London Calling

London, 2004

Our October plans to revisit London were in place long before the Queen's passing. Now, with succession afoot in the British monarchy, boorish Boris out, and Britain in transition, it seems like a curious moment to check things out across the pond. 

Charles is in charge; here he is shooing his staff to clear his desk, and there he is getting down to work. Don't even get me started on the queen consort. The British pound has dipped to a record low. It is all a bit -- tenuous. 

Yet, London is calling. It cannot be as apocalyptic as what The Clash described in their still-mesmerizing 1979 punk anthem. You never forget your first punk, and I saw mine in 1983 on King's Road. The city holds all kinds of memories for me.

 

While it is unlikely that we will encounter any punks this time around, when in London, I like to balance old and new experiences. That means stopping by Poet’s Corner in Westminster Abbey and raising our pinkies at high tea. Is that like going to the Statue of Liberty and Sardi’s every time you are in New York? Maybe. But Buckingham Palace is just ok, and the Tower of London you can keep. 

 

We will aim to make it new by staying in a new area, Bloomsbury, and by seeking out the art at the Tate and other museums. We are also in for two immersive theatrical experiences, one a retelling of the fall of Troy staged in two warehouses across 100,000 feet and the other the acclaimed new production of Cabaret that puts the audience inside the Kit Kat Club. Immersive theater has been all the rage in both London and New York for some time now.

Portobello Road and its denizens, 2004

Planning aside, one of the best parts of travel is the unexpected laughs and oddball characters you encounter.

Joe with a couple of oddballs from our travels

During our 2004 trip to London, we overheard a zany woman chatting up her companion at a Portobello Road antique shop. She was detailing what she’d had for dinner the night before. 

“And for me pudding,” she gushed, and went on to share her dessert selection.

I no longer remember what she had, but I was struck by the locution “for me pudding” as meaning “for dessert.“ 

Joe and I still joke about this from time to time. “And for me pudding,” I’ll say, “I’ll have pudding.” Or pie. Or the tiramisu. I think of this woman every time I look at the handsome art deco tea set we purchased at the Portobello Road Market.

Let me know your favorite things to do in London. And I will let you know if I hear any new and evocative locutions or meet any funny characters this time around. We'll see how our plans unfold -- the proof is in the pudding.