London parks

Just a couple of observations about national holidays in the UK.

England cleverly marks Easter, then two bank holidays in May (May Day and Whitsunday) to celebrate the spring months, but awkwardly has nothing to lighten the long dark descent into winter between Labour Day and Christmas. I miss Thanksgiving terribly.

1. Bank Holidays are not holidays for anyone who sells you anything: all the stores, from the corner mom-and-pop to the largest grocery chain and home furnishings warehouse, is open for business. So are all the restaurants, cashing in on the 'holiday trade'.

For some reason, it's traditional to buy a new sofa at Easter; at least, the furniture shops assume you'll be investing at Easter. Why then? No idea.

Trains and buses still run on bank holidays, though National Rail has a nasty habit of scheduling repairs (always called 'essential engineering works') for holiday weekends. Apparently annoying thousands of families and holiday travellers is less risky than inconveniencing regular-fare-paying commuters.

During my first fall here, I was very excited about attending the battle of Hastings reenactment in mid-October. Guess when National Rail decided to close the main stretch of railway to the town of Battle, and put on bus service to cover?

2. Londoners have a healthy and egalitarian approach to their parks. In Canada, I always wondered who used the city parks (aside from the archery range near the Science Centre in Toronto). They always seemed underused. You sometimes see people spreading a blanket in a Toronto or Ottawa park, but it's not common, except at music festivals.

In London, I've decided that even the well-to-do may live in small quarters, and few people have a backyard, pool or sundeck to lounge aound. Consequently, you see *everyone* in the park at one time or another. Singles, couples, kids, families, seniors, teens, of all walks and backgrounds are sharing green space. Taking the baby in the stroller to the park is definitely The Thing To Do, to get out of the house. It's much more pleasant than pushing the chair up the noisy, air-polluted 'high street' (generic name for any shopping strip in a neighbourhood). I've now occasionally visited Hyde Park, Wimbledon common, St James's, Battersea.

This past weekend, Robert and I filled an afternoon with a stroll in Hampstead Heath, a large park tightly bound on all sides by North London. Parts are very carefully groomed for football, cricket and sunbathing, others are slightly wild, criss-crossed by footpaths. We covered only about a third before giving in to sore feet and crowds - and crowds there were, hundreds of people out with their families, enjoying the rare clear sun and warmth, reading, playing and lining up to the strategically-placed ice cream wagon, just outside the park gates. Location location location...

This scene happens at home, but somehow it's more common in London. If you ever see a print or engraving of Victorian folks strolling through Hyde Park - the scene hasn't changed much, except for the clothes.

Regards, Elizabeth