England in spring

England in Spring       March 15, 2015

Ah, to be in England now that spring is here!  It may not be officially spring on the calendar, but it sure feels and looks like spring in London - daffies and primroses everywhere, green grass, bare heads and hands, swans gliding in the ponds, great clumps of schoolkids on field trips!  It's even "Mothering Sunday" today.

                    Swans in the Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park

We arrived in jolly ol' England on Tuesday morning, escaping the cold and snow after only 4 days back in Maine.  I must say that I could see signs of spring even there, with a sun that was gathering strength and temp's high enough to begin melting the mountains of snow.  After a wonderful whirlwind weekend enjoying Jane and Don's generosity, connecting with friends and family, we flew off, leaving our hosts to recuperate from the wandering Webbs.  

Here, we are delighted to spend time with our friends, John and Mary, who live in North London, just inside the bounds of the tube system.  We have a room at the nearby Travelodge for one week and go off to the city center each day, returning to share delightful evening meals with John & Mary.  They are a couple whom we met 9 years ago in Lagrasse, France.  Hard to believe it was that long ago.  Despite an advanced age, they remain adventurous and youthful in outlook - with amazing stories to tell.  Last year they visited us for a few sweet days in Spain.  

                      John beside Mary's gorgeous painting.

So far, we've done a lot of walking, reacquainting ourselves with the city that we last visited 39 years ago (just weeks before Matt's arrival :).  Much has changed, including the multi-cultural nature of the city, which I am loving!  Everywhere we go, we encounter young workers from Poland, Spain, India, Bangladesh, Italy, China, Jamaica, South Africa.  One day we strolled through Hyde Park and around the lovely waterway built in memory of Princess Diana. 

         The peaceful waterway in memory of Princess Diana.

                         Riding in the ring around Hyde Park.

The Victoria and Albert Museum (the "V & A", in London-speak) is vast - and free! It was preparing to host a fancy event that evening in honor of a new show of the clothing of Alexander McQueen, who rose from poverty in East London to become an acclaimed designer.  Some of the royals attended.  

Tipu's Tiger is one of the most unusual objects in the museum - a mechanical tiger savaging a British soldier in India.  

One evening we were lucky to snag reasonably priced tickets to a West End musical show, Made in Dagenham, which tells the true story of women who worked in the Ford factory in Essex in 1968 and went on strike for equal pay.  It was very British and very uplifting, complete with the American Ford businessman portrayed hilariously as an imperious, gun-toting, cowboy hat-wearing bad guy.   

Great show - true story, uplifting message, wowza staging, foot-tapping music!  

 Yesterday we met our Grand Cayman friend, Sharon, who has returned to live in the city of her youth.  Sharon is an avid hiker/walker, and she had invited us to join her and a "meet up" group for a walk in Highgate on the outskirts of London.  It was wonderful to see her again and to catch up on our lives.  Next time in Maine, Sharon?

          Of course, our walk ended in a pub - the White Lion!

Knowing about our infatuation with the Masterpiece Theater series, Downton Abbey, John and Mary have offered to take us outside the city for a tour of an "estate" house on Monday.  Should be good fun! (BTW, they enjoy the show, too, as does Princess Kate, who visited the set and crew this past week.)  

Cheerio, dahlings!