Dad Day, Fun Day, Sunday!

I:  One Saturday in mid/late February, after Dad returned from Hyde Park and his morning run, he and I went off to Tony's.  Generously, Tony offered us some minced apple pies.  After we came home and had breakfast, we packed up stuff that we planned to work on and headed off to the V&A.  When we got there, Dad and I went up to his office to do work—yes, work!  Dad works in the Research Department, on the fifth floor, above the crowded museum galleries.  He has a small but nice office, and sometimes he also works in the National Art Library (also in the V&A building).  But today, we were sitting side-by-side, in his office, working on our various projects (for me) and books (for Dad).  We also had tea and treats:  peppermint tea for me, and also Spanish marzipan, molasses cookies, and Tony's pies.  We took an afternoon break and went down to the galleries at 3.30, where we looked at beautiful textiles, which their makers must have worked very hard on!  The lace had very fine detail, and I remember one sample of lace showing acorns and leaves.  Though very noisy and crowded, the V&A is quiet upstairs, and I got a lot of work done—plus fun chattering with Dad (whom I also call "Pai")!

Band of hair lace, England (1625-1675), at the VAM

II:  As usual on Sunday … I had a run with Dad in the park (!), and this began our eventful day.  After breakfast, Dad and I headed out to Leighton House, a museum that used to be the home of Frederic, Lord Leighton, an architect and painter, who also collected beautiful objects from, and designed rooms after, the Middle East (Orient style).  We admired the splendid Arab Hall, which had a little fountain, a kind of Syrian/Egyptian window covering with holes, and a domed ceiling.  We also went into the Narcissist Hall, with a shining gold ceiling and ash-blue tiles (Narcissist was in love with his own reflection).  In front of the stairwell, there was a gorgeous peacock sitting on a couch that had been made from a Muslim wedding chest (no one ever sat on it, though!).  It was awesome!

Arab Hall, Leighton House Museum

Next we walked to Nuria's house (a kid from school).  Dad had bumped into her father one day on his bike ride to work and, after they chatted a bit, Nuria's father invited us all over for a Sunday Lunch plus playdate at their house.  Nuria is on Year Four (3rd grade) and has a brother Aniol, who is five.  We had seafood paella, a Spanish dish with rice, shrimp, monk fish, and calamari rings—very tasty!  Playdates are hard to get in London state primary schools, so this was a real treat.

Seafood Paella:  amazing we haven't dug in yet!

Conclusion:  I love my London weekends and I love spending time with my Dad!