Boston Calling

Well, it's time to wrap up this Blog, as we ship off for Boston. We have been in London now for over 3 1/2 years, which is unbelievable. What was supposed to be 2 years quickly turned into more. I am so happy and so grateful for the time we have had in this country and all of its neighboring countries. I couldn't possibly list all of the highlights (plus, that would kind of defeat the purpose of this Blog, wouldn't it?). Let me just say that it's been a great ride and we've made some great friends. I will always remember London as the place where I started my life with my husman. What better personal praise can I give it? I look forward to taking our experiences back with us to the East Coast and seeing our new friends on home turf for visits.

Thank you all for reading this thang! It's been a lot of fun and I'm sure I'll create a new version of it for our new adventures.

Navigating the (Final) Outdoor Picnic

Yesterday, we had a little bon voyage London picnic. Yes, Blog, we're leaving London for good this Friday. Sad face.

For this picnic, we were determined to be outside and we chose the boating lake area of Regent's Park. A swan song with the swans, if you will. It was cold. And then it got colder. But it never rained and so we perservered. I brought rosé, to keep us... cool? The winds tried to blow us down in the lake, but we stayed strong. It worked out remarkably well to get a group of people together that we have met over the years - work colleagues, The Oxfordians, friends of friends of friends of friends, and several others. It was a bittersweet day - one that we capped off with a trip to The Albert pub near Primrose Hill, a nice little find.

Coming up next: a look back on the last 3.5 years+ in The Final Post.

Europolyspatialtechnopolicy

A few weeks ago, I took a part-time volunteer position with a local economics journal out of London Southbank University, whiiiiiich just so happens to be a few blocks from my house! I've been doing some editing and article management, but my most interesting task so far is the writing of two book review articles on the concept "European polycentric spatial planning." I know this sounds self-explanatory, but I will explain anyway. Basically, the EU has an arm which focuses on regional planning, specifically on improving regions outside the economic engine of Europe (the London-Paris-Milan-Munich-Hamburg pentagon). The exercise has taken me back to my heady academic daze, where ideas and concepts are everything. Oh, and you may notice it includes the word "planning." Love.

Navigating the Indoor Picnic

Last weekend we made plans to meet friends at Kew Gardens for an afternoon picnic. Unfortunately, the weather was not cooperating, so we had to restrategize. In a picnicpanic, we opted for hosting an "indoor picnic" at our place. A few things I learned from this unexpected (albeit, hilariously fun) experience:

1. When the guests include kids, utilize the "outdoor" space of your "indoor" picnic. Paper planes and bubble capturing go down much better in a courtyard than they do in your 1-bed.

2. More bread, always more bread. Oh and wine too.

3. Once you start to utilize your in-home karaoke system at your in-home picnic, expect that this will quickly evolve from a silly laugh to a full-blown rosé-fueled karaoke party. (Related side note: if you have windows that open like a balcony, expect a Don't Cry for Me Argentina performance, complete with neighbor participation.)

4. You WILL need brownies, preferably from Konditor & Cook, if you can help it.

5. Finally, and most importantly, anticipate that your "in-home picnic" will actually be realized as a "house party that just starts earlier." Embrace it. Love it. And sing a verse of Queen's Don't Stop Me Now with me on the "in-home" (karaoke machine).

Royale With Cheese

This was the blogging event of the year, folks! To have this blog and not write about the royal wedding would be like to take a childhood diary and burn it. It would be useless otherwise.

For the event, we got up early and got very close.... to a friends' TV. However, let it be known that said TV at said friends' place was mere blocks from the actual event in Westminster. (We got to see the planes fly over following the kiss, which was super-cool.) I was very impressed with London and the people and the whole event in general. You could pretend like the whole thing was not going on in London if you wanted to. But I would do no such thing.

I tapped into London's crazy betting market for the first time, placing 2 pounds on 4-to-1 odds that "Royal guard would faint" (none did) and 1 pound on 8-to-1 odds that the dress designer would be "Christopher Bailey" (it wasn't). The day was nevertheless a lot of fun (even if I did not make any money off of it). Following our live! coverage of the event, we headed out to Surrey for a friends' birthday BBQ where we croqueted it up and ate pork sausages and Eton Mess. I like to think that even if we weren't invited to Kate and Willss'sses's actual reception (oversight alert!), what we did instead was not too far off...

Cameroooon!

Last night I had the pleasure of seeing this African artist Muntu Valdo at the Hoxton Bar. I had never heard of him before, but we joined Su, Emma & co. for some drinks & some World Music exploration. I was very impressed! He had an interesting sound inspired by American blues and jazz. Also, he did this need trick with every song where he recorded each part (percussion, bass, etc.) on his electronic guitar-like instrument and then looped the part over and over using a series of pedals. Very cool! (And he totally made Radiohead looping look amateurish. Sorry Johnny Greenwood.)

Afterwards, we took in a few drinks as the sun set on Hoxton Square and I had a chance to rock my ironic Ben Sherman black rim flip sunglasses to impress The Hipsters. Not bad for a Monday!

(Still, my favorite Cameroonian has still got to be Bebe Zahara Benet, winner of season 1 of RuPaul's Drag Race. Camerooooooooon!)

In Praise of Gaucho (Not Gauche-o)

Now, let me say it right off the bat. I am not what you would call a "sophisticated" eater. I loves me some fry, some chocolate and the Fast Casual chain dining scene in general. Everytime I pay more than 20 pounds/dollars/quetzales for a meal (booze included), I cringe just a little bit. Imagine my surprise to find that I had an **awesome** fancy(ish) dinner at swanky(esque) Gaucho Grill on Picadilly last night. Not everyone would call Gaucho Grill "sophisticated dining" (its multiple locations, including, "Coming Soon: Abu Dhabi," take away that certain something special), but the price tag begs to differ. But one tenderoni steak, half a bottle of most-excellent Syrah and a few awesome cheesy rolls ("They're like the Red Lobster chedder biscuits, but.... better!") and I was hooked. I couldn't complain about the company either. In the end though, I think it was the sight of a group of complaining midwest-American businessmen, pleated jeans and company windbreakers in tow, that made me realize "It's okay. I can be here."