Camden market and Boston girls

Today's London journey brought me to Camden Market. 

Before i got there I saw this couple on the train.  They are wearing matching bracelets and watches, apparently demonstrating their love of Comicon, or something ilke that.  Ah, nothing like Nerds in love.

Also on the way to Camden Market I met Marmaduke here... He intimidated me while I was buying a tea.

Inside Camden Market was a circus.  Many of the shops catered to the twenty something fringe. There was something for the young goths, the young punks, the young rock-a-billys and the young fantasy game players.  I managed to find something for myself in a shop called "A Dandy in Aspic".  Mother Entwistle could probably help me out with what that means.

  I tried to capture the fact that it was pouring buckets all day.  My little flowery Jack Wills umbrella worked overtime.

I was a little weary and wet so found a covered spot outside to have a delicious Belgian pint and a cigar.  (Getting more monotonous than the Sink-Series, I imagine)

Meanwhile, back in the states, Laura, Christin and I went into Boston for dinner and a movie (Celeste and Jesse Forever).  Everyone was so in love with their meal we had to pose with them

When we got to the theater I was reminded what TRUE LOVE is....there was a poster for a release of Raiders of the Lost Ark - coming soon to a theater near me!!!!  It's not surprising that they would rerelease the best movie ever made - what is more surprising is that it hasn't been playing in movie theaters every day since 1981.  It's only a matter of time before I'm in a dark theater for the 24th time saying the lines along with Indy and Marion (yes, this is how I learned to speak Nepalese)

 "...I was a child, I was in love - it was wrong and you knew it!"

"You knew what you were doing"

"Now I do. This is my place.  Get out....Mohan, tayme garu!!  Boulianoo!!"

Still passing time until Jennie returns

More from my inauguration to Chelsea Football.  The stadium holds 45,000 singing Brits.  BUT, they don't serve beer during the game!  Only time you can have a beer is before the match and at half time.  Obviously the boys have a history of acting up after they get pissed, so they are being punished.

At my favorite cigar bar with my mate, Tim.

Wait, here I am the today at another cigar bar.  I needed it after the brutal experience I had at the U.S. embassy trying to sign paperwork for a refinance.

I think the Mayfair cigar bar is better than other favorite.  I've hit three so far.  Jen is on a mission to see all the best book stores, I am on a mission to hit all the best cigar bars in London.

Tim invited me to a posh equestrian event Sunday.  Horses....why did it have to be horses?

But he hobnobs with royalty (his friend is a Duke and the queen's granddaughter will be riding), so it will be worth it

Arsenal vs Chelsea

Bill is officially British - he attended the opening match between Arsenal and Chelsea thanks to a connection at work with Chelsea season tickets. I got this picture as I drove home from work.  I don't know little Miss Thumbs Up behind them.  Bill doesn't look like he is missing me tonight but I'm sure he is...deep inside.

Meanwhile I was finger printed today - the last step needed for my Visa. So my application was officially sent off to New York for processing this afternoon.  Now my future is in the hands of fate and the British Consulate General.

An Eton haircut

This update will only interest my wife (and maybe my Mother-in-law...she's seems fascinated by the mundane pictures of our house).

The Eton landscape team was busy at work chopping down our beautiful fields.  Instead of the gorgeous wispy sea grass we now have hacked up wheat.  It's like when Britney spears cut her own hair.

And Jennie has been asking for photos of our new rocks.  I kept telling her that it's not much to see but she wanted to see the difference between the black plastic sheet and the off-white rocks.  (If this qualifies as a good post, how the hell is the sink series not better received?!)

A beautiful sunset ruined by the Britney-chopped grass.

My morning ride in a Lotus

After a lovely dog walk through the backyard of Eton University, Louise and I drove the Morgan to her brother Paul's house in Bracknell.  I rode with Paul through the formerly quiet roads of England's countryside.  I say formerly because this car tore it up.  There was one stretch where Paul stopped conversation so as to fully concentrate on the winding road.  It was amazing to take corners at speeds I have yet to hit, nor will ever hit, with my Mini.

We stopped at a great pub, whereabouts unknown, to knock back a pint.  On the ride back Paul asked if I'd like to drive his car and I embarrassed myself with how quickly I said "Hell, no".  I would break the car by driving in second gear at speeds the car would yawn and doze off at.

Paul, like his sister, is wonderful.  He's an HR guy, too.

And he gave me these eggs from his chickens.

Shoreditch, Portrait Gallery and the Ritz

Today's adventures in the UK brought me to Shoreditch.  I am scouting places in London for Jennie and I, weeding out the places she probably won't take to.

Shoreditch is being put low on the list for her to visit.  It's totally hit or miss.  It's a ragged part of the city, but if you cherry-pick you can find some gems.

My first stop was lunch at Lounge Lovers.  It's an ultra-hip spot that teeters on trying too hard. I enjoyed the hippo on the wall and my waitress with the sleeve tattoo who was wearing only a see through silk shirt and heels.

I walked a bit and found this Museum of Homes or something like that.  I thought Jen would like the tea pot and cup sculpture on the front lawn.

 I eventually made my way out of Shoreditch and went to more familiar territory.  I stopped at Covent Gardens and went into my favorite art museum of all time, The National Portrait Gallery.  Any time I'm near there I pop in and see something new or something I don't tire of.

This is a pencil sketch of J.K. Rawlings I thought was cool.  The entire sketch pad was framed.

My iPhone pointed out a cigar bar I have not hit yet.  With opportunity knocking I went into the Ritz.  They immediately slowed me down and had to find a supervisor to approve my Red Sox hat  and Chuck Taylor sneakers as appropriate Ritz attire.  Since the cigar area was at the far end and basement of the hotel I was whisked quickly past the pretty people and down to my dungeon nirvana.

A score in Shoreditch.  Queen's head on cufflinks.  Subtle enough to make it past my new dress code, but funky enough to make me smile.

Chicken and Potatoes

Above you see one of the million reasons why I miss Jennie.  I was on the phone for work when I doodled the eyes you see above.  I whispered that they were actually boobs so Jennie-The-One-Upper drew balls and a penis.

This post is in honor of Didi.  I got a funny little card in the mail today from her.  It was something most people wouldn't show their mother (unless your mother is Susan or Trudie).

It was a nice surprise.