More London Touring

Saturday we did the museum drive-by. Took the Tube to South Kennsington Station, which is the gateway to several London museums. Since entrance to the museums is free, we could duck in and duck out. We stopped by the Victoria and Albert museum, so that Haley could get her picture taken by the Rodin sculptures. It seemed a shame to pose and dash, but we had a schedule to keep. From there we went down the Natural History Museum where we saw the big dinosaur a la Night at the Museum and Maddie showed Haley, Susan and Ken the examination center where kids learn more about how to identify plans and animals. That particular museum building is just fantastic all by itself, so I wanted them to be sure and see it. Then it was off for a lunch at Le Pain Quotidian and another first for our guests--a completely organic restaurant. We have fed them lots of new and odd things, and they have been willing to try it all. Susan and Haley, however, did draw the line at sushi.


All through our museum/lunch dash, we're getting text messages from Skip, letting us know where he was on his journey back from the states. He managed to get home, shower and meet us at the theater with time to spare. Even time to grab a quick bite to eat at the train station. Wicked was, once again, fabulous. I'm not sure I would ever get tired of it. Our guests enjoyed it, too, and were particularly captivated by the elaborate costumes and the complicated set.

From there, we made our way back to Chiswick. We have learned that trying to get a table on Saturday night in Central London with a group larger than 2 is just a nightmare, so I had made reservations at an Indian restaurant near our house. It's Skip's favorite place and Susan, Ken and Haley had never had Indian. We stopped after the play at the train station and got Maddie chicken nuggets and french fries at Burger King! She's never bought in to the Indian style of eating.

Great meal. Nice walk home. Just in time for Maddie's latest obsession--Britiain's Got Talent. After that was over, we all expected Skip to be snoring on the couch, but he starts fiddling with the remote to pull up a cricket match he had recorded so that he could explain the game to Ken before they see a game on Tuesday night. I was asleep before he ever made it to bed that night.

Then on Sunday, Skip and Ken went to Skip's final Fulham game (football). And Haley, Susan, Maddie and I went to Harrod's. That place is just something else. I didn't realize that Roberto Cavalli and Dior and Betsy Johnson made designs to fit children as young as 10. Because every fifth grader needs a 300 pound skirt! Insane. Speaking of insane, Maddie and I bought the bunnies a toy at the Harrod's pet land. Okay, that's not too crazy. If we had bought one of the puppies selling for 1,500 pounds, that would have been over the top.

Today, the guests have gotten up early to catch a tour bus that will take them to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Bath. It will be a full day. Just as in America, today is a holiday in GB. We may go see or do something, but Skip is still asleep and I could do with a little time to putter about the house. I think after being here for a week, Susan feels like she should stay longer to help me organize my cabinets and closets. I told her I'd put her to work in the US when the shipment of all this stuff arrives.

If Haley didn't have to get home and take an algebra 2 test to finish up her sophomore year, we'd just keep her here with us til time to go back. But I'm guessing her mom and dad (and maybe even her little brother) are ready for her to be home.