Our Newton February reunion - Friday to Tuesday 23-27 February 2018

I'm writing this from the point of view of Richard's and my experience. Other stories may vary!

Friday 23 February 2018

We took a train to Zurich airport arriving in time for lunch at the Upper Deck. The temperature is minus 2 in Zurich and it's also very cold in London. As always, Richard and I are looking forward to our Newton Family weekend.

Enjoying a pre-flight drink in the Upper Deck at Zurich Airport

Our Swiss flight to London City airport left on time at 15.55, and we were met by Laura at LCY. We topped up our Oyster Cards for public transport in London. Then we took the underground and the DLR to Mile End and walked to Laura's house nearby. No rain or snow so far.

Soon we took an Uber to Jikoni in Marylebone where we met the rest of the Newton clan including Richard's brother and sister and their families, and we enjoyed a meal of Asian food. We all had shared starters and then I had a cauliflower dohi. We also ordered a white Cote de Gascogne and a Malbec. For dessert I had a creme brulee.

We took an Uber back to Laura's house.

Saturday 24 February

Cousins Robbie, Kathryn, Laura plus Dan

We had coffee and watched a bit of the Winter Olympics. Then we took an Uber to Kathryn's and Robbie's place near Waterloo. They cooked us all a very nice Newton Family Brunch which was delicious.

At Tate Britain

Then we walked to nearby Tate Modern. We saw an exhibition of Modigliani's paintings and sculpture which took about an hour. It was quite a busy and popular show, and the sculptures were particularly interesting.


Then we took a boat on the Thames from Bankside to Greenwich. We managed to get seats inside as it was quite cold on the river. We passed some familiar landmarks including Tower Bridge and the Globe Theatre.

We stopped in Greenwich for a drink and lunch at the Old Brewery pub. I had nice soup. Then Richard and I returned to Laura's with her and Dan.

In the evening we had a lovely dinner cooked by Laura and Dan - chicken, colourful rice and raspberry crumble which I helped to assemble.

Sunday 25 February

I felt better in the morning. We enjoyed a nice breakfast of Dorset Cereal and coffee with Laura and Dan. Then we took the Central Line tube to the British Museum, walking from Holborn through the Sicilian Avenue.

A beautiful Italianate street

In the British Museum we met the Hernandezes. We went up to the third floor to see the Egyptian sarcophagi, which were wonderful, and many artefacts from that era. We also viewed some Greek and Roman relics. The BM has a fantastic collection, nicely displayed over three floors.

Then we went along to the Members Room, courtesy of Lesley and David, and enjoyed a welcome coffee and cake. We returned to Laura's via Boots in Holborn where I bought a few things, but we failed to find a cash machine. However, I managed to post a card to Matthew and Sarah.

In the evening we got the tube to Kings Cross and met the others in the Booking Office bar. We shared a bottle of Chapel Down sparkling wine, even though the service was very slow.

Egyptian sarcophagi

Then we walked to nearby Euston to the Hint Hunt Games place where we split into two teams of four. I was with Richard, Laura and Robbie who was our team leader. The other team was Kathryn, Lesley, David N and Cheri. David H had returned to Manchester and Dan had to work. Each team went into a locked room and had to look round and solve clues and collect cards in order to escape. It took an hour, and we were almost successful!

Then the eight of us had dinner at a great Mexican place, Mestizo. We enjoyed delicious margaritas and then shared tacos and toppings - another very nice meal.

Monday 26 February

Snowing! Laura and Dan both had to work. Richard and I planned to go to the Wallace Collection and later to the Shard, and we hoped to meet David and Cheri, and Lesley, Kathryn and Robbie. It was 0 degrees in London but -10 in Thalwil!

Plan B - we had breakfast at Laura's, some nice Dorset Cereal with berries, and coffee. Then we took the Central Line (very handy) to Bond Street. However, I bent down to look in a suitcase and did my back in :-( Very painful.

At the Wallace Collection we met Lesley. It was an interesting museum in a beautiful old house, with classical paintings on the walls and many silver and porcelain artefacts. We saw the famous Laughing Cavalier.

The Laughing Cavalier

After that we said goodbye to Lesley who was getting the train home, and Richard and I enjoyed a pub lunch in the Marlborough Head. I had fish and chips and a pint of Greene King beer.  Then we walked along to the Marks and Spencer at Marble Arch, a huge store. I bought gloves, a scarf, a jumper, socks and a T-shirt. Richard bought four types of cheese.

We tried to return to Laura's house via the Central Line, but our train failed to move, due to a signal failure. Eventually we left that train and caught a connection on the District Line to Mile End via Notting Hill Gate and then the Circle Line.

So we were late back and missed out on drinks at the Shard. Maybe next time? Laura went there to meet David and Cheri and they went up to the 32nd floor.

We took an Uber to Dim T where we met David and Cheri, and Kathryn and Robbie came along later. We enjoyed a very nice Asian meal - I shared Five Spice Squid with Richard and then I had Japanese fried rice with chicken. We also enjoyed a South African Chenin Blanc. It was a cold night but we had a clear view of the river and the Shard.

A glimpse of the Shard

We took an Uber back to Laura's. She and Dan arrived home later.

Tuesday 27 February

We were up at 8.30, had a shower and breakfast of Dorset Cereal and coffee. Laura and Dan went to work. We packed and got an Uber to LCY for our 13.30 flight to Zurich. It was freezing, 0 degrees in London but minus 9 in Thalwil.

We had a drink in the City Bar -  a nice Rioja. I read the paper until we were called to the gate. It was snowing.

The flight was comfortable. The steward even knew my name! It was -7 in Zurich but the flight was almost on time and we took a taxi home. All fine in Thalwil.

Another successful Newton Family weekend. We missed Matthew and Sarah though.