Back to normal

Well, at least for the time-being. The weather has turned weathery again. Today it was hot, cold, muggy, drizzly, grey, sunny, blustery, calm, and rainy. I went out to get some milk & juice (had to go all the way to Notting Hill Gate to the M&S Simply Food because it's Sunday and all the closer Sainsburys and Tescos close between 4 & 6). Then—because we needed window cleaner and ironing water—I walked to the Holland Park Tesco Express, which is open 'til 11 every day (that neighborhood is full of people who are used to convenience: Americans with generous expat packages). It was a crap shoot as to whether they'd have what I needed and I lost. Then, waiting for the bus back to Notting Hill Gate, I was caught in a torrential downpour. Holland Park Avenue turned into class 5 whitewater rapids. I switched from the 148 to the 52 and rescued a French family who are spending 2 weeks on our street at number 70. They got here three days ago and know how to walk here, but not where to get off the bus (because where are road connects to the main bus route it's not called Golborne, but Chesterton). An artist, a journalist, and their youngest daughter house-swapping for their place in the south of France.

Out & About

Instead of searching for an eyebrow merkin as Kath suggested, I tried to get a few errands done today. Leaving home and heading for Westbourne Grove in Notting Hill, the first thing one passes is the terrace filled with Chanel-clad lunching ladies at Julie's. That's where I saw Alan Cumming last time and where you tell your driver to take you if you want to get to our house without any extra explaining. Up a little hill and around Steven's church one passes Annie Lennox's place:

Annie's place

Stopped by the post office on ("in") Westbourne Grove to collect 3 packages for Steven, but one of them (from his mom) had already been sitting there for 3 weeks so they sent it back. Then I went to Fresh & Wild for organic rice milk, organic black currant yogurt, organic muscovado sugar -- you know, the usual stuff. I thought muscovado sugar was going to be like brown sugar, but in fact it's like crystalized molasses. Can't wait to put some on my oatmeal -- excuse me, my "porridge". Also stopped at Tesco Metro for some basics, picked up a copy of Loot (where I hope to find a cheap used bicycle), got a shepherd's pie and some Neal's Yard cheddar at Lidgate the butcher, contact lens solution at the "chemist" (I have to wear contacts so I can cover the missing brow with aforementioned gigantic sunglasses). I wonder how fast eyebrow hairs grow?

Arrival

Got a last-minute upgrade at the gate. Thank god! I could just make out baby shrieks from the back of the plane through my noise-cancelling business class headphones. Tried to sleep at least a little. Heathrow looked different -- better? Nice Indian customs lady didn't make me pay as much as I should have for the case of wine I brought. Steven's office sent Roger (their driver) to pick me up. The place (the "flat") looked much better this time. Last time it was so gross I hired a house cleaner. Totally worth it. At the bottom of the stairs is a plastic box where we put mail for everybody but us. I guess the house cleaner thinks that's where ALL the mail goes, cuz as I was sorting through it all, I found the note I sent Steven weeks ago, notices of attempted parcel deliveries, threatening letters from the TV police (you have to pay a TV tax here and they drive around in spy trucks that can detect if you're watching TV and haven't ponied up), a month-old letter from Patti, and tons of stuff from first direct, including those neat-o debit cards they have here with the chip in 'em. Gotta try that out at the Tesco Metro tonight. Which it is. Night. 9:30pm and it's still light out. Looks like maybe 6 or 6:30. Steven just called from Lapland and he said it's broad daylight up there (where it's 11:30pm!). Mmm-kay. Gotta go take a walk...