Wood pigions

There are these rather large pigeons that perch(purch?) in trees. They look like pigeons but are almost the size of a chicken.

The far turn

I adapted quickly to the look right then left thing when crossing the street. It helps that they put it on the pavement most places.

The thing that gets me is what I call the far turn. Cars turning from the far lane into the lane close to you or turning from the close lane to the far. I guess it really isn't far but it does seem that way.

The times I've almost gotten wacked is corners where no one has to stop and the turn is from a far lane.

And this is not a pedestrian friendly city. If the cross isn't marked with white lines (they call them zebra - pronounced zeb-ra - lines). Also made famous by the Beatles album cover.

Benedict Arnold

Had to go the US Embassy this morning to replace my damaged (washed) passport. On the way back to the flat I was walking up Gloucester Place and saw a plaque on a residential property. It is common to see plaques that tell of some famous person that lived at the address.

This one said that Benedict Arnold lived there from the late 1700's to 1801 when he died. The plaque ends with the line "An American Patriot."

By the way the US Embassy is really ugly. It is also completely surrounded by concrete vehicle barriers painted black. There is construction on the side facing Gloucster Square so there is ugly fencing around, too. And there are armed police all over.

The passport replacement went very smoothly and quickly though. Only took an hour from when I arrived and was out. Would not want to be someone applying for a visa though. That looked like a really long wait.

All Bar One

All Bar One, the pub next to the flat, is closing today! I was walking by last night and the waitress that was so nice about getting ice for Jill and chips with mayo for Chris let me know. She has been the only person in the neighborhood that recognises me and says 'Hello.'

There were little signs on the door but I hadn't noticed. I ended up getting locked out of the my apartment building and while waiting for the locksmith, had dinner, a couple of beers and a glass of wine.

Someone had closed the door at the bottom of the steps and tossed the sticks in the utility cabinet. I don't have a key to that door. Met the mother of the tenant in the top flat and they don't have a key either. I called my leasing agent and she contacted a locksmith.

It all worked out but a little scary there for a bit as to whether I would get in or not.

I'm going to stop by thet pub his evening to wish everyone well. They had also been nice enought to hold the keys to the flat for Helene and Nick when Ping Pong wouldn't do it.

Inside 10a Paddington

When Jill and Chris were here, Jill took a picture of Chris and I cooking. You can kind of see what the interior of my flat looks like.

Victoria and Albert Museum

It was rainy last Sunday but figured can't let that stop me from my touristo ways so I heady out to the Victoria and Albert museum. Nick and Helene had walked it when they were down so I guessed I could do the same. Holy-moly! That was a bloody long walk! And I didn't get lost or meander off course.

By the time a made it I was pretty tired. I made my normal Sunday call to Mom to rest and catch my breath.

Anyway, the V&A, as it is called, is a good-sized museum of British culture. The popular exhibit there now is on Kyle Minogue. She is a pop star ala Madonna. It has an exhibition entrance fee and was sold out for the day. I really wasn't interested in seeing it anyway.

It is another great museum. They've taken entire rooms out of homes to preserve the interiors before the buildings were torn down. It is quite dark in most of the display rooms so they have small torches (flashlights) you can use. So much to see so I'll have to go back (when I take the tube or bus) and spend more time.

Here I am with the beautiful glass chandalier from the entrance rotunda.

Asbo kid

I had seen and heard this in the news -- calling juveniles "Asbo kids." Took a while to find out but it refers to someone who has been given an Anti-Social Behaviour Order. I guess they are sited by the police and then get this tag. It is not a good thing.

I thought it was just juveniles but then I saw where this 60 year old was referred to as an Asbi -- Anti-Social Behaviour Injunction.

Look up ASBO