On the goodbye trail

There are so many things I want us to do, so many places I want us to visit and re-visit before we leave London. On my lengthy list:

• Hampstead Heath (never been, would love to bring Cheeks to see the bathing ponds. Heard so much about them)
  
• Windsor Castle (to catch a glimpse of the Queen (!) who actually resides there, and not Buckingham Palace as is the popular belief)
• Richmond
• Brentcross
• Browse vintage boutiques at Angel/Covent Garden
  
• Brighton (walk on the famous pebbled beach)
  
• Climb to the top of St Paul's Cathedral for the breathtaking view of London
  
• Catch another musical/play
• Visit Columbia Road Flower Market
• Stroll down Portobello Market/King's Ave/High Street Kensington/Hampstead/Regent-Oxford Street

Truth is, I know I'll be unable to complete the list even if I were to stick to it slavishly. I'll have to be content with whatever I can manage within our limited timeframe. As it is I'm already feeling the stretch - a classic case of wanting to do too much in too little time. Besides the list, I'm feverishly trying to set aside time for friends who've been so much a part of our lives here.

Because I want to, and because I think they're important.

Surprisingly absent from the list is perhaps a visit to the museums. I took that out because I managed to bring Cheeks to the National Gallery on the spur of a moment today. I'd love to bring her to all of them again if I could - the Tates, British Museum, Horniman - but I can't.

So I picked the grand old dame. She who houses almost everything.

We made a beeline for the Impressionists.

They were all on proud display - Monet, Pissaro, Cezanne, van Gogh, Degas, Seurat, Renoir - names that have, in recent times, become familiar to Cheeks because of the 'Katie' series by James Mayhew. She paused to ask questions about Henry Rosseau's 'Surprised', Degas' 'Ballet Dancers', Seurat's 'Bathers' and Renoir's 'An Evening at the Theatre'.

But the painting she lingered at most was one by Paul Delaroche, 'Execution of Lady Jane Grey', one of my favourite paintings at the Gallery. This was the running dialog while we stood gazing at it: (pardon the lengthy exchange, i'm writing it all down so I don't forget)

D: Mummy, why is the lady blindfolded?
M: Because she is going to have her head cut off.
D: Why?!!!
M: In the past, when the king was not pleased with someone, he would give an order to have their heads cut off.
D: That's not very nice!
M: No, it isn't. But because the king was very powerful, he could do pretty much what he wanted. I think this was King Henry the VIII.
D: I think he is a very evil king! We should cut off HIS head!
D: (scans the painting) Mummy, why is that lady on the floor?
M: She fainted, I think.
D: Why?
M: I think it's because she was overcome by sadness that the young lady is going to have her head chopped off. I think that old lady is her lady-in-waiting.
D: And what about that man at the pillar? What's he doing?
M: I don't think that's a man Cheeks, it's another lady-in-waiting.
D: Why is she turned away?
M: I think she's crying against the pillar, sweetheart. She's probably very sad that the young lady is going to die.
M: How do you think the blindfolded lady feels, sweetheart?
D: I think she must be very scared.
M: I think so too, Cheeks. Look at that big axe. (we both turn to look at it)
D: That king is an EVIL man. I don't like him! He should NOT chop off people's heads! *growls*

Before we leave, we browse the Gallery bookshop. I buy Cheeks a chocolate coin, a 'Katie' book, and a print reproduction of Picasso's 'Child with a Dove'. As we descend the stairs at Charing Cross station, I find myself... a little overwhelmed.

These museums will no longer be at my disposal. I can't amble through gallery after gallery any time I want to, or bring Cheeks on mini excursions to see 'the Greats' on a whim.

I guess it's true what many friends have been telling me of late - that it was good while it lasted.

In our case, perhaps a little too good.