In preparation...
T-minus just under 24 hours and our UK bound airplane (w/required well paid, well fed and happy pilot) will be off. In anticipation, I have already cracked open my 2004 CAMRA Good Pup Guide. Rest assured, I will snatch up the 2006 guide and renew my membership while in the UK. I will spend way too many posts discussing the importance of England’s most powerful lobby (IMHO) CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) that I will not dwell on it here. Needless to say, the sloppy 32 oz beer with the 4 oz head of beer foam that the “waitress” at BW3’s served me last week would have landed her in the slammer in the UK. They have laws about such things over there…now that’s what I call justice! More on that later…
In order to give the whopping two of you who are reading this (Thanks again Anne) an idea of our itinerary, here’s the plan. Zoë’s long time friend Michelle is getting married and asked Zoë to be her Maid of Honor. Michelle lives North of London in Colchester. So, for the first six days of our journey, we will be staying with Michelle and her man to be, Keith. I’m not quite sure they know what they are getting themselves into…and I don’t mean the wedding part.
Believe it or not, I have to wear a tux for the big affair (I tried to convince Keith & Michelle to allow me to wear one of those 3-D tux t-shirts, but no avail). When I think of an English Wedding, I often think of any Richard Curtis movie (Love Actually or Four Weddings and a Funeral for instance). The commonality in both of these movies is heavy drinking and Hugh Grant. Knowing Michelle, I can about guarantee the former and hell, if they can pull off the later I will definitely have some stories to tell! After what will most definitely be a beautiful time, we will head down to the Isle of Wight.
For those lacking in English geography, IOW is located east of Southhampton (Launch place of the Titanic and the downswing of Leonardo DiCaprio’s career) and Portsmouth (Home of the HMS Shag-at-Sea Victory). The Isle of Wight is also, surprise…surprise, an island. We will ferry across and then head to Zoë’s parents house.
The highlight of our trip to IOW this year is to drink meet Zoë’s brother Paul and his love Samantha who is expecting twins in a few months. Twins Basil…twins! Zoë has also made plans to meet up with a number of old friends who she has not seen in years.
This is the first time that I have really blogged anything. Since I plan on having my Treo and an Internet connection wherever I go, I plan on posting quite a bit. Whether this turns out be interesting will be of course up to you. If you enjoy a good laugh (outside of the US, it is usually at my expense if that is any sense of hope) and the insight to a typically non-touristy vacation, then I hope you enjoy the read. Now to practice my drinking and "English"… Another pint please…
In order to give the whopping two of you who are reading this (Thanks again Anne) an idea of our itinerary, here’s the plan. Zoë’s long time friend Michelle is getting married and asked Zoë to be her Maid of Honor. Michelle lives North of London in Colchester. So, for the first six days of our journey, we will be staying with Michelle and her man to be, Keith. I’m not quite sure they know what they are getting themselves into…and I don’t mean the wedding part.
Believe it or not, I have to wear a tux for the big affair (I tried to convince Keith & Michelle to allow me to wear one of those 3-D tux t-shirts, but no avail). When I think of an English Wedding, I often think of any Richard Curtis movie (Love Actually or Four Weddings and a Funeral for instance). The commonality in both of these movies is heavy drinking and Hugh Grant. Knowing Michelle, I can about guarantee the former and hell, if they can pull off the later I will definitely have some stories to tell! After what will most definitely be a beautiful time, we will head down to the Isle of Wight.
For those lacking in English geography, IOW is located east of Southhampton (Launch place of the Titanic and the downswing of Leonardo DiCaprio’s career) and Portsmouth (Home of the HMS Shag-at-Sea Victory). The Isle of Wight is also, surprise…surprise, an island. We will ferry across and then head to Zoë’s parents house.
The highlight of our trip to IOW this year is to drink meet Zoë’s brother Paul and his love Samantha who is expecting twins in a few months. Twins Basil…twins! Zoë has also made plans to meet up with a number of old friends who she has not seen in years.
This is the first time that I have really blogged anything. Since I plan on having my Treo and an Internet connection wherever I go, I plan on posting quite a bit. Whether this turns out be interesting will be of course up to you. If you enjoy a good laugh (outside of the US, it is usually at my expense if that is any sense of hope) and the insight to a typically non-touristy vacation, then I hope you enjoy the read. Now to practice my drinking and "English"… Another pint please…
Mike Lang