Strange List

I see some strange things here in the London :

1. The other day coming out of the gym I saw these tourists, Chinese to be exact, with cameras around their neck and they were taking pictures of everything (TRUE STORY) including the sign that read "Fire door, keep shut" ...now what in the heck do you need a picture of that for?! I mean, Melissa Mangan takes pictures of signs like nobody's business but at least they are relevant, like our street sign or something not the fire door!

2. Girls carrying around fabulous bags but look like they should be wearing a bag too! I mean they don't even try to look nice...there hair is all messed up, no makeout, clothes are baggy and don't match and then BLING...there is the biggest new LV* you have ever seen on their arm. I mean given their rating went from like a 1 to 5 by just carrying the bag, but at least try!

*Side note 1 - LV = Louis Vuitton, if you did not know please peruse around their website and become familiar with Anne's Favorite Things xoxo

3. Polos at the gym. Yep that is right its completely normal to sport a "popped collar" while huffing it on the treadmill. Is this strange or what? I wonder what people would say if I walked in to the Y in Charlotte with gym shorts and pink lacoste shirt, collar up. These people are really rocking the look

4. People saying things like "And he did not even query it!"...I'm so used to words like query (question), queue (line), lift (elevator) that I barely even notice them anymore. But I should confess when I was trying to make my magnificent fajitas I need cilantro and it was no one to be found, I asked the store guy and I just stared at me and said " I have no idea what you are talking about" - now this is a usual response when talking to burr, or in my case blabbing about nothing, but not from the grocery store man! I wandered around spelling all these green things that looked like cilantro until a woman finally said "Daaahhhhlling...its coriander here" - oh well they should label these things!

That is enough strange things for now, do you think its odd that last week I spent 3 full days eating breakfest, lunch, and dinner at work! And I did it again yesterday. Wish me luck today!

I want to play Quiditch!

Yes that is right. I think it would be so fun to fly around on little Harry Potter brooms and play Quiditch on the weekends! So, if you cannot tell Burr and I went to Harry Potter on Friday night. It was our first time at "the cinema" here in London. The theatres are straight out of circa-1983 - really old school but it was still fine. Burr and I had to sneak dinner into the movie theatre b/c we did not have time to go beforehand and I found the funniest thing of the evening to be when Burr get getting mad at me for eating my salad (Yeah, yeah I got a salad to bring in the movies -whatever!) but he was saying "Can't you just wait till the lights go down!" over and over again....he was so worried we were going to get kicked out of the movies!!! Its unbelievable what a "rule follower" Burr is - its totally cracks me up, which of course makes him even more mad - haha!
Saturday morning we both really wanted french toast but of course nothing is easy here, so I had to get my bookbag and walk to the store. I got this delicious apple sourdough bread and then I had to by syrup and you know in the states there are like at least 20 kinds of syrup...well of course I always buy low sugar or sugar-free, much to Burr's dismay, but here there are only 2 kinds - yep a No.1 or 2 - meaning how concentrated - so strange and get this....it is £5 a bottle!!! Yes, that is basically $8 for a thing of syrup - are you kidding me people?! Out of control. Anyway, breakfast was fantastic about an hour and half later!
Saturday night we went to dinner with Joanna and David Iliff at this Russian place. It was very good and the night got quite interesting when the boys began to share a half carafe of infused vodka. They had all sorts of flavors - delicious!
Sunday Burr and I were both cursing our firms as we spent HOURS trying to find somewhere to invest money that kept us both independent. This is the only time in our lives we wish Deloitte and KPMG had more audit clients....it was rough...but we got through it. I have to say I made delicious fajitas for dinner and I cannot WAIT to have mexican food when I'm back in the states:-) And a filet....yum!
Miss you all
XOXO
Anne

Scruncies (sp?!)

I do not know how to spell Shruncy, is it Scruncie or Shcrunchie?? Its confusing and Microsoft Word does not recognize it as a word (how sad is that I tried to look it up!)....anyway

Do you all remember that episode from SATC about how NY woman don't where scruncies? *

*Side Note 1 - For those who don't know SATC is Sex and The City and the fact I had to tell you that is sad
** Side Note 2 - If you have not seen the scruncie episode its a good one you're missing out - I think its season 5.

Well I cannot determine if its London people that do where scruncies or foreigners, or bad American dressers, but they are EVERYWHERE! Its like the are haunting me. I mean I cannot help but notice when there is a large pink blob on the back of your head holding your ponytail in place. I stare at the women who wear these trying to figure out (1) where are you from? (2) did you save that from like 1990 when they were still cool? and if so, you must be really organized (3) why in the world do you think that looks good on your head?

