What all of this 'holiday' time is really for...
I was forced to stay home from work today. I say 'forced' but what I really mean is that I have been feeling rotten, probably simply as a result from the added stress and pressure at work, which has led to a little infection in my throat. I went to the doctor this morning and got some antibiotics, and was advised to stay home from work. Darn, yes I am really upset about that one... The good news is that in addition to laying around and drinking copious cups of tea all day, I have also been able to be very productive. I have gotten not one...but TWO loads of laundry done. Yes, given the fact that it takes approximately 4 hours to wash and dry one load, I have managed to complete two whole loads in the 8 hours I have been sitting on my sofa. I am starting to realize why they have to give us so much holiday time!Managed to have a bit of fun in addition to the stress. My friend Alex and I decided to be cultured and bought a few tickets to some shows. We went to see The History Boys a few weeks back - amazing. Made me realize just how different the UK and US school systems (and the process of getting into college) really are... We're going to see an opera of Puccini's La Boheme at the Coliseum in a few weeks too. Also, finally went to see Avenue Q a few Saturdays ago - quite funny. Though I don't really get why a Brit would find it funny - lots of references to Sesame Street and American childhood stuff. But pretty impressive all the same.
My friend Neil (ketchup boy) has been over in Dublin working (on a secret blend for Irish ketchup??) for a few weeks, so I decided to go over and join him for a few Guinness(es) last weekend, given it's only a 50-minute flight. It was a quick trip, but nice to escape. The only vaguely touristy thing we did was visit Trinity College and see the Book of Kells. Oh, and we also went to the smallest pub in Ireland (capacity: 24), among many, many other pubs, including what has got to be Dublin's largest pub, Cafe en Seine, which seemed to stretch on for miles and miles. I didn't manage to take any pictures, but it was so nice to be away, if only for 36 hours...
After I landed at Heathrow, I tubed it home, dropped off my bags and ran (literally) down the road to the famous Hammersmith Palais, to meet Adrian and Johnny M for a little soup - Bowling for Soup, that is. It was a venue I have always wanted to visit, and running out of time, as the historic venue is about to be demolished, after 90 years. What better opportunity that to go and bounce and sing to the Soup, the little punk band from Texas. When else will I get an opportunity to sing along with hundreds who probably don't quite get the references to 'Blue Bell' and 'Baird fruit pies'?? A fun night indeed. A few pics snapped below.
I won't go into what happened on Night Two of the 'locked out of flat incident', but needless to say I spent another several hours waiting outside my flat (locked out again for a second night running, as it turned out the guy had put on a lock with no key the night before!) while a shouting and screaming match (and yelling about being a crackhead) ensued, as I (and all of my neighbors) watched on. Good times...
posted by Eleanor @ 5:28 pm
1 Comments:
Texas allusions in the UK . . . unlikely exotica, indeed . . . though a phenomenon that I experienced myself in years past.
Keep writing!
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