Keeping Warm in London

One of the adjustment people must make if they live in London is the heating systems (or lack there-or) in their flat. These days there are two heating methods utilized - radiators controlled by a thermostat and building heat. Open coal fires were outlawed back in the 80's.

Americans are most use to some form of heat controlled by a thermostat. You set the temperature you want and the control keeps it at about that temperature.

In my experience in London, it is more common for apartment blocks (apartment buildings) to have what they call central heating. There is a boiler in the basement which provides heat and hot water to all the flats. It is a nice feature because you don't have to pay an additional amount to heat your water or heat your flat so it is very economical.

Sounds pretty nice, eh? It can be.

There are two problems with this form of heating - first it is very hard to control. I don't have a thermostat. My flat has two radiators. One in the lounge (living room) and one in the hall near the bathroom. It might sound strange not to have a heat source in my two bedrooms or bathroom.

Radiator are slow to heat up and slow to cool down. Rooms can overheat before you know it and take forever to cool down to a comfortable temperature.

Plus heating pipes for the flats above me run through my walls and warm the bedrooms constantly. In fact they are too warm.

The other problem with living in a building with a central boiler for heat is that it is turned off on May 1st and is not turned back on until the end of October. Certainly there are many places where having no heat from April to November would be no problem. Most the time it is not a problem in London either, however we have many cool and cold days during those months.

It was very warm the last week in April this year in London. I was happy that the heat was turned off because it meant I could sleep much better in my cooler bedroom. The first week in May turned very cold - we had frost most nights and the days were in the upper 40s/low 50s.

Several of my neighbors complained and asked that the heat be turned back on but the corporation that owns the building would not authorize it. Our building is similar to a condo complex, in that people can own their individual flats but the corporation (not an owners association) owns the outside and facilities.

It was easy for me to fix the problem of being cold - I purchased a little space heater for my lounge. On evenings that are cold I turn on the little heater and it warms up my living room. I don't like warm bedrooms so that is no problem.

The bathroom does get a bit cold particularly in the morning when I take a shower. I can't put a heater in there because, like many UK bathrooms, there are no electrical outlets.

I love my flat and dealing with the heating system in London is not a real problem for me. Although it is a bit of adjustment, the trade offs of living in London make it very worthwhile!

Being the Bad Guy

For many years, as I watched movies and television programs, I wondered about the "bad guys" that were portrait. As I was growing up it was the Indians, the Russians, or generic Communists, the Germans always make detestable villains, and of course now we have the Muslims.

As I have sat in dark theaters I have wondered what it must be like to be Native American, or Russian or any of the other nationalities who we use for our villains, to sit an watch their ethnic group used in such a way. Are they offend by the portrayal? Are they hurt? Do they feel discriminated against?

This comes to mind because I have just watched a British drama set just after World War 2 in a small British coastal town. In this episode a local girl is involved with a black American soldier. The local British community doesn't bat an eye but the American soldiers and their commanders are up in arms - white woman, black man - the nightmare of American racists.

The Americans are portrayed in a very negative light - arrogant, sneaky, pushy, willing to do anything to get things their way, cold, money hungry, willing to walk over anyone who disagreed with them.

The racial malice and intolerance were hard to watch. As one of the British characters said to the main black character, " I still don't know why you would fight for the Americans after the way they treat colored people." He said he did it because it was his country and he hoped that one day things would change.

At first I did feel offended and hurt that Americans would be portrayed in this light, yet I know this behavior, and worse, has been too common in some areas over the years. I think it was seeing it from the British perspective and how ugly it made us look. I wanted to say,"Hey, there may be some who act that way but not most Americans, not ME!"

This is actually the second program I have seen where America is the villain. They may not yet have us as evil terrorists holding innocent people hostage a'la Diehard, but they certainly seem to have our stereotypical national arrogance and superiority complex to a T.

I hope that the perception of the US changes over the next few years to one of people who care for each other, all the peoples of the world and the planet. To those who are given much, much is required.

Little Venice and the Canals of London

I like to explore areas outside of my own neighborhood and my latest adventure took place in Little Venice.

The Little Venice area of London is a well known, up scale part of town built around two of the major canals in London.


Canals were built throughout London and Britain to transport goods particularly coal from the mining regions to London where there was great demand.




As rail and roads were built over the ensuing years, the canals have turned from transporting goods to tourism. We can rent canal boats, often referred to as cigar boats because of their long-narrow profile.


Not only can canal boats be rented but there are path ways along the canals which make for wonderful walks.

A Walk in the Park

The icy blast of winter has loosened it's grip on London just a bit and as is typical of a population suffering from cabin fever, we Londoners get out quickly when the precipitation stops.

As in most large cities, we have many great parks and wilderness areas within the boundaries of London. I like the famous parks of the city, Hyde Park, Regents Park, St James Park but my favorite for a good brisk hike is Hampstead Heath.

The Heath is not far from my house - a short bus ride to several lovely park entrances. This past weekend the clouds parted for a brief time and I headed out for a walk in the park.

About 9 AM I hopped the 46 - affectionately known as the Phantom 46- for it's irregular adherence to any kind of schedule. As long as you are flexible about your time commitments, the 46 works fine.

