London Calling...

Now, onto the news. I finally bought my bicycle. Since I picked it up a mere hour before I left for the airport I haven’t yet gotten much riding in, but I wanted to be prepared. I selected a nice pink helmet which made the guy in the store laugh, but I figured if you’ve gotta wear a big lump on your head why not go with a little style? Interesting tidbits about buying a bike in the UK. Not only is it mandatory to wear a helmet (good), it is also mandatory to have a bell on your bike (odd). Thankfully they come as a standard feature with purchase. But believe me, the little ‘dink’ of this bell ain’t going to prevent many accidents, but ok… If only blogger had the ability to include soundclips! I plan to get lots of riding in along the river this summer, and already have friends lining up pub stops along the way.

Been a busy few weeks! By far the highlight was having Sarah and Cameron come to stay. They were here for a little over a week and we had lots and lots of fun. My first official guests on the new sofa bed (which quite literally takes up the entire spare room, by the way. I’m talking wall-to-wall bed with no room to maneuver, but hey, it has its own door and window so I still think it is an official ‘spare room’ right?). It was nice to be able to do the touristy things that I don’t normally make time to do myself. We went to the Tate Modern and had lunch at the top overlooking the river then rode the slides, which you just need to see to believe. I was shit-scared and practically had to be forced down in my burlap sack. I screamed the whole way down, while all the while little children were laughing their heads off.

We spent one (very windy!) afternoon walking around Hyde Park followed by another glorious day at Kew Gardens. They kindly came along to my friend Stu’s leaving do at work, yet another one of my friends to depart for Paramount (this makes 5 now!), where they had to meet about 27 of my drunk co-workers (and each time did it with a smile, I must add).

I actually did manage to have a little ‘gathering’ (not sure 5 people are technically allowed to constitute a ‘party’??) at my flat the first Friday they were here. My friends Jon and Alex came over, each bearing a bottle of champagne, which we drank in droves, along with party snacks and a few G&T’s. We even had quiz games. Jon and I had spent one evening the week before writing up questions for our ‘pub quiz’. The winner was Cameron, thanks to his perfect knowledge of US states beginning with the letter ‘M’. Only Sarah correctly guessed correctly the ‘Fraser tartan’ that I performed a dance with. He won a bottle of champagne which the rest of us drank before he could manage to get a look in. Poor Cameron (or ‘thanks, Cameron!’ I should say…). In addition to a fun evening spent with good friends and good tunes, we learned that my lounge makes a very good dance floor. We somehow managed to dance and sing until 5am. The next morning was NOT pretty…

That's Jon on the left (pre-haircut...we were calling him a refugee!) and Alex on the right

It was sad to see them go. Missed having people in the house to talk to – being without a little kitty to welcome you at the door, it was nice having a ‘hi honey I’m home!’ moment when I came home from work. Sarah was kind enough to get up with me in the mornings and it was just like being back in college again. Her sitting on my bed while I got ready and grumpily tried to make the caffeine kick in and wake up. So…come on more visitors!!!!

We spent more than a few evenings in my new favourite place, the new pub down the road called ‘The Cock and Hen.’ It is beyond lovely – non-smoking if you can believe it(?!?). Beyond-helpful staff (wonders never cease in this country). And the best damn hand dryers in Britain. I won’t ruin it for you, just come and witness it for yourself. These hand dryers must be experienced to be believed. They have great food and because it is a ‘freehouse’ (not at the mercy or hold of any one brewery), they aren’t forced to sell all of the same-old-same-old Heinekens and Stellas but can instead serve what they want and have an amazing selection of beers, wines and the like. They even gave Sarah a sampling of tasters to let her decide what she wanted. I kept having to ask myself if I was really still in the UK or if I had been teleported to some other land!

It was a bank holiday weekend after S&C went home and thankfully the weather was nice, and I spent most of it outside with Alex and Jon. We were like the gruesome threesome that weekend. Went for a picnic in Barnes (on the river in between Fulham and Richmond) to watch the Oxford-Cambridge boat races. I agreed to bring the food (a very nice selection of cheeses, breads, hummus, chocolates and even some homemade roasted plums w/ crème fraiche). They bought more champagne (are you sensing a theme here??). We played ‘catch the cork’ (as we had no frisbee), and basked in the sunshine. I think I saw the boats go by, although it happened very quickly. I believe Cambridge won.

We ordered pizza and watched Dead Poet’s Society, had a slumber party in Alex’s living room, then spent all of the next day enjoying the sunshine. We had coffee outdoors, a long walk on the river in the sun, lunch outdoors, and then more walking, followed by my first Pimm’s of the season in Richmond Park. No better way to spend a bank holiday than that! And I must give them credit, as I had warned them in advance that I may be a little sad when Sarah & Cameron left and that they needed to keep me entertained – they held up their end of the bargain. Thanks, gentlemen!