London

W spent ten days in England, seven in London. He stayed with his stepsister Caroline and her family of: solicitor hubby Paul and two sons Zak and Ben, aged 2.5 and 3 months. Full-of-beans and brains Zak was fond of saying often, "I want it, Mummy." It was the first time he had seen her since her wedding in 1996. Enjoyable time with Caroline, her family and her friendly outlaws. Visited the new Tate Britain museum set in a former power plant overlooking the Thames. Like the SF Museum of Modern Art, it is a triumph of style over substance. Also popped into the Royal Academy of Art for their annual and controversial (very uneven art and poorly hung) Summer Show with Madelaine, an old artist friend who he had not seen since Singapore in 1991. Although they did see Peter Blake, the curator and the guy who designed the Sergeant Pepper's album cover art, being interviewed. He looked like an out of place garden gnome. Toured many of the traditional West End art galleries and a few cutting-edge ones in the East End. Attended two plays: 'A Winter's Tale' by Willy Shakespeare at the National Theatre and 'Blue/Orange' by a leading English playwright. At the latter play W sat in the front row and the stage was so close he was under a non-stop barrage of spit projectiles�an umbrella would have been useful. Both plays were excellent. It was good to see old friends and family. London was obscenely expensive despite the strong dollar. English food, while better than it used to be, still leaves much to be desired.

Countryside

W visited Julian and family, an Old Carthusian friend (boarding high school = Charterhouse, Old Carthusian = someone who attended) who he had not seen in 25 years at his 13th century manor house in Berkshire west of London. A drink at the village pub with everyone dressed in their cricket whites and fly-fishing for trout in the famed River Test. The next weekend W took train to Oxford to spend the night with Robin and family, another school friend who he had not seen in 10 years. Delightful village, 14th century pub next door, long walks with two dogs; the larger of the two had to be carried over cattle fences. They were closely followed by a herd of sixty Holstein cows - Mad Cow disease?