squirrel on the move

Housemate: Just went to check the mail and see you have a hand addressed envelope dated 3:15 Aug. 9 (today) -- I assume it's from the "owners" -- let me know if you want me to open it or just leave it there or put in your house (which I've been doing with your other mail).

Me: Erk. Can you open it because I am having a slight panic attack :)

Housemate: I'm sorry it's not good news but it's what I suspected it was. It's a notice to terminate for landlord's own use that's effective Oct. 31, 2010.

Me: [redacted because of this "request" ]

Not completely unexpected of course.

I was having a drink on Carnaby Street with my cousin, his wife and my sister when I got this news.



The eviction notice arrived on the day I was scheduled to return from London but I have extended my stay for a couple of weeks. At least I will not be reading the notice as soon as I enter my long-loved home all weary from travel and jet lagged. That would have been a bit brutal. This way I have time to shake it off before I get back. And we got started on that right away.

My cousin and his wife had to head for home as the last train from London leaves before midnight. My sis took me on a mystery tour through the nighttime streets. We suddenly ducked in the side door of a building and dashed into the most splendiferous toilet I have ever seen. It was like a secret garden. Oddly.


I have no picture. This is from flickr. Click to see original.

I still didn't know where we were. We came out of the toilets and we were at Claridge's having a Breakfast at Tiffany's moment.

We went to the Fumoir. I had a Sazerac. I have never had one before but have wanted to try this delicious nectar ever since I saw State of the Union (Frank Capra's movie). The waiter was as perfect as the jewelry salesperson in Breakfast at Tiffany's and comfort and optimism were restored.

the real swiss chalet

In SWITZERLAND!

geneva

Telling Tales and I decided to leave Londontown and visit our friend Michelle in Geneve.

Geneva is a lovely city. The buses and LRT are beautiful. You want to stay on them forever. Are you listening TTC?

We stopped by a corner store on our way to the apartment to grab some supplies - wine and crackers and cheese. In Switzerland even corner store cheese is delicious. In fact we liked the corner store best of all but more about that later.

Here are some of the things we saw on our first day. We strolled around the old city, learned a few things about Calvin, tried not to spend all of our holiday finds on one lunch and wandered around the lake before meeting up with Michelle. Isn't it pretty?

jacob two two

grew up, moved to Brighton, got married and had twin daughters.

a day out in brighton

A perfect day trip to Brighton with Michelle.
The lanes, the Royal Pavillion, the beach and the pier. Plus beverages.

greenwich

I went to Greenwich for the RaPAL conference. Telling Tales came out with me on the boat and we had a wander and a snack.



One of the workshops I attended was called "To the meridian." We went out with cameras and took pictures of signs around Greenwich. We had a funny encounter with a restaurant worker who was watching us quizzically while we photographed the wheelie bin he was dumping garbage into. We explained what we were doing and he laughed and said, "I thought you were the weirdest tourists ever."

Here is some of the stuff I saw in Greeenwich this time.



Telling Tales came back when the conference was over and we went to the craft market and did our bit for the economy and had another snack :)



(What I saw on last year's trip to Greenwich is here, and here, and here.)

paddington dumplings

We visited a friend in hospital and then wandered about Paddington Basin not taking pictures.

We got hungry and went to Pearl Liang for the best dumplings EVER!

southbank evening

update

You can see what this looked like last year here.

back in london

twengland 2011

The airport was sparkly this morning

My seatmate slept practically the whole way to London