Italian Restaurant With Home Made Pasta

 Vasco & Piero's Pavilion Italian Restaurant has been our family's favourite in Central London for a long time. It's always a delightful surprise because the menu changes twice daily.

The restaurant is clean, white bright and fresh with white linen table cloths.

We went there again in November 2024. You can sit at small square tables for two, oblong tables for four, large round tables, bar stools, or in a private room behind glass walls at the back. My companions chose a glass of red chianti to match the colour and intensity of their red meat dishes. I opted for Prosecco, sparkling white as a starter and to go with my white meat main course, chicken. Good enough. My husband, who is a wine educator, approved of the label credentials, the region and grape variety, and the taste.

The restaurant has Umbrian items. 

A member of our family from overseas wanted soup, which was not on the menu. They immediately offered to make one specially for her, a 'simple' mixed vegetable soup. She was very happy.

Portions were sufficiently ample for us to save a little to take home. It was wrapped up quickly with no fuss. No carrier bag but I had my own.

Prosecco

Ladies toilet washbasin, with two cubicles.

Calm and restful. Not the noisy sort of Italian with filed floors and echo.

The starter which impressed me was the spinach souffle.

Desserts included seasonal panettone. Like bread and butter pudding. Perfect texture.

Everyone was very satisfied.

Getting There

It is a short walk from Oxford Circus station. About 7-10 minutes, depending on which of the parallel turnings you take, passing Liberty's department store and famous Carnaby street.

Paolo has only one restaurant. So he can give it his full attention.

tel 02074378774

Snow Starts in London

I don't know why this picture is sideways. Blogger won't let me rotate it.

Out in the suburbs of London snow fell on the paths and grass - and car bonnets. Too late to put a windscreen cover on.

I declined to go into London, fearing the weather would get worse later, and it might be icy underfoot.

This was on Tuesday Nov 19. However my family had appointments and were more intrepid. By mid morning it had stopped snowing and the streets in central London were clear.

Trains, Platforms, Grit

On Wednesday, I ventured out. The overground outdoor station platform at Hatch End had salt and grit on the platforms to stop passengers from slipping. 

The metal benches were too cold to sit on, unless you wore very padded clothing or carried a cushion.

Cold Weather Clothes

The weather was chilly. But my nose was exposed and we all get cold. Of course, in snowy places like ski resorts you wear heavy padded clothes head to foot and balaclavas.

Warm Indoors

In the front garden we still have roses.

Indoors I watch the temperature on our radio controlled kitchen clock. We adjust the number of hours the heating is on. 

Memories of the 1950s

When I was a child, in the 1950s and 60s, we had snowy winters. We wore Wellington boots outdoors. We carried slipper to take off the boots at homes, or parties, so as not to make the floor wet. At home we had a coal fire, and made toasted food using extending toasting forks.

You can still buy the on Amazon from a company called Arya health, about 5 pounds 99 pence, plus postage. 

Useful Websites

https://tfl.gov.uk/tube-dlr-overground/status/

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Trying to buy a winter white hat and scarf -My complaint about apparent switch selling on Ebay

I have been buying on ebay for years, and love it. I used to bid a lot for second hand one off items. Now I tend to buy the buy it now items from businesses which have a range of products for instant delivery.

I wanted to buy a warm white hat and scarf combined. But when I chose the cheapest supplier I wasted lots of time looking. 

The sellers show a hat with an attached scarf in six colours at a price of under four pounds. Click on five out of six colours and the price doubles to over eight pounds. 

Only in another colour black, and style of a more basic beanie hat is a hat available at the price advertised. 

This wastes my time. Instead of buying this, or anything else,  I leave the ebay site for a day or a week. 

The original site does not even list the higher price. eg 4-27-8.99, but only the lowest price not matching the item shown (in pink). 

I did buy in the end. But I am not satisfied with the system. I believe the technical term is switch selling.

This occurs in lots of places. Eg Curtains, when you see what looks like a cheap curtain. But when you click on the link, and choose the curtain,  but the curtain shown is several pounds. Clicking through all the alternatives you find  a sample square of fabric is sold for one pound or free,

How to complain on ebay?

I cannot find on their website FAQ - information about how to complain about misleading advertising. 

I cannot find anywhere else to complain so I am complaining here. 

About misleading items on searches and ads. 

I think the picture should show the lowest price item, or the advertised price item. 

Do you agree? What can I do?

Meanwhile, I wait for my hat and scarf to arrive.

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Nicaraguan straw hat challenge

 

My Nicaraguan straw hat.

From Nicaragua in Central Amerca. 

The biggest of the Central American countries. 

I have not been there but got this hat from the central America stand at the world Travel Market in Excel exhibition centre in London England.

This is how the hat started out. With all the straws sticking out, in my eyes, obscuring vision, obscuring my face. What could I do with it.

My first thought was cut off the endstraw ends. I would still have to edge the straggly brim with ribbon to stop it unravelling.

I watched a video of my grand daughter with plaits. I could plait the longest pieces.

