Wish #14: Visit cousins (Becca, Dan, Eva & Ping) in London
January 31, 2010
Why? I feel as though my family is small, since there aren’t many of us living in the UK. I’m aware that I have an extensive family on my mother’s side who mostly live dotted around the globe. Whilst this is incredibly convenient and inspirational for my round-the-world travel plans, I’m eager to reconnect with the relatives I have here at home, in England. The last time I saw my cousin Becca and her husband, Dan, was when their first child, Eva, turned 1. My one remaining grandparent (my mother’s mother), my Oma, lives in Nottingham and Claudia (cousin Becca’s mother) lives in London, not far from Becca and Dan. We all met up at a grand location in Tixall, Cheshire, as a reunion and to celebrate Eva’s birthday. Three years have passed since then and it’s about time we met up again.
Cousin Becca and her daughter, Eva (Tixall)
After booking a trip to London less than two weeks before departing, my mum and I were eager to get on the train and head south. We arrived on a saturday to a bustling Euston station and found our way to our City Inn Westminster hotel which was excellent. Free Wi-Fi and complimentary The White Company toiletries anyone?! I met a friend for lunch and a catch up then my mum and I walked to meet Becca, Dan and the kids in the cafe of The National Gallery. Our brisk 20 minute walk took us past the monumental Houses of Parliament, the limestone Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the London Eye, a heavily guarded Downing Street and countless other statues and monuments that we sadly didn’t have time to look at since we were running a little late. Finally, to Trafalgar Square where we were greeted by our cousins. Two of the most gorgeous looking children in fact ignored us for the most part and continued to squabble over pens. It was a real treat to spend quality time with family and to catch up on their lives and exchange stories. Ping, their two-year old boy, has a cheeky grin and a penchant for wearing dresses. I couldn’t believe how much Eva had grown, she’s so beautifully articulate now. It is a pleasure to call them both family.
Cousins in London (L-R): Ping, Dan, Becca, Eva.
Hugs and kisses were exchanged in Trafalgar Square after dark, and the promise to not let it be so long until we see each other again.
[...] weekend in January, my mother and I had planned to visit our cousins living in London as a graduation present. Part of the present was tickets to a West End show and [...]