Rino and Beth's UK Adventure: 09/01/2006

Friday, September 29, 2006

Nothing new to report this week except work...

Word of the day:

"Chav"

Noun. A person, usually of poorly educated, working class origin, who dresses casually in designer sportswear and vulgar jewellery. Chavs are generally viewed as an ignorant under-class with a propensity for criminal or loutish behaviour. Usually derog.

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Word of the day (well, it's not a new word, but its widespread use of it is new to me):

Calling everyone "love"

It's mostly done by men talking to women... even around the office... I hear, "Is that fine love? You ok love?"

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

They love Bush here... These clips from Google UK are hysterical:

1. Human Beatbox:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1047157044159649860

2. Bushwacked:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5752494390378871865&q=bushwhacked

3. Sunday Bloody-Sunday:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6805063692754011230&q=bush+sunday

Enjoy

Monday, September 25, 2006

Swollen Eye Lid -

I look like I was in a bar fight... except there is no black and blue... just a huge eye lid.
It started Saturday morning and by Sunday morning, it was huge. So I went to the hospital yesterday (supposedly the same one the Madonna had her first baby in)... The doctor told me it was an infection and sent me on my way.

I've decided against posting a picture of it... not something that I want to be known for.

Word of the day (I heard it yesterday at the hospital)

"Chemist"

It's a pharmacist

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

The weather has continued to be decent these past few weeks... However, the sun seems to be going down earlier and earlier every night... a much faster transition to winter than I thought. I guess a fast transition makes sense when there is light in the sky at 10PM during the summer and complete darkness at 3PM in the winter.

Beth's parents sent us this picture that they snapped the other week. We were sitting in a small park near the Queen's House.

Word/Phrase of the day:

"You all right?"

Beth and I noticed this as a standard greeting. When picking up the phone, or meeting someone.. Instead of "hi, how are you?" it's "You all right?" I usually respond with, "Do I not look ok?"

Sunday, September 17, 2006

Beth's had a visitor from CT over for the past few days. On Saturday night, we decided to get a group (Kunkles and the Triefenbachs) together and all go to the Ice Bar in London. http://www.belowzerolondon.com/icebar/index.html

Beth planned and reserved us in advance as you need to get a time slot to enter... Yes, it's all ice inside... even the drink glasses. You're only able to stay 45 minutes inside before they literally ask you to leave. By that time the novelty of it started to wear a bit and we started to get cold. It was a great time... we're all glad we went. Just not sure how someone would actually want to sleep in the Ice Hotel.

After the Ice Bar we went Tiger Tiger http://www.tigertiger.co.uk/ - a hip bar/club/lounge in the Haymarket area. On a Saturday night, the venue has a line down the street with the typical king of the world bouncer in front. Steve and Tiffany Kunkle knew that we could skip the line and get right in with our PwC ID cards. Who would have guessed? We got right in.

Gwen, Beth, Tiffany, and Katie.. just before departing to the Ice Bar

Freezer section of Stop 'n Shop... All of us with our lovely parkas on... The 45 minute use of them is included in the cover charge.

A proper ice drink... I asked for it on the rocks.

Ice Bartender serving up a drink... Ice style.

We were lucky to find a table at Tiger Tiger.

Thursday, September 14, 2006

I was in a taxi yesterday. The taxi driver got into an argument with the driver of another car. The taxi driver yelled to the other guy, "Ya' Pillock!"

I thought it was hysterical... though I did not know what it meant. It is today's word of the day. It means idiot, fool, etc... but it could also refer to a male anatomy component.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

We kept our promise and wore out Beth's parents as much as we could. We kept a very active schedule with them. Last week during the weekdays, they went to Windsor Castle, Bath, Stonehenge, and Paris.

On Saturday we took them to BoroughMarket http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk/ and Portolello Market. http://www.portobelloroad.co.uk/

On Saturday night we went to see a new play called See How They Run. http://www.seehowtheyrun.co.uk/ It was like an episode of Three's Company - very funny.

On Sunday we did a tour of Buckingham Palace which is only opened a few weeks during the year. HM was happy to see us. http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page1.asp

Here are some pics from our stroll with them on Sunday... a beautiful day.

Piccadilly Circus

View of Big Ben from Hyde Park (actually, the bell inside is called Big Ben)

View of the London Eye from St. James Park

Changing of the Guards in front of our flat. One of them was a little too far to the left... I had to discipline him.

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Franked? Like Drebin?

I guess this is today's word of the day...

Monday, September 04, 2006

Beth's parents arrived this morning... they were eager to get some sightseeing done... We took them on the Big Bus Tour (always a crowd pleaser) that is followed up with a Thames River Cruise. http://www.bigbus.co.uk/

The bus Company operates in London, Philidelphia, and Dubai. Random!

The all night flight that they had just flown managed to get the best of them towards the end of today... but we're very prowd of them, they managed to hang on for most of the day!

Sunday, September 03, 2006

I see you... but you can't touch me.

Every morning Beth puts out old bread for a pigeon that visits the landing created by the scaffolding outside of our flat. It drives Candy crazy!

Saturday, September 02, 2006

Work... most of the weekend.

But, according to a colleague of mine, at least the weather is "pants." Which is today's word of the day.

Beth's parents arrive Monday morning. We're looking forward to seeing them and wearing them out!

Word of the day:

"Pants"

Means rubbish, lousy, etc...

Rino and Beth's UK Adventure