Arrived back from the States on Saturday morning after flying the whole of Friday night. I arrived back to have a chilled weekend - yeah right, like that EVER happens in London. Saturday morning after landing Kramer and I went to a romantic breakfast for two in Wimbledon Village. Kramer is a great conversationalist and nearly always says stuff that he shouldn’t really, but he does know how to talk about stuff and I always manage to gleam the maximum amount of skinner from his latest trips back to SA.
I had to race home ‘cos I had invited Ryan Norrie and his girlfriend Hayley round to watch the rugby. This would not turn out into a repeat of the hospital incident of three weeks ago. Ryan had received a stern lecture from Hayley about excessive binge drinking and thus, hopefully, the hospital debacle would not be repeated. A few mates of Zomes pulled in - Will, Cam, Boris, Dylan etc and a great day of Aussie bashing ensued.
What a hiding the Wobblies received at the hands of the mighty Boks. Its always good to thrash the Aussies, you gotta love that in the same way we never win in Australia they never win in SA. The referree had a shocker - I can’t believe that there isn’t some kind of independant review after the game for these guys.
After the game went down to a braais (BBQ) at Hayleys house where an enjoyable evening was washed away by a few beers and delightfully marinated spatchcocked chicken. I met a very cool guy called Gavin who happens to work for Farlows, THE Farlows, of Pall Mall, London and suppliers to HRH The Prince of Wales. I have been saying for a long time how I wanted to get myself some good flyishing gear whilst I’m in England, and now that I’ve met Gavin and his potential “staff discount” I might nike.
Sunday arvie I went to go and watch The Wedding Crashes. It was kinda weird ‘cos the movie was shot in and around DC, some of the scenes were shot on steps that I had sat on, or parks that I had walked through. The movie was pretty funny, Vinnce Vaughn finally playing the kind of roles he was born to play - “Hide the Tip” …hahahaha……you know what I mean if you’ve seen it! I still don’t see what woman see in Owen Wilson, I think he looks like a blind cobblers thumb!
Finally to what was the highlight of the weekend Don and I met up with Julie, Julia, Angie at Rocket Bar and then went onto what has become a Sunday instituition (been twice now, I don’t even think I went to church when I was a kid for more than two sundays in a row). Wait for it ……………….. The Slug in Putney!! This place is awesome on a Sunday, great crowd of people listening to some amazing musos getting up and doing everything from the Killers to Wild Cherry, from REM to John Lennon. Seriously come down next Sunday night, I’ll be there - thats guaranteed!
Jeez, I have to let this one out. When I come back to England I have mixed emotions. There are some things I like - Great music (british radio and rock), way better looking woman than the US, night vibe, street vibe, Football, Soccer AM, Sky Satelite, my London friends, the familiarity of knowing my way around, a scourge of different things to do and probably a whole lot more things I like about london if I thought about it. BUT alas there are also things I completely abhor and can’t wait till my London mare is over - Like the TOTAL lack of service, the way the English can’t organise anything logically, their preoccupation for living life 20 years behind the rest of the world, the way they moan about everything, the way things are just never, never, never, never quite RIGHT. Unfortunately this will never change and almost certainly why I will never settle in this country. In the US however, they do things right! It is a consumer driven market, service is paramount and products are designed for human beings of the 21st century, I think what I am trying to say is that they don’t still pull pints at football games, things are conveniently served quickly in bottles or plastic cups. I still have lots of issues with the US but I take umbrage with people (who generally haven’t thought it through) telling me the UK is a better place. Don’t even try and convince me, I don’t want to hear your arguments about budget deficits etc. I know MORE than you do, and even if the USA went into recession for 20 years it would be better than the UK. I hope my english friends can understand. You shouldn’t have to wait 20 minutes at a bar that isn’t crowded to get a drink, you shouldn’t have to use nesquik chocolate powder which doesn’t dissolve properly in the milk when the nesquik syrup works perfectly, you shouldn’t have to settle for a month old stale pie at a football game when you can have a cheap freshly prepared chilli dog. I could go on forever!
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26 July, 2005 at 7:26 am
Peksta
At least you aren’t restricted to Namibian Brewery Products at rugby games and the most useless counter operators at all vendor units within the stadiums whose only purpose is to ensure that they serve as slowly as possible at half time so that they serve as few people as possible before the second half kicks off. Until this consumer prejudice is removed we are content to braai at home (at our own pace) and drink whatever the hell we please!!!
26 July, 2005 at 7:28 am
Peksta
I must tell you Dave, that there was a headline in the paper (which I am sure you may have already seen as it could only be poached from a UK newspaper, we don’t have the ability to come up with these headlines) regarding England’s pathetic display in the opening test of the Ashes:
VAUGHAN AGAIN LOSERS
26 July, 2005 at 4:17 pm
Guy
No changing the ‘Quintessentially English’ way I’m afraid. Thought your comment ‘never quite right’ was a good one. UK planning laws as a case in point. Umbrage - nice word. This is why I read your site.
26 July, 2005 at 4:54 pm
David
Guy (aka Chateau Toby) , although I visit your site regularly I have forgotten to add a link on my site I will do it right away, I have entered the TN fantasy league but just haven’t got round to buying players yet etc.
Cheers
9 August, 2005 at 3:21 pm
Julie
Just thought I would send my apologies for not attending last Sunday’s meet up… I had just spent the most amazing week in IBIZA!!!! So I was a bit wrecked upon my return… Not because we rocked the clubs, just because I partied like a fool in london upon my return!!
Alas, I’m back and will be gracing you all with my presence this coming Sunday!
16 October, 2005 at 4:53 pm
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16 October, 2005 at 4:53 pm
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16 October, 2005 at 4:54 pm
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