I can smell spring.
My cousin warned me the weather had turned. But seeing is believing.
I will be spending the next three weeks in London, visiting my cousin and dog sitting. I hope to use this time to explore the little corners of this cultural hub. Hence, I have decided to make this visit a gourmet experience.
That familiar excitement jiggled in my stomach as I boarded my SAA flight to Heathrow Airport from O.R. Tambo. I was supposed to fly with Emirates, but the recent travel ban would make it logistically challenging with all my tech. It wasn’t until the dawn touched the sky as we flew over the English Channel that the reality set in.
I am going to be in LONDON for three weeks!
It was a beautiful morning. Below us was a thin layer of stratus cloud. We sailed above it, curving gracious loops in the sky as the pilot lined up to land east into the headwind. As we turned to take the gentle S-curves the tip of the wing dipped into the cloud, leaving a gap in its wake.
The sunrise was beautiful. But before I could see the sun in full the plane took a nose-dive forward straight through the clouds.
The world below was still covered in darkness. A membrane of mist covered the landscape, broken only by a few skyscrapers piercing through the veil. We were suspended between two worlds.
Fog rolling in over London. Credit: Evening Standard.
I am proud to say that I navigated Heathrow and the London Underground with ease. Although my last visit was two years ago, there were some things I had not forgotten. I picked up my Oyster Card from the ticket machine, loaded is with £5 and I was off on the Piccadilly Line towards Central London.
A slightly blurry version of my Oyster Card.
I have forgotten how long the trip on the London Underground was. Soon enough, I realised it would take me an hour and a half to get to Colliers Wood at this pace. I was familiarising myself with London’s skyline as the train rocketed from Heathrow Airport to Central London. Only when we passed through Hounslow did the sun finally show face. The dark red face-brick houses were scrawled with graffiti, but their roofs stood tall and silent, peppered with moss.
The lurch and sway of the Underground became familiar. It beats in rhythm with everyone’s morning migration. The elms rooted along the railway line offer a glimpse of greenery between the strips of tarmac and urbanised areas. Some of the trees still remained naked from the winter past, but others were frosted with virgin spring blossoms.
Spring in London is truly beautiful!
On our previous trip to London, my brother and I had spent a lot of time long-boarding and picnicking with our books in Morden Park. After settling in and having a quick lunch, my cousin decided we should take a little walk to Morden Park on such a sunny day.
We ambled along the familiar roads with Chewie (the Cavapoo) who is always rearing to go. The sun was buttering the greenery and yellow flowers along the gardens were called out to play.
Beautiful scenery along the train track in Morden Park.
My cousin told me Morden Park had been changed quite a bit – for the better. Larger areas had been cleared and added an elevated walkway to the swamp so the wetland can be preserved.
Chris and Chewie enjoying the new walkway at Morden Park.
Parking off along the wetland walkway in Morden Park.
We wound through the park and I let my eyes soak in the greenery. Chewie skipped and splashed around in the water (we would have a fun time washing him later). I enjoyed watching the people in the park. Families were playing, cyclists cruised along the pathways and a few eager runners beat passed. Soon the clouds began to grow thick as the sun started to sink. Chris and I turned home.
This afternoon walk was a great way to just get settled in and slip into a daily rhythm. Travelling for me is very much about these in-between moments, the pauses between breaths. And Morden Park offers the perfect breathing space!
