Hampstead Heath

Day 15 Sunday 12^th Jan

Sally & Maureen in Hampstead Village

European Robin on Hampstead Heath

Sally lead us for a walk on Hampstead Heath, a 730 acre area of woodland stretching towards the northern outskirts of London.  This is a favourite walking spot for families, runners and dog walkers.  I was able to see a couple of English birds: a orange breasted European Robin, a magpie (quite different from Australian species), a wood pigeon and lots of ravens.

The weather was very cool for us Adelaidians so we stopped in the Hampstead for soup and then strolled around the village.  Apparently the Highwayman Dick Turpin frequented these parts.  Nearby is also a house that poet John Yeats lived in before moving to Rome. 

Freud Museum

Later we visited the Sigmund Freud Museum where he lived from 1938-39 until his death after fleeing Vienna from the Nazi’s.  We could see Freud’s work office set up as it was during his life and many documents and items from his work.  His office was full of historical artefacts as he saw himself as an archaeologist of the mind and was engrossed in the discoveries of archaeology and the events, myths and legends of history.  Freud is one of the founders and giants of psychoanalysis and his ideas and theories are extensively employed today in psychology and different types of therapy.  They have much far reaching influence into spheres including philosophy, sociology, and social policy,  A few doors down from the Museum is the Anna Freud Centre – a world famous centre founded by Freud's daughter Anna, which is now a training centre for the work of therapists with parents and children who have troubled relationships.

We all laughed about psychoanalysis when Sally's cat decided she was stressed when we arrived at her house and promptly wee-ed all over her lounge.  The cat never warmed to me in the 4 days I was in London and perhaps Sally has another client there!

We dropped in a very old English Pub started in the early 19th century, 'The Holy Bush'.  I sampled a pint of London Ale – not a bad drop!  If you are in the vicinity the pub was and is on Holly Mount, Hampstead. 

Sally, Cat and Maureen