The last day I was in London, a friend of mine said he had been reading my lengthy blog, and he had one question:  IS THERE ANYTHING ABOUT LONDON I DON’T LIKE?  The question took me by surprise.  I have lived in London off and on all my life, and I am quite English in my attitudes and values.  There aren’t very many surprises.   But having said that, I have been scratching my head to see if I can fairly answer that question.  Before I take a stab at this question, I want to say that I love London and would not hesitate to live in this historic city for the rest of my life.  But here are my thoughts.  The  student riots against the government’s lowering benefits for students ripped apart many parts of the city.  Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were attacked in their royal limousine.  I understand social unrest, but I have no tolerance for destruction of important historic sites and public buildings.  I watched those events with a heavy heart.  Further, I believe the world’s dependence on oil for gasoline/petrol for more and more cars to jamb our cities is intolerable, and London seems to be unsuccessful in reducing London city residents’s dependence on their cars.  TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC –the London noise can drive me nuts.   There is no where to park, and honking seems to have become a prevalent part of city life.  And further, all the research that has been done to expose the evils of smoking–primary and secondary smoking– seems to have had little impact; a fag tucked in the palm of the hand is even stylish.  You can’t smoke in a pub, but you certainly can crowd outside and puff away.  London residential buildings have had lifts/elevators installed in some place in a period building.   BUT, very often they don’t work and continue to fail to serve for days.  No one really seems to care–certainly not the building managers.    I perhaps enjoy the exercise, but with two suitcases in hand?  No way!  Finally, I hated the Murdochs, World News, and their style of news reporting;  but that bunch are burnt toast these days, so I don’t have to worry about that band of hooligans anymore.  I love the theater, the Thames, hot cross buns, the monuments, jellies,  the exhibitions, the concerts, the Queen,  fish and chips, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, Brick Lane, Changing the Guard, Royal Warrants, tweeds, umbrellas, on and on, and on.  So, I have to say that my unhappy moments in London are infrequent.   Friend, that is the best I can do to answer your question.  WITH ALL OUR FAULTS, WE LOVE OUR QUEEN.  Absolutely true.

Thomas Moore   email:  TMooreSr@me.com    Telephone:  801.791.9918

http://www.londonconnection.com