So, it all started Pesach 2005. Jonty invited us to perform at the Golden Tulip Hotel, at the Dead Sea. We played there in front of something like 300 people and after the show, a man came up to us and asked if we had ever performed in England. We said no and he asked for a business card, saying "ok, you'll hear from me".

About a month later, I got a phone call from Jerry Shatzkes, saying we had met in the hotel and asked if we would really be willing to come perform in England, to which we said of course.

Then I got an email from Louise, the Executive Secretary and Office Manager of the Ner Yisrael Congregation in London, saying "We are delighted that you are interested in coming to London to perform at our Synagogue". And from then the ball began rolling. Another show was added, for WIZO.UK in London, then for WIZO.UK in Leeds, and then in Manchester… the Manchester performance didn't work out, but these three shows did and preparations were made.

One week before our flight to England, we did a few songs in front of about 700 people, at the Alyn Hospital Bike Ride Gala Dinner in the Dan Panorama Hotel in Tel Aviv. At the end of that show (everyone was on their feet dancing to "Me and Julio"), a man came up to us asking if we would be prepared to come perform in New York, at the Doctors Convention he was running. We said sure, and asked when. He says "This Monday". We say – oi, we need to be in London on Wednesday! He says "No problem, we'll fly you to New York Saturday night, perform on Monday, rest at the hotel the remainder of the time and we'll fly you to London on Wednesday. No problem." Dr. Cynamon had his travel agent on the phone already, tickets were arranged – and it didn't happen for one simple reason: Dr. Cynamon got a call from one of the organizers, who said that everyone knew that Monday night was free and they had already made previous, separate arrangements – not enough people would show up. Ok, so next year it will happen, and meanwhile England was waiting for us.

So, Wednesday Nov 16, we get to Ben Gurion airport and head west to the United Kingdom. Our guitars caused a bit of a fuss, because we really didn't want to send them regular cargo – so they got lucky and rode up in the cockpit. Lucky them.

We walk out of Heathrow and see the fun "Moni and Larry" sign hand-written on cardboard, in our driver's hand. Ride to Hendon, near Brent Cross Underground station to our hosts' house. Benji and Stephanie accepted us in such a lovely way, opening their house and refrigerator to us for the whole 5 days that we stayed there. Very warm people! Wonderful family! Little David (four years big) touched my bald head and said "you have plastic hair!" – and then asked if he could sit on my lap. Such a sweet child!

Next day, Thursday morning, we met Louise at the synagogue, together with another Stephanie, Frankie (both from Wizo.UK) and Tony our soundman. Closed all the corners that needed closing and took off the rest of the day.

Friday evening, we went to Shul, attended services there. Large crowd, many came up to us and asked "So, who's the Simon and who's the Garfunkel?"

After services, we were invited to Jerry's house for dinner. Pam had prepared a sumptuous meal and we were honored to be sitting at the table with some of Jerry and Pam's distinguished guests.

Saturday morning Moni and I went for a walk in the neighborhood. The weather was great – about 4 degrees C, and sunny as the Negev. Followed by a Kiddush at the synagogue and then an invitation to Harry and Jane's house, again for a lovely meal with wonderful company.

Evening came – time to go to work. We arrived at the synagogue on time, to find that the sound equipment was behind schedule. But it was all prepared in quick time and we started only 15 minutes late. We performed for more than two hours, with about 10 songs in the encores. They didn't let us off stage, the audience response was wonderful!

After the show, we were invited to the home of a couple who had been at the show, we drank and ate and had lots of laughs. Got back to Benji's house well after 1am.

Sunday morning Moni and I took the underground to Waterloo station, and walked out to the amazing London Eye. Didn't go up because even though the sun was out, there was a haze at this early hour and we said we'd come back later. Never made it – a good enough reason to go back to London! Continued on foot to Covent Garden and up to Oxford Street. Spent about two hours on Denmark Street. Good enough reason to, as well.

In the evening, back to the same venue, for our second performance. The synagogue was leased to WIZO.UK for that performance, to save transportation of all the equipment to a close by location. This time we had more time to prepare since the equipment was there already.

Again, a lovely evening, more than 2 hours on stage, about 200 people in the audience… at the end they were all on their feet, dancing and cheering. Exhilarating!

Monday morning, we got ourselves organized and took the underground to Kings Cross Railway Station to catch the fast train to Leeds. My favorite part of the trip, watching two and a half hours of "English Country Side" go zooming past our train window – green, green, green pastures, solitary farm houses and chapels, grazing horses and black headed sheep, bridges over rivers, quaint little towns with rows of two storied veranda-less red-brick town houses with newly added glassed-in alcoves and lovely gardens. Train Stations that passed so fast I couldn't read the signs of where we were, and fast tunnels that blew the air-pressure out of our ears and brains. I was very disappointed that I occasionally fell asleep for a few minutes and missed some of all that. Loved every minute of it. Sunny, sunny, sunny. And cold.

Arrived at Leeds and Anthony picked us up. Took us to the Village Hotel. Ate and rested a bit, until Elaine came to pick us up. She took us to the venue where the show was to be held. Jason Colombick, our soundman, was waiting there, all set up. What a fantastic guy! One of the best soundmen we have ever encountered! So professional, so kind. We were extremely lucky to work with him!

Evening came and the people started to show up. They sold about 170 tickets – very good for that crowd, Elaine told me. Sat in seats around tables, instead of theater style as was in Ner Yisrael. The shape of the room helped a few of the people feel more comfortable talking among themselves during the show, which had us stopping once or twice as all those who wanted to listen loudly shushed the perpetrators. In the end the entire group too had a fabulous time and the whole tour was a big success. Lots of people took business cards, saying how they would be happy to invite us again, for different functions, some fundraisers, some private events. Just what we wanted.

Next day – our last on the British Isle, started with the TV weather-woman saying that there's a frozen mist over all Anglia that will take some time to disappear. No rain – none at all the WHOLE TIME we were in England, but the mist made visibility a bit limited (about 2 miles, I guess – not enough to ruin my train ride back) and very cold in comparison to the days before – but 10 minutes before pulling into Kings Cross, the sun came out. Someone was watching over us.

Back to Benji and Stephanie's, stopped off at Harry and Jane's for a while, and headed for Heathrow. Uneventful flight back – and now waiting for the next trip. May it come soon. Workin' on it.