Richmond

Eitan returns from his movie-date Sunday afternoon and the kids promptly watch... a movie. Yes, Dad's oversight continues until tomorrow. Madeleine picks "Snow Dogs" which is so horrible I bail after 15 minutes. The Disney film low on budgets so the dogs receive a voice-over while doing all sorts of cute things like eating ice cream, pulling a dog-sled and talking in afro-slang: "yo dog, wuz up?" Ghastly. Afterwards I drag the Shakespeares kicking and screaming to Richmond Park for some exercise - we are blessed to have London's largest park on our door-step. It is well-used but not crowded and perfect for a picnic or a stroll, even with today's overcast cold weather (Madeleine naturally refuses a jacket and ends up wearing mine). Strangely the park is covered with ferns, which I associate with more tropical climes. The cold weather means they are dying off for the season, along with the various tall grasses and leaves presenting us with... New England. I betcha the Pioneers thought the same thing. Eitan uses his binoculars to spot dogs and deer - an ancient buck lets out a primeval roar which stops everybody cold. It is spooky bouncing off the hills and the kids encourage me to hurry back to the car.