Eleanor Tatum

I love England. There’s a reason they call it Great.

Three weeks ago I had the grand and fortunate opportunity (which I jumped at) to jump the pond. I spent a three day weekend in London absorbing story poppers, writing ideas. I do wish I had had the time to continue my adoration of English countryside, but my family, The Pond Jumpers, rode their excellent train service and came to me.

My imagination gathered stories starting at the American Airline Security Gates and never stopping until I arrived home. I’d list them here but I’m not that generous to any author-readers and Word Press might not like the space I’d gobble up, but I’ll prioritize.

One of my favorites occurred on the River Thames. The touristy boat ride wasn’t crowded, which helped indeed. The river perspective of The Tower of London’s Traitor’s Gate sent shivers to my character-descriptive-department. Try to imagine your emotions as you rode, wrists tide, freezing river water spray in your face, in a rowboat to your imprisonment and execution. The usual Tower Tour didn’t grab the author in me like the river did.

Another favorite was The Eye. Yes, it’s also touristy and crowded, but I hadn’t been and I wanted to experience London from above. Amazing! No wonder that tourist site makes more money than the others combined, or so I’ve read. The familiar and majestic buildings stood tall for me as if they were competing for my attention. They seemed to scream, “Use me. Use me in your next story. I have heart and mysteries.”

Therefore, thanks to my family on both sides of the pond, for the all too brief but beautiful weekend. Pond Jumping can be expensive but rewarding. The returns are GREAT.