A stroll around Mayfair & St James

Lil L was so thrilled with the Japanese loot that S brought her. These erasers are her favorite. The containers actually open up with erasers resembling ramen noodles.

Thank you all for your insightful comments regarding the It bag phenomenon in the previous post. Some agreed, some disagreed but I've enjoyed reading all your comments immensely which had helped me gained a different perspective on the subject.

I hope you've managed to get a good break over the long Easter weekend. Sorry for being MIA from my regular posts. It's school holidays. These are words that make otherwise sane parents break out in cold sweat. We've had so many kids coming and going that it took me a little while to realize that I actually only have 1 child. Oh and silly me did the unthinkable (I blame exhaustion) and fed the kids sugar crack (as Jody coined the term). The next thing I know, the kids turned into juvenile chimps and started wrestling on the ground while the hubby fled the scene.

I've been so looking forward to catching up with a close friend of mine, S of Latkes and Dim Sum. I often marveled how a few of us somehow connected on an eBay forum by chance more than 12 years ago and remained close friends to this day (Lauraloo, I can't wait for you to get here). Did I mention that none of us live in the same city or country? I was deeply touched when S took the trouble to fly half way round the world with a baby and a busy husband in tow just to come and see us. We shrieked and hugged each other tightly in the elegant lobby of their hotel (who says grown ups have to act like grown ups?).

I know I've spoken rather poetically about Paris but London is equally mesmerizing and fascinating. There are so many facets to the city that one can spend a lifetime exploring every nook and corner of this ancient place. I decided to take them out for lunch at the famed Rose Bakery located upstairs in the Dover Street Market, an edgy and super cool department store (thank you, Fleurette for the suggestion) with a well edited collection from designers such as Celine, Alexander Wang, Mary Katrantzou, Saint Lauren, Comme des Garçons etc. The location is fabulous as it's just minutes from the Green Park tube station and surrounded by elegant and old English heritage stores including Fortnum and Mason.

Thankfully, it was the Easter weekend which meant all the locals had fled for the countryside. We had such a relaxing 2 hours where we ate, talked, laughed and caught up while the men were equally engrossed in their conversation. S has THE world's easiest baby who ate, drank, cooed, laughed and went to sleep. The menu was limited during the Easter weekend but the quiche was melt in your mouth goodness with a delicious crust. The menu is simple but utterly scrumptious and the service is fabulous. I can't wait to make a second trip back to the Rose Bakery.

Armor Lux

I love this little corner where quirky and traditional men's products are displayed including luxurious Armor Lux striped breton shirts which are sold for a reasonable £45. They are every bit as good as Petit Bateau or Saint James.

Piccadilly Arcade

My usual winter uniform - Helmut Lang coat (similar here), Stuart Weitzman boots (similar here), James Jeans Twiggy, Christys hat, Petit Bateau top and Louis Vuitton Bandouliere 35cm.




We stumbled upon Paxton and Whitfield, a cheesemonger right in the heart of St James who can count Winston Churchill as their customer. They've been around since 1797. Yes, 216 years old! I saw a large variety of regional cheese that I have never ever seen in the supermarkets before. More importantly, we met a friendly and knowledgeable staff member behind the counter who took the time to explain to us the background of the local Welsh and Irish cheese which I know next to nothing about.



Ah yes, did you know that Sir Issac Newton used to live on Jermyn St, a one way street which is well known for its connection to traditional English shirtmakers and other gentlemen's apparel? They even planted a statue of Beau Brummel who in his day would've been deemed a dandy but these days, we just call him a metrosexual.