Tales from London

Good day,

Well, the Job Fair in London is over and we were very satisfied with the results.  We will keep our decisions out of this public forum to avoid additional problems at the school. We were traveling with another couple (Rob and Irina), also from the school looking for new positions.  Getting off the plane, we happened upon a 35-year, third generation deaf Black Cab driver with a lisp.  He had a great personality that just started off everything with a few laughs. We had an amazing time in London, seeing all the sights and eating everything we could.  The weather was very nice with a little rain each day and a chill in the air that we have missed during winter in Qatar (although we heard it was down to 4°C while we were gone).  What a great get away!  I think we visited 5 museums, Westminster Abby, Saint Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, the Eye of London, Big Ben and the Tower of London.  The last night we attended a showing of “We Will Rock You” in Piccadilly Circus – an incredible musical based on the music of Queen.  We ate great food and drank every kind of ale we could find.  Rob had an uncle in London that was also a Black Cab driver and he took us to dinner at a little place on the Thames – had some great roasted pork.  Slept in late and got home late at a small hotel/pub called Brooks Green in the Hammersmith area.  We traveled in Black Cabs, the Tube, and of course double decker buses. We went shopping at Hamley’s world famous toy store for …… guess who? Once again it was very hard to get back on the plane.

We finally decided to head to Phuket, Thailand for our February break.  Multiple people have told us that it was one of their favorite destination spots – especially those that dive.  We will still be trying to get Missie into the jungle to see elephants.  They do have some preserves there that would allow us to see them in a more natural environment.  Thailand has many trained elephants that are used for trail rides and entertainment – many of them are abused and injured in the process – that’s not what we want to support.  The diving is supposed to be top notch with a wide selection of dives – wrecks, sharks, and potentially whale sharks.  February is their driest month of the year so we are expecting good warm weather.

A little short this week, but we need to get back into the swing of things – and start a diet.

Lesson of the Week: A little expensive, but everybody needs to do London at least once.

Love to all,

Doug and Missie