All these concepts really baffle me and I would most like to ask these women if they are in fact from London so I can please start to generalize "London women wear scruncies" but I think its probably just tourists who keep their 1990 scruncies next to their 1985 fanny pack, super cool high white socks, leggings, and baggy sweaters! I know... I know...you want pictures - next time I hope to have my camera with me to document the evidence. In the meantime, enjoy cities where sruncies are banned:-)
Later Alligators
Anne

A few highlights

Hello to all! Happy Monday morning.

Mom and Nana left this morning, they have been here since the 5th - so sorry for no blog writing, but trip planning and entertaining came first!!

Obvisouly, Burr did not do a weekend update - again! Here are a few highlights from Mom and Nana's Trip:

1. Tea at the Ritz - amazing!
2. Billy Elliot - The best part about this show was we had seats WAY up at the top of the theatre. I felt so sick just sitting there before the show started (because it was so steep! - seriously I could have fallen) that I got up and complained to this man and he moved us to a Private Box!!! Word to the wise - shows are WAY better with a private box.
3. Tea at the Dorcehester.
4. I heard the girls' had fun in Bath but I did not attend.
5. Portobello Market - I thought I would never get Mom and Nana out of their without buying an entire set of silver...thank goodness I did not have any cash :-)

More later.
Lots of love,
Anne and Burr

Burr's lack of Weekend Updates

I know - he is terrible...here is mine

1. Drank and sat around all day Saturday. It was super fun with our friends at White Horse...somehow we managed to gain 4 beer glasses in the process. It was an awesome 4th of July.

2. MOM and NANA arrived! And they arrived in style, they told me all about "business class" and these slippers and beds they get to sleep in on the plane. Now, I only want to fly Business Class, please Burr?

Mom and Nana are headed to the Ritz today for tea - hope its fun. Burr and I are at work - yuck.

Hope Burr survives at work, let's just say I don't think his staff are used to the "Burr-style" type of working....boy are they in for it!

Hugs and Kisses
Anne

Its Engagement Weekend!!!

A HUGE Congrats and Best Wishes to.....

Emily and Charlie

and

Greta and Harvey

We are so happy for you both!!!

Emmy - thanks for the pic of the ring, you know I was dying to see the pic:-) LOVE it.

What do we think Bachelorette party in London?!

Things I miss most

Well there are several things I really miss...of course there are benefits of being here (such as traveling and lots more visitors!)

But I think I miss Clare Bear the most. Its quite pathetic actually. Burr thinks my obsession rivals on scary... I tend to ask "What do you think Clare is doing right now?" often. To which he answer is usually "sleeping", but what should I expect??...Mr. Genius probably does not realize there is crying, changing, bathing, eating, drooling, playing, smiling, laughing, talking, etc. etc....we should let him babysit Clare for a night!!! (JK- Johnny and Meg - don't worry we won't let his UVa ways sway our little Jayhawk). Here is a picture of her, she is 5 months old now! Isn't she SO cute?! I know I know. And her little pink and white striped outfit, ahhh.



What will I do when we move back? I will need a bi-monthly trip to KC to see her. Then she will be all of 12 going "Dad could you please get Aunt Anne to stop coming over, she is so annoying!


Thanks for the pic Meg!

Oh and I will briefly rank things I miss most
Things (note: not people, do not get offended)
1. "proper cubes" - meaning a. I actually have a place to sit everyday and b. I don't have to hear every single thing my colleagues do
2. Cars - Its a little harder to put my makeup on the tube versus in my car on the way to work...so much better when Burr drove and I "got pretty" Although, I have to say I have gotten quite good at walking to the tube and putting on makeup - Burr was impressed at least.
3. Red Meat - Yes they have red meat in England. No it is not worth eating. No, not even if you pay me.
4. Yoga class - I heart Charlotte Yoga
5. Blackberry - I was stripped of my EY blackberry when I got here and I fear I am going through "BBM with drawl"
6. TRASH CANS!!!! Why are there no trash cans = bins here, anywhere! I mean you have to walk like 5 blocks to find one little trash can. Even at the cubes you don't get your own trash can.
7. Bachelorette - that is not a person, that is a TV show. And I have no idea if Jillian's season is even over, but I'm a little sad to be missing it.
8.Shopping prices - I wish I could go back and take away anything I ever said was too expensive in Charlotte b/c whatever CLT was CRAZY CHEAP compared to London.