It runs through Swiss Cottage, up into Hampstead and on into the city. I live in Swiss Cottage and the Heath is in Hampstead (hence the name).

I got off the bus on the High Street of Hampstead (the shopping area) and headed over to the Heath down Flask Walk, to Well Walk and into the western part of the Heath.

There are wide expanses of wilderness cut by trails from the width of a two lane road, paved walkways, to single trails cutting through the brush.


Even on a cool winter morning there were dozens of people running, hiking and walking their dogs and children.

There were even two teams of runners competing in some kind of survival course each lead by a Rambo-esk soldier barking orders.

The runners all looked like clerks or business people wondering what they had gotten themselves into. Most out of shape, huffing and puffing up the hills, looking a bit disoriented.



Toward the southern part of the Heath is one of the highest points in London, Parliament Hill. I love the view from the top of the hill with central London in the misty distance.


On down the hill I trudged toward the ponds. Two for swimming - one clothing optional, and lower pond for the ducks. The ducks had noticed the absence of swimmer and were happily using all the ponds.

As I hiked out of the Heath I was feeling happy to have gone on the hike and even happier that I knew were the public toilets were outside the park.

Britain doesn't have the same laws regarding the availability of toilet facilities. Shops do not have to provide restrooms for customers and restaurants have them only for customers. Part of any good outing in London is having a guide who knows where you can go.

A public wee is frowned upon but rather common given the lack of public facilities.

Jobs in a Tough Economy

(On the left, my apartment building in London.)
I really have been pretty lucky in my career to have been steadily employed for the past 25-30 years. Although in my early days of teaching, I spent several years experiencing job cuts or the threat of job cuts.

I was moved from school to school the first three years, then went to part time before going back to full time at a middle school where I worked until my retirement.



My daughter has had a similar experience although she always ends up back at the same school but the rumors of cuts in the program keeps her a bit on edge. Each year could be her last at this school and she worries about where she will be sent or have to find on her own, for the following year.


I came to London this year to cover for my friend and colleague while she took a year's leave of absence. She will be returning in the fall.
( Above, inside my flat.)

When I came here it was my hope that some position would open up for me and I could stay for several years - maybe until I am 65 and can retire from full-time teaching.



There is now math opening for next year in the middle school but I have no guarantee that I will get it. It is takes me back to the early days of my career. Wondering, waiting. There are several considerations and I think at this point I have a 50/50 chance of getting the position.

Whatever is meant to be will be. I am sort of OK with that although I will be more OK with it when it is all sorted out.
(My classroom in London.)

Frozen Britain 2010

We had a very mild fall in London. Very little rain, sunny bright days much more like early October than late November and early December. The predictions were for a mild, dry winter too. I flew off to Oregon for winter break on a sunny, clear day.

While I was gone for 10 days, Great Britain turned cold. Icy cold. When I returned on 1 January 2010 it was to a very cold, grey day. It has gotten progressively colder since my return one week ago. It began snowing last Monday, 4 Jan, and has continued all week. Most days it has barely warmed to above freezing by mid-day. The nights have been well below freezing.

The London Times published the follow picture on Thursday taken by the University of Dundee showing all of the British isle covered in snow.


Some places have feet of snow, with many roads and schools closed, areas with no power, some with no heat. London has several inches but it has been too cold for any of it to melt away. If it melts during the day, it freezes that night to a sheet of ice. Many schools have been closed - not ours. The buses are on special routes, some of the tube lines are down because of ice on the tracks.

This is the most extensive snow cover Britain has ever know - at least in recorded history.

And the outlook? Many more days perhaps weeks, of sub-freezing temperature, snow and wind.

Time to snuggle up with a bowl of hot soup, a thick blanket and a good book!

Keep warm! Cheers all!

Holiday Markets

Over the last few weekends before winter break (and my trip back to the Pacific northwest) my friend Jenny and I visited all the central London Holiday Markets.

Holiday Markets are craft/gift markets set up in preparation for the Christmas/Hanuka season. London has dozens of regular weekly markets which also offer great gift ideas but these were all temporary markets with a holiday theme.

We found one small market on the south bank of the Thames. It was made up of about a dozen little wooden huts with food, crafts and jewelry for sale.

The second market we went to was on a vacant lot across the street from Selfridges. It had the same huts as the south bank market with a few additions - hats, metal sculptures, wind chimes.

The biggest and by far the best was the Winter Wonderland Market in Hyde Park. Jenny and I had heard about this market - the organizers were doing a good deal of advertising on television. We had not gone earlier because it looked like a children's playground instead of a holiday market.

We we arrived we were surprised at the size and complexity of this market. It included an ice skating rink!














There were many food booths - we shared a cinnamon pretzel -


tons of craft booths, and many rides for both adults and children.













The market was like a small city with a large section for caravans where the employees lived.

Jenny and I rode on the observation wheel - like a Ferris wheel but with enclosed cars to ride in.


















No holiday market is complete without a pirate! There did seem to be a bit of a Halloween theme going on too on several of the rides.














It was a beautiful day and Jenny and I had a great time.