define('DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true); define('DISALLOW_FILE_MODS', true); Journal – Page 6 – Drew and Jen go to London

Category: Journal

  • Finally

    I did have to wait a while, but I am glad to have finally found peace with a few storm clouds in London.

  • Over the Rainbow

    I had a dream last night that I was tirelessly searching through boxes for Dorothy’s ruby slippers. Those sparkly shoes were no where to be found.

  • The House Guests Have Landed

    Today, I can say that Westminster Abbey is beyond my expectations because I finally went inside.

  • The Canals

    A totally new concept to me – canal walk. And it was here under my nose all this time.

  • Happy Mother’s Day!

    Yesterday we wandered around the grounds of St. Paul’s, enjoying the gardens and small green spaces between there and home while the sun warmed the city. We are looking forward to having visitors soon who will explore the cathedral with us. Between our flat and the church there are wonderful spaces that would be lovely…

  • Sober

    Who knew thunderstorms were such a integral part of my definition of home? London skies are a big tease.

  • Long Time, No See

    Would you believe me if I told you we were still sick? What if I told you that we were sick on a Bank Holiday? Yeah, I know.

  • Stupid White People

    The weather this weekend was wonderful.  The sun shone, the sky was blue, the clouds were white and few…  Unfortunately, we’ve been sick.  I wanted desperately to roam the streets with the sun on my back – I just couldn’t muster up the energy to do much at all.  On Saturday we thought we could…

  • Ah, Spring!

    Spring has sprung in London! Check out these lovelies in Lincoln’s Inn Field…

  • Beer Bum

    I had heard about this phenomenon, but now I have witnessed it.

  • Looking Back

    We’ve survived to look beyond the six month mark. This is the point at which we have weathered the real work to be done and have left to figure out where we are going – and how far we are from ground zero.

  • Untraditional Easter

    Not only was yesterday our first Easter in London, it was also our first time to have dinner at Emily’s. We headed Thames-side for a lovely evening with our host and our new friend Ken. I was so impressed with the table setting, complete with an Easter egg for each guest! We giggled and ate…

  • Dark Chocolate Madness

    When you are always together it’s hard to orchestrate a surprise. It’s even harder when one of you is not entirely fond of surprises.

  • Boring Birthday Bash

    Yesterday was my thirtieth birthday. Jen and I tried to have grand plans, but it was the middle of the week and we were thousands of miles from our friends and family, but it is all okay because being an old man I was more than happy to sit at home on the couch watching…

  • Ideal Home Show

    Today we went to the Ideal Home Show at Earls Court Exhibition Centre. Though it is geared towards individuals considering home improvement and related lifestyle purchases, it was really cool. I don’t need a jacuzzi or a gazebo. However, I love to look at furniture and home decor. I think I may have even come…

  • Oh. Wow.

    Once this much time has gone by, an update is hard to give. Everything that has happened in the last couple of weeks runs together in my head. What would you say if I told you this was the outfit I bought for my first day at work?

  • Ladies and Gentlemen, Gusty has Left the Building

    After an exciting week of endless meetings and pub crawls, John Gusty has boarded a plane and flown home to his wife and boys. Jen and I really enjoyed his visit and hope to see him again soon. Jen completed her first week at her new job. London hosted the G-20 Economic Summit and G-20…

  • John Gusty Comes to London

    John Gusty is in the echo London office this week to help train some new partners, but we wanted to give him a little time to play the tourist before he started his work week…

  • Whew!

    There is reason to celebrate, and an explanation for the lack of recent blog activity. I have applied for, prepared for, shopped for, interviewed for, offered, and accepted a job! This all happened within a matter of three business days; there has been a flurry of activity here. I’ll be rejoining the clinical research world…

  • Another Lazy London Sunday

    On Friday I received news that there is still no update regarding the position for which I had recently  interviewed due to an unknown project start date.  Fortunately, another very reputable organization has invited me for an interview on Tuesday.  I couldn’t be more pleased to speak with them.  There was pizza and Ugly Betty…

  • Still Sunny, Go Figure

    On Drew’s walk today he took a moment to capture the Closed Caption Camera that were eyeing him… And he caught something that really makes me feel like Summer is not far away. Can’t wait to share these in person with all of you!

