The good, the bad and the helpful

Another opportunity to take the train to London at an uncivilised hour of the morning for a night owl, the night being much too short with only four hours sleep.

The helpful:

I met up with Mr Ebert and we traveled to the Charing Cross hotel to meet a senior cheese expert for a most informative and constructive exchange. Our guest for mid-morning tea regaled us with tales of divine Gouda, expounded on artisans working with goat's milk and the importance of rennet. A most educational and positive exchange of views over two hours.

The rest of the day was spent in peregrination from Pall Mall to Oxford Street, via Knightsbridge to Sloane Square - all in pursuit of fromagerie displays. My feet sore after eight miles on London's streets.

The bad:

Naturally, we required sustenance en-route and ventured into the small restaurant of one of the main establishments for a luncheon. Once seated, we were kept waiting and waiting and waiting, as were two other couples. I made a polite but pointed comment at the bar - and waited yet again.

My patience snapped as the lack of service was in stark contrast to the generous pricing on the menu.

Mr Ebert and I made ready to depart just as the service arrived. But it was too late for reconciliation and we deployed to a self service facility elsewhere in the building, where we obtained a more reasonably priced meal in a fraction of the time. Why does a surfeit in visitors give establishments the feeling that they can offer poor service at higher than average prices?

The good:

London Public houses however redeemed the capital, In Bayswater, The Mitre, The Swan, and regular The Victoria provided good fare, as did The Chequers near Jermyn Street (with its hand operated dumb waiter), in a manner that convinced Mr Ebert and myself that you can eat well at a reasonable price in England. A proper steak and ale pie followed by sticky toffee pudding capped the day for me.