As our holidays progress, there’s more and more luggage! Good thing LucY also has a boot in the front. After one last breakfast from Gail’s with a delicious blueberry & custard brioche and a cinnamon roll, we drive back to East London, where we spend another couple of nights in the same hotel as at the start of the trip. We make good progress and can see the Shard and the skyscrapers of the City in the distance after a good hour.

We didn’t expect our room to be ready, so we just quickly unload our travelling bags at the hotel. Then we continue to the Young V&A, the childhood branch of the Victoria & Albert Museum. Here we visit the exhibition “Japan: Myths to Manga”, which is very informative and entertaining. We learn about the many Japanese myths inspired by the sun, the moon, the sea and the forests and often captured in drawn form – from paintings to comics (the so-called mangas) and beautifully animated cartoons, some even available to buy as plush toys.

The forest spirit Totoro also belongs to these stories. On display is a model of the theatre stage, which brings back fond memories for us: we saw the superbly produced Totoro play in London last year.

We then stroll through the rest of the museum, which is very well curated. It invites children to join in, touch exhibits and discover things for themselves. For example, the Swiss Microlino, a small car inspired by the BMW Isetta, which hangs from the ceiling next to the huge “Design” lettering in large letters made of imitation leather with a wooden outline. Fun!

After a quick lunch in the car, we drive into Central London. We want to visit the Fortnum & Mason department store. As so often, Gabi has prepared a list, so we know very well what to look for at the store. We love their Christmas installation with numerous Christmas puddings hanging from the ceiling. They can be pulled up and down individually on ropes and perform a choreographed dance.

And we want to see the Christmas lights! They weren’t lit at the beginning of our trip, but were only switched on a few days ago. Many shops are lavishly decorated, so we take a long walk through Bond Street, Oxford Street, Carnaby Street and Regent Street. John Lewis surprises with a Venus flytrap that plays the leading role in their Christmas adverts and on the building.

We then drive back to the hotel and have a cosy evening. This includes a ramen noodle soup and a chicken katsu curry from Wagamama. For dessert, we have a chocolate mousse and donut holes.