Ahhhh, London. It is such a comforting place to me. I don't even know how many times I've been. During our time in Belfast, we could go over for a weekend as easily as one would drive from Knoxville to Atlanta, so we went fairly often. Since moving back to Knoxville in the fall of 2000, I've probably been a handful of times, and twice with Truman (at 3.5 and 6 years old), but never with three children. Since we were mainly going for our Olympic event (more on that in a separate blog), we were only there for two nights before heading home to the US. This left me in a bit of a dilemma--two nights, three children, an Olympic event, and about a million other things I REALLY wanted to do. Hmm.... I had to repeatedly check my expectations at the gates to Buckingham Palace.
First up on the expectations-reality-checker, I gave up seeing the Tower of London with the boys because Mamie really needed a nap after our 7:30 am flight out of Shannon that morning. Dean took the boys, I went to the room with Mames. I write that with an air of self-pity, when really, I felt better for having nodded off, myself, for an hour while she slept. But no viewing of the crown jewels for me, no family photo with a yeoman warder, no Tower Bridge avec Olympic rings photo. I always wrestle with feeling as though I haven't fully experienced something if I don't have a picture of it (have you met the women in my family??).... So I was struggling a little bit. But Mamie was in rare form and we had afternoon tea reservations at The Savoy (afternoon tea life dream) that evening at 5:30 for our dinner and we needed her in good humor for that. It was the right move, no doubt about it.
So, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, off to the Savoy we went--what an exercise in loveliness. And then we sashayed over to Covent Garden for some street entertainment before heading back for a decent bedtime (big day starting the next morning)....
On the way to The Savoy for tea in our black cab. Transportation was one of the highlights of the city for the kids.
Let the magic begin....
Real men take tea. Pinkies down.
What a privilege to be able to sit beside Mamie during this sweet first official afternoon tea experience. To watch her spread her jam on the scone, pour her milk in the teacup, see the delight on her face. Mama/daughter life highlight....
Truman: always vying for reading time. During tea at The Savoy = just as good a place as any, I guess.
Walker captures the emotion of my moment.
Will you remember this, dear daughter? I really, really hope so.
Walker was fond of lapping up his tea like an animal. It minimized spillage, so we allowed it for a short time.
And to showcase his more civilized side.
The instructions for this photo were: "Let's see your most distinguished face."
After your sandwiches, scones, and perfect little pastries, then comes "the cake carriage." If you still have room in your tummy, that is. I think Truman's feeling positive about his tummy space.
Farewell, elegant place.
You just can't go wrong in Covent Garden with an evening of street entertainers, no matter your age.
We were in the area where this guy was, off and on, for 45 minutes. He never moved from his sitting-in-the-air stance. Nobody could figure it out!
On the way back to the hotel. Hello, middle-aged man in an 11-year old body.
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