnamon one – both of which were delicious. The cakes were moist and crumbly and the icing full of flavour and not too sweet (my usual bugbear with cupcakes). I’ll definitely be making a return visit next time I’m in the area!
Having filled up on cupcakes, we pottered around Covent Garden for a while, browsing through the shops, enjoying the music being played by a string quartet, chatting together or just wandering quietly together as the mood took us. Being with a friend where there is no pressure to talk and entertain – just being able to “be” is blissful. L.M. Montgomery, one of my favourite authors summed it up perfectly in this quote:
After we’d had enough of browsing in Covent Garden, we made our way through Soho towards the Yumchaa café for a pot of tea. I love the range of different types of tea that Yumchaa offers and decided on one I hadn’t tried before – Marzipan Superfan – a blend of rooibos tea with red cherry, plum, marzipan and almond. Yumchaa describe it on their website as being “reminiscent of a good slice of Cherry Bakewell” which is a very good description of the taste – the cherry flavour particularly worked well with the rooibos.
It was lovely just to sit with a cup of tea and watch the world going by and we had no desire to move on until it was time to leave for the funeral. I won’t say much about the funeral other than it was a beautiful and moving send-off for a lady who always brightened everyone’s day with her sunny smile and had the gift of making everyone feel better about themselves. There was so much love in that room, and I don’t think I ever realised what a truly inspiring lady she was until I heard the stories that so many others had to tell. And as sad as the occasion was, it was lovely to see some of my former colleagues again.
Sad events aside, it was a lovely day out – a brief period of taking off Mummy and putting on me. I have to admit, it was equally lovely to go home to cuddles from my girls and go back to being Mummy again – and a happier Mummy for having had that little bit of time out.
Aww, I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your friend and colleague, saying goodbye is never easy, but I’m so glad you managed to have some ‘me time’ too. I’ve never been to Primrose Bakery, we always make a beeline for the Hummingbird as one of my closest friends lives just off Portobello Road – now I have another set of cupcakes to try! And I’m totally with you on the handbag front too – my days of changing bags are now over, but it’s nice to go out without a bag containing all my marking!
Thank you – will have to check out the Hummingbird bakery too – just had a quick look on their website and it made me feel very hungry! 🙂
What a lovely day out…It sounds so relaxing.
So sorry about the loss of your friend and colleague x
Thank you Kim, we had a nice day in spite of the sad occasion x
What a wonderful day and it looks like you had some very scrumptious food too. So sorry about your friend though x
Thank you – we had a nice day overall and the food was very yummy!
I am sorry for your loss. It can be so difficult.
It sounds like you had a lovely day with your friend and those cakes look very yummy. I am glad that you got to have some ‘you time’. I am still hoping one day to use a small bag rather than a changing bag/rucksack hehe
Thank you Jenni – it was nice to have a small bag for a change – back to the rucksack again now!
What a lovely post, Louise. Although you had a funeral on that day, it sounds like you made the most of your day without the girls. I often go to Covent Garden but I hadn’t heard of the Primrose bakery before. It looks stunning! I must go there next time I take the kids to London! x
Thank you Mel – I am sure the kids would love the cakes at the Primrose Bakery! 🙂
I love cakes so this looks lovely, sorry to hear about your friend as well #PoCoLo
Thank you Michaela – we had a nice day in spite of the sad occasion and the cakes were very yummy.
That bakery looks gorgeous – there’s nothing better than going out for tea and cake! It’s lovely that you were able to make a funeral day into a day full of positivity too – celebrating life and the everlasting influence of those who have gone. x #pocolo
Tea and cake is always good and sad occasions aside, we did have a nice day.
Hi Louise, I’m a bit behind on my blog reading and had no idea that Jessica had a hospital stay (will be reading that next).
It must have been pure heaven to have a little quality time with a friend. Enjoying cupcakes and spending time doing nothing of importance apart from recharging your batteries must have felt good.
It is sad when someone we love and respect passes on, but to be able to sit and share stories about that person be comforting.
xx
Having quality time with a friend was wonderful and whilst the funeral was a sad occasion, the memories that were shared were happy ones
Glad that Jessica is back home again now. Despite the sad reason for being in London it sounds like it went as well as it could have. I’ve heard of the Primrose Bakery, but never visited, will need to search it out next time! #pocolo
Thank you Christine – it was a nice day out in spite of the sad occasion.
Sometimes getting to watch the world go by gives you time to reflect. Sorry for your loss. Seems like you had a good day with it.
Thank you Karen. It was nice just to have that time to sit and relax and overall it was a nice day despite the sad occasion.
You have made me wish for London again!
I do love days out in London although I don’t miss having to be there every day! 🙂
Sounds a relaxing day in town – sad events aside – and I’m liking the sound of that tea. Will be checking out both of those venues for a future visit. Thanks for linking up to #PoCoLo x
Would definitely recommend Yumchaa if you like tea – their selection is great 🙂