  • Another Random Wednesday

    The flowers that Drew brought me for my birthday had a special surprise in store… And there is a premiere brewing in Leicester Square. We had lunch at V & M Express today. Be sure to check out the review!

  • A Perfect Day for a Picnic

    Oh, where to begin… The sun in London yesterday was enough to distract me from my job search (and the website update “to do” list). I walked to Covent Garden to buy my birthday present from Drew. It’s an awesome way to get exactly what you want – and when you are shopping at Lush…

  • Red Nose Day

    Today I had a lovely afternoon tea at a cafe called Allans near Bond Street Station.  It is truly lovely, with a comfortable atmosphere. The patisserie was extremely busy, but the staff were attentive and friendly nonetheless.  I appreciated the inviting decor and was thoroughly impressed by the quality of the sugar.  It might sound…

  • A Beautiful Birthday Story

    Long ago (yesterday, the 11th) and far, far away (use google maps) in a land called London, there a lived a girl who had a beautiful birthday. Her day began when a handsome prince, and an uncharacteristically cheerful sunrise, woke her. A box came. A very sexy bunch of flowers lay inside – from queens…

  • Happy 311 Day

    Real quick update before we call it a day. Jen says thank you for all the birthday well-wishes. She was especially touched by the flowers (you know who you are). I will also mention that someone got his wife flowers as well in an attempt to be a good husband. Jen met me for lunch…

  • The Weekend of IKEA, House, and Watchmen

    So, the weekend is coming to a close and I have agreed to write a blog entry – lucky you. 🙂 I really enjoyed this weekend (though we still have the evening to go before it is time for bed). Jen and I didn’t overcommit to costumes or parties or walking or cleaning or laundry.…

  • There’s No Place You Can Hide

    I can find something nice to say about anything.  Don’t test me.  You. will. lose. Here’s the conundrum:  I just saw STOMP at the Ambassador Theatre in London’s West End.  You need to understand that I did not, at any moment, find myself searching for something nice to say.  Rather, I worried that mere words could…

  • Slow As Molasses

    Yes, this is what you think it is.  My question is, “why?” On my way to Borough Market today I passed another peaceful protest.  Ah, London… There is still no news on the job front at the moment, though I continue to actively pursue work that doesn’t involve measuring detergent or chasing dust bunnies.  Soon.

  • Let’s Do Lunch

    Ah, the joys of lunching in Central London!  The crowds are thick, queues are long, and real Londoners never look at the menu.  You should walk in and fire off your order, like a round from a machine gun, as soon as any person behind the counter makes first eye contact with you.  Don’t wait to…

  • There is No Excuse

    Apparently, I have not been sitting still long enough to throw my thoughts together, but I can promise that food reviews are in your future.  I’ve been busy over the last two days making arrangements to accept a job offer, in case the offer is made, which involves a string of employment verification and getting…

  • Yes, Like Mozart

    Slightly east and ever so north of our neighborhood lies another that is host to busy weekend shoppers and pub crawlers.  Shoreditch is home to our new friend, and on this occasion our tour guide, Wolfie.  (How cool is it that we know someone named Woldgang?!)  He led us past the Moorgate area and beyond…

  • Real Life Begins

    I never felt inspired to shop for the perfect vintage wear while living in Nashville, but in London the idea seems completely natural.  While preparing to attend a fancy dress housewarming party as Mr. Lucas and Miss Brahms from Are You Being Served?, Drew and I discovered several great places to shop for unique pieces…

  • The 7 Fingers Have my Heart

    Loitering in the Peacock Theatre is the Sadler’s Wells production Traces.  It is an absolutely stunning piece of performance art with an urban vibe and abstract presentation.  Despite being a work of finest art it remains accessible to us all through such universal themes as struggle, self awareness, love, loss, relationships, belonging…  Traces elevates the…

  • Any Dream Will Do

    Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is a spectacular event not to be missed.  Gareth Gates lends a tangible familiarity and lovable quality to his debut as Joseph.  This show is absolutely dream-like in its presentation – the detail in every fantastic element, as well as the timely humor infused throughout, makes for an evening…

  • Are You Diggin’ On Me?

