London – it’s a very strange place to me. There are some amazing things, there are some bizarre things, there are anachronisms and there is just so much that you can choose to do.
The Albert Memorial
On Thursday morning Mr Snail and I decided to have a stroll up to Hyde Park, through Kensington Gardens, past the Royal Albert Hall and the Albert memorial to the Serpentine. The parks were full of people walking dogs, cycling, rollerskiing, visiting the cafes, playing with their kids in the playgrounds, and generally having a good time outdoors. There was much to see, from wildfowl, to The Household Cavalry out and about with their horses (one troop complete with plumes and shiny metal breastplates) and we spent a happy couple of hours wandering around just enjoying being there. There’s no charge for entry into the parks and they add some welcome green amongst all those buildings.
In the courtyard at the V&A
The previous day, Mummy Snail and I spent the day at the V&A and Mr Snail went to The Science Museum. We did visit a special exhibition for which there was a fee, but general entry to both these museums costs nothing (likewise The Natural History Museum and The British Museum) and they are huge. Such a variety of exhibits in each of them, and such amazing architecture. We don’t visit London very often, but we do try to go to at least one museum when we do, and we are never disappointed with what we get to see. In fact, the main purpose of our trip this week as to see the exhibition at the V&A, although we also fitted in afternoon tea at Fortnum and Mason plus a West End Show.
And as we packed to come home on Friday morning, we realised that we hadn’t bought a single ‘thing’ to bring home – we had spent money (food, taxis, theatre tickets, hotel), but Mr Snail and I had not bought any ‘stuff’. Instead, we brought home memories. We seem to do this naturally now – we don’t look for gifts or souvenirs, apart from the occasional picture to go on the wall, and not even that this time. Life is about so much more than things, and I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to spend time like this with my mum… may we have many more such trips… in fact that there’s another exhibition that we have our eyes on starting in December…
The Snail of Happiness 
itsabakerslife
/ March 5, 2017Hello! I agree. There is so much fun to be had when we’re not buying loads of ‘stuff’. We went to London a few weeks ago, but we went to museums, libraries, went on walks, and just enjoyed the culture and history. It’s memories that act as souvenirs instead.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 5, 2017so true… I haven’t been for ages and it was lovely just to stroll around and enjoy being there.
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iamsimplyhooked
/ March 5, 2017I am totally with you on this. What was the V&A exhibition?
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 5, 2017We went to see “Undressed” which is about the history of underwear, although the emphasis was on corsetry… absolutely fascinating.
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Snippets of a Life
/ March 5, 2017Ooh, that exhibition looks like fun. I end up in London a few times a year but always for work, and I rarely get chance to nip to a museum. Maybe it’s time for a weekend away…
(apologies if you get this twice, I’m having trouble commenting on your blog and trying to work out what’s going wrong!)
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 5, 2017You need to stay an extra day or two when you are down there next!
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katechiconi
/ March 5, 2017Not spears, dear Snail, lances! Spears are hunting implements, lances are for fighting on horses, and pikes are for fighting on foot. And now that I’ve got that piece of trivia out of the way, thank you for reminding me of of many of the good things about London, when most of the time I can only remember the noise, the crowds, the pollution and the way people are jammed up against each other so much… I lived there and loved it for 20 years, but then the lure of Australia was too great, and now I’ve got used to a very different way of life 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 5, 2017Weaponry not my specialist subject… at least I didn’t think they were big knitting needles!
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katechiconi
/ March 5, 2017What a wonderful concept! Formation knitting from horseback! I can see it at the Edinburgh Tattoo already…
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katythenightowl
/ March 5, 2017So glad you had such a lovely time, and I totally envy you the trip to the V&A, a place, to my shame, that I’ve never had a chance to go to. I bet it was wonderful 🙂
From what you said, it sounds as if London has a much better weather system than we do here at home? I’m so glad you were able to have that nice walk 🙂
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arlingwoman
/ March 6, 2017Sounds like a perfect time. I loved the Serpentine and the Horse Guards.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 6, 2017I think we’ll be planning another trip soon.
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nanacathy2
/ March 6, 2017Prcious memories are the best souveneers.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 6, 2017Too true – so good to be able to make more of them
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Laurie Graves
/ March 6, 2017Wonderful post! Yes, memories are the best souvenirs.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 6, 2017I’m hoping to make lots more this year
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painterwrite
/ March 7, 2017I could easily get addicted to London. Mr. Husband and I are going again in a few weeks and this time we’re aiming to do only free stuff. As for souvenirs, ours are usually food related: tea, biscuits. They disappear after a while, but it’s nice to be able to relive some memories even after we get home.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 7, 2017Oh, yes… foody things are always enjoyable. I hope you have a great time in London.
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oddlyended
/ March 10, 2017Oh London!! I made it across a few years back, and absolutely loved it!! (Except for my purse getting stolen–oh well.) But we absolutely loved it, and the museums we made it to were fantastic!! Fortnum and Mason’s–on my list if I ever make it back. The teenage boy I was travelling in would not have enjoyed it. (Or he might have–he started stoking up for his teenage growth spurt that summer and nearly bankrupted me on food that trip. I seem to remember touring bake shops and tea rooms as much as museums.)
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 11, 2017I hope you manage a return visit – it is an amazing city (although I’m glad I don’t live there!)
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