LP XXXVI--Family time in London

I said goodbye at Heathrow to Clairissa, Jacob, Olivia, Joel, and Jordan and got back on the tube for the ride to my flat. We had a great time together and I knew it would provide memories for years in the family. There was the brief trip to Camden Town where things are a little less refined than other places in London. We walked into the market area where a man selling food saw Jacob and yelled in a low, harsh, strange and amplified voice, "Chicken Bang Bang...freeeee". Jacob shook his head and moved on quickly, trying not to think about the chicken bang bang. A further walk through the market of food, clothes, trinkets, and concoctions reminded us of the complexity of London and especially Camden Town. Choosing not to receive a fish foot massage (small fish in a bucket apparently love feet and massage them rapidly underwater), we bought some juice and headed back on the tube.

We did have a couple of tense moments including the time Joel nearly did not get off the bus. Clairissa and I had exited but Joel was slow in moving and the doors began to shut. Without hesitation, she grabbed the doors and pried them open for Joel to get out. It was the instincts of a mother dominating the bus. Later, with the same tenacity, I tried to prevent the tube doors from shutting to allow Olivia to get on the tube. It was a last second decision to board since we were not exactly sure if it was the right train. Determining it was correct, we jumped on but Olivia did not quite get there. I worked in vain to stop the doors from shutting until the conductor must have seen the problem and opened them. I suppose it was the instincts of a father-in-law!

The first full day of their visit we attend St. Paul's Cathedral for a service where we heard a beautiful choir and organ and all received a blessing from the President of the service. A quick lunch and we decided to experience Evensong at Westminster Abbey. The sensitive service in the gorgeous cathedral was meaningful and precisely delivered to the crowd of over 200. After two Anglican services, Jacob, Olivia, Jordan, and Joel all decided to attend Hillsong Church. They came back charged with the energy of the service and the complexity of church music today.

We did eat some amazing food including Italian, French, Chinese, and lots of traditional British carvery and fish and chips. The Chinese restaurant was a bit controlling as the wait staff insisted on placing the rice in front of the main dish. As we tried to arrange things to our liking, they came over and changed them back. It was both funny and annoying. Our experience with fish and chips was the typical average service, great food contrast of most pubs in London. Perhaps because of the sheer number of people or maybe due to the disproportionate social distribution of wealth, the service tends to be a little nonchalant in London. Yet the food is terrific with its freshness and consistency. Some may say it tastes a little bland, but I prefer fresh over excessive spices or preservatives.

During the daytime, we visited the Victoria and Albert Museum, Cafe in the Crypt, the National Gallery, Royal Albert Hall, and the British Museum. A few magical moments at Covent Garden where we ate well, drank some coffee, and heard some great music were followed by a nice stroll down Drury Lane. Sadly, it all felt like a drop in an ocean of knowledge as we did not have time to see much of anything. On the positive side, it simply serves as a reminder to return one day for more.







We attended Les Miserables and were thrilled with the theatre, the music, the story, and the overall presentation. It remains my favorite show and I was again in awe over the powerful story and the engaging, demanding music. Rich in scope, tense in action, emotional in content, Les Mis is a musical, theatrical, and literary treat for everyone. We were moved to tears by the event and left somehow changed and improved. The next night, after a delicious meal at Jamie Oliver's Italian Restaurant, we saw the comedy Hay Fever which was again terrific. Wednesday was Phantom of the Opera, a wonderful blend of love, evil, pain, exploitation, and redemption. The show was beautifully performed with great energy and electrifying scenes. Les Mis remains my favorite but Phantom runs a close 2nd!
Thursday night we attended the London Symphony Orchestra to hear Strauss, Mahler, and Brahms. It was again a special evening and made even better for me as I sat beside my precocious son and followed the score to Brahms Second Symphony. What a treat. Friday we got on a boat and headed down the Thames to Greenwich to see the Painted Hall, the National Maritime Museum, and the Prime Meridian. The long, informative day ended after another boat ride with dinner at a delicious French restaurant around the corner. Jacob and Olivia took a walk to Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club while the rest of us began packing for the trip back home.

It was quite a week for me with my family all here and having an opportunity to shepherd them around. The bus, the tube, the boat, and lots of walking gave them a chance to experience London with all its joys, opportunities, and complexities. We had a great time and I will miss them as I complete my study tour. Home in a little more than 4 weeks.