{"id":1106,"date":"2022-02-17T23:44:14","date_gmt":"2022-02-17T23:44:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stuffbysofia.com\/blog\/?p=1106"},"modified":"2022-03-16T19:00:55","modified_gmt":"2022-03-16T19:00:55","slug":"the-london-years-this-green-and-pleasant-land-9-of-20","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stuffbysofia.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/the-london-years-this-green-and-pleasant-land-9-of-20\/","title":{"rendered":"The London Years: This green and pleasant land (9 of 20)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The three of us stood at the gate. &#8220;We are not going in there&#8221;, my sister said. &#8220;Sure we are&#8221;, I replied, &#8220;this is the path&#8221;. &#8220;Sofia this is someone&#8217;s land&#8221;, my mother said. &#8220;I know it&#8217;s someone&#8217;s land! But there is right of way and this is the path&#8221; I insisted. I looked at what seemed like 100 cows behind the gate. They were relaxed but who the hell knows what cows are plotting. And so, we opened the gate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Don\u2019t know what\u2019s going on?&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.stuffbysofia.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/the-london-years\/\" target=\"_blank\">I\u2019m leaving London soon<\/a>&nbsp;so this is one of my&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.stuffbysofia.com\/blog\/tag\/20londonstories\/\" target=\"_blank\">20 London stories&nbsp;<\/a>\u2013 a celebration of 20 years of my life here.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CUaTaXVIWCn\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n<div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CUaTaXVIWCn\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <p><\/p>\n<div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CUaTaXVIWCn\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CUaTaXVIWCn\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CUaTaXVIWCn\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CUaTaXVIWCn\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CUaTaXVIWCn\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CUaTaXVIWCn\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CUaTaXVIWCn\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Sofia Gkiousou (@sofiagk)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async=\"\" src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n\n\n<p>One of the best things about England is that the whole country is like one huge, evergreen garden. The English obsession with the countryside and its protection was weird when I first moved to the country but after 20 years here I appreciate it immensely. You can&#8217;t move for areas of outstanding beauty and national parks. Everything is maintained, protected, organised. There are signposted paths to take, information online, booking systems and little museums to visit. There are pubs to go to with exquisite food and little tea shops. And there&#8217;s beauty, so much beauty. It&#8217;s not the wild kind &#8211; the one you find in Greece &#8211; it&#8217;s not the contrasting colours of the Aegean or the breathtaking ascend to the mountains. England, above all, is <strong>pleasant<\/strong> and this is exactly the right word. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In my first few years in London, venturing outside the city was not really an option. First of all, I loved discovering the city. Second of all, I was poor. Money is *necessary* to be able to properly enjoy travel in the UK as it&#8217;s an expensive destination. I think that the first time I could actually afford taking a long weekend in the UK was in 2008, 6 whole years after I had moved here, even though I had already been on holiday TO SPAIN and the week there was cheaper from a UK long weekend. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When I did venture out however, I fell in love. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it was possible after the pandemic, my parents stayed with the kid and the husband and I had a weekend together. We only drove about an hour and a half to got to a little village very close to the southern border of London,<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ide_Hill\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ide_Hill\" target=\"_blank\"> Ide Hill<\/a>. This is so close to London that people just live there and commute to work in the city every day.  When the husband asked me what I wanted to do I just wanted to go get the newspaper and sit in the garden. Parents with toddlers will understand. <\/p>\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CODlTTGrJ7C\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n<div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CODlTTGrJ7C\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <p><\/p>\n<div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CODlTTGrJ7C\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CODlTTGrJ7C\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CODlTTGrJ7C\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CODlTTGrJ7C\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CODlTTGrJ7C\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CODlTTGrJ7C\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Sofia Gkiousou (@sofiagk)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async=\"\" src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n\n\n<p>We slept in, we got newspapers and bread from the village shop and then we walked around some scenic walks before jumping in the car to go have lunch at a pub in another village. We sat in the garden the next morning with some coffee, the sun shining. That&#8217;s what the English countryside feels like, like having coffee under the sun on a Sunday morning, surrounded by greenery.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To be able to do all this of course requires some sort of income and, ideally, a car. The best places to stay are always out of the way, better reached by car. And to get there you have to learn to squeeze your car through the incredibly narrow (but sufficiently picturesque) english country lanes. This is where &#8211; let&#8217;s be honest &#8211; you  squeeze your sphincter when a car comes from the other direction, achieving pelvic floor strength and more driving experience. But you get there in the end and it&#8217;s worth it because you end up staying on a farm where they have actual horses and your accomodation used to the the old stables but they&#8217;ve lovingly restored them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That&#8217;s another thing to know about England. Coming from Greece &#8211; accustomed to the grand ole heritage being thousands of years old &#8211; it was initially surprising that there was so much care taken of buildings that were only a couple of hundred years old. But now, every time I discover a crumbling ruin in Greece &#8211; for example something from its industrial heritage &#8211; going to waste, it drives me crazy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I think that the way the English do it creates a virtuous cycle. They restore and showcase their heritage. Most aristocratic houses can be visited, in others people hold their weddings and celebrations. The National Trust buys up properties, protects them and opens them to the public. Normal people restore and protect old stables and farm houses &#8211; I once stayed at a restored old chapel converted to a house. And because these places are *accessible*, because they have an audio guide, a map and you can have some tea with scones there, YOU FALL IN LOVE. And then you cannot imagine not protecting them and not finding ways to uphold this practice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let&#8217;s go back to the field with the cows. