Photo from Facebook.
What is there to do in London? I ask relatives who live in Finchley, Hendon, and Northwood.
The husband of one pair said, "Not much to do. Everything is closed. Except for the food shops."
I replied, "What about the parks?"
"Yes, we went for a walk in a park in Hendon. We bought some food from a restaurant, like a kiosk, order from outside. A kosher kiosk. They bring the food out to you. We ate it sitting on a bench. They removed the tables and had four wooden benches like a pub. The benches are bolted down."
The park is near Hendon Central Station.
The park adjoins an area with a Remembrance arch. The words in Hebrew, reading from the right to left, are the consonants which spell out Le zeekderon.
N R K Z L
A bit like speedwriting, or text messages, or acronyms
Anything more cheerful?
the kiddie playground is in use.
The park has grass and trees. Three tennis cours. A couple of basketball courts, one still in use. Nobody is playing tennis. "It's too wet for tennis."
I asked, 'What about the snow?'
' When it's snowing in Wales and up north, there's not much snow in London. It's too warm here. The snow just melts. We are quite glad of a change of seen. Since nobody is working away from home or going out to restaurants, snow does not make much difference to our lives. Just something to look at. Out of the window.'
Another couple in thei
Searching For Parks On Maps
I remember when as young marrieds we moved from a flat in Stanmore to a bungalow in Hatch End. We knew all the big parks along the main road. However, when we looked at a local map, we discovered lots of interesting open spaces.
The nearby park had two entrances, so you could do a circular walk
Another park had an exit which led to a footpath through the woods and out through a housing estate.
Cricket grounds and tennis courts were in fields which offered another chance for a walk.
Photos
The seasons provided a changing opportunity for new vistas and photos. A fountain in front of the Hatch End arts centre.
Snow in winter. Flowers planted in public places. Houses with Christmas lights. Balloons for birthdays. On gates.
Seasonal posters of offers outside restaurants.
I researched. Every path, building, cemetery, had a story.
Gifts in the supermarkets.
Useful Websites
https://www.facebook.com/Hendon-Park-
360 view of the area
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/uv?pb=!1s0x487610dcac10a71b%3A0xcb4a0cde1bf29f87!3m1!7e115!4shttps%3A%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp
About the Author
Angela Lansbury is teacher of English. (Advanced English and English as a Second Language or English as a Foreign Language, French and other languages, an aspiring polyglot.)
