The familiar face of Graeme greeted us as we arrived to a balmy cloudless London. We always joke with Gra that we could move to London just for the weather. It is uncanny how it always clears up and the mercury rises when we arrive in the UK. Nevertheless, Graeme's aircon was put to good use on the way 'home'. Devo though seemed to struggle less with the heat, and more with the speed of the trip. She thoroughly enjoyed her first cup of English tea, as all those who know Devo would no doubt know. A beautiful Friday nightnighr Shabbat dinner awaited us, where traditionally Mel and Gra host all the UK clan (Graeme's parents, his sister + fam, his brother + fam, Anita & Gerald Berman - Devo's great aunt, and Lianne Israel) and on this occassion, some extra South Africans who had just arrived...the two of us, plus Jill Israel who had arrived the beginning of the week.
Being fairly familiar with London's main attractions, Devo and I hoped to try some "off-the-beaten-path" activities. We really had managed to see a lot in the week we spent in London in May 2008.
Our first excursion was a family walk to the heath of Hampstead Garden suburb, known affectionately as "The suburb" by young aspiring Jewish contemporaries of ours living in London currently. The heath is like a massive park, filled with trees and meadows, and guys playing football, and babies in prams and good-looking joggers, and lies between Hampstead and Golders Green.
We had a great relax on Saturday and spent some quality family time. Sunday was Gavin and Liza's wedding, for which I had not yet FULLY prepared my speech, nevertheless,we took advantage of the stunning conditions to go for a walk along the Camden Loch, a small boidy of water running alongside the London zoo. We parked in the nearby suburb of St. John's Wood, aknd did well to avoid scratching the Maserati and Bentley when we parallel-parked. Yes, it's that larney.