We had big plans for the next day, May 31st, a walk to Oxford Street and beyond to the Liberty department store, and then maybe Covent Garden. But the London forecast failed us: when we emerged from Liberty there were a series of deluges that followed us all the way back to the apartment. FWIW, later in the day I walked over to Marylebone to visit the Cadenhead store there, hoping to find some of the same goodies I have enjoyed in Edinburgh. (We're talking scotch here, single malt, Islays preferably, bottled from the cask in the store, no diluting, no color added, etc.). Another disappointment: Scottish laws forbid bottling the stuff anywhere but in Scotland, as I might have expected. The Cadenhead's in London sells a very limited selection of Cadenhead labels, shipped from Edinburgh or Campbelltown, and all the other single malts you'd find anywhere else. Bummer. But hey, it's London!
It's a fair question why a couple that lives in a camper sometimes, and out of backpacks and carry-ons other times, would be visiting a high-end clothing and homewares store. In the case of Liberty, it's partly the history, the founder's association with Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau artists and designers, notably Morris and Rosetti. In some places, British Art Nouveau is called "Liberty." Another reason is that the merchandise is often innovative or interesting or at least beautiful. Another reason is the store's age and architecture, sort of a Tudor revival built in part out of a couple of old Royal Navy sailing ships. The architecture is often shamed, and certainly doesn't fit the merchandise. According to me. But hey, it's London!
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| Matching glasses for those who don't want an exact match |
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| Got buttons? |
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| Not all that pricy really |
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| Sure you can serve anything you like in this plate |
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| One of several mug trees |
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| Beautiful carving all over, too |
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