THAT WAS THE WEEKEND THAT WAS!

I may have lost my reading glasses and I may have felt colder than I have  for a long time...but those were mere trifles when compared with all the  fantastic experiences I  had this past weekend!


 I left Alicante Airport at 7.30 on Friday morning, and by about 11 am was checking into my hotel in central London. I knew I was meeting up with DEB TURTLE and her daughter CARRIE, but that was to be later in the day; their plan was to take one of the 'official' bus tours that morning. Imagine my total surprise and excitement when I happened to turn round and see them walking through the Reception area...after a bit  a lot of frantic waving and jumping up and down, they caught sight of me and the first (but certainly NOT the last!) of the weekend's hugging began.

When we eventually calmed down and I got checked in, we decided that I should join them for their City Tour.

It was FREEZING on top of that bus, but after a stop at the Tower of London we re-boarded and got off at Piccadilly to hit the HARD ROCK CAFE, where -despite the weather- Deb and I shared a long-promised Margarita!

Saturday saw us heading off to meet up with DENISE and KAREN at DEB'S house, where she graciously hosted a mini-crop for us! Karen and Denise provided a kit for each of us, and after Deb's long-suffering husband took JUST the right photograph of us all, we each scrapped a page using it.

Deb provided a yummy lunch and Karen brought a variety of her DELICIOUS cupcakes (yes, I DID have to sample all three varieties..but please don't ask me to choose a favourite!). After much chatting, laughing,eating and tea-drinking we set off to one of the local Pubs and had dinner...then, sadly, Deb, Carrie and I headed back to London.

On Sunday morning, HELENA met us for breakfast in our hotel, then she, Deb and myself had a  wander round Covent Garden...I especially liked the  Giant Easter Egg display!

Then it was time for me to check out and for the four of us to head off to MAGGIE JONES'S RESTAURANT in Kensington..

to meet up with Karen and Denise again (unfortunately Deb couldn't make it!), along with six more blogfriends.....BECKY, HELENA, JACKY, MEL, RUTH and RHONA.

For all that this was a first meeting for many of us, it was amazing how quickly and well we all 'gelled' ...it was as if we had all been friends for years.....and in many ways we have. Through our blogs, we have shared many of the joys and sorrows of everyday life: our triumphs and adversities...we had just never met in real life! That has now been rectified, and I for one sincerely hope there are many more meet-ups to come!

Thanks for dropping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx