Springtime and vomit

It's been much, much too long since I've written, and I'm so sorry! But I'm writing now and get ready for a long one. Since Denisse's visit so much has happened, good and bad.

The weekend after Denisse was in London I went to a friend's birthday party in a rather dodgy part of London. At one point, a bum wandered into the party (I think someone had left the front door open), and he started ranting loudly at various people at the party. I also observed him standing next to the counter with all the liquor trying to get as many bottles and cans into his jacket as he could. When something wouldn't fit in one he would try another one until he found a spot. The party was very fun though, we stayed out until after 4 and I was a zombie the next day. I didn't do anything on Saturday until Dasha's friend Dana's leaving do (this is the English word for a party/event/get-together) at a bar in Covent Garden, as she left for a secondment to Tokyo for six months. Whilst there, a guy came over to me and said, "Excuse me, I don't mean to be rude, but you are the most beautiful thing I've ever seen". It was so flattering! And rather unusual, b/c I've come to realise (and also been told by other English folk) that English men are no where near as forward as American men with women. So an incident like this would never normally be expected here in London (at least from an Englishman). For example, I made most of the first moves with MJ. He did ask if I wanted to go to lunch "sometime", but I was the one to ask him on our first official date. This difference in culture is somewhat nice b/c you don't have to worry about being harassed by annoying men at a bar like you sometimes do in the States, but also could be somewhat frustrating b/c on the off chance that you do want someone to come talk to you they probably won't. The other difference I've noticed between American and English men is that English men are much more loyal to their women. I don't just mean they don't cheat on their wives/gfs, I mean that they dote on their girls more, and aren't embarrassed to admit to being in love or doing things that make their girl happy just b/c it makes her happy. I feel like American men are much more standoffish and aloof with women than English men once they are in a relationship. But that's just my opinion.

The next weekend, MJ and I went on a mini-holiday to visit the Cotswolds - a picture-perfect part of England (think thatched roofs and sheep-dotted countryside) populated mostly by middle-aged white people but in a charming way. We took the train up on the Friday after work and then a taxi to the village. We had to book the taxi in advance b/c the station was so small that there wasn't a taxi rank. On the train up, I was reading an American accounting magazine (I know, lame), and MJ said, "There are a lot of big words in there for an American magazine", and the guy sitting next to me (MJ and I were across from each other at one of those tables on the train) could barely contain his laughter. I had to explain that MJ never stops taking the piss out of me (aka giving me crap) for being American. It was pretty funny. We stayed in a hotel that was hundreds of years old in a village called Stow-on-the-Wold (complete with uneven floors and very low wooden ceiling beams that poor MJ kept hitting his head on). It was very charming and quaint, as was the entire village. Our room even had it's own name!

On the Saturday we went to see something that I don't believe exists in the States - a model village. This is a miniature version of a certain town (generally the one that you're in) with knee-high buildings, trees, and streets. We went to see this in one of the neighboring villages called Bourton-on-Water - the model village was outside the back of a pub. We took some pictures being godzilla (original thinking, I know) and then came across the model of the model village. That's right - a model model village. And within this model, which was about a tabletop in size, there was a model of the model! Within that book-sized model, there was a model of the model. Or, to put it another way, a model in a model in a model in a model. I know, it made my head hurt a bit too.

After the miniature model conundrum (where does it stop??), we went on our own little pub crawl to sample the fine ales of the Cotswolds. Oh, by the way, a real ale (not something we have in the States) isn't carbonated and is served at room temperature. I don't like it so much. But our pub crawl was loads of fun anyway b/c they also have normal beer - we went to two or three of the four pubs in the village. I love beer. That night, we made the most of the heart of the British countryside by eating traditional English cuisine on Saturday night (chicken tikka massala, chicken passanda, peshwari naan and boiled rice).

On Sunday we did absolutely nothing, and it was absolutely wonderful. Once we checked out of the hotel, we went to another of the pubs for pub lunch and tea. Pub lunch in Britain is a very hearty meal and sitting for hours drinking tea/beer. MJ and I bought a paper and sat and read up on what was happening in the world for a good two and a half hours or so. It was a very relaxing and perfect Sunday. On the train on the way back to London one of the guys in our carriage had an epileptic seizure and the people next to him had to do the whole 'Is there a doctor on the train' thing - a bit scary!

