All Good Things Come to an End

The evening after supper with Lord Carey (last post)

we were able to take Joyce and Don to 'The Burn'

http://www.immanuelcommunity.org.uk/news/news/post/106-the-burn-launchromford

I did not take photographs but the above link will tell you just what the burn is all about

http://www.immanuelcommunity.org.uk/news/news/post/143-the-lord-carey-of-clifton-at-immanuel-community/

More on Lord Carey's visit in above link for anyone interested

Monday, Joyce and Don's last day we eventually decided to drive to the Olympic site

All the temporary stuff is now being dismantled but there is still plenty to see, however we are not now allowed on the site till all dismantling is over

Of course the site is next to Westfield Mall so several hours were spent there shopping

There is a large outside shopping area too

Nobody sitting at this table

A very large eating area on 3 levels

apart from many other restaurants and coffee shops

Something I have not noticed before

the 4 red boxes (lower right) are for charging up ones phones and i-pads etc.

I have posted on Westfield many times so for now we are in Liberty where a small silk scarf costs £150 - just looking!

Not forgetting lunch in Jamie Oliver's

and our last evening at home together

with the girls chilling out in their 'sweats' after an extremely full 6 days 

Shopping at the 2012 Olympic Site Pt. 2

Continuing our walk around the mall, food is very much on the menu in this post
and you know what it is like wondering around these places
round and round and up and down
We did actually have a successful shopping trip finding everything on my list

A bit confusing this photo, Waitrose is a high class food shop

while the market is a number of different separate shops

This was our first port of call on arrival

Costa Coffee

there are 84 places to eat or snack

We are now browsing the Eastern Market

Whoopie Pies

The description of these Indian sweet treats sound very tempting

and then there is Waitrose my favourite food store where I bought some goodies for Alan's upcoming 80th birthday party on Saturday

Must not miss out the ice-cream

or the cup cakes which as a child we called fairy cakes

There's nothing new under the sun!

Waiting for a table at Jamie Oliver's Italian

The policy is that once seated one must be served within 10 minutes which we were

and enjoyed a delicious tasting meal of Porcetta

Pork belly rolled and stuffed with salami, pine-nuts,vine fruits, rosemary and thyme

marinated in white wine and slow cooked for 24 hours

with potato wedges roasted in caramelised onions

(the reason I was not tempted to buy anything in the Eastern market)

Downstairs at Jamie's

and then into John Lewis my favourite department store

where I found my Granddaughters Christmas present

Have not seen a Harvey Nichols food market in a mall before

Harvey Nichols being the department store in Knightsbridge favoured by Princess Diana

It's rush hour so will need to have a little patience on the journey home

Shopping at the 2010 Olympic Site Pt.1

Wednesday saw us visiting the new Westfield Shopping Centre on  the 2012 Olympic site.
Only 28 minutes by car to the turn off into the Olympic Village
I'm posting in 2 parts as I do not want to bore you with 60 photos in one go so if you are interested come join us

The Olympic village

over the bridge 

where we get our first sight of the Olympic Park with the main stadium to the right

The site is not finished yet but there is enough to be able to see how impressive it is

(on the way in lights flash up every few hundred yards to show the speed one is travelling) 

We have parked on the right in one of several car parks and I am walking out here to see more of the site

There will be a restaurant at the top of this sculpture

and then into the mall

with reminders of Christmas

and now to part of the outside area for a glimpse of Jamie Oliver's Italian restaurant to where we will be coming back later

back inside with interactive touch screens for all the information  one needs

if you cannot remember where you parked your car

just key in number plate and it will show you

Who cares about the rain with umbrellas like this

more like a top hotel in the restrooms 

one continuous slope where the water runs away with no sight of plug holes or basins

and the hand dryers hidden behind continuous length mirrors

then back to check on Jamie's opening times for when we stop for lunch - pasta, pasta, pasta

They are preparing for opening but happy to let me take some photos in advance

we were glad we came early as by afternoon it was packed

an international station that brings trains straight from Paris via. the channel tunnel - straight up these steps and into the mall

Obviously there are people who like to drink champagne while shopping

a nice men's outfitters amongst the 324 shops

84 places to eat or snack

Forgotten the name of this shop but they are springing up in malls

a Californian chain where one shops in the dark

A view of the 3 levels

slightly noisy here - kids play area on the top floor

Does not matter what time of day - Apple stores are always busy

many rest areas throughout

obviously the stores do not want us to go home but to replenish our energy for a little more shopping

to be continued..............

Today (Friday) is my birthday and I have just had a great

birthday present - hearing that Downton Abbey is to have a third series!

Filming will start in January for release in September and will take place in the 1920's.

Last episode of series 2 this week but there is still the

Christmas bumper edition to look forward to.