OK, before I get started, I have a confession to make. I lied. I didn’t mean to lie, but I lied and now I need to come clean. When I said that it’s weird for me to obsess over film or TV locations, that wasn’t totally accurate. It’s actually true for film and TV, but I conveniently forgot my pathetic obsession with book locations. A visit to Grosvenor Square before the Embassy party reminded me that I have spent many hours wandering London over the years, looking for places like Hatchard’s Bookshop, White’s Club, or the site of Almack’s Assembly Rooms just because they were in a book I read. So, sorry, but I really am a pathetic fan – just usually for books written by people who have been dead for a couple of hundred years!
Anyway, to business. Many things to discuss. First, the Embassy party. Other than the fact that they wouldn’t let us in when we got there, it went well. Apparently we were small potatoes for the Ambassador, so no appearance by that August personage. But, that didn’t really surprise me. When I was a newly-minted Junior Officer in Monterrey, I was the one who, as Acting Public Affairs Officer, welcomed in all the American Fulbright teachers. I’m sure they would have been quite put-out to find out that the American Diplomat who was greeting them had barely a year under her belt! I’m pretty sure the Cultural Attaché who greeted us had a few more years under hers! On a side note, it made me think of the time Mom tried the door at the Embassy (back when you could get to the door) and a disembodied voice said, “Can I help you? The Embassy is closed.” After all these years, I finally got in those doors! Anyway, it was a good evening and if you want any real dirt, sorry, public forum!
So from Embassy dos, we get to Park don’ts. Really, the only don’t we need to address here is – don’t take my two lunatic dogs to the park. My stress levels continue to climb every time I take them out. And Cali continues to be the primary offender. I really am at my wits’ end. At the park the other day, Cali went totally crazy on a jogger, who jumped about 3 feet in the air. I yelled at her so badly, she was trembling. Of course, yelling at her is the worst thing I can do, but I get so frustrated. I dread our walks. I keep hoping she’ll adjust, but she hasn’t so far. People are starting to view her as a vicious dog, and anyone who knows her knows how far from the truth that is. I’m certain it’s her fear that’s doing it, but I don’t know how to help her. Sometimes I really do wonder if it was a mistake to bring them here.
As for not making eye contact on trains, I’m usually pretty good at that. But there was this guy the other day who stank like a distillery. He asked what station we were at and when I told him, he heard the accent and I was sunk. He didn’t leave me alone (except for one point when he focused on some teens with musical instruments and told them to “play some f***in’ Led Zepplin!”). He went on and on about God knows what – although I do remember him telling me that the US was God’s country. I had to measure my response because if I agreed he would have said that Britain was. I kept trying to return to my grading, but he wouldn’t let up. And, if I ignored him, he got mildly hostile. I finally was able to bolt when we got to Victoria, but it was an excruciating 40 minutes. Damn that accent! From now on, I use my British or Irish accent!
So, in the meantime, I’ve also had some theatre experiences. I saw "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, the Musical," a few weeks ago, then last week, I saw two shows at the National Theatre - we took the 6th form girls (year 12-13) to see "Blood and Gifts," which is about the Russian occupation of Afghanistan. Then, on Thursday, I saw, "Or You Could Kiss Me." It's a fascinating but bizarre play about two men, at the end of their lives, reliving how they met and fell in love, It's very experimental, using puppets and actors. The puppets are by the same people who did War Horse. It was remarkable because you really felt like the puppets were the men. Unfortunately, it hit a little too close to home as one of the men is terminally ill, and much of the play focuses on that. I had a front row seat, though, which was great. I got the tickets through the Young Patrons of the National Theatre, which I joined, and they had a little drinks reception beforehand. I’m looking forward to more events.
Sunday, I went to see the Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert at the O2, which was amazing. Such an array of talent. There were stars from around the world, including Lea Salonga, who played Fantine, as she's too old for Eponine (which she originated in London in 1985 and Broadway in 1987). Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers played Marius, and his voice paled in comparison with the stage veterans (although he handled his solo well). There was a funny moment when the girl in front of me got quite upset that Cosette was blonde and Eponine brunette because that's not how she's used to them. She was really beside herself about it. I felt like asking, "So, the fact that Javert is black, Fantine is Asian, and Enjolras is Iranian doesn't bother you? Just the hair?" After the show, I was chatting with the older couple next to me while we waited for the crowd of 20,000 to thin. A worker came up to us and asked if we could handle exiting the long way (I guess because the couple were in their 70s). They offered to escort us out through the VIP section (they just assumed we were together!). We ended up exiting through the VIP lounge where we stopped and ordered drinks and had a lovely time chatting for the next hour. Turned out really nice, actually.
So, highs and lows continue. Overall, this is turning out to be a good experience, even if I do have some days where I just wish I were home and things were like they used to be. But, things can’t be like they used to be, and I still think this is the right place for me at the right time. There’s lots of potential in this coming year – I just need to manage my stress levels (Cali – that means you!!). Cheers!
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