Jen and Bill once lived in England

Sunday, April 10, 2016

This is not Photoshoped

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Looks who's back in England!  She only had one hour of broken sleep on her Virgin Atlantic flight, but still looks fabulous.  She even had the stamina to catch the first Downton Abbey, play Scrabble and catch Sunday Roast at The Two Brewers.  </div>
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Alas, she has just hit the wall.  While I watched the end of Ronin (a surprisingly decent late-career Robert Deniro flick), Jennie crashed after reading half a page of her book.</div>
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Tomorrow I'll work and then we have the rest of the week to see more of England.</div>
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Finally it feels like our little adventure is really on track.</div>
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The Odd Couple

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My visa arrived today which means that it's only a matter of time before I'm out of Atwood and onto Brocas Terrace.  And Bret will get the house to himself.</div>
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It's interesting that at 46 I'm the Felix Unger of this couple when in my early years I was absolutely an Oscar Madison.  (Remember that fish tank full of dead fish, Mummy?) But rather than dwell on the condition on Atwood, I'll focus on the movie reference.</div>
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Sunday night Bret and I watched Barefoot in the Park - a favorite! - which made me think about Neil Simon's limited repertoire.  All of his movies are centered around two people or sets of couple who are opposites who attract despite their differences.  He really never deviated from this formula from The Odd Couple to Biloxi Blues to Murder By Death.  I guess if it ain't broke, why fix it? </div>
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 Classics from Barefoot:</div>
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"He moved out - didn't you notice his suit case, mother?"</div>
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"He's always so formal - I thought it was the garbage."</div>
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"It wasn't until we were married that I realized you didn't sleep wearing a tie!"</div>
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"Only for very formal sleeps."</div>
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Pure gold.</div>
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When I was a kid I watched old movies all weekend on channel 56 and 38, rain or shine. I watched Arsenic and Old Lace, Philadelphia Story, The Incredible Mr Limpet....I loved them all.  Later, with cable and dvds, there was never a reason for Bret and Joey to watch old movies - new movies were always at their finger tips.  I'm so glad that wasn't me, that my options were limited to whatever slapstick comedy or film noir was on one of two channels for the day.  Sure I watched a lot of crap.  But those all day movie marathons gave me a film education and a fantastic range of movie knowledge that I wouldn't trade for anything.  </div>
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I'm happy to say that Bret sat through the entire showing of Barefoot in the Park with several audible laughs.  Before I go I need to get him in front of His Girl Friday, To Kill a Mockingbird and Casablanca.</div>
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This also just triggered a memory of Andy telling me that he was in the opening credits of the Odd Couple...I think Andy's rather creative fibs are a post for another day...</div>
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Curbside drive

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We got Doug behind the wheel of the Mini this afternoon.  (I had two pints at lunch so I told Doug he had to take the helm)</div>
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Despite Marge's jovial demeanor in the back seat she nervously coached Doug as he bounced off a few curbs.  I remember Jen saying the same thing to me 12 years ago when I first drove on our honeymoon.  Your instinct is to ease away from oncoming traffic when you sit on that side of the car.  Hence, you ride along the curbside.  I had two ales in me so I wasn't so nervous.  Doug got used to it by the end of our journey.  </div>
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Here is where we went for Sunday roast.</div>
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<a href="http://www.thebelvederearms.co.uk/" target="_blank">Belvedere Arms</a></div>
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Back home we relaxed in the garden.  (I learned "garden" is the proper term for the back yard.  "Yard" to the Brits means a car size slab of hot top)</div>
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I'm off to work tomorrow.  Marge and Doug will pack a bit for their trip, shop around Eton and then we'll go out for our last meal together.</div>
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They will come back when they swing back on the back end of their three month tour of Europe.</div>
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Jen will be back this time.</div>
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Two Bagger

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Marge, Doug and I walked around Windsor today.  We saw the place Marge worked and the place where they lived.  They lived in the rough part of Windsor, not the Eden that is Eton.  (Actually the place was beautiful but I'm competitive)</div>
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We strolled along the Long Walk and found the place lousy with gorgeous vintage cards.  Bentleys, Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Jags ... but no Mini Coopers.  A glaring miss.</div>
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 Doug and Marge bought me an ice cream.  </div>
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I love a vanilla soft serve.</div>
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 Marge was determined to score a Waitrose-save-the-environment bag.  The very helpful British staff went to the basement to get her two of them.  I never knew a supermarket to have a basement.</div>
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Our First Guest

It's ironic that the first guest we have at our UK home is Jen's Aunt and Uncle who also did an assignment in the UK ... and lived about a mile from where we are living. Isn't life funny that way. It's also ironic (I don't think Alanis Morrisette and I are using the word ironic correctly) that Jen isn't here.

I'm trying to think "what would Jen want me to do to entertain Marge and Doug". I wasn't sure so I bought a hookah. Maybe it is because of the long trip from Colorado but they were not up for my plans to sit outside listening to Arlo Guthrie songs smoking bacon flavored Sheesha.

We ended up going to the pub for dinner. Doug told a story about the time when a waitress asked Doug if Mother Entwistle, Doug's sister, was his mother. Doug was almost as giddy telling this story as he was talking about the VISA exchange rates between the U.S. and U.K. It made me realize the no matter how old you get, it's just fun to make fun of your sibling.

Don't worry Mother, I stuck up for you.

It is great having them here. I think they are getting a kick out of reliving their days in Windsor.

(It's 9:00pm... the fox guy should be coming out to feed the foxes soon....)

El Domingo Asado

I had a nice Sunday Roast at The Bel and Dragon. Best part was talking to Jennie for much of the time. I find when I don't keep myself busy seeing London that I am most lost. It will be good having Marge and Doug her next weekend. My first, of hopefully many, visitors.

Since I'm on the topic, look at my sad little set up in the back yard. The drizzle screwed up my painting session. So I got my umbrella and a Bath Ale to watch Y Mama Tu Tambien (recommend it) on my iPad. I lit a candle to create ambiance (a total Jen move)

Another Day in London

I went into London again today. Jen knows I am not a fan of the mess that is the Saturday Market at Portabello Street. So I took the hint from the book we have highlighting lesser traveled London and went to the back of the market on Goldbourne Road. I enjoyed that part of the market much better.

Below are a couple picture from this funky place that sold little skull heads and dead bugs.

All I will say is that I made a purchase.

And I wondered into a cool shop run by a former member of the band "Flesh for Lulu". He was a great guy.

See if you can spot him in this video.

Flesh for Lulu - I Go Crazy

Ended the day trying out the fourth in my cigar bar series, Dukes Hotel Cigar Bar. I'm giving it a mediocre rating. Hotel is beautiful, but the cigar bar ambiance was like the sun room in your Great Aunt's house.

Update on my stolen hat. Anthony tells me that it's a very British thing to steal a hat like that... somehow petty theft doesn't seems as bad when it's done by the Brits.