Grahame

Horatio, if you please. But yes. He's in all sorts of things (really) http://youtu.be/blVsgv0OISY

Happy Birthday Chris!

Happy Birthday Mikey! Obvious advice is obvious on your special day, or any day

Transitional breakfast to help acclimate back.

Swapped SIM cards, ahhhhed at the bay, oooohed at the sunset, fell asleep when I got home. Awoke at an odd hour, tried to catch up on things. Attempting to re-sync body clock by trying to sleep again.

Up at stupid O'Clock to drive the rental car back to the office, where we get driven onto the airport. Our driver was a real "Diamond geezer" / car nut who took us by the back roads to avoid the M25. He kept us amused with tales of the modified boost (variable, up to 2.5 ATM) on his Toyota hatchback. He said he got 11mpg when he was having fun. Had launch control, or he could turn it off and go through 100 quid of tyres in 30 seconds, and impress onlookers (think POWEEERR!) He got us there without incident, and with plenty of time to spare. Joanne sampled some Haig Club at duty free (whisky for the non whisky drinker) and now I'm watching one of the younger brood cavorting on the screens at the Burberry store. Bloody Beckham's everywhere. Now to sit in a tin can with several hundred disease vectors for the next half day. At least I have Joanne and my JH13's with me. Onward

Last "proper" meal in the UK. Take Away Fish and Chips from the local chippy. Parting is such sweet sorrow.

One last pub lunch before braving the M25 Interesting reading material (How far have you got Mikey?) Joanne had Bacon, Stilton & mango Baguette, I had the Marmite Sausage (made up by the local butcher) baguette. Both too yummy to take pics. Onward!

London Part Deux Had a personal guided tour of "The Information Age" gallery at The Science Museum, by The Keeper Of Research Projects (plying him with wine and showing him the southern sky at night when he visited SF must have helped) Some amazing artifacts in a well developed narrative including ... Some of Mr Babbage's creations Awesome tech specs of 1200 valve powered computer Early BHSE prototype Original WWW server (Thank's (Sir) Tim) Something for the Apple fans Oblig vinyl and valve porn ( well it is a museum [emoji1] ) Then onto the "Making the Modern World gallery" Worlds first jet turbine car V2 Etc Then out into the chilly night air, by the Natural History museum, before having a meal with friends, then home. Busy, but satisfying day.

Quite an involved day today, so let's make it a two parter. Part one Hopped on the bus from outside my mothers, to Chelmsford station (yay evolved public transport) Met my nephew, the barista. Got the family discount cheers Matt. Then onto London where we braved the crowds at the poppy art installation at The Tower of London. Moving and impressive. The Tower of London is by Tower Bridge And opposite H.M.S. Belfast and "The Shard" Then onwards via the tube to South Kensington and The Science Museum. Pro Tip: If you want hot foreign tourists to talk to you on the tube, carry a chick magnet

Forced to choose. Decided on the Chocolate Cheesecake Joanne approved of the choice, as evidenced by her fork

Nate, in my recent interaction with Comcast one of the dedicated options early in the phone menu was something along the lines of "if you are experiencing a screen resolution issue with the X1 system press N" . Encouraging. Not. Shelly, I'll defer to the domain experts, and just send more (((Hugs)))

You made whisky soup? [emoji4]

Went out to Chelmsford for lunch with my mother. Joanne had a hand mad lamb burger on foccacia, and went for a Greek salad instead of the default Potato Wedges. I went for the "Big Breakfast" Fear not, the Bacon was hiding under the toast And was later reconfigured into an impromptu Bacon sarnie. Ahhhh.

For reasons not understood the 3 Sim decided to be non functional after a phone drop (oops). Time for the backup plan. Bandwidth uniformly crappy across the carriers round the M25 in rush hour in the rain (duh!) Back at mums Everything Everywhere (EE) not too shabby

Yesterday visited the MD (Managing Director) of avihifi.com in his home to audition his current + prototype active speakers. Suitably impressed; spousal purchase approval granted. Double win! then impressive pub lunch + playing tourist in market town of Cirencester (which dates back to roman times) Today, said goodbye to our home away from home in Cheltenham Then played tourist in Cheltenham Saw some German hatchbacks you can't get in the U.S. (brand dilution?) And then encountered a store that had head case written all over it. Then more playing tourist in the Cotswolds, including several single track roads, lots of wildlife (pheasants, partridges and the like) Quaint villages, including a pub closed on Mondays and Tuesday's (WTF), lack of cell signal, and chilly weather. Then back around the M25 in the dark and wet to get back to my Mothers at > 54mpg. Tired.

After traversing the M25 in the dark, rain and Rush hour traffic (because: no alternative) we had a very enjoyable "Nepalese" (as opposed to "Indian") in Chelmsford. Oh Onion Bhaji's how I've missed you. Mish mash masu Did they miss any Nepalese cliche/meme?

Edit: tapatalk no Likey adding photos in edit.

Dusty There's plenty of good food to go round. Tripadvisor seems to have more traction than yelp. Local knowledge helps, so just ask the locals Meanwhile ... Received a good recommendation for pub lunch that did not disappoint. (17th Century) Pub Lunch (Lamb and coriander burger with thrice-cooked chips) Rare Roast beef and horseradish sandwich. And then later, there was afternoon tea Suitably yellow clotted cream, on ginger and bacon scone (with a follow on fruit scone) mmmmmmmm.

Midnight snack

Pub Sunday Lunch In this pub (Smoker not included)

Made a new friend Well, several actually. Visited some old friends on the way to Cheltenham (home of GCHQ ) Tea, pub Sunday lunch, walk the dogs, very pleasant afternoon.

More tasty home cooking

Met a tall man in a pub with old beams and low ceilings, because: irony. Discussed media consumption habits of the young and aging parents. Made a nice break from the merry go round of family obligation's. Cheers 'stretch. Enjoy your time in the old country, and your "honorary mother" title. Judging by how well behaved your son was, you deserve it. As its turned dark and chilly, time for a small indulgence in the form of a cuppa and a "shortie"

Snacks, while waiting for a Tall man and offspring