Togetherness in a London Flat

Traveling with our 14 year old Texas grandson has been an adventure. Seven of us (counting the two little London boys) in a two bedroom flat. All Susanne needs, I told her, is a large dog like the ones we see being walked in Hyde Park! Nick usually talks in monosyllables to adults, but he has been charming and sociable. We see a side of London we never noticed before. . .the makes of every car parked on the street. As we saw a Lambragini, the trip was not in vain. The London Dungeon was the highlight of the week. Richard, Grandfather of the Year, went along on this amusement park type event, including a personal experience, the simulated hanging of Jack the Ripper. "Next time, someone else goes. . .,' he said.

The population density of the flat was relieved for several days as Jens went to Abu Dhabi to check on the big airport project.
He returned today, and we try to accommodate so that everyone can get along in the limited space. Susanne is busy launching Kindermusic classes for ages birth to seven years beginning in the fall.

Renewing our acquaintance with King Henry VIII, Shakespeare, Christopher Wren, and World War II history has been stimulating.
Time with families is a great blessing to be enjoyed!

The States as seen by British media. . .

The cardinal rule for our visits to London is to spend as little money as possible.   We stay with Susanne and Jens in their flat and eat primarily at home.   However, I do require a daily newspaper as the perspective on American news is enlightening.   Immediately, I was rankled to learn that British food costs are up 40%, and the cause is determined to be  production of ethanol from corn by American farmers.   Of course, a grain of truth exists  (no pun intended!), but I suspect a conspiracy to cover up real facts.   Transportation costs have to be a major factor, and the oil industry tries to deflect attention to biofuels.   We live in such  a fog of misinformation.  

The Times and The Guardian fret over the American economy and credit card debt.   Lionel Shriver says tersely, `SUVs are petro-pigs. . .they emblemize everything about Americans that the rest of the world detests:  greedy, wasteful and oblivious to the future.'

Always eye-opening to see ourselves as others see us.

Sad to see Susanne's neighborhood Woolworth's decimated by shoppers at its' closing.   Likewise, Linens and Things and a number of other stores in the Midwest are shutting their doors.     "Under a Tenner" has opened in the next block.   Americans, read that "Under a Twenty Dollar Bill."   Our Dollar Stores would be trampled by desperate bargain hunters in the UK.   Travel advertisements for vacations in the States  are very reasonable; shopping is a big draw.   Our country is the great bargain basement at the moment!   

Night Sounds

No roosters crowing to greet the dawn

No midnight freight train wailing

No chirping crickets or the 'ta-whoo' of owls

Rumble of the night-time underground mail route

Plaintive cry of the sea-gull

Police cars siren. . .'wee-oh', 'wee-oh'

Arabic laughter in the darkness*

LONDON!

*Middle Eastern people gather on the streets to socialize in late evening because 

they stay inside during the day in their homelands because of the heat.