it's because I've been working so hard during the weekdays to find a job, that all else has taken a bit of backseat until the weekend. Let's recap...We started the weekend with a Friday dinner at Rehab...um, the restaurant here in the Wood 'Hood (not to be confused with Therapy in Charlotte). Whilst munching on calzones and drinking some red wine, Steve got a text from Nic that she and Clint were on their way down for dinner, too. Following their arrival, we all four chatted in the front lounge. Moments later, in walk Ruth and Tree. Then Greg. Then Kerry-Ann. It became a nice little gathering and we found ourselves laughing and sharing stories in the back private room. Bonus: After the jazz-y/blues singer finished his set, he joined our little party. Interesting touch for the evening...good times.
Steve's mom hopped into London on Saturday for an afternoon of laughs with her son. The day before, I'd sent Steve an e-mail list of about two dozen field trips that I'd like to do as a bouncing off point for what we could plan for his mom (e.g. touring Number 1 London/Apsley House, the Old Operating Theatre museum, the Petrie Museum
of Egyptian Archaeology, in which staff offer torches for gloomy corners and Gallery 2 holds Minnie, the head of a mummy -- y'know, the creepy and macabre that I love oh-so-much). We figured we'd see what his mom would care to do and make a day of it.On Saturday morning, Steve and I drove to Maz and John's and, after a short discussion with his mom, we decided that it'd be nice to hop up to Little Venice in Maida Vale and then ride up the canal to the London zoo. (Note: Little Venice does not guarantee fabulous Italian restaurants in the same way that Little Italy in Manhattan does; rather, it's known for its canals. However, Steve was quick to try to allay my disappointment, saying, "Well, I'm sure there are Italian restaurants there...")
We trained/tubed it on out to Maida Vale and, as we exited the tube, we found ourselves in the midst of incredibly high gusts of wind and a rather heavy drizzle. Taking shelter in a familiar Cust pub, Gordon Ramsay's Warrington, for a lovely bite of lunch (I've never seen a burger plated so fancily!), we rethought our original agenda. Instead, we opted to go to the National Science
Museum, where we'd be dry and warm inside.We walked down museum row, past the V&A and the National History Museum, pausing to peek at the ice skaters on the seasonal rink outside the History Museum. ("What's a Zamboni?" asked Steve...Yeah, there are Yank terms that they don't understand, either. Somehow, that makes me feel a bit better.)
As we wandered through the museum's exhibits, learning about turn-of-the-century industrial machinery, DNA, human emotions, ships, technology and more, we exchanged silly remarks that set us into high giggles. Three and a half hours later, we'd completed just three of the five floors, yet were rather beat. We walked past Maz's place of employment, the Royal Marsden Hospital, and escaped the wet weather in a charming little pub on a quiet street, The Crown. It was cosy and had a large skylight in the dining room that would've surely been beautiful in sunny weather.
One quick drink later, we were back to walking the streets, and strolling down King's Road, window shopping and sharing tales. Steve's mom mentioned that during the 60's, this was a popular "swinging London" area. It was very cool and positively filled with fab shoe shops. ("Now I have to find a job quickly; I want to buy those shoes! Think I should mention that in the next interview?")
We finished the evening back at Maz and John's, eating baked ziti, and watching the movie Ratatouille (aww, too cute). It was a nice, quiet Saturday night in, and was just what I'd needed.
Up next? Um...I guess what I did six days ago...(winks) In the meantime, I'll be cleaning and prepping for Casey's arrival on Tuesday. Hooray!
No comments:
Post a Comment