London Calling

          Photo courtesy of Maya, age 5

We’ve just concluded a wonderful visit with family from the states.  My 8 year old neice, Nell, has captured the details of her trip in a wonderfully executed blog.  Her nightly diligence has forced me to confront the slacker within.  Not a pretty sight, though her blog sure is.  Give it a read…

http://nellaround.blogspot.com/

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We’ve spent the last 9 months living within bowling distance of Lord’s Cricket Ground.  Sadly, the Cricket season ended soon after our Autumn arrival and Lord’s has remained dormant until recently.  Monday was my introduction to the English national pastime.  The setting was day 5 of a test match between England and the West Indies.  All the elements were there: athletes in starched white uniforms, a steel-hard, 5.5 ounce ball with two sets of stitches straddling its seamed equator, bats that appear designed for punishing boys in a Dickensian orphanage, pitchers of Pimms and lemonade, and plenty of pints to alternatively stir or sedate the crowd.

England came in with an overwhelming lead in hopes of holding off a last inning miracle by the West Indian batsmen.  But, as is apparently common on the cricket pitch, victory was elusive.  Not because the English and West Indian players weren’t up to the task.  Not because the teams played through lunch and tea and on to sundown without resolution.  The pitch was ruled by rain clouds that settled over Lord’s about 30 minutes into the match and, while never producing more than a sprinkle, were reluctant to leave the grounds before sundown.  The tarps came out, the few fans retreated to their pints and the game was eventually ruled a draw. 

Fortunately, I’ll get another chance next week.  Middlesex v. Somerset for some local action.

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Watching tourists have their photo taken at the iconic Abbey Road crosswalk has become a standard part of our walks to and from school.  We swear as they hold up traffic, snicker as they shoot their photo from the wrong direction, and marvel at their occassional creativity–a quartet doing handstands across the zebra stripes.  After several hundred crossings and thousands of tourist photographers and models it was a sweet pleasure to spot something new at this Mecca for fans of the Fab Four…

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Puddle on pavement

Fragrant blossom hides blue sky

Could this be London?

London sun so rare

This year light and warmth to spare

Global warming comes

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