Another lovely summer’s day yesterday. Blissful.

We had a spoiling dinner at The Ivy Chelsea after an evening game of tennis at the Hurlingham Club. Mr and Mrs Springbok, our previous neighbours from Clapham days, were our charming hosts. They had just returned from a stint in South Africa.

As we were approaching the restaurant door, Geoff informed me that Spencer, from Made in Chelsea, was hanging around the front door. With his brother, James, the investment banker, who is engaged to Pippa Middleton. She was nowhere to be seen.

I was shocked that Geoff knew them. Reality television is not his scene in the slightest, apart from I’m a Celebrity – Get Me Out of Here, set in the Aussie Jungle. I think he reads every newspaper in circulation. Once in publishing, always in publishing!

Mrs Springbok was hobbling. She was wearing glam flip flops as a result of badly stabbing her toe. Not exactly what you wear to The Ivy, but she had no choice. She still managed to look regal and sophisticated.

I wore flip flops, what Aussies call thongs, most days during the summer in Oz. The dress-code was simple and casual in the 70s and 80s. A t-shirt, shorts and flip flops – with a bikini underneath. Men wore the same, minus the bikini. During work hours, of course, the dress code for professionals was smart, formal. Dark suits for the men. Demure dresses for women. But casual out of the office. You don’t see many Aussie blokes in tweeds and brogues. With pink or bright green socks.

I had to take Domino to our London vet yesterday, who is also the Queen’s vet, as he was still not himself after collapsing in Nicky’s field. It is in a tiny terrace house, a stone’s throw from Hyde Park. And I struck up a conversation with a very well spoken gent, whose dog had eaten rubbish left by picnickers in Green Park. He was in a perfect linen suit, with a pink, silk, polka-dot tie and matching handkerchief in his breast-pocket. Aussie men don’t often dress so meticulously or flamboyantly. It’s just too hot.

With the influx of hot weather, it is lovely to be able to wear a floaty summer dress. To not be covered in layer upon layer to keep warm. It’s liberating. I am wearing flip flops today too. Even though that is  unusual in London, especially in Chelsea. I just want to feel like an Aussie Sheila when the sun is belting down.

Anna arrived safely in Bogota, Columbia. She caught the last shuttle bus to the hotel! Her friend, Hettie, who has been travelling since she graduated with Anna from Cambridge last summer, will be with her soon.

There is something magical about the moment you see someone you love, family or a great friend, after a prolonged period. It is euphoric. Just like the opening and closing scenes in Love Actually, documenting real life loved ones being reunited at an airport. In fact, one mother and daughter from Queensgate, where Anna was at school between the age of 9 and 16, were unknowingly filmed hugging at the airport.

 

 

I felt that way many times, when we arrived in Sydney airport. Seeing Dad, who always picked us up, after the doors opened as we cleared customs. Geoff’s parents were separated for ten years in total of their fifty year marriage, due to their African-English split lives. Tony worked all over Africa and, at times, Eve had to be in England for the children. Imagine their reunions. But goodbyes – not very keen on them.

I shall look forward to seeing Anna after five weeks.