Our last day in London has arrived. We pack our bags and leave them at the hotel. Because it’s pouring with rain, we take a taxi to The Wolseley. The former showroom of British car manufacturer Wolseley, which was taken over by Morris in 1927 and ceased its operation in 1975, is now home to an elegant restaurant. Our friend is already here when we arrive. I am delighted to have the opportunity to eat an English breakfast, while Gabi orders a (huge!) croissant with butter and honey. The Eggs Royale that our friend chooses also look delicious. Yes, this is a great start to the day.

Now it’s time for an adventure: we take the Tube to Bond Street. Various lifts take us down into the depths, and we have to walk quite a distance before we reach the platform. We’ve probably already covered half the distance on foot. 😉 The whole endeavour works quite well – even paying: It’s the first time we’ve simply held up our phones to get on and off, rather than using our Oyster travel cards.

We arrive at the Disney Store at 12 noon, just as their opening ceremony is underway. The first child in the queue is allowed to open the symbolic lock with a large key. If we weren’t having to wait in the pouring rain, we could enjoy it more. But hey, a bit of English weather can’t hurt. In the Disney Store, we see lots of lovely things and almost buy a plush king Donald Duck. Or Winnie the Pooh and Piglet in raincoats – so cute! And we admire all the princess costumes for children, which are becoming increasingly detailed.

When it rains, shopping on Oxford Street just isn’t as much fun. So we decide to visit Selfridges department store instead. They have everything here. And most people are still queuing up at Jellycat for their fantastic soft toy creations. We make a quick detour to the Marks & Spencer food hall for some last-minute shopping before we have a drink and share some spaghetti balls. Then we have to say goodbye to our friend. She is staying for one more day and wants to visit an exhibition on Marie Antoinette tomorrow.

Back at the hotel, we collect our luggage, put our last purchases in our travel bag – there was even a little more space in it – and then take a black cab to Paddington Station. The Heathrow Express brings us back to the airport where we arrive nice and early. Luckily, because check-in at the accessible counter takes forever. But we still have plenty of time to grab some dinner for the plane at Pret and browse a few other shops.

Our gate is just not shown, even though it’s almost time to board. We ask at the counter and finally find out where we need to go. It’s a hassle, because when we arrive at the gate, boarding has already begun. While we are waiting for the assistance service, I receive a WhatsApp message: “Looks like we’re on the same flight!” I can already see my godson Dario waving in the distance. He spent two weeks in Japan with his best friend and they’re now on their way back – they’ve been travelling for 24 hours and now have to change planes at Heathrow for their last leg. What a coincidence!

The flight goes smoothly, as does the pick-up at the aeroplane. However, the car journey home is tedious: the motorway is closed in Basel, and after that there is only one lane open for a long stretch. At quarter to midnight, we finally arrive in Ostermundigen. Home sweet home. And tomorrow it’s back to the office.