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> Every year since 2015 my mother, my sister and I take a small annual trip together. In 2022 we decided to stay in the UK since we knew that a move to the UAE was imminent. And so we piled in the car and went on a tour of the Lake District. While we usually do city breaks, this time we decided that we should enjoy the nature and so we proceeded to take  country walks around the lakes &#8211; easy to find online and download the instructions to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So there we were, we had reached the middle point, I was looking at the map, I was reading and re-reading the instructions and they were absolutely crystal clear. &#8220;Open the gate, make sure you have the stone wall to your left and proceed to the next gate&#8221;. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now my mother is a village girl. She grew up in a farm in Greece and learned how to drive on a tractor. And so she went forth, unafraid, using her village magic word with the cows. We followed behind her, silly city girls and discovered that indeed, even english cows obey the magic word. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Obviously, I have a video. <\/p>\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CUXRFyho1Lt\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n<div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CUXRFyho1Lt\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <p><\/p>\n<div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CUXRFyho1Lt\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CUXRFyho1Lt\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CUXRFyho1Lt\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CUXRFyho1Lt\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Sofia Gkiousou (@sofiagk)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async=\"\" src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n\n\n<p>During the London Olympics opening ceremony, they sang <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/And_did_those_feet_in_ancient_time\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/And_did_those_feet_in_ancient_time\" target=\"_blank\">William Blake&#8217;s poem<\/a> &#8211; it&#8217;s serenity in perfect juxtaposition to the chaos of the industrial revolution, his &#8220;dark satanic mills&#8221;. And I swear, I know that this will be what will make me nostalgic in the future, the thought of this green and pleasant land. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>I will not cease from Mental Fight,<\/p><p>Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand:<\/p><p>Till we have built Jerusalem,<\/p><p>In Englands green &amp; pleasant Land.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014-<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">My #20LondonStories<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stuffbysofia.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/the-london-years-grexit-brexit-1-of-20\/\">Grexit\/ Brexit&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stuffbysofia.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/the-london-years-the-way-to-anyones-heart-is-through-the-stomach-2-of-20\/\">The way to anyone&#8217;s heart is through the stomach<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stuffbysofia.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/the-london-years-the-night-bus-3-of-20\/\">The night bus&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stuffbysofia.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/the-london-years-words-save-our-lives-sometimes-4-of-20\/\">Words save our lives&#8230; sometimes&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stuffbysofia.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/the-london-years-the-rest-is-noise-5-of-20\/\">The rest is noise&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stuffbysofia.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/the-london-years-how-not-to-bite-your-nails-in-the-officials-box-6-of-20\/\">How not to bite your nails in the Officials&#8217; Box&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stuffbysofia.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/the-london-years-always-have-a-sister-7-of-20\/\">Always have a sister&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stuffbysofia.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/the-london-years-greek-london-8-of-20\/\">Greek London&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stuffbysofia.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/the-london-years-this-green-and-pleasant-land-9-of-20\/\">This green and pleasant land&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stuffbysofia.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/the-london-years-the-bridge-of-aspiration-10-of-20\/\">The bridge of aspiration&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stuffbysofia.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/the-london-years-the-knight-in-well-travelled-armor-11-of-20\/\">The knight in well travelled armor&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stuffbysofia.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/the-london-years-carpets-in-the-toilet-and-other-adventures-in-housing\/\">Carpets in the toilet and other adventures in housing<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stuffbysofia.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/the-london-years-moments-in-art-13-of-20\/\">Moments in Art&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stuffbysofia.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/the-london-years-the-nhs-hunger-games-14-of-20\/\">The NHS hunger games&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stuffbysofia.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/the-london-years-in-nocte-consilium-15-of-20\/\">In nocte consilium<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stuffbysofia.com\/blog\/2022\/03\/the-london-years-the-friends-we-found-the-friends-we-lost-16-of-20\/\">The friends we found, the friends we lost<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stuffbysofia.com\/blog\/2022\/03\/the-london-years-blogging-tips-for-beginners-17-of-20\/\">Blogging tips for beginners&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stuffbysofia.com\/blog\/2022\/03\/the-london-years-lord-of-gondolin\/\">Lord of Gondolin, Bane of Gothmog, mighty beater of his headboard, conqueror of the slide, aka our child<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stuffbysofia.com\/blog\/2022\/03\/the-london-years-temet-nosce\/\">\u03b3\u03bd\u1ff6\u03b8\u03b9 \u03c3\u03b5\u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03cc\u03bd<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stuffbysofia.com\/blog\/2022\/03\/the-london-stories-how-to-leave-london-20-of-20\/\">How to leave London<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The three of us stood at the gate. &#8220;We are not going in there&#8221;, my sister said. &#8220;Sure we 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