The next Tuesday I got sick at work - spent about an hour vomiting up my lunch. I went home and stayed there for the next three days. Well, I did come in for about half the day on Wednesday, but even on my way there I knew it was a bad decision. I couldn't keep any food down and hardly even water - sometimes I would just be retching on an empty stomach. I was so miserable by Thursday that I finally went to the doctor, who told me that I had a kidney infection, and a very bad one as they don't see them very often where they make people vomit. The doctor put me on antibiotics for a week and it took them about four and a half days to work. I've never been so sick in my life - I missed two and a half days of work, didn't leave the flat for three days, and lost about five pounds or so b/c I couldn't eat a proper meal for about a week. Now none of my trousers fit me, or rather, the trousers that I've recently bought don't fit me, and the ones that I bought years ago and were a little tight fit perfectly again! The sickness was terrible though, I would never wish it on anyone. Another weird side effect was that I couldn't control my body temperature - if I didn't have a sweater or a blanket on I would shiver uncontrollably, but then if I put too many layers on I would sweat like a pig - disgusting. I was like a bloody crocodile - temperature regulated by my environment. Trying the tube on my first day back to work was an awful mistake - it was so hot that I sweat right through my suit (gross, I know), and then I was out of it for about half of the day again. But I'm better now, and very thankful for my health everyday, it's amazing how easily we take it for granted.

A few weeks ago we had a planning dinner for an audit that I was on, and it was loads of fun - one of the managers organised a game of Clue but with a theme for the client, and my team won! The dinner was very nice - it was in a private boardroom-esque room in a nicer pub, and the wine did not stop flowing. Let's just say the night ended with me falling down half a flight of stairs on the way into the tube. I still have a scar. Brilliant showing in front of my colleagues.

Speaking of work, I've been pretty busy but still not as bad as the States - I worked my first 50 hour week last week but still wasn't working on the weekend. I just had a lot of catching up to do from being sick.

Two weekends ago I went to a surprise birthday party for one of MJ's friends in the O2 centre, a giant arena for concerts and sports with loads of restaurants, a movie theatre, and a few amusement park rides surrounding it, all under the same roof. It's like a mini city. This is where I saw Coldplay. Anyway, the party was fun, and then we all went on bumper cars which was even better. One of MJ's friends and I then went on the biggest ride, which was loads of fun but there were a few times when it crossed my mind that one should not go on rides such as these after drinking. I contemplated the trajectory that vomit would get from being flung through the air by the giant steel pendulum from which I was being swung. Fortunately I didn't have to find out.

The very next night I went back to the O2 to see Snow Patrol with Dasha. They were very good and I love the band so it was amazing to hear the music live, but I was a little disappointed with the concert overall. There just wasn't much production value and when I go to a concert I want more than the band singing to me exactly like I can hear it on the record. But it really still was great.

Last week I went to Slough (sounds like plow) for work on Friday, which is the setting of the English version of the show The Office. I was so excited that I took my camera to take pictures of the buildings that they show in the opening credits (b/c that's the only bit that actually is in Slough). Slough is a very mediocre and nondescript commuter town outside of London, so you can imagine what I looked like on a busy street taking photos of a parking garage. It would be similar to someone getting excited about taking photos of a Wal-Mart in America. But it was awesome, and anyone who has seen The Office would be very proud of me. I was going to post the pics with this blog, but I am lazy and do not want to plug my camera into my computer and then go through the process of posting them. Sad, I know. But it is late.

Last weekend MJ and I took a day trip on Sunday to Oxford. His sister lives there so I met her (big step!), and she was so lovely and we got along really well. We just kind of tooled around town all day, the weather was gorgeous as it had been all week, so we just walked around the university and the park, ate lunch, ate ice cream, went to the pub. Excellent relaxing day! There were these people called Morris Dancers in the streets everywhere, which was a bit odd but added to the charm I guess. They were dressed in all kinds of weird costumes, and were dancing in the streets to accordions and flutes and bagpipes. Apparently this is an ancient form of fertility dance but they are having trouble getting the younger generation interested. Wonder why...

I'm coming home in a week and a half - on the 2nd. I'll be in KC for only one day, the 3rd, and I'd really like to try to see everyone! I'll send an email out soon to try to organise a little get together for everyone, but leave your calendar free if you can!

As always, I'll leave you with some new words, although I must apologise if I've told you these before, I can never remember and am too lazy to look back though.

Pancake day = Fat Tuesday - much more tame than the American version.

fair dos = fair enough

xoxo,
Heather