From Brixton to Richmond

So, just like that, it is summer in London. The sky is a brilliant blue and it has been hot and sunny all week. We decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather last week to do some of the outdoors things on our list. So, on Friday Steven and I rode our bikes to Brixton, which is super close. We walked through the market and "Brixton Village," which has clearly undergone some major changes. This was an area that was always considered very rough (remember the Clash- Guns of Brixton song?), but has become quite hip and trendy. The food stalls are amazing and so diverse, it was great fun to walk through and check it all out.

Then on Saturday we all headed back to Richmond for a much sunnier day at the park. This time we went to Kew Gardens, which Steven has proclaimed his favorite gardens in the world (that is truly saying something). We spent all day walking through the different areas, had a picnic lunch, toured Kew Palace, and had time to sit in the grass and read the paper. It was decadent.

In other news, the girls have both finished most of their big exams, which is a huge relief, and they are both doing extremely well with their schoolwork. Franny has had field trips almost every week, with a day at the Oval cricket field for a match, another day last week at the Guardian newspaper offices to learn about journalism, today to the London Zoo, and then her trip to Normandy in just a couple of weeks. She also received the "Manager's Award" as Player of the Season from her football coach, so she's got another trophy to stand alongside her first one. Greta has been spending more time with her London friends, walking home together and going off to the pool or out to the movies or a park. Her school report was glowing, so we are very proud. And I just finished my last day at Abel & Cole (*sniff*), so had to say goodbye to the wonderful folks that I've been working with there. Feels like we are moving into the next phase of this adventure.

To the Seaside

UK pride in Wells

Boarding school cottages

Climbing to the Tor in Glastonbury

The Tor

Sidmouth promenade

Lyme Regis

Last weekend we drove to Devon and Dorset for some relaxation and beach time and also to see Franny's and my great-grandmother. We stayed in Sidmouth, a small seaside town in Devon, and from there drove to other beaches and sites. After spending a night visiting Grandma, we drove to Wells where we wandered around visiting the cathedral (can't visit an English village without one), the market stalls selling amazing food (I had a grilled pepper stuffed with couscous for lunch), and the living quarters for a boarding school. I was definitely envious of the street where students live- a wide, pedestrian only road lined with cottages. Every house had a dark blue front door, a small garden, a chimney, and a view of the cathedral.

After Wells we drove to Glastonbury to climb to the Tor. It was a steep climb straight up the hill and was made more challenging by the dodging of sheep. Only afterwards did we see the stairs on the other side of the hill. The view was naturally very picturesque from the Tor, and was the perfect place for our lunch from the Wells market stalls. We then walked back down and drove to Sidmouth where Franny and I collapsed in the room and read until dinner whilst Mom and Dad walked along the promenade.

The next day Dad did a walk along the cliffs overlooking the beach and Mom, Franny, and I went swimming (in the indoor pool; unfortunately it wasn't ocean weather). Before driving home we stopped in Beer and Lyme Regis to see the beach and also for ice cream made from Devon clotted cream and Cornish pasties.
It was a fantastic weekend away, and a great break from all of the exams I've had recently. Now it's finally summer here and been in the 70s and 80s all week! I feel very English wearing knee socks to school.

The Band, the Fox, and the Queen

This Tuesday was not our average weekday. The Queen was visiting our Borough and Franny's school went out to greet her. Steven went along for the fun, and they all waved their flags and said hello. We're hoping for an invitation to tea at the Palace any day now.

Meanwhile, back at our palace in Tooting, a fox was spotted in the back garden. We see them quite regularly around here, but this was the first one that was right out our back door. They can be very cute, but are a menace in the city; kind of like our raccoons in Seattle.

Then Steven and I went into town for the evening, to meet up with our friend Kevin and hear some live music. We started at The French House, an old Soho institution, had a beer at John Snow, and then made our way to Madame Jo Jo's to hear Lower Dens play a rocking show. Great night out, and well worth how tired I felt at work the next day.

We're off for a long weekend, so we'll post about that next week.