Wednesday, 26 October:
We got to see a Royal today! Don't ask which one. We were walking through Kensington Gardens today and as we passed the Kensington Palace, a helicopter landed in a field nearby. As we walked toward the field, we noticed it was guarded by PCs (Police Constables). We watched for a minute, and saw a Rolls Royce followed by a Jaguar leave the palace and drive out to the helicopter. We asked the closest PC what was going on and they said it was a Royal getting transported, but that she was not allowed to say who. Sure enough, a bunch of very well dressed people got out of the cars and jumped into the helicopter. So we definitely saw the feet of a royal between the wheels of a helicopter today.
Speaking of PCs, I have noticed that Terry Pratchett's description of guards are dead on for the police force here. The only cops I have seen allowed to walk around by themselves are the parking police. Real police are always in groups of two or more, and typically more. Apparently it isn't safe for them to be out alone. Even motorcycle cops are always in threes when I see them.
Another observation of note is meat. It is almost always attached to bones here. We live in an area that is rife with Chinese restaurants, and every single one has duck carcasses hanging in the window. Cooked, but with the heads/necks and feet all still attached. The other day we went into a grocery store that had a butcher at the back. On his counter were two skinned and gutted sheep carcasses. Complete bodies on a marble slab. It is very different from California, where almost all of the meat has been carefully presented in ways that do not remind buyers of its origin. Even t-bones and rib eyes don't give any indication of where they came from.
The job hunt continues. Nothing new on this front, except for the number of applications that have gone out. My phone interview on Monday didn't happen. The guy got too busy, and didn't have a chance to call. I am supposed to get a reschedule, so we shall see.
Suzanne is almost 100% over her cold. She is out and about and finally responding to a large backlog of emails.
Bureaucracy 101: Phone saga... Well, wait until Monday is now wait until Monday. I was told that it takes up to ten business days for the accounting department to credit a deposit, so I get to wait until next Monday before I can check to see if I have a home phone. Still more fun! And, of course, this means that I get to wait even longer before I can get internet at home. And the banking thing is as fun as ever. I went in to the bank with my notification of service pending deposit and was told that this was not enough information for a bank account. The bill has to be a true bill with OCR line at the bottom and tear off portion. And, if Suzanne doesn't have one in her name, she can not be on a joint account. So I called BT again, and they said they don't do more than one name on a bill. I called London Energy, and they will do this for us, so Suzanne can join me on an account. I guess no trophy wife in the UK can escape having a bill in her name if she wants to have a bank account. Very strange.
We have been loving the change in weather. There is a coolness in the air that reddens the cheeks and makes walks in the park an abosolute joy. After living next to Balboa park, I thought I knew what a lot of squirrels looked like. I was wrong, Hyde park is rife with the things. They are only slightly outnumbered by flying rats (pigeons). The park itself is a wonderful place to walk. There are plenty of pathways and the grass is wonderfully green. The trees are all over the place and after the first fifty yards, you can not hear the sounds of the city (except for Royals in helicopters). With the bite of fall on the air, exercise isn't the sweaty mess that I always managed to become in San Diego. And there has been wonderful showers of rain almost every day, so the air smells clean and fresh from the moment we leave the house.
Speaking of PCs, I have noticed that Terry Pratchett's description of guards are dead on for the police force here. The only cops I have seen allowed to walk around by themselves are the parking police. Real police are always in groups of two or more, and typically more. Apparently it isn't safe for them to be out alone. Even motorcycle cops are always in threes when I see them.
Another observation of note is meat. It is almost always attached to bones here. We live in an area that is rife with Chinese restaurants, and every single one has duck carcasses hanging in the window. Cooked, but with the heads/necks and feet all still attached. The other day we went into a grocery store that had a butcher at the back. On his counter were two skinned and gutted sheep carcasses. Complete bodies on a marble slab. It is very different from California, where almost all of the meat has been carefully presented in ways that do not remind buyers of its origin. Even t-bones and rib eyes don't give any indication of where they came from.
The job hunt continues. Nothing new on this front, except for the number of applications that have gone out. My phone interview on Monday didn't happen. The guy got too busy, and didn't have a chance to call. I am supposed to get a reschedule, so we shall see.
Suzanne is almost 100% over her cold. She is out and about and finally responding to a large backlog of emails.
Bureaucracy 101: Phone saga... Well, wait until Monday is now wait until Monday. I was told that it takes up to ten business days for the accounting department to credit a deposit, so I get to wait until next Monday before I can check to see if I have a home phone. Still more fun! And, of course, this means that I get to wait even longer before I can get internet at home. And the banking thing is as fun as ever. I went in to the bank with my notification of service pending deposit and was told that this was not enough information for a bank account. The bill has to be a true bill with OCR line at the bottom and tear off portion. And, if Suzanne doesn't have one in her name, she can not be on a joint account. So I called BT again, and they said they don't do more than one name on a bill. I called London Energy, and they will do this for us, so Suzanne can join me on an account. I guess no trophy wife in the UK can escape having a bill in her name if she wants to have a bank account. Very strange.
We have been loving the change in weather. There is a coolness in the air that reddens the cheeks and makes walks in the park an abosolute joy. After living next to Balboa park, I thought I knew what a lot of squirrels looked like. I was wrong, Hyde park is rife with the things. They are only slightly outnumbered by flying rats (pigeons). The park itself is a wonderful place to walk. There are plenty of pathways and the grass is wonderfully green. The trees are all over the place and after the first fifty yards, you can not hear the sounds of the city (except for Royals in helicopters). With the bite of fall on the air, exercise isn't the sweaty mess that I always managed to become in San Diego. And there has been wonderful showers of rain almost every day, so the air smells clean and fresh from the moment we leave the house.
posted by Unknown at 7:37 AM
3 Comments:
Hey Donald and Suzanne - Yes, there is someone out here reading the blog, which is fabulous by the way. The duck carcasses and the phone debacle were certainly interesting! I envy you the green grass and trees in the park and the rain. Sigh! But no crushed red pepper and Mexican hot sauce made of vinegar and red food coloring - Geez, who are these people, barbarians??!! ;)
I'm glad you're getting better Suzanne - no fun being so sick with so much going on. Best of luck to you both on the job interviews - and getting a home phone!
Cheers,
Karen (at the Zoo)
Oddly, the weather in San Diego has been curiously London-like all this week--overcast, bits of rain (at least what passes for rain here), and that cool nip in the air. But all the meat is still meticulously rendered from the carcasses.
It's funny that you should say you are getting London weather, as we are getting very San Diego weather. Actually, we were warmer in London yesterday than San Diego by about four degrees. After a month of begging for comments I get not one, but two in the same day! Thank you so much, both of you, I appreciate the feedback.
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