Isn’t London supposed to be rainy? It’s not. It used to be. I remember coming here and having days on end of rain. But we’ve been here two weeks and I’ve yet to get wet! In the months leading up to our trip I’d turn on my rain app and fantasize about a day where it poured rain and we couldn’t leave the flat. All we’d do is eat chocolate and watch movies. But it’s too damn nice out for that.
The dilemma of the day is whether or not to go to Parliament this afternoon for the demonstration against the Draconian budget cuts. The dilemma isn’t about whether to go, it’s a question of getting there and back since a tube strike starts today and, according to the Guardian, it will be a commuter nightmare.
We’re “settling” in, whatever that means. I’ve even been writing a bit. We’ve also entertained, having friends in for dinner on Friday and Saturday nights. On Sunday we were invited to lunch at the home of some new friends who live in Hampstead. As lucky would have it, Hampstead was having a street fair. Jim hadn’t been to Hampstead before so he got to see a piece of London he hadn’t seen before. Hampstead is gorgeous. Go green and leafy and, surprisingly whiter than the rest of London. We didn’t get a chance to walk the Heath, but plan to go back and explore some more.
I spent most of yesterday shuttling back and forth to Chelsea having lunch with Sadie and later theatre and dinner with Jim. Whenever Sadie and I lunch we see a “celebrity.” Yesterday it was Bob Geldorf, whose portrait I’d seen in the Portrait Gallery only the day before. I haven’t seen a photo of him probably in decades before this week and suddenly there was a mass of white hair in the portrait and, it turns out, in person. Last week we saw (Sir) Tom Courtenay, the brilliant actor, at the Wolseley.
Jim and I saw a good new play last night, “Hang”, with Marianne Jean-Baptiste who was absolutely remarkable. The play was utterly compelling, but we were both disappointed in the ending. It’s so hard to write a great play. But I loved that the writer-director, took a chance and did something unconventional. The theatre scene is limited in the summer. We’re waiting for the Camden Fringe to begin in a few weeks and in the meanwhile are going with Jay and Mike next week to the National Theatre.
The dogs are eating MASSIVE amounts of food. It must be all the walking. They’re eating twice what they ate in LA. I could say the same for me, but it’s really drinking. I’m going to have to go into Prosecco rehab on my return.
Skip the demonstration. Go hang with Whitey.
I think the DOGS look like THEY have been drinking.
Aren’t you lucky to have dry weather! I must get to Hampstead next time
I’m in London. I should take notes from your experiences. Are you going to the half-price tickets booth in Leicester Square? I got amazing deals there. I love reading your blog!
Ben
I know I’ve said it before but it truly bears repeating . . . . Your pictures are fabulous! Besides your in the moment story telling, I find myself waiting to see some of what you see!
Love and hugs, to you, Jim and your world traveling dogs!
c.
Bonnje, this is the one of the best trips I have ever seen. Wish Cooks and I could have tagged along with you. Just what we would need is another pup, She is a really good traveler, I think she has been on 5 cruises and was the hit. I am sure Kukla and Tootsie are the same.
The pictures are fabulous really show the people and their lives and how they have been effected by what is going on in other parts of the world. the builds show they go on
dispite everything they are facing, I cant wait to read more.