On our last day in the UK, Clare visits us. Unfortunately, we couldn’t meet her in Fleet, where she lives, because she and Dan were on holiday. Our trip was originally planned for a few weeks earlier. It’s great that we can still see each other.

We walk together through the Westfield Stratford City shopping centre, to which our hotel is attached. In the small but nice Lego store, I buy something from the Pick&Build wall for the first time in my life. It consists of containers with Lego pieces, which you fill into a small or large cup and pay per cup. There are quite a few pieces here that I’ll surely be able to use some day, including plant leaves, ice crystals, and car windshields.

For lunch we get a burger and chips from Shake Shack. And donuts from Doughnut Time for dessert. And Cinnabon buns too. After all, we want to go all out on the last day of our holiday!

In the afternoon we do a bit more shopping and have no luck searching for the Converse shoes with bees and flowers that Gabi wants. They were only available for a (too) short time. Then it is unfortunately time to say goodbye to Clare. She wants to head back before the big football match at Wembley Stadium is over: Manchester City plays Manchester United in the Cup Final. After the match, all hell will probably break loose at the stations and on the train.

For dinner we are again spoilt for choice, because here in the shopping centre there are almost all our favourite restaurants. So I get another ramen noodle soup from Wagamama, and a plate of nachos and fried cauliflower with jalapeno alioli from Wahaca for Gabi. Then it’s time to pack, relax, eat the rest of the donuts, and soon to bed.