All good trips eventually come to an end and so it was with ours, but first we decided to have a glorious day in London doing little things here and there that made us happy. 

Our first stop was at the site of the last time that the Beatles performed together. We hired a car to take us to 3 Saville Road which had once been the site of the Apple records offices. It was there that the Beatles climbed to the roof and began what would become an epic but short-lived concert for anyone who happened to be on the street that day. It was January 30, 1969 and the Fab Four had drifted apart but on that day they played and sang as brilliantly as ever only to be stopped by police before their unique performance was complete. Years later a documentary would show them writing music, rehearsing and finally performing. 

My husband and I had followed the documentary in a state of awe. It was a very honest and personal look into the lives and interactions of the four Beatles who had sat at the pinnacle of success before deciding to break apart as a group. With both George Harrison and John Lennon gone it took on even more meaning because there could never be another moment when they would perform their magic together. 

Standing in the street below and imagining the sounds of Get Back emanating from the roof was magical. I had dressed for tea time in a blue frock that somehow seemed to be a throwback to that time and my youth when I was only twenty one years old. I was almost as giddy as a school girl. 

After reminiscing about how much we had enjoyed the Fab Four we sauntered down Saville Row and peered into the tailor shops famous for producing bespoke clothing. The pattterns and completed suits and shirts in the windows reminded me of my mother’s sewing that was so incredibly meticulous. She tried to teach me how to create dresses as beautiful as hers guiding me in the process of beginning with fine fabrics and then carefully measuring and cutting patterns. She insisted that my seams be precise and would not settle for a crooked line or threads that did not lie flat. I became good friends with a tool that allowed me to rip open my work and then begin again and again until it was exactly right. Sadly I did not have the joy for such tedious work that she had but I learned how to fully appreciate the artistry of well made clothing. Seeing the tailors on Saville Row doing their work was quite exciting for me. 

Next we headed toward Jermyn Street where we hoped to find some dress shirts for our grandsons who are now engaged in jobs that often require finer dress that the casual styles that they tend to prefer. We found a wonderful shop that also featured a fall sale. The shirts were definitely a cut above most of the offerings in department stores, if not bespoke. We were excited with our purchases and looked forward to presenting them to our young men. 

Armed with our purchases we sauntered down a busy street filled with Saturday shoppers. Along the way we noticed an old church with a lovely courtyard. Feeling enticed by the cool shade we sat down under an enormous tree and noticed signs indicating that the church had been there for hundreds of years so we decided to go inside. There we stumbled onto a jazz concert that was surprisingly lovely. 

We listened for a time but we had reservations for afternoon tea at Fortnum and Masons, a department store that has been in London since the seventeen hundreds. It specializes in food, tea, coffee and tableware so upon entering we were mesmerized by the incredible variety of edibles tempting us to throw dietary caution to the wind. The store was a delightfully whimsical purveyor of treats like chocolate frogs and ladybugs stored in little matchboxes. There were biscuits in musical tens that played classical music. I was almost overwhelmed by the wonder of it all. It reminded me of my childhood when department stores boasted sections filled with candies, roasting nuts and popcorn.

We would eventually purchase gifts for neighbors, my students and one of my grandsons but first it was time to head for the tea room on the top floor. The splendor only became better up there where linen covered tables were festooned with flowers and happy patrons munched tea cakes and sipped tea. All the while a beautiful young woman in formal attire played on a glossy ebony grand piano. I found myself wondering if this it what heaven is like. 

We took our seats and fell into a state of total relaxation as we sampled sandwiches, scones, jams and a variety of tea. For once we did not have to hurry or scurry. The tempo was slow and relaxing. No king or queen might have received better treatment than the waiter was showering on us. Our wish was his command but we made few demands because everything was already perfection. 

I was filled with the sweetness of the feast and wished that I might stay there forever but it was time to relinquish our seats so that those waiting might enjoy their slice of comfort. We stopped at the Christmas shop and there were so many wonderful things that I was unable to decided on any one item to purchase. Then we found the afternoon tea blend that I had so enjoyed only minutes before which I knew that I had to bring home.

It was growing late and we still had to pack for the journey the next day which would send us on our way home. We found the nearest tube station, rode toward Embankment and carried our packages and our happiness to the hotel. On the way we saw that there had been yet another protest in Trafalgar Square. We smiled at the thought of freedoms being exercised right under our noses and knew that it was a sign of just how incredible our trip had been.