Not much to report today but here’s the post for posterity. We drove the 3+ hours back to London from where we were near Sheffield.

On the way we stopped at a big shopping center with Texas vibes. Nick needed some new pants, but instead of those we walked away with kind of ugly shoes for Millie that she couldn’t live without (scroll to photos below to judge).

The drive was smooth and we let Millie watch her iPad (usually reserved just for planes) so Nick and I were able to have an adult conversation without being interrupted. We talked about the many differences between America and England. Our theory is that it all boils down to one core difference: English people are satisfied and Americans are not. This manifests in good and bad ways for both. In the UK, nothing really works. For example, toilets don’t flush without leaving paper behind, dryers leave clothes damp, roads are slow, etc. and the attitude is “that’s just the way it is”. There is almost a pride in the small hardships and in things being old. In the states, nothing is ever good enough. This has led to a ton of innovation and luxuries, but also debt and waste. We keep going back and forth between appreciating the English way looking at things and then also thinking “well if you can make it better, why don’t you?”

When we got to London, Nick returned the rental car and I took Millie to the park. We sat at the park cafe that I used to go to and had a snack. It felt nostalgic except now I’m the one buying the snacks. This is definitely something England does better than the US: cafes in parks!

Nick met up with us and we had dinner at The Dove on the Thames. I think everyone in there was American, it was bizarre.

Then on the walk back we did a walking tour of key locations from my early childhood: my old school and the house I was born in. I remember these places from photos and going back to visit throughout the years, but I don’t really remember them. I was the exact age Millie is now. I wonder how much of this trip will stick with her or if she’ll just remember the things I write here.