My London weekend honestly felt like I weekend here in London every Saturday & Sunday; London is starting to feel like a second skin. She's familiar in a way that I spoke of Paris a few months ago. She gets me. And I think I'm starting to figure her out too.
It was a wonderful Hennigan weekend in that I got to spend a lot of time with my buddy
Brian and his 8-month old daugther, Tess. Brian's wife Kristen was away for a weekend "hen-do" (bachelorette party for those logging language differences), so he was on his own for the first time and asked for company.
Daughter in tow, we had an awesome time both days!
On Saturday, we loaded the
pram and hit the South Bank to enjoy the sun, waterfront, and
people watching. Will I confess to stops @ pubs along the way? Oh, yes, I will! Both times, we were able to catch prime spots to check out all of the
passers-by... and turns out, for all of them to catch Tess as well! On a historical note, one of the pubs at which we enjoyed a fine frosty beverage was
The Anchor. While I was only inside to order a pint, do you see, Avid Reader,
the year of construction of this watering hole? That's right... 1615. For those keeping score at home, that's a full 161 years before our country was even founded! One has to appreciate a 400-year-old speakeasy. Oh, if walls could talk!
Sunday was a bit more of the same. And if by that I mean more time with
Brian & Tess, more sunshine, more waterfront and more adult beverages, then, of course!
After bolting from Picadilly and the
mayhem that was the
Asics 10K Fun Run, we loaded up the pram from the Hennigans and ventured out to Richmond -- also on the Thames -- to enjoy a pace even a bit more slow (if you consider that I fell asleep while Tess was getting her evening bath and Brian konked out during the World Cup semifinal match, then Sunday was VERY slow... and awesome). It's amazing what one can accomlish when you set out the following objective for the day:
Enjoy German food & beer. :)
After enjoying time on the riverwalk, we arrived at our destination:
Stein's. Otherwise known as Sausage Heaven! We ordered up a platter of sausages & cheeses, enjoyed several steins of delicious nectar of the German gods, and did more people watching. Of course, Tess was yet again a huge draw and we became friends with various sets of tablemates with whom we shared our afternoon (we were there a while such was the joy of Stein's)!
With mother hen back at the nest from her hen-do, however, Brian & I ventured back to
Putney where we got to hear all about the ladies weekend in Brighton and give a play-by-play of Tess' weekend (no one has to know we basically did a pub crawl, right? I love England!). After catching up, I caught the tube back into the city and joined
my buddy MattBaker who turns out had just arrived for the week. It was a pleasant surprise for sure as Matt's one of my favorite people on the planet as well as an amazing travel buddy (Ireland 2007). We were able to catch the World Cup final at
King's Arms nearby with a wonderfully colorful crowd, not to mention frosty, cold 1664s.
All in all, a most excellent weekend. One that I likely would have had anywhere in the world, it was so "normal". Yet so special in that it included the Hennigans, MattBaker, waterfront strolls in this amazing summer, shared stories old, and memories new that will forever bring a smile to my face.
Jesse & Steph Paulson welcomed the newest addition to their family today: Trey Ronald Paulson! Born just before 10AM this morning, weighing in at 8lbs, 10oz, and joining Big Brother Jace, Trey impressed us all with his gentle cooing and amazing demeanor. I think he was ready! And/or -- as most kids are -- ready for some down time after his "I'm on the outside! I'm on the oustide!" shocker.
Please don't ask me why I can't seem to get this to post right-side up! But enjoy Copper doing her best Robot imitation on the eve of the JWI!
Today marks the one year anniversary of Todd & Copper!
Good morning, Avid Reader.
It was a wonderful Hennigan weekend in that I got to spend a lot of time with my buddy Brian and his 8-month old daugther, Tess. Brian's wife Kristen was away for a weekend "hen-do" (bachelorette party for those logging language differences), so he was on his own for the first time and asked for company. Daughter in tow, we had an awesome time both days!
After bolting from Picadilly and the mayhem that was the Asics 10K Fun Run, we loaded up the pram from the Hennigans and ventured out to Richmond -- also on the Thames -- to enjoy a pace even a bit more slow (if you consider that I fell asleep while Tess was getting her evening bath and Brian konked out during the World Cup semifinal match, then Sunday was VERY slow... and awesome). It's amazing what one can accomlish when you set out the following objective for the day: Enjoy German food & beer. :)
All in all, a most excellent weekend. One that I likely would have had anywhere in the world, it was so "normal". Yet so special in that it included the Hennigans, MattBaker, waterfront strolls in this amazing summer, shared stories old, and memories new that will forever bring a smile to my face.
Greetings from London!
Hello Avid Reader! You may recall that my family had taken Family Photos from a previous post -- the photos of which we captured on my camera. Today, I got the link to *some* of the shots from the professional photographer. Enjoy the sneak peek!
After, the entire team ventured to dinner at L'Ile, an awesome, quaint and delicious restaurant near to the office in Issy Les Molineaux. Rocket salad with Parmesan and Jambon. Sauteed swordfish with creamed garlic potatoes. Apricot tarte in fresh raspberry puree. Beaucoup du vin. Needless to say, an awesome dinner in the company of folks from Spain, England, Netherlands, France and Sweden. It was quickly pointed out that I was the lone non-European at the table, but the French were duly impressed with my french and knowledge of existential authors, Loire valley castles and geographic prowess of their country! Again, more of me being pleased.
Ho Hum. I think I'll just get up... and... Work. From. PARIS! this morning! WOOT!
My dear friend Saskia put together a Suprise 40h Birthday Party for her man, Michael Johnson, on Friday. What a hoot! She brought in an awesome photographer (April Brimer) who set up a photo booth to capture much of the mayhem.
