London Bombs

Woke up yesterday morning to news that a car bomb had been found and defused outside a night club in London's West End. Kind of creepy, weird. Just for the record I was no where near the area where the car bombs were discovered.

By days end it had become obvious that there were 2 bombs and so London really was lucky not to have had serious carnage.

Part of me is obviously clearly NOT thinking about it. I remember visiting London in the 1970s and going to a boat show with family and the show was evacuated because of a bomb or bomb threat. Its just the edge of a memory but now I'm wondering how a city deals with the threat.

Obviously London has been dealing with it for a long time with "the Troubles" -- which how they refer to the whole Irish period of strife. Its odd being an American here because while we shoot each other with alarming frequency, we haven't been that big on blowing each other up. There's something very disturbing about bombs. And how as an American, who is walking around with the baggage of 9/11, supposed to feel when London has decades of internal British strife and the terrible events of July 2005.

After the Federal Building bombing in Oklahoma City, I started looking at buildings and vehicles differently. Of course the bombings in the Mideast, Afghanistan, Iraq all make you think about it - but it seems such a disconnected thing to your daily life. Which is odd given the history but there you go.

New parking deck in Perigueux

On Wednesday we went to the local market town to do the shopping. These towns are very interesting because apparently they have reinvested hugely in the older sections of towns spending major money to bring back the old central areas and also introducing close larger floor plate shopping areas and parking. These are pictures of a contemporary park on structure. Its the above ground face of four decks of parking supporting the traditional town center and a fairly newish collection of big box retail. Sounds like it could be horrendous but actually it worked quite well.

We did our weekly food shopping in the market stalls which temporarily take over the refurbished Renaissance and 18th century squares (!!), then wandered around the streets to look at smaller retail shops. I like the idea of this very close but still separate series of spaces in one town.

There was a pretty interesting looking playground (we were there pretty early so not many folks about). Playgrounds seem to be getting much more interesting again. after that horrible plastic period, at least the new ones I've seen look like they are interesting. Funny how for years I never looked at a play ground or jungle gym until I started hanging around them with friends whop are parents and I started noticing how terrible the are. I wasn't really paying attention when I took this picture so sorry for the big pole in th middle.

Perigueux getaway

This is the house I stayed in near Perigueux which is in the Dordogne region, sort of southwest France. The house belongs to a British friend who lives in San Francisco. Her family bought it in the 1970s and have slowly made it habitable - Its VERY habitable now. Lovely Lovely Lovely.

As my friend's husband said, the big effort of the day was moving from the upper terrace, where we've had a lovely breakfast, down to the lower terrace for lunch. Lots of wine and cheese.

My friends have two boys and I'm really trying to ingratiate myself with all of the offsprings of my friends so I will be invited back to family holidays - "We love Sian!" Anyway, we played backgammon, Battleship, carved spears and arrows out of wood, got grossed out by slugs, went swimming in the pond, went fishing and generally had a good time.

Happy anglers

Upper terrace breakfast

Lower terrace: rain shower and puzzle

France - Bergerac Airport

Very exciting, my first Ryan air flight. VERY cheap airline that gets you from London to most small airports in Europe. This round trip ticket was something like 80GBPs, the actual flight was about 33, but takes were another 30 and then you have to pay to check a bag. But really astounding to me, is the fact that you walk across the Tarmac to get onand off the plane - it was all very Casablanca.

Truth is the flight wasn't bad but the luggage retrieval was a bit of a scrum - as all 200 passengers wait in a shed. the the bags come rolling down this ramp. Lots of impatient folks. Then customs was funny because most folks have EU passports until they get to me with my blue US passport (you start to notice passport colors here). The line come screeching to a halt, backing up behind me. "Where do you live?" She asks me in French, which oddly I understand but can only think of Estas-Unis, which looking back I'm still shocked I remembered. The lady then gives me that you are a dumb american look and says in English "where do you live." When I fianlly squeak out Great Britain, she sighs and walks over to a desk and stamps the hell out of my passport. Mean while the folks behind me are starting to wave pitch forks and exclaim there rights. The whole thing took about a minute but there is wine to be drunk and bread and cheese to be consumed...

Anyway, my friends were patiently waiting for me outside the shed and we went on our way.

Family Bar-B-Que

Headed to visit family near Sandhurst for a Bar-B-Q. Canadian Llewellyns, British Llewllyns, Jersey Llewellyns and London Llewellyn (me!) rendezvous at the marquee (tent) in the back yard for some drinks and Que. I've been through this station, Clapham Junction everytime I head out of Waterloo. Don't know why it makes me laugh but it does - so I took a picture.

Lunch was lovely and it was a great way to kick off a weeks vacation.

My Uncle Roger wanted me to send the following picture to Dad.

Building decorations?

I've been trying to get a decent picture of this unique gable decoration for about three months. With the new camera (ZOOM! so 21st century) I finally managed it.

I am still trying to figure out why you would hoist the head of a boar up to the gable of your house in leafy North London, perhaps someday I'll knock on the door and ask.

More standard building decoration

This would be the more standard form of decoration found in "leafy north London" suburban locations.

I have to admit that I am stunned at how long flowers bloom here in London, perhaps the idea of the English rose is actually something.

Miami Beach

Not the usual sunset picture for Miami Beach but I bought a new camera and had to take a picture. I was in MB for a meeting and it was hot - how is it I ever managed to live in hot, flat and wet Florida?

Note to Ali: Don't yell at me I was only there for about 48 hours - but I'll try and make it back soon.