Light-skinned-ed Girl in England

After a very difficult trip across the Pond--my flight out of JFK was delayed by 15 hours which I meant I slept in an airport lounge on Saturday sitting up--I finally arrived at close to midnight Saturday.  The last few days have been incredibly fun. Here to celebrate my friend's 40th birthday.  We had a blast.  London dressed itself up gloriously for my best buddy, Rayme, who's never been to Europe before, with tons of sun.  I saw parts of the city I never ventured before because it was too cold or too wet or too both.  We saw the changing of the guards --quite by accident--and strolled through the lovely Notting Hill neighborhood.  Lunch at a sidewalk cafe brought us an unexpected adventure: meeting best-selling author Simon Astaire!  He gifted his book to me and I can't wait to read it.  We walked along the Thames.  We saw two plays: one at the Old Vic  (Thank you to Tina and Kathleen) and one on the West End (Plague Over England--an extraordinary cast).  There was some shopping.  I think I found a good dress for Book Expo for me--and of course, there was much talk and wine drinking.  Tea at Claridge's with a discreet playing of happy birthday and dinner at a wonderful Argentinian restaurant called Gaucho.  Rayme headed home this morning--let's do it again, it was so much fun!  Hubby and I continue the adventure today in Bath, tomorrow Stonehendge.  Ah, vacation!  Love it.