The lures and pitfalls of London holidays

I was in London recently for a well-deserved holiday and most importantly to visit my youngest son and his beautiful girlfriend. They live in Highgate, an interesting hub of shops, women boutiques, restaurants, espresso bars and pubs. I have been visiting London since the late 70s, when I worked as Philippine representative for Financial Times. Its like coming home.

The summer sales were still on and the huge inviting signs of 50% off were plastered on show windows. It is always interesting to check how cheaper designer goods are at half price and how perilous it gets for the wallet when the desire to acquire becomes an untamed beast. My city tour was not so exciting except when my son and I had a dim sum lunch at Pingpong restaurant. It was superb! That was the day's highlight.

At Cadbury street, we came inside a perfumery because I wanted to buy some Crabtree and Evelyn products. I love the rose smell of these products, especially the lotion. We also tested perfumes and EDTs and ended getting a Prada which was truly expensive. It is something one wears only with sexy Victoria Secret for special person occasions. A wishful thought though not far from truth.

Since I couldn't find clothes and accessories I liked in the heart of London itself, I explored all the shops and boutiques in Highgate. True enough, I found very interesting shops with trendy clothes and accessories at half prices. It became a genuine shopping spree. My plastic cards were never before as assaulted as they had been in Highgate. I begun to entertain the idea of changing my identity after this trip.

Aside from women madness things, it was the bookshops I never failed to visit where the offer was three books for the price of two. It is truly amazing to see so many new books and authors in the market. When I compare book- buying in London to Stockholm, the latter really pails in comparison. Londoners are great book lovers. You see them all in the underground train reading a book or newspaper.

The other great thing about being in London are the newspapers especially the weekend editions, how thick they come with supplements on several subjects like lifestyle, fashion, health, holidays and food. To sit in the kitchen, drinking tea or cappuccino and having a smoke..oopppss! The feeling of being immersed or submerged in reading has a sustained orgasmic thrill. The truth is, it is perilous for both the purse and the heart to be in London often even if the British pound got cheaper against the Swedish crown.