Homework can be fun for everyone. One of Jay's latest assignments was to write a report about Handel, who spent 36 years of his life in London. Handel's house, on Brook Street a short walk from Oxford Street, is a museum dedicated to the composer. You can see the rooms where Handel slept, composed -- and sold tickets and subscriptions to his concerts!

The house is marked by one of the circular blue landmark plaques that make roaming around London so much fun.

The house next door also bears a plaque marking the residence of another famous musician: Jimi Hendrix. The first time I saw the two houses side-by-side, I could not help imagining Jimi's ghost asking Handel's spirit if he could borrow a cup of ethereal sugar.

As it happens, the Handel House Museum -- which also owns the Hendrix house -- is running a special exhibition on the guitarist consisting mainly of rate photos of Hendrix, the other members of his band and his English girlfriend, who bought the carpets and curtains for their home at the John Lewis department store on Oxford Street. We go there, too.