As I write this we are knee deep in planning for a big trip to celebrate my husband Mikes’ successful radiation treatments for his prostate cancer. Five weeks of tests and preparations led to eight weeks of radiation therapy five days each week. It was exciting for both of us when he rang the bell at the beginning of August. It had been a long journey to that moment that even included cataract surgery for me. When all seemed to be going well Mike announced that he wanted to return to London, his favorite city on the planet. I was more than eager to fulfill his wishes, so we got busy purchasing flights, reserving hotels and booking times at all kinds of interesting places. Our tour will include side trips to Edinburgh, Scotland and Paris, France as well as day trips to Greenwich, Richmond and Windsor. We will be on our way on September 28, God willing and if the creek don’t rise.
The truth is that so many things might go wrong. We have reserved respite care for Mike’s father at a wonderful place in the Heights of Houston but he could become seriously ill and the whole plan would collapse. For that matter at our ages Mike or I have the potential to become unable to travel, not to mention that Houston is well known for torrential downpours that flood the city and shut everything down. With a bit of good luck none of that will happen and we will be a couple of giddy seniors enjoying our first venture over the pond in six years. We were scheduled for Scotland in 2020 but we all know how Covid ended all of those kind of dreams. We’ve been waiting patiently for a moment that seemed rather elusive until now so our fingers and toes are crossed.
There is so much in London that we have not yet seen. Big Ben was almost invisible with scaffolding when we were last there. We never had time to visit Parliament or to have a proper tea time at Fortnum and Mason. I’ll be living a dream when we see Phantom of the Opera in the West End theater district where it premiered fifty years ago. If we can fit it in, we might to go see The Mousetrap as well which holds the record for the longest continuous run of over seventy years. Hopefully we might additionally catch an Eventide service at Westminster Abbey.
I’m particularly excited about going to Scotland. I have many ancestors from there and I’ve actually had a person or two ask me if I am Scottish. There will be more to do in Edinburgh than we will have the time to explore, but we have set aside an entire day for the castle and it’s surrounding area. A little shopping along the Royal Mile sounds enticing and hopefully we will get that Harry Potter feeling in the quaint shops and pubs. I won’t be satisfied unless we hear a bagpiper or two. I have a feeling that I won’t want to leave but Paris will be calling.
We plan to arise early one morning when we are back in London and ride the high speed train that will get us to Paris in two and a half hours. My number one request is to see the rebuilt Notre Dame Cathedral. I have yearned to see it for most of my life and especially so since the fire. Of course Mike and I will walk along the Seine River and we already have reservations for the Louvres. I suppose we will at least go look at the Eiffel Tower and maybe the gardens at Versailles but I would prefer munching goodies in the bakeries and wandering along interesting streets.
We chose visiting Richmond for a rather silly reason simply because it was the site of one of our favorite television series, Ted Lasso. Aside from that there is much to do there. The town has a long history that includes the time of Henry VIII. They also boast a beautiful botanical garden that I don’t intend to miss. It will be a nice way to see a part of England that is interesting and only twenty seven minutes aways from London by train.
We may visit the home of Charles Dickens or the Sherlock Holmes museum. I’m a huge fan of Dickens’ novels and the mysteries of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. From what I surmise they will be short diversions that may be lots of fun. If time permits I am always game for visiting the Churchill War Rooms one more time. There is so much there that I’m certain I missed a great deal the last time I visited. I also want to spend some time at the markets and chilling out at a pub sipping on a bottle of cider. I’m a one drink wonder so there is no worry that I’ll overdo. I want to walk along the Thames or visit Saville Row and find the building where the Beatles had their last performance on the roof.
So wish us luck. I am hopeful that we will be able to pull this off without a hitch this time. I’ve learned to plan well but be ready for the unexpected. Somehow that seems to be a big part of life when you reach my age. Watch for pictures and stories if I make it.
All It Takes Is A Little Love 