Free in London

 

16 month old Hazel Hampson kelemen

Today we passed our third Covid test of the past seven days and no longer need to quarantine at our London Airbnb.  No more daily visits or calls from the NHS checking in on us.  We are free to wander about London together and anywhere else in the UK, but we still need to take one more test in two days and one 48 hours before we return to the States in early September.  

 

We were allowed to leave
quarantine to drop off our 
samples 2 miles away. 

The system works well,
but one has to be meticulous
about the procedures for drop
off and registration.

          

Getting here was a hassle, with our long ago-booked flight being canceled three times in the past few months and diverted to Huntsville AL because of Atlanta thunderstorms.  Our luggage arrived 48 hours after we did, but all is well now.  We are here to spend time with Hazel, our 16-month grandchild.  My how she has grown in so many ways since we last saw her in early May. 

 

That kid can really go through the blueberries!

And lots of other things

Our B&B for five weeks is a two-story town home on a quiet street in a very convenient and diverse neighborhood. It has child locks, a back yard, a nursery, and more toys than Hazel has ever seen in her short life.  Plus, a decent kitchen (important!) and a good bed (very important!). We love the mom-and-pop shops nearby.

Ours is the one with the giant palm bush

T

 

Around and around the block
until she falls asleep

So far, we have hosted Hazel for two sleepovers, and the first one gave Shanti and Alan their first chance since March 2020 for a date night.  And it was a reminder of just how much time, patience, sleep deprivation, and energy it takes to raise a toddler, especially for a Covid baby who hasn’t had much experience with adults and new situations.  That said, she’s an independently minded and charming toddler who has warmed up to us and who brings us much joy. 

Off to day care with Daddy

 

Special delivery by Mum Shanti

We celebrated our Freedom Day by going for a long walk together, a tapas lunch, and a visit to the well-done Museum of London history.  Best of all, it was free.  Also, a very quiet dinner alone tonight.  Going forward, we’ll drop Hazel off and pick her up at day care off and on (she needs its structure), go to parks with her, and host her on weekends so Shanti and Alan can resume their house hunting in suburbs about an hour from central London.  While it’s certainly not walking the Camino de Santiago or driving cross country, this is shaping up to be a very unique and fun trip for us.

 

And speaking of driving cross country, we never had time after we got home from our 8600-mile trip on July 2, but it was enjoyable and scenic, even northern Iowa and Nebraska.  We had a flat tire our last night, but better in camp than on the road. Even when we are unlucky, we are lucky.

 

Spencer and brother William on our deck

Just before we left, we hosted Skyler and Spencer who drove cross country from Massachusetts. Three of Spencer’s four siblings stayed across the street at an Airbnb and joined us for wine tastings and some fun meals together.  It’s so fun to hang with 30 somethings, and boy can they eat!

Skyler, Spencer, & Ry Ry heading back to Boston

                           “What We Can, While We Can”