So today we say goodbye to London for the last time (following a few rounds of Dame Nellie Melba-like farewells) after nearly two and a half years. There are many people, places and experiences we are so sad to leave.
The last goodbyes have been said to relatives, friends and work mates, golf buddies, our car, favorite coffee shops, pubs, the local Italian cafe owner and the Vietnamese couple who run my local nail parlour.
The sadness is fortunately tempered once we get moving on the next leg of our journey home – to Lille by Eurostar, and then on to Avignon by TGV. The many pieces of luggage we still have with us is a sign of our long time away from home, the rest of our belongings from living in London now on a ship somewhere on the seas between London and Sydney.
The first sign we have truly left is passing through passport control at St Pancras. On arrival at Lille I am struck that winter has already reared its head at what must have been one of the coldest indoor railway stations I have been at before.
Once we arrive in Avignon and pick up our hire car we feel we are on the start of another holiday adventure. Not the least is working out how to operate the car and switch the operating system from Japanese to English.
Safely ensconced by the fire away from the famous Le Mistral wind at the charming Villa Mas St Jean we relax over a lovely dinner and some good local Noves wine.
The 7 things I will miss most about London
Our goodbyes said to London, these are the seven things I will miss most about our time living there:
- The buzz of activity, knowing any given day you can find something stimulating to do, see or experience – a city that is always on and just a tube or bus ride away
- Having at my fingertips some of the world’s greatest art and theatre to enjoy
- Pomp and ceremony – the British do know how to celebrate and commemorate
- The thoughtful preservation of green spaces and parks all over greater London
- The beauty of the dramatic changing of the seasons – now the rich colours of autumn, early winter with the accompanying Christmas build up (but won’t miss the grey months ahead), springtime when it is just magical watching everything come back to life, and summer with trees fully clothed again, long daylight hours to enjoy and respite from coats and woolies
- Being on the doorstep of so many past stories and history to discover – around the next corner in London, out in the countryside and then the short hop across to Europe
- The people – the many different accents of the UK locals never fails to amaze; the mashing of different cultures from all over the world coming together; the new friendships made and old ones rekindled; and lastly the delight in having two years to get to really know and enjoy time with our relatives who left Australian shores for the UK several decades ago.