OOOOh, gorgeous day in London! Sunshine. Staying at a very swanky apt, sorry FLAT, thanks to my dear friends the Gutterman’s. Thanks Scott and Kathy …….and Quintess! Arrived at five am completely “knackered” as the British would say. Little refresher nap and off to explore.

Happy to see my honey after a whole week, we roamed the streets around St. James’s Square. The London Cabbie kindly but clearly corrected me when I told him I was staying at St. James Street. Apparently it is St. James’s Street. Notice the difference……….this chap James obviously had ownership of the place!

Stopped for lunch at Franco’s on Jermyn Street. Lucky pick, as the food was top notch, excellent service and bit of a scene. I always enjoy a scene. The lobster linguine was almost as good as the carpaccio with asparagus salad and shaved pecorino!

Shopping? Of course, but suffice it to say I hit the typical spots, Harrod’s, Harvey Nichols, etc. When I find some really unusual spots I will definitely fill you in.

Dinner plans tonight with an old friend Sophie, my BFF from age 12! Zuma’s is her favorite spot and I have been advised to go there by others so will dish tomorrow.

Actually, Ro told me to make it sound as dire a situation as possible and look sad so that they would be sure to give me a new Passport ASAP. As it turned out, that Monday morning as I was getting ready to head to the embassy, I realized I couldn’t find my Visa card. I turned my purse inside out three times to no avail. I HAD lost my Visa card. Not only was my passport expired BUT now I had NO credit card. Could anything else go wrong????

I left it in the restaurant, Locanda, Sunday night I guessed. It was up on Capitol Hill and I had al dente, homemade spaghetti with fresh peas, procuitto, and pecorino cheese. Mmmmmmm! They were small, casual, very good service and empty (though it was only 5:30 pm).

But I digress. Where was I? Oh yes, my credit card. I knew they were closed on Mondays and most of the day Tuesday and that I had no other credit cards and NO bank card. I had brought a decent amount of cash but had been depending on joining Ro in Spain, he had liquidity!!! Basically without it I was screwed.

So when the consul walked in to the embassy, I approached her to explain my passport sob story and BURST OUT CRYING. No need to act. I was a pitiful mess. Thankfully I had a temporary passport the next day by 9:30 am. This consulate was a savior!

Word to the wise, travel with more than one credit card, maybe keep the other in a separate bag. Cash is a MUST!!!