Our Mom/Son Journey to England


This spring, my two boys had totally different weeks off college for the primary time, so I took them on separate one-on-one journeys: Toby and I went to see household in San Francisco, and Anton and I had been thrilled to go to our English kin, together with his beloved cousin Jimmy. Listed here are a number of images, in case you’d prefer to see…

We began off in London, a metropolis I haven’t spent a lot time in despite the fact that we’ve visited Cornwall so many instances (we often simply take the prepare immediately there). We had been excited to discover.

We actually lucked out with climate — the solar got here out virtually daily! — and walked round lots with my brother Nick, my bff Gemma, and my long-time pal Colby (above), all of whom reside there. (Btw, in America, my hand gesture shouldn’t be thought-about impolite, however I forgot it’s in Europe! Gahh!)

My prime cultural request to the group was that we go to the Nationwide Portrait Gallery — how attractive is that this gallery wall?

We noticed an exhibition of Lucien Freud’s work. Do you know he was the grandson of Sigmund Freud? So, an old-school nepobaby, however his work was lovely and felt so alive.

My English cousin’s son, Jimmy — whom we name Anton’s cousin, despite the fact that I feel they’re technically second cousins? — spent the week with us, and virtually instantly…


…the boys developed a secret hand shake and second language of inside jokes. We’ve at all times lived distant from household, and it brings me SO MUCH JOY to see them fall proper again into their friendship.

Since one among the perfect elements of journeys is doing completely nothing, one night, after having dinner on the scrumptious Speedboat Bar, we turned on The Fugitive. (This Lindy West recap at all times makes me snigger.) It’s a really enjoyable film to look at with teenagers, in case you’re in search of one!

Subsequent, we drove to the seaside city, the place my aunt Janey and cousin Olivia reside. To get to my aunt’s home, you need to casually DRIVE THROUGH A FORD, which the boys liked.

How stylish is my aunt Janey, btw, in her babaà sweater and monitor pants??

We additionally went to my cousin’s home for olives, chips, and onion dip…

…and we cuddled exterior underneath blankets…

…and my cousin made essentially the most scrumptious roast potatoes.

Lastly, we headed to Cornwall, the place my aunt Lulu lives (and the place my grandparents lived, earlier than her). This, above, is the view once you first enter the village — it takes my breath away each time!

The boys rode the suitcases down the lane…

…till we obtained to our favourite place on this planet. xoxo

Quickly the boys had been leaping into the chilly harbor…

…whereas I cheered for them and ate roast rooster crisps.

We added our present heights to the peak wall (I had not grown)…

…cuddled Lulu’s canine…

…and ate many, many items of toast with each meal.


We often keep in Lulu’s village for our entire journey, however we determined to take a small tour to Glendurgan Backyard, the place the earlier house owners created a hedge maze for his or her 12 kids. How cool is that? “I assumed this could be the worst,” Jimmy instructed me, “However it’s like literal heaven.”



Lastly, it was time to go residence. We at all times really feel so grateful to have the ability to go to and just a little heartbroken to depart. Don’t neglect about us, England! We love you and shall be again. xoxoxo
P.S. Our England journeys with the boys at totally different ages, and Lulu’s magnificence uniform.
