After recovering over the weekend from all the driving, it was down to The Smoke on the train. As it was a weekday, the non-peak tix were of the much cheapness shamalitaktak variety. It was also the nephew’s first ever train ride (it’s his first a-lot-of-stuff actually on this trip). I got ourselves something central but unfortunately twice the money we paid for our last London trip as a whole family three years ago, thanks to the fact that our favourite dig on Inverness Terrace has become everyone else’s favourite too. With a stroller in tow, travelling by tube is out of the question and lucky for us, most of the buses that goes through Bayswater Road would take you to the places you’d wanna go anyway. We managed to catch the tail end of the changing of guard at the Palace (Queenie not in that day) following which it was more exercise for us making sure the nephew’s safe running around at Green Park. This London trip is somewhat subdued – Covent Garden, Chinatown (the search for serbuk laksa – denied!) and Hyde Park were pretty much it. The highlight of London was pretty much the makan – of the Malaysian kind! Typical. One eaterie worthy of mention is Noodle Oodle on Queensway in Bayswater. This was only my second time, but it was my first trying their la-mian (捞面 / hand-made wheat noodles). I prefer their roasted chicken as opposed to the barbecue version. Have it dry or soupped. Either way, manyak sedap oo. If you are concerned, can eat one, meh – in fact, it’s the only halal Shanghainese noodle restaurant in the country!

One thing I’ve learnt with having a young ‘un in tow is the restrictions one face during travelling – one of which is not choosing windy short cut routes like the Snake Pass for Manchester. Notts was a breeze as it is 40 minutes from the house and it is the M1. The other challenge is that the size of the car carrying two adults and a childseat at the back, which makes me appreciate why most of my friends with kids own tanks like the Q7. And the fact, the nephew loves open spaces. He has ticked Cardiff Castle, Green Park and Hyde Park to his list, and has never even set foot on Taman Tasik Perdana yet. Heh.

Nevertheless, the whole clan had a fantabulous two weeks. Which explains why there was no smile when it was back-to-grind time this past Tuesday.

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