Today Scamp and I went to Edinburgh on the train in the rain.
Scamp had asked for Afternoon Tea in The Dome in Edinburgh for her Christmas present last year. The year had been one of the most mixed up we’d ever had and the afternoon tea voucher had been put on the back burner. After we came home from the cruise in October, Scamp started looking for a suitable date to use the voucher, before we lost it! We finally decided to take a slot on the 11th of October and today we went to see how the other half lived.
Actually, they lived a lot like us. No fancy dresses, well, not very many, and no airs and graces. There were a few tables of “Ladies Wot Lunch” out enjoying themselves. We weren’t on the ground floor, but we did find one poor man who was – more about that later.
We were upstairs where the sparkles were quite restrained. We had a table for two and after we were settled, the cake stand arrived with sandwiches and sausage rolls (vegetarian for Scamp) on the bottom layer. The scones (orange and chocolate for me, plain for Scamp) with the jam and cream. The top layer was the cakes. Macarons, mini Victoria sponges and tiny choux buns too. I’ve probably missed out some of the delicacies, but you get the idea. I don’t suppose it would be any good to you Hazy, apart from the sandwiches there were eggs in everything!
We had tea (Peppermint for Scamp – Darjeeling for me) both served in the most awkward shiny teapots. Almost impossible to get a grip on and I nearly burned my fingers pouring them.
When we were done we walked down to see what the ground floor was like. Busy, was the answer. I don’t think there was an empty seat in the place. Upstairs the sparkles were restrained. Downstairs the were almost blinding. We wondered how much their heating and lighting would cost.
When we’d gone in and were being escorted to the afternoon tea room, there was a clatter from down on the marble floor. One of the waiters or assistants had fallen dropping something as he fell. He got up and quickly dusted himself down then promptly fell again. That’s what happens when you wear leather soled shoes on a wet, slippery floor. I hope he didn’t hurt anything more than his dignity.
It had been raining when we went in to the dome and it was still raining when we came out. We decided to go home. We walked to the station then ran to the gate, just managed to squeeze on the the train which was running late. Arrived at Croy and were told the taxi wait was 30 mins, It was still raining, so we waited in the waiting room. The problem was a three-way signalling system on the road for roadworks. We had another fifteen minute until we were on the road home. What is it with roadworks this year. They seem to be everywhere. However, we were just sitting in the car. I think I saw steam coming out of the driver’s ears. Who would be a taxi driver in the rain with three-way traffic signals?
Arrived to a warm house, and a cup of tea.
PoD was Paddington in St Andrews Park in Embra … in the rain.
I’ve an appointment with the doc tomorrow morning first thing.