Nuts

Things were going along just fine, wonderful in fact, and then.... nuts!

We've been having a great time stomping around London. Spent Sunday night checking out all the famous sites (South Bank of the Thames, Leicester Square, Picadilly, Covent Garden, Trafalgar...) and she said she was happy to have a guide that knew the area. I suppose it would take a bit longer if you were navigating by map...

Monday we had lunch with an old friend of hers, then went up to North London so I could show her around the area I used to live. We had a great time shopping in Camden Market, which is so much better to explore on a weekday when the crowds are less insane. The view from Primrose Hill is stunning, even in the rain. We'd meant to eat at my favorite London Restaurant, Marine Ices that night, but we got tickets to Billy Elliot, and with a late lunch, we just didn't have time to eat. We'll catch it on Wednesday.

Billy Elliot was great. We'd debated what show to see, but a London original, and a dance show at that, available at the half-price booth settled it pretty quickly. We both really enjoyed it, and are trying to figure out how soon we can direct/choreograph the show in Portland. We had a nice wander down by Big Ben on the way home, before hitting the tube.

Today, it seemed like everything was going wrong. We got up in time to go see the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. They only do this a few times a week, and today was our only chance to see it. We got there in time, despite a slow tube with many delays, made our way through the massive crowds of school groups and tour groups, found a decent spot where we could see.... and five minutes before they were due to start, the funny little policeman in the hut by the fence put out a sign that said "No Guard Changing Ceremony Today." Nuts.

We went for a walk. I showed Erin the Royal Stables, where they have other Royal Guards on duty that you can get even closer to. We took some pictures. We wandered up to Oxford Circus to meet my friend Nick, who I used to play baseball with back in the day. Erin and I had "get a traditional London Curry" on our list of things to do, so Nick took us to a local spot.

The food was great. But... both the starter and the curry that Erin ordered had nuts in them. And if you know Erin, you know she has a very severe allergy to nuts (and seafood). It didn't taste like nuts (it was mostly in a marinade) so she didn't realize right away. But after a bit, she interrupted with the news that her throat was closing up. We hailed the waitress, who said "Oh, yes, lots of nuts" and ran to get the manager, who showed us a little laminated card with their policy that they accept no responsibility for allergy reactions. Hilarious. Maybe that should be on the menu, if you took the time to laminate it. But he was very nice, and brought her a non-nut-infested curry. By that time, she had gone off to the druggists to get some Benadryl. She made it through the meal, but didn't touch the new curry.

After saying goodbye to Nick, we headed back to Thierry and Bob's. Erin took another pill, rested, took a nap, and felt much better when she woke up. Crisis averted. She is fine - please do not worry. The hives have all but disappeared, she's breathing fine. Nothing to worry about. All the same, I'm going to insist that her Epi Pen be surgically attached to her somewhere.

We ended up having a truly lovely dinner at a restaurant that Thierry and Bob suggested. These two guys have made this half of the trip so lovely. Getting us at the airport, opening their home to us, taking us to the markets, inviting us to do our laundry here, suggesting places to go, being the best hosts possible. Thierry was the one true friend I took out of my time here in London six years ago, and as crap as I am at keeping in touch, it's been lovely to reconnect. So thanks to them for making this trip so much easier, and so much better. There's nothing like old friends.

One day left!