Leonie Jarrett lives mostly in Melbourne, Australia with her Husband of more than 3 decades, her 4 adult children and her 2 Golden Retrievers.

Leonie has variously been a lawyer and a business owner.

Now that she is semi-retired, Leonie is loving writing about her life, her travels and her experiences.

An Aussie Girl’s Love Letter to London

Dear London,

I was 7 when I first came to visit. I don’t remember much but I do remember glimpses of staying at my Auntie’s, of playing with English and Irish cousins and of my Irish Grandfather. I wanted it to be a white Christmas but it was not.

I was 22 when I next came to visit. With my boyfriend, Andrew (now my Husband) this time. Also for Christmas. Also, not white. But truly magical. I fell in love on that visit. Not with Andrew – I was already in love with him – but with you. We bought cheap theatre tickets and sat in the Gods to see “Les Miserables.” We walked the Monopoly Board, we saw Big Ben chime and we watched the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. It was drizzly, cold and grey and we were always a little bit hungry as we could not afford much food. But we loved it. Every bit of it.

I was 30 when I next came to visit. With my Husband and two little boys this time – 3 and 1. We lived in Earl’s Court for 3 months and we loved it. My Husband was working and I found every playground I could walk to with my double pusher. I dreamt of staying on and having a private, walled garden like in the movie “Notting Hill.” I fell in love with you just a little bit more.

I was 42 when I next came to visit. With my Husband and four children this time – the boys were 14 and 12 and the girls were 9 and 6. They devoured all the “Harry Potter” sites including pushing their luggage trolleys on Platform 9 ¾. We all went to see “Phantom of the Opera” (I think that was a little bit mad). Seeing you through my children’s eyes, my love for you deepened.

I was 55 when I next came to visit. With my Husband only this time. It was our 30th wedding anniversary and we treated ourselves to a hotel in Leicester Square. We spent our days walking the streets we love. We went to Claridge’s for High Tea and then we saw “Les Miserables” (just like we did when we were 22). It was Summer but we wore jackets. My cricket tragic Husband and I went to Lord’s and we watched every day of the Ashes Test against Australia. It rained on and off and I learnt the word “mizzle.” The day after the Test finished, we went to Wimbledon. We couldn’t believe how lucky we were!

I don’t know how old I will be next time I visit. I do know that, every time I visit, I find something else I love about you and I love you just a little bit more.

Yours always and forever,

Leonie