Peggy Scott moved into our neighborhood in 2007 and she literally changed our little section of Beacon Hill. She made friends with everyone and introduced us all to each other making it a much friendlier and loving neighborhood. Since selling our home in 2020 she has opened her home, heart and auto to us. We have our own lovely suite and she allows us free rein to host parties with our Boston friends and the use of her car whenever we need. She is the best friend anyone could ask for.
We have also traveled fairly extensively with Peggy and other mutual friends. We have been to Istanbul, Scotland and Paris prior to our retirement. Peggy helped us pick our Paris apartment that we lived four months in back in 2017. Since our retirement travel she has visited us in Prague, Madrid, New Orleans and now Kew London. Peggy also started a long line of friendships by introducing us to Sigi and Paul by email in 2018. The number of friendships spawned by our acquaintance with the three of them are innumerable.
We greeted our dear friend Peggy Scott at 9:30am the day after Adam and Rebecca left. She took a direct red eye flight from Boston to London. Her travel MO is to not sleep on the plane and upon landing in the morning she hits the ground running until her 9pm bedtime.She is an avid walker so we kept her moving and headed first to Camden Market.Camden Market is located in Central London along the canals and has over 1,000 shops and stalls selling street food, fashion, vintage and an amazing variety of ethnic food trucks.It was a coolish misty day.We got a bit hungry and was offered a sample of these Pakistan cheesy naan melts so we purchased one and divided it among us. It was delicious. We went to the market during the week which is less crowded as on the weekends it is a huge overcrowded tourist trap.After Camden Market we walked on to Primrose Hill and came upon these tree carvings in Regents Park next to the London Zoo.Queen Mary’s Rose Garden in The Regent’s ParkPeggy and Jim admiring the grand iron and gilded Jubilee Gate which was installed to mark the Silver Jubilee of King George V and the official opening of Queen Mary’s Garden in 1935. This is Primrose Hill (from a prior visit as we took no pictures this day). This is a beautiful public park and garden located north of The Regent’s Park and is noted for a 64 meter natural hill in the center of the park which is one of the highest natural points in the London Borough of Camden. Peggy wanted to return to this area because she used to stay at an Inn here many times on prior visits. We couldn’t find it today though.Our next destination was Marylebone which is a chic area of London with many great shops. This was a new part of London for Peggy.Here is Sandy’s favorite clothing store in Marylebone. We were all tired after 6 miles of walking and opted to take the tube back to Kew for dinner with Sigi and Paul at our place. No pictures???On day two of her visit we walked to Barnes which is one of our favorite nearby towns and stopped for coffee at this cute street side Dear Coco truck which is a beautifully converted Piaggio Apé (three wheeled Vespa car) along the Strand on the Green. Peggy loves coffee shops despite not being a coffee drinker and usually opts for a chai drink.Peggy looking bright and chipper after a good nights sleep.Our friends Sigi and Paul which Peggy introduced us to 6 years ago invited us to supper at their home in Richmond. They included their friend Jorge Toro (fourth from the right in photo) to join us as he is from Medellin Columbia which is our winter destination. It was great to make this connection and he will be visiting relatives while we are there. Always good to know a local when living in a foreign country.. Saturday morning we went to breakfast at Maids of Honor and were joined by Desi and Luis a young couple that Peggy hosted in her home about ten years ago when they came to Boston to learn English. Desi was from Switzerland and Luis from Columbia. They fell in love in Boston and got married a couple of years ago after two years of a long distance relationship. When they heard Peggy was going to be in London they came here from Switzerland for the weekend to spend time with her. Our friend Sue Klesnick from Devon also joined us.Maids of Honor dates back to Tudor times and was famous for a dainty tart by the same name. Henry VIII admired these tarts and took the secret recipe and kept it in a safe at Richmond Palace. After breakfast we took a one hour guided tour of Kew Gardens then continued to explore on our own. Here we are at The Hive which is a striking installation in the heart of a wildflower meadow that recreates the life and sound inside a beehive. Desi and Luis on the Treetop Walkway which towers 18 meters above the ground, From its height you can observe the complete ecosystem of the trees uppermost branches exposing a world teeming with birds, insects, lichen and fungi. Peggy has a bit of a problem with heights and opted to stay below.We took another tour of Kew Palace. Home of King George III and Queen Charlotte.Mannikins representing King George, Charlotte and their 15 children.Elizabeth Gate of Kew Gardens.On Sunday Anthony and Judith, friends of Peggy and now also our friends (thank you again Peggy for this special friend share) invited us to their home for a family Roast dinner.Anthony and Judith’s daughter Claire and husband Jim joined us with their adorable three boys. Anthony is quite the cook. He proudly presented this dessert of fresh strawberries on a base of Pavlova which is similar to meringue but has a more delicate pillowy soft marshmallow inside. It was divine. Monday morning we went to the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square. This 200 year old museum houses a collection of more than 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900.Trafalgar Square We met up with Desi and Luis for lunch then took the train back to Kew.Tube travelingDesi and Luis before departing for home in Switzerland.On Tuesday September 10 we did a nice long walk (11.9 miles) with Peggy from Kew to Kingston all along the Thames Path. The above photo is Kew Garden Syon Outlook. Richmond Old Town Hall Building along the Thames Path.So many boat houses along the Thames as it has a big rowing community. Richmond Bridge.Serene path on our walk.We passed by these Belted Cows in a pasture.Polo Grounds Horse Stables along the Thames Path inspired us to come back for a Polo Match with our next visitors.It was a beautiful day for a long walk.Ham House, one of the grandest Stuart houses in London. A rare survivor of 17th century luxury and taste.We enjoyed watching the numerous boats rowing by as we walked along the Thames Path.Kingston Bridge our final destination.Well deserved rest stop for lunch in Kingston at the Bishop Pub after almost 12 miles of walking.On Peggy’s last night here, her Scottish friend Joanna met us for dinner in Kew where we had a lovely meal in a French Restaurant, Ma cuisine bistrot. We highly recommend this place in Kew. Joanna is another good contact for us as Scotland is on our travel list (maybe in the Fall of 2025). Peggy met “Jo” through Anthony and Judith but had not seen her in several years. She lives near Inverness in Scotland but also has a home in Notting Hill.Peggy and Joanna saying goodbye at Kew Station after dinner,On Peggy’s last day we went to Covent Gardens Temporary exhibit of whimsical smiling clouds adorn the ceiling of the marketplace.Seven Dials area of London. Named for the 7 sun dials at the top and for seven streets radiating out from this circle.London Glockenspiel, we did not wait for the noon strike.While walking down Jermyn Street heading for Green Park and Buckingham Palace we randomly ran into Jo, Peggy’s Scottish friend from last nights dinner. We always wish she would stay longer, however she never likes to be away for more than a week, but as they say quality exceeds quantity and we surely packed her 6 day visit with lots of fun and love. We look forward to seeing Peggy again next month in Boston.
[…] cancer around the 1st of May. Sue K has spent time in London with us a few times, most recently in Kew last August. Given her diagnosis and poor prognosis Helen and Sue left New Zealand a couple of […]
You might remember me from the Camino de Santiago in 2022 – the two of you helped nurse me through a nasty cold. I’m scheduled to return to the Camino on Saturday, but have another cold and may have to cancel the trip. My wife and I will be in London, though, from Dec 28 – Jan 5. Will you still be there? It would be nice to see you! – Mark
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