Wandering England: A Family Tale
London (and surrounds)
It started in typical London fashion, running late to Heathrow Airport to pick up Dad & Janette after their long flight from Australia. With their two massive suitcases in tow, off we went back to our flat in Brixton for the two jetlagged Aussies to unwind. Dad, Janette, Keoni, and I altogether in London – Dad’s first time in Europe and a trip that had been talked about over many glasses of red wine (except for pregnant Keoni) and long-distance video calls. What unfolded was a fun filled trip of history, laughter, and more cobblestones and steps than Dads knees had bargained for.
Our journey began in Canterbury, where ancient walls whispered stories to us as we wandered through time. Inside the cathedral, sunlight spilled through stained glass in hues too rich to describe, while Keoni declared it looked like a “medieval disco.” Dad nodded solemnly, as if to say, “She’s not wrong.”
The Cliffs of Dover were next—majestic, brooding, and impossibly tall. Standing at the edge of that chalky giant, the sea roaring below, we sat and took in the beauty and fabulous weather that greeted us.
A night in Folkestone, a fancy dinner out, and a good nights sleep before we continued onto Whitstable the next day. Whitstable gifted us oysters, quirky shops, and a brightly painted beach huts.
Back to London and off Dad and Janette took for their Scotland, Ireland and European adventures (including another catch up in France) before coming back to London for again.
Contrary to the normal the city rush, Dad and Janette used their time to recuperate from a fast pace first half of their trip. When we finally got out, London pulsed beneath our feet – alive, electric, humming with double-decker buses and the clatter of everyday magic. We traced the curve of the Southbank, where street performers danced between shadows of landmarks. Tower Bridge stood regal, as if daring us to imagine all the feet that had crossed it before us.
At Trafalgar Square, Dad, Janette and Karen got lost in the crowds while taking photos and I spied on them from the top of the stairs at the National Gallery. Westminster Abbey left us awed, each stone echoing with centuries of ceremony and secrets but somewhat lacking in charm due to the heaving crowds. A family dinner with Keoni’s mum, fun filled nights eating out, memorable nights eating around the table at home, drinking wine or making cocktails and just like that, their trip unfolded in a blur of photos, laughter, exploration, jokes and the kind of tired that only comes from good wandering.
