The Tourist's London

We had a visitor at work a few weeks back so we did some touristy things. Wow, if you get off the tube at Westminster where Big Ben is located, it is crazy with tourists! Had the opportunity to go on the London Eye, which I am glad I experienced, but for the price won’t be doing that again! Also walked over past Downing Street and Cavalry Museum.

A New Opportunity

H moved restaurants a few weeks ago. It’s a move into fine dining and it is closer to home so that’s an added bonus. His shifts are long, starting at nine in the morning and not ending until after midnight. A and I stayed up the first night to hear how it went. At one point he was explaining a dish he was plating which had about eight different components on it. As he began A was in the room. She left the room and came back several minutes later and he was still explaining the same dish. Upon her return she said, “Why do you spend so much time on something that will be eaten in thirty seconds?” As H says, “Out of the mouth of babes...”.

They had an event at his restaurant Sunday night and I went up and met him so I got a tour of the place, got to meet his boss as well as Jean-Christophe Novelli who came by for support. Chef Novelli has a new show that is airing on Bravo in the U.S. called Chef Academy.

More Christmas Lights in London

I took these after a work event in London last week. 

Wait, they don't love you like I love you...

Last Tuesday night A and I escaped to Brixton to see the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I’ve been loving their latest record all year so it was a treat to myself to get to see them live. It was fun to photograph them too.

Arsenal!

Saturday A got a chance to go with her friend to an Arsenal football game. Her friend’s family has season tickets. I don’t think A realized what a privilege it was to be invited until she arrived home and my friend N buried his face in the program and couldn’t stop talking about it. As soccer is the only sport she has ever played herself, she actually knew the rules. She can check a quintessential European experience off of her list!

Dinner Party

My buddy N from the B&B who moved back to New Zealand is here until the first week of January. We had him and his girlfriend J over for dinner Saturday night with my work colleague H who also lived at the B&B and her boyfriend. I had been busy with work and errands so I didn’t even ask H what he was planning to cook. He made everything from scratch, and it was outstanding. Not that I need any new favourite fattening dishes but he made a chicken liver pate with berries that was really delicious. When he brought out individual chocolate lava cakes with raspberry sauce and homemade ice cream the conversation ceased as even the person who said they weren’t crazy about chocolate ate every bite. Can’t do that often, but it was sure delicious and fun!

One Long Ramble

Depression is the name of the game right now. I don’t know if it’s the holiday season or a combination of other factors but I find myself on the weekends staring off into space, not accomplishing anything but self-analysis to the point that I make myself sick...of myself!


The weather has turned rainy and cold, not a good combination. I find myself wondering why is it so easy to stick with a bad habit, yet the good ones fall by the wayside in a matter of days. Exercise! Stick!

I’ve been baking some Christmas cookies to take as gifts to work. It’s the first time I’ve been able to do that in a few years and I am enjoying it. Even more reason to get the exercise program going regularly.

I was feeling down a few weeks ago thinking about expectations and work and things ending up differently than I expected here and H said to me that if we left tomorrow, he’d think the move was still a success. My first reaction was disagreement, but after I thought about it for awhile, it is true.

I got some bad news from home this week. A dear family friend, someone who has been like a second mother to me and my brothers passed away. It’s strange hearing that news and being so far away because without being able to go and grieve, it feels like it really didn’t happen.

I figure this pity party may last until December 31st but no longer. New decade, new attitude.