Cruzin

Cruisin’

 

The sun is shining again… London is pleased we are here… The sun is shining again… The locals all talking about the nice day…. Everyone is out walking to school…walking to work… Shopping is started early…

 

It is Hugo’s day to have Nonno’s and Nona’s attending … What do you want to do…. Buy Lego… Fish on the Thames… lunch … ice cream….. We will go on the Thames Hugo but we will not fish.. The fish in the Thames cannot be eaten Hugo… We can throw them back says Hugo… We will see says Nonno…

 

This is Hugo’s regular day off from school…. A day day off that was the subject of prolonged negotiation between mother and principal….Finally the principal relented… The tiny little fellow is allowed a day off until he is five …. Our little tike… he should be in preschool….finger painting…. Napping when it suits…. Not in a fully fledged school uniform complete with tie…. Not subject to the rules and rigour of a formal school environment… Not Required to do homework …. The English do many things well but I find it difficult to accept that this is one of their brightest ideas.

 

The temporarily liberated little tike leads us into the taxi… Off into town…. To Westminster…. Hugo shows us big ben… the little man is an authority on everything …. Down to the wharf….the Thames ferry to Kew gardens….at last a reasonable priced London tariff…at last something that Hugo is not an authority on ….

 

Back last Big Ben…. The commentary like much tour commentary... Routine…. Superficial…the work of individuals who have done this mundane work too many times before… We continue past the parliament… We call this the gas works commentator says….. What does he mean says Hugo…. He is trying to be funny…. That is not very funny Nonno…. The little tike is right!

 

The little tike positions himself on my knee… The scenery drifts… What is that noise… Little but Hugo is sound asleep.. snoring….Imagine what would have happened at school.. Tantrum?.... Trauma….

 

The sun shines and shines…London is proud of herself…her history passes by … Her current affluence described by mind numbing real estate prices…. 4 million…. 5 million….. 20 million pounds… Russian money… Chinese money…. Saudi money …. Money from Dubai.

 

Bridge after bridge… Famous names…. Battersee…Chelsea…the flower show preparations are under way…. Past rowers…. Past barges… Past gardens…past parks….the scenery now pleasant if not spectacular…. At Kew gardens after 2 hours… An enjoyable day in the sun…continues…. The Italian lunch so good we are distracted….the prescription glasses left on the chair… We are destined to return later in the day to redeem them… A lesson… an important lesson…. Penguin number two has a new found determination to keep his with about him… More to worry about than just wallet and passport…..

 

Mama tells the taxi driver… Home please...... No….no..says Hugo….Lego…we disgorge from the taxi in Putney high Street….Lego shop…you have a choice Hugo….a small one now and another for your birthday next month… Or a big one now and nothing for your birthday … Up the aisle…down the aisle..up the aisle….down…up…down…. Back…forward….pickup.. Put down…. Ponder …worry…. Sit on the floor.. Too many decisions says the little tike…. We encourage…. Eventually it is too much … Hugo walks slowly and dejectedly out of the shop…. The decision is too hard for the little fellow … come back mate… Would you really like this big one Hugo…little tike gives a slow hesitant nod … Nonno exceeds his budget by 200%...Hugo is content….

 

Home… Penguin number one will ensure that the ice cream part of Hugo’s day is fulfilled when she collects Matilda from school… The fish of the Thames remain safe from Hugo for the time being…

 

The baby sitter is summonsed… Time for mum and dad and nonno and Nona to have some time…. The pub is owned by Prince Harry’s godfather…the Sands End in Fulham Road…nice…nice…nice..beef ribs for all….huge…huge.... The affluent English voices fill the pub…no place for down trodden here….

 

Cabs are ordered for the morning…. Time to leave the little family to its routine… We are off to Greece tomorrow morning…..

 

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