We set out for London during a period of maximum travel chaos. Cancelled flights, rescheduled flights, missed connections luggage that never shows up. But even though we flew from Orange County via Dallas to London our journey was uneventful and our luggage - though just about the last to appear on the convey belt - arrived with us!
After a night’s layover at a Heathrow hotel, we make our way to the promisingly named “Home House” which turns out to be an anonymous (no name plate or sign on the entrance) late 18th Century “neo-classical” style Robert Adams-designed building occupying one side of Portman Sqaure just a stone’s throw from Selfridges. The building was commissioned by Elizabeth, Countess of Home, (an ancestor of the 14th Earl of Home, who renounced the title when as Sir Alec Douglas-Home who became UK Prime Minister briefly in 1963) who wanted a “ ‘Pavilion’ designed purely for enjoyment and entertainment at N° 20 Portman Square. The Countess, aptly known as ‘The Queen of Hell’, was in her late 60’s, twice widowed, childless and rich.”
“In 1784 after the Countess’s death, the House was left to her young nephew who was still a schoolboy. The house was subsequently let to tenants including amongst others, the French Ambassador, the Dukes of Atholl and Newcastle, as well as Earl Grey (of tea fame). From 1932, for almost sixty years, Home House was leased to the Courtauld Institute of Art, whose director between 1947 and 1974 was the art historian, Master of the Queen’s Pictures and infamous spy, Anthony Blunt. It was in his rooms, on the top floor of the House, that Philby, Burgess and Maclean mingled with academics, politicians and members of the Establishment, whilst a secret listening device was apparently concealed by MI5, in the connecting wall between N° 20 and N° 21 Portman Square”
But this building with quite a history was bought by a group of investors around the turn of the 21st Century and converted it into what it is today, a private members’ club (whose Scottish name should be correctly pronounced “Hume” and not “Home”) ideal for parties, luncheons, cocktails, dinners and whatever else takes a private member’s fancy!
Our “private member’s” fancy was to hold his wedding reception at the club. Jonathan Doogan and his bride Veronique were formally married in a civil ceremony in Zurich (close to where they live) back in January. The pandemic had delayed the wedding and prevented any party. But pandemic now (mostly) over….party on!
To close off these festivities, we meet up again with the groom’s parents and two other couples for a farewell (for now) dinner at the very discreet restaurant of the very discreet Goring Hotel, a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace where the newly anointed Princess of Wales spent the night before her wedding. Forget Claridges, this is the place (not) to be seen!
A new “home” for ten days - a very large duplex apartment in soon-to be-trendy Kentish Town, a stone’s throw from already trendy Kings Cross. Place could do with a bit of a wash and brush-up and the charming owner David (“we’re just in the throes of moving to our new place in (trendy) Old Street”) is very receptive to our feedback. Comfortable enough and very convenient for all we want to do. Family parties, lunches and dinners with family and friends, the truly jaw-dropping virtual reality ABBA concert, a bizarrely modern interpretation of The Tempest at Shakespeare’s Globe theatre and a couple of hours at the historic Highgate Cemetery round off our two week stay in London. The most varied and fascinating visit in many years
And so on to New York just hours before the death of Queen Elizabeth is announced to the public…..