Quick Trip to London

Here I am just off the plane, and in her arms in her new Chelsea flat. She has signed a year-long lease. I had to get horizontal and immediately went to sleep in her bed for a few hours before we headed out for some walking.

*Our first shared meal was of course pizza, salad, and a side of meatballs. This restaurant is steps from her flat. We also went there for a casual dinner.*

Outfit for dinner out first night. I wore this dress two nights in a row and then Elizabeth wore it the third night. It’s such a good dress I left it with her so she would have something new to wear for job interviews and such, and also because it wasn’t a shopping trip. I also left her with one of my black Wolford turtlenecks, those things are wardrobe heros when it’s cold outside.

Same dress for dinner the second night, this time at The River Café. I listen to Ruthie’s podcast and I absolutely fell in love with everything about her and this restaurant so we had to visit. We had a great time and the food was delicious and unpretentious.

*Our shared first course at The River Café. It was divine. Elizabeth is wearing a dress we bought together while she was in college in Greenville, SC. She wears it often and alwasy gets compliements.*

*Here we are in the colorful bathrooms. We walked everywhere, therefore the Chelsea boots and the lug sole Mary Janes.*

Last week, Tuesday to Tuesday, I hopped over to see Elizabeth, our third daughter, who now lives in London. She needed some mom time and a little love and support. Her master’s course at King’s College is finished, and her thesis has been submitted. She is waiting on grades as her professors have been on strike. Affirmation and confidence in her come from good grades, and she has nothing yet to show for her last twelve months of effort.

She feels a little lost in transitioning from a student to a job applicant, yet I think we should always approach life as a student.

Of course, a paycheck is helpful after years of academic achievement. I tell her to get herself out there and put herself in front of others as she is irresistible, and once you know her, you always want to be somewhere in her orbit.

When she applied to graduate school, she was tentative and needed a push, and now seeking employment, she also feels tentative and needs a little gentle push.

*Elizabeth with her new printer. We dined at Rabbit with her two flatmates the night before. It was delicious.*

*Her flat and my Airbnb were right in the design district. How cute is this lampshade and lighting boutique?*

*I brought only hand luggage, and we shared all of my clothes. Here she is wearing a slim Herno jacket I bought years ago while traveling to La Jolla, CA.* *She’s also wearing 1 of 2 Black Wolford turtlenecks I packed.*

*We went fitness walkin*g *every day, logging 10k+ steps. I refuse to walk in leggings. Here I’m wearing leggings underneath* *a pair of Anatomie travel pants.* *It was chilly in the morning.*

*Trial run outfit for London Design Center. I switched out to a black leather jacket as rain was in the forecast.*

*Big leather tote that I used as my carry on with one small roller bag. It held an umbrella and the books we bought.*

*Design Center London. I can’t remember if it rained that day or not. It probably did.*

*The two books I bought and have read. Both good reads. Inside Vogue by Alexandra Shulman.* *Style and Substance edited by Bay Garnett*. *(I can’t find a link for Style and Subtance that works in the US. It’s fresh off the press in the UK.)*

*We had a few coffees and pastries from Gail’s Bakery.*

We sat at the dining table at the Chelsea Airbnb and searched job postings while she tweaked her resume. We went on daily walkabouts through the parks and bought a printer for her flat. We visited the Design Center London. We went to the theatre and the Victoria and Albert Museum. We went on a go-see to Marfa Stance. We ended the day with dinner out, and usually a pint. This was not a shopping trip; we only bought the printer for her flat and a few books.

*Afternoon theatre outfit. I originally put on leather pants but decided I didn’t want to sit in tight leather pants for 2+ hours so I changed into wool trousers that had a bit of stretch.*

*Post theatre we went for martinis at The Chamberlain Hotel and sat outside.*

*For the Victoria and Albert Museum we went casual, it was a Sunday afternoon. I wore Elizabeth’s camel hair coat we gifted her last Christmas. We all share clothes.*

*Elizabeth’s camel hair coat with a bit of twist.*

*Elizabeth heading into the V&A, in a Burberry coat we bought for her on our last trip to London.*

*Sunday night called for more pizza at the neighborhood restaurant.*

*Favorite cashmere sweater that I wore on the plane over, around the flat, out and about on Monday, and back on the plane on Tuesday. This sweater is like a warm hug.*

*Here is Elizabeth at Marfa Stance, trying on a great parachute piece.*

*The night before I flew out we had fish & chips, a burger, and a pint. It was a great quick trip.*

She’ll get there; she’ll get a job, I have no doubt. It’s always a process. If she keeps putting one foot in front of the other and takes some risks, which is always a little scary, she’ll find her place. Probably not her forever place, but a place for now.