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The Lights In London to brighten winter nights

 

Lights near Farringdon stations, London. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

Lavender farms and festivals and lavender products worldwide for your enjoyment

 I have been a fan of lavender products since my long period of living and travelling overseas, not just as a travel writer taking at least one long and several short trips overseas at my own expense, and on business with my husband, also supplemented by the occasional press trip to overseas destination. The revelation about lavender came at the start of my thirty year sojourn in Singapore where I spent most winters in Singapore, Asia and Australasia while returning to the UK and Europe for the summer and back, via the USA or Australia in one or both directions. Lavender and lemon infused products were cheaper in England than in Singapore, so I stocked up in England with Yardley products from my local chemist (which I learned Americans would call a drug store). The cheapest lavender item was a small roll on around or under five pounds sterling. that was small enough to go in my handbag when my suitcase was already overweight or on the border of overweight for air travel regulations. More expensive items or sets could be a fall-back when I was asked at the last moment what I wanted for birthdays, Christmas presents or wedding anniversary gifts.

Lavender's Reputation For Repelling Mosquitos

Why lavender? Singapore is safe in many ways, except for mosquitos, which were fought with fogging by anti-mosquito spray-mists on Fridays. I discovered that my perfumes designed to attract humans especially men, such as my husband, also attracted insects, such as mosquitos. I learned that lemon and lavender repelled insects, most importantly mosquitos, which carried malaria and dengue fever. But, I presumed, also flies, fleas and wasps.

Singapore - How to Buy a Bargain

The marked price for lavender soap in Singapore seemed very high. I tried to bargain but was told, fixed price. However, after a whisper to my Singaporean Chinese friend, who works in the building, she spoke to the seller, who spoke Mandarin as well as English, and was offered a lower price, supposedly because she worked in the building, was less well paid than a presumed tourist (although I had said I was Permanent Resident, which is a government status for foreigners who live in Singapore long-term) - and maybe either because she spoke Mandarin or because she would be a regular customer.  The moral is, if you have a local friend in Asia, ask them to bargain for you in the local language.

Meanwhile, back in London, I bought lavender made in England, more cheaply. 

I checked online the UK factory farm visits and was amazed how many there were. I had expected to see just one, Norfolk Lavender, or two if you add the one my family went to in 2024.

The largest one in the world is supposed to be the large one in Tasmania, Australia. 

Europe

You find more in Europe.

France

I bought lavender soap cheaply in a wine shop in the south of France. The village of Fitou, Frontenac region. The soap aroma was not strong. English lavender is stronger.

European Festivals

You will find festivals in mid-summer, in June, for example in Bulgaria, which has at least two (see my earlier post).

UK Lavender

I bought a lavender spray from Marks & Spencer in London. The spray bottle says it is for rooms, clothes and body. What more could you want. I just sprayed it all around and the aroma is strong.

UK Lavender Farm Visits

The name I had associated with lavender from my childhood was Norfolk Lavender.

More recently, my family went on a trip to a lavender farm in the UK, near enough for a day trip from London..

My family complained that, 'Not really anything for children to do. They were charging us just to see the farm which just offered views. A lot of money just to take a photo.' 

'The cafe was closed by the time we got back there, so that saved us more money.' 

I was disappointed that they did not tell me they were going and did not bring me back a gift of lavender bags to put in my bedroom drawers in the hope of repelling moths. Still, I can buy easily on line and visit there myself next year. 

Buying & Planting Lavender Plants

I have lavender in my own garden in London, bought from a local garden centre. The garden centres sell two types of lavender, English and French. Try the aromas and see which you like most, or which is strongest aroma, or has the best colour plant.

All of the UK is in planting zones 6-9 which means the temperature and humidity which the outdoor garden plant must cope with. (A greenhouse or indoor part of your home, even an indoor windowsill, will be different.)

Trips To Lavender Farms From London

To Mayfield - about an hour and a half from Harrow going anti clockwise on the M25.

UK Lavender Farm Visits

The farm is closed until June but the gift shop and cafe are open every day of the week, 10 to 4 on Sundays, from 9 to 5 other days. The cafe may close for last orders earlier than the closing time so plan accordingly.

Lavender Anti Moth bags

You can buy lavender anti moth bags on ebay from thetownhousegarden

Sets of 20 from ebay.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143436121031?\

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?item=235826295642&rt=nc&_trksid=p4429486.m3561.l161211&_ssn=thetownhousegarden

Useful Websites

UK

https://www.mayfieldlavender.com/

Bulgaria

https://www.viator.com/en-GB/tours/Nessebar/Aroma-sampling-of-5-Bulgarian-Lavender-varieties-at-DiVes-Winery/d50387-149310P2

Bulgaria Holiday Tours

https://www.visitbulgariaon.com/tour/skip-the-line-tickets-to-karlovo-lavender-festival-on-21-06-2025

Australia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridestowe_Lavender_Estate

https://www.yorkshirelavender.com/

https://londonist.com/london/beyond-london/lavender-farms-fields-near-london

https://www.lavenderworld.co.uk/lavender-plants

https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lavender

Products to buy

From Tesco.

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International Lavender Festival in Bulgaria

 

Wine festival tag. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

This tag is a render of the Wine festival in Chirpan, Bulgaria. The tag is lavender colour and smells of lavender.

You could add it to your suitcase handle for identifying your luggage. Or to a bag or Backpack or purse.or keep it between your clothes in a suitcase or bedroom drawer.

The festival features food and drink, and dancing on stages bedecked with lavender.

Chirpal has a museum honouring a poet.

Useful Websites.