    To look upon Joss Stone is to behold someone distinctly familiar.  Sweet. Young. Lovely.  But when she parts her lips her soul comes rushing out like thick velvet or strong coffee.    You can blink, but she’s still your little sister or the girl next door – she’s standing on stage and it’s as if the voice…

  • Mind the Elbow

    We joined a group of ex-pats and west side locals for an eight mile walk along the Thames River between Putney Bridge Station and Richmond.  Our walk was broken into two mile segments by stops at three cozy pubs along the way. It’s easy to forget how quiet London can be – or how much…

  • Si Senorita!

    The Huddleston Bed and Breakfast is celebrating the confirmation of another visitor’s travel date!  This time our dear friend, and possibly the girl who will save the world by the time I’m rocking on my front porch, is a world traveler whizzing by to share a pint and maybe catch up with another friend.  I’ll…

  • We Can and We Did

    Friday the 13th was rumored to be a day of Zombie flash mobs at London Bridge Station and Trafalgar Square, but I have been informed that far more Police personnel and cameramen showed up than Zombies.  I didn’t dress as a Zombie or rearrange my plans for the day to try and catch a glimpse…

  • On the Waterfront

    For some reason, what’s hot in London theatre at the moment includes two plays set in New York (centering around the dock workers) near the same time.  We had the opportunity to see a fabulous revitalization of A View From the Bridge, and Tuesday night made our way to the Theatre Royal Haymarket for On…

  • B Lush. MMmmmm, Yes, Please Do.

    What a strange few days I have had! The things which have given me such a fit before have started to become more comical and I think I feel a bit braver. Something has come over me that feels similar to armor, but with a sense of humor booster built in. They must have flagged…

  • Of Bridges Burned

    While Drew was busy today, I joined Emily and Kerry for a walking tour of the area near St. Paul’s Cathedral, on the south side of the City of London.  Apparently Emily has become friends with some credentialed London tour guides, Keith and Gordon, whom I had the pleasure of meeting.  It is amazing the…

  • A View From the Bridge

    I met Drew at his office and he grabbed a quick slice of pizza as we headed to the Duke of York’s Theatre.  It seemed quite the appropriate thing to do on our way to a play set in New York.  The theatre itself was the first proper English looking theatre I had yet been…

  • Is it That Late Already?

    Sadly, I feel that there is very little news to report.  I have rearranged my CV so many times, and written so many covering letters, I am quite tired of myself.  I have lost count of the number of jobs about which I have contacted recruiters–or the numbers of recruiters I have contacted to be…

  • Where There’s a Will, There Something Good To Watch

    This evening in Leicester Square the critically acclaimed 7 pounds premiered at the Empire Cinema.  Crowds were already camped out when Drew passed through to go to the office today.  Drew attempted on his way home this evening to get a picture of Will Smith on the red carpet, but the lighting was poor. Lucky…

  • Hit Me!

    Hit Me! The Life and Rhymes of Ian Dury is a play wonderfully written by Jeff Merrifield, and well carried by Jud Charlton (playing Ian Dury) and Josh Darcy (playing Fred Rowe). There isn’t much of a storyline or a plot, but you don’t really notice until it’s over. The play is more of a…

  • All You Need is Love and Chocolate Chip Cookies

    While we were in Nashville for the Christmas holidays I took a trip Whole Foods for vegan chocolate chips. I was disappointed that the shelf had far fewer bags on it than I had intended to buy, but we will manage to ration them until May–or until someone visits. The point of the story is…

  • Reconsider Everything

    While walking through Green Park today on our way to take photos of Buckingham Palace, I heard a terrible commotion in the distance.  It sounded like someone giving a heated speech to a noisy and responsive crowd–like you see in old history films.  A detour down Piccadilly towards Piccadilly Arcade led us to the source…

  • Leaving Nashvegas

    The collection of mail on our doorstep is a testament to the great length of time we were afforded with family and friends. We didn’t come close to seeing everyone on the list, but we wore ourselves out trying.  Since our last post we saw two more beautiful (and growing) children and their parents and…

  • …and That’s Why They Call it a Clock/Radio-

    -because it has both. I noticed a few weeks back that my hair was suddenly a different color.  It had a darker, almost ashy sheen.  I wasn’t the only one that noticed, either.  Everyone that noticed seemed to think it was a nice change.  Though I did wonder what had brought about a sudden change…