One Wedding and No Funerals
Just got home (Wednesday morning, close to 2 AM) after a literally flying trip to England for the wedding of serenasnape's brother crazyluke to his lovely fiancee, Ruth Rhodes.
I flew from Memphis to Chicago on Sunday, July 24; got to Chicago around lunch time; while I fully intended to have just lunch, the smell of Cinnabons in airports tempted me, and I bought a box of miniCinnis. After that, then it was time for lunch at the O'Hare Grill. The service at this place is definitely sketchy--I ate here last fall and barely managed to get a waiter to take my order. This time, I didn't have to break out the semaphore flags and managed to get pretty decent service; I had a burger, which was adequate and balanced out the sugary goo. The best part of the meal, though, was the north-of-middle-aged woman who had enjoyed several libations and was regaling every man who came into the bar with over-made-up eyes and raucous laughter. I left to head to the international terminal, feeling very sorry for her future planemates.
Flew on British Airways in the Premium Economy section, which was mercifully uncrowded, so I could move away from the jackass who thought it was fun to sit right behind me with his feet propped up against the back of my seat for the entire 6+ flight hours.
I slept some on the plane, and enjoyed the first class service and tasty food. Got to London before 7 AM Monday morning, purchased a Royal Wedding Commemorative Oyster card for London transport, and hopped the Underground to Victoria Station, where Helen Aylward met me--all she had to do was look for a giraffe with an American accent and a Vera Bradley bag! :)
Back to the Aylward abode for some cocoa and a visit with Hugh (Daddy A) and the groom to be, followed by lunch and then some basic nattering around. Luke & I trolled off to IKEA to get a chest of drawers for his & Ruth's apartment, and came back to the house to find everyone in the process of hair treatments (colorings or cuts); I was concerned that we had missed dinner(!), but was reassured that even though I was an American, they wouldn't let me starve. serenasnape had made an awesome ratatouille, and we were joined for dinner by the entire Aylward clan (the 4 of them), along with Alastair, Serena's hubby of just over a year.
To bed fairly early--more trip ramblings to come.
I flew from Memphis to Chicago on Sunday, July 24; got to Chicago around lunch time; while I fully intended to have just lunch, the smell of Cinnabons in airports tempted me, and I bought a box of miniCinnis. After that, then it was time for lunch at the O'Hare Grill. The service at this place is definitely sketchy--I ate here last fall and barely managed to get a waiter to take my order. This time, I didn't have to break out the semaphore flags and managed to get pretty decent service; I had a burger, which was adequate and balanced out the sugary goo. The best part of the meal, though, was the north-of-middle-aged woman who had enjoyed several libations and was regaling every man who came into the bar with over-made-up eyes and raucous laughter. I left to head to the international terminal, feeling very sorry for her future planemates.
Flew on British Airways in the Premium Economy section, which was mercifully uncrowded, so I could move away from the jackass who thought it was fun to sit right behind me with his feet propped up against the back of my seat for the entire 6+ flight hours.
I slept some on the plane, and enjoyed the first class service and tasty food. Got to London before 7 AM Monday morning, purchased a Royal Wedding Commemorative Oyster card for London transport, and hopped the Underground to Victoria Station, where Helen Aylward met me--all she had to do was look for a giraffe with an American accent and a Vera Bradley bag! :)
Back to the Aylward abode for some cocoa and a visit with Hugh (Daddy A) and the groom to be, followed by lunch and then some basic nattering around. Luke & I trolled off to IKEA to get a chest of drawers for his & Ruth's apartment, and came back to the house to find everyone in the process of hair treatments (colorings or cuts); I was concerned that we had missed dinner(!), but was reassured that even though I was an American, they wouldn't let me starve. serenasnape had made an awesome ratatouille, and we were joined for dinner by the entire Aylward clan (the 4 of them), along with Alastair, Serena's hubby of just over a year.
To bed fairly early--more trip ramblings to come.