Well wanted to make a 10 item list, but it turns out I keep thinking about things I love about London instead, so maybe I am doing well.
In the future when its not 11:30 on Thursday night maybe I will write my new London top list...only if you're lucky.

Aunt Anne misses you Clare.
MUAH MUAH MUAH MMMMMUUUUAAAHHH

What I like to call "The HOT BOX"

Do you know what a hot box is? Well its this really large public transportation system in London called....wait for it.....

THE TUBE!!! (aka - the London underground). The headline in the papers today was 45 degrees in the tubE?! *

*Side note 1 - if you want to know how to convert 45 Celsius to Fahrenheit go read one of burr's blog's - I think he wrote that in there somewhere - I'm not sure, I think I was taking a little "snooze" through that one.
Side note 2 -Or you could do it anne's way 45*2 = 90 plus whatever you think sounds right...so about 120! WOW that is hot!

Seriously though it is getting so hot here in the London and the tube is sticky and gross and full of hot sweaty SMELLY people - YUCK. I think I will just get a bike. HA - ok not really, but a car service perhaps?! I really dislike it.

I wish you could see Burr's "Serious Face" when he is getting on the tube. Its like "Don't talk to me, I'm trying to not move so I sweat the least amount possible in the next 20 minutes" - its hysterical. But I do have to say on the tube this morning I was wearing a dress without sleeves (sweater added at work) and flip-flops (again heels added at work) to Burr's full suit attire. Aren't you glad you read this useless blog?!

Well I had to document somewhere the feeling I get 2 times a day (minimum) to people who care about us....please send money for private driver with Mercedes asap:-)

PS - I have now been in London too long and have gotten my @ sign and " sign all confused on the key boards - so difficult to type. (See previous blog)

Portugal Pics Re-Uploaded

Sorry - I uploaded them but they were tired....they are up now....see below.

XOXO

The DRESS

I know, I know! I'm behind on blogging, but there is a good reason for it. I call it EY! They are so time consuming, seriously I have barely had time to sleep a reasonable amount * so no whining about the blogging

*Side Note 1 - I am a "Jones" girl - meaning I take after my Mother and Grandmother who both think that taking a 2 hour nap a day is just as essential as eating 3 meals a day, so I seriously like my sleep ok peeps.

*Side Note 2- Sleep is extremely difficult to come by here when the sun goes down at 11pm and comes up at 4am - I need darkness!

On to the good stuff... I still have not written about the horrendous to fabulous clothes I witnessed at the Ascot Races. My first question to 90% of the women at the races is "WHY DO YOU THINK THAT FITS YOU?" I mean I'm not even joking when I say that every girl was wearing a dress that was ridiculously tight. And sad to say not every girl was Jessica Biel and thus, should not be wearing said "ridiculously tight" clothing. I have this picture in my head of an English girl going shopping for her Ascot ensemble....She walks into a store and sees this adorable dress, its about 1 foot above the knee and comes down low in the front, maybe even low in the back, and its fairly straight. She thinks that dress is perfect! I must have it for the races. She knows she usually is a size 8 maybe even a 10 on a bad day but since it is the races after all, she will try on the 2. She goes to the dressing room and VIOLA! The dress zips up....it may be down like a tiny little centimeter, but most of it zips up...I mean she can't breath but its a 2!!! - SOLD! She buys the dress accompanied by a hat that looks like this....

and she has her outfit. I am not joking 90%, 90% of the girls there were wearing a dress that was so tight you could not sit down in it. I was absolutely amazed - everywhere I looked - ahhhhh!!! More and more girls with body parts I did not need to see * Needless to say next time I will (a) not wear a flowy dress and (b) buy a hat with much more feathers and do-dad's on it! See the little black things hanging off the left hand side of the hat picture - these are like chopsticks with a fake mini-kite shape attached to the end of it that stick out of all hats. Please note this if you ever move to include "Hat must include chopsticks with mini-kites" - WHAT? This was so not in the 6 books I read on Moving to London and Culture Shock - London.

*Side note 3- I actually don't think they meant said parts to be seen either, since it was covered by material technially, but when you wear skin-tight clothing that is what happens!

Other interesting things about hats is they are not actually hats, they are really headbands that just have a hat with feathers and stuff on top - so it is like a "pseudo-hat" Anyway, I definitely had the wrong thing on the top of my head! See - and you thought this blog will be all about hats!

Missed you too!

Lots of love

A

PS - Johnny and Meg if you don't send more pics of Clare soon you are going to have an Angry Aunt Anne - mUAh