So Much to Catch Up On

I thought this is pretty funny. Ajay has a computer program that can make a 360 degree picture out of however many smaller ones. We took this one in Vienna. TR and I ran around Ajay as he took the pictures. It was like the panoramic picture in middle school where there are those couple of kids that run from one end of the bleachers to the other. Except here we made sure we were it it a lot.

So I have made it through the first week in London and it has been amazing. I apologize for not updating this before now, but I've been having a lot of fun.

Last Wednesday night we went out with the interns. We had a drink at the pub right next door to our flat. It was great and I tried yet another beer, Strongbow. It is actually a cider, but very good. We then walked by the pub where we met Miss Crystal and peer pressure took over and we went in. Miss Crystal remembered the Americans and interviewed us in front of the entire pub. Somehow everything that was said was twisted into a sick, but funny joke. I have been raised correctly and say yes ma'am and yes sir in conversation everyday. Well I was asked if I would like a drink on the house. I of course said "Yes Ma'am." Well this drove Miss Crystal crazy and the entire bar erupted in laughter. We had the free drink and left soon after that. It was an experience and really funny. The entire bar sang songs along with the "diva?"

The next day I got to go to an event for work and see the Secretary of State for Britain. A report was released from a Commission on community coming together. It was very interesting to see. There is a great influx of immigrants to Britain and the government is working to ensure there are not racial tensions and community conflicts. Included in the report is a recommendation to stop printing translated official materials and instead use to the money to pay for English classes for immigrants. We'll see the reactions in the next few weeks.

On Thursday I met up with a Tejas Alumnus at his Gentlemens Club. In America when we think Gentlemens Club most think of some sort of strip club. That is not the case here. Gentlemens Club go way back and are more like eating and drinking clubs. Men smoke cigars, sip brandy and talk. The clubs are absolutely amazing with long running histories and incredible member lists. We enjoyed a glass of Pimms and then went upstairs for a steak dinner. It was just like the English men clubs you might see in movies. My host told me they have a wine committee that is the best there is. There is a massive wine cellar under the three story club that stretches underground across the street. If heaven forbid any wine shortage should ever occur in the world. All of the members of the club could survive the shortage for 15 years...That is a lot of wine. The wine at dinner was excellent. After dinner we went across the street to an unmarked door. There was a camera looking over the porch. My host said hi and we were in. We walked down a flight of stairs to an old fashioned two room club. The dining room was only lit by candlelight and the other room was full of antiques and paintings. We got a glass of vintage port (dessert wine) and sat down next to two men. The older one began telling me stories of the club. He said that the first time he came when he was my age he sat down in the exact chair he was in and right next to him, in the chair between us sat Winston Churchill. I soon figured out the men in the club were the best of London. The man that told me the story is a retired Grenadier General. The next man I met is a Lord in the House of Lords. We talked for quite some time and he urged me to contact him since we are working very close to each other at Parliament. He was very kind and it is so interesting to see a government where part of it is not elected. The night was amazing and I truly enjoyed myself. My host was beyond hospitable and we enjoyed talking about Texas, Tejas, and world events. It is so great to see a Tejas Brave on the other side of the globe.

One of my friends here has Friday off and she volunteered to go to Leicester Square and get discount tickets for a musical for us to go to that night. We gave her the choice of what we saw with some exceptions. She waited in line for an hour. She made an executive decision and got tickets to Cabaret. Now I have seen the movie of Cabaret, but not the "new" version or even the old stage version. I tried to warn the group that parts of it are racy. Let's just say I didn't warn myself enough. At one part a man with nothing but a sailor hat on (I should also say the sailor hat was not covering anything it should have) runs on stage. So there was nudity throughout the musical. At the same time I the musical was great very though provoking, not due to the nudity, but the subject nature and after just touring Munich it was very interesting and powerful.

Saturday I felt like I needed to see multiple sights in London, but decided I needed to rest and pace myself. So I did laundry, read, and enjoyed chatting with my flatmates. One of the girls moved out and a girl from Paris moved in. The rooms currently consist of a male Italian, a male Mexican, a French female, a female from Los Angeles, and a female from Japan. It is quite an interesting mix. When I requested the group flat it was only after seeing "L'auberge Espagnole." It is an excellent foreign film I highly suggest everyone see. Basically it is a bunch of students that live in a flat, but they are from all different countries. Go rent it now.

So I had the "L'auberge Espagnole" moment last night. Sergio, my Mexican friend who also works in Parliament, and Matt who is from the states and works for the Travel Channel, and I went and got pizza and some wine and brought it back to the flat. Before we knew it, the flat was having a mandatory fun drill in the kitchen. We had 3 different laptops out playing music and seeing what people knew and what people didn't know. It was a great time though I am very upset Journey is not big in the rest of the world. I am very thankful that Bryan Adams is big though. haha...

So today we are going to the park to play soccer or something. I slept in the latest I have slept in since coming here. 10AM! Well I'm off to get ready for the day.

Happy Fathers Day Dad and Happy Birthday Anna!