God, it feels as though I’ve been away forever. I’m having a fantastic trip, but at the same time I miss the boys so much it hurts.

More gorgeous weather today. I decided to go to Portobello Road market because I’ve been enchanted by it ever since I read Bedknobs and Broomsticks as a child. I didn’t find any enchanted books, but I did buy a rather large piece of costume jewelry: a silver wrist-cuff with large green glass inserts. I’ve noticed an alarming tendency in myself lately toward much bolder accessories than I would have worn when I was younger. I’m afraid this is a natural consequence of aging; as the lily fades, you feel the urge to gild it more aggressively. This is why old ladies wear rhinestone sweatshirts and cocktail rings, and why in ten years I’m likely to be tricking myself out like Isabella Blow.

After I bought the cuff, I wandered down the market toward Notting Hill (one of the worst movies ever, by the way). My eye was drawn to a display of old cameras in the antiques market. I ended up buying a Zeiss Ikon camera circa 1952. I had no idea if it was in proper working condition or what a fair price for such a camera might be, but it was cheap–same price as the Holga, in fact–and I figured it was worth it for the fun of learning to work it. It came with a very cool brown leather case with a neck strap. I had a similar case for my first 35mm camera, which was stolen, and I’ve never been able to find another one since. It’s very handy because you can just unsnap the cover to take a picture, rather than wrestle the camera out of a carrying case whenever you want it.

I could have used something like that for the Holga, for example, when I got caught in a sudden rainshower during a walk in Hyde Park. I had to throw the camera into my purse to protect it. Then, when the rain stopped suddenly, and a huge rainbow appeared behind a bunch of little girls riding horses in the park, I almost emptied the whole bag trying to get the camera in time to take what I hope hope hope is a really cool picture. (Rainbows, I know: how trite. But you don’t get to photograph them very often.)

I have spent a small fortune on tube rides and museums here. London seems very expensive, and that is only with me translating everything into the exchange rate that was in effect when I first visited it in the ’80s. I can’t even bear to look up the current value of the dollar compared to the pound, because the guilt over how many starving children I could have fed for the price of one visit to the Cabinet War Rooms would be overwhelming. But by far the most extravagant thing I did today was go to the movies at the Odeon. I had no idea how crowded the theater would be, and I wanted to have a decent seat, so I paid the “Royal Circle” price. It was such an outrageous amount of money for a movie that I’m embarrassed to record it here.

I’m going to have to write it on my ticket stub and send it to Post Secret.