peace, love and understanding

So you are all probably aware that I'm a bleeding lefty California hippy liberal... and if not, then that gentle reminder should help put the following in to better context for you.

The other evening we were walking from a London metro back to our hotel. As we came to a corner there was a homeless couple camped out under an overhand, cardboard carefully laid down, the woman ensconced in layers upon layers of blankets, the man standing, pacing, cold, dirty and tired. As we approached them we had to cross a street - this wasn't a t-bone street, but one that approached from an angle. Suddenly there was a man behind me - he had rounded the corner and seemed to appear out of no where, but he'd been walking in his silent soled creeper police shoes (creeper as in the crepe shoe sole that was so popular decades ago, not meaning the police officer was a creeper).

He caught me unaware and for a moment I was uncomfortable, sandwiched, in close quarters, between the homeless people and the beat officer. In an instant that discomfort was gone.

In a very gentle tone, with a voice full of genuine care and concern, the officer asked the man how he was doing. The man responded, resignation to his situation coming through although his words did not, and the officer continued the conversation, asking him if he had what he needed, if he'd had something hot, was adequately equipped, etc.

I was impressed.

He wasn't there to round them up and drive them away, he didn't treat them like the scourge of the earth, less than human creatures or anything like that - he spoke to them with the care and concern that people should have for those who are struggling and are not as fortunate as we happen to be in any given moment. Despite his troubles, he was treated with dignity and respect. The officer hailed him with compassion, not belittlement, and in that instant the officer and the man on the street were equals, two men talking over a cigarette, one momentarily sharing his struggles with a comrade who was there to listen and lend support.

In that moment I wholeheartedly loved that police officer.

Our marvelous adventures in London - a very brief overview

I need to review my British history. I'm seeing so much stuff that is amazing, and if I could truly, accurately place it, would be mind-boggling! Some of these places may be reduntant, but here are the results after my mental culling...

We've seen Buckingham Palace, Baker Street, Hyde Park, Piccadilly Square, Portobello Road, the Crown Jewels, the London Bridge, the Tower of London, the British Museum, Westminster Abbey, Parliament, Downing Street, Nottinghill, Charing Cross Road, Abbey Road, the Great Fire of London Monument, Oliver!, Billy Elliott, Covent Garden, the West End, the Bloomsbury District, Oxford Circle, Victoria Train station, the changing of the guard, SoHo, Leister Square, the London Eye, Big Ben, the Parade Guard stadium, the Mall, and Trafalgar Square. We've also met up with friends for dinner twice.

I think there might be more, but I'm not sure... we have just under 48 hours left to go. I think tomorrow is a shopping day - Harrod's and Foyle's, again, - and then maybe the National Portrait Gallery. If you can think of something else, not to be missed - send your suggestions while you can!

Big Bad Big Bus Tours London

Yesterday we bought 24 hour tickets for one of the double decker hop-on hop-off bus tours - the ones that take you all over the city, give you some information about what you're looking at, drop you at the main tourist attraction and then deliver you to the next one of your choosing...

Yes, we thought we'd done it right. As it happens, the company neglected to tell us that they would be altering the route in the morning - and failed to post notices at the stops they were avoiding. We waited, just outside our hotel at a most convenient stop, for well over an hour for a service that should have been stopping by every 10 minutes or so... after getting fed up, and unable to reach any one by phone, we walked to another stop.... where we waited for another 30 minutes - we could see our bus-line in the distance, but they kept turning away. So we walked to where they were picking up, and hopped on - finally.

It was cold, there wasn't a live tour guide, the plug-in audio guide was full of static, and in some seats not working - which prevented us from sitting as a family - and our tickets had lost their true value to us as we'd spent over 2 hours of tour time trying to find a bus stop that was functioning, without advice or indication from the company.

They do have a disclaimer for circumstances beyond their control... the frustrating thing was, the other touristy double-decker hop-on hop-off bus lines operating kept on stopping at all the stops our service skipped - we were passed up well over 20 times by competing agencies while we waited and wandered aimlessly around trying to find some service.

As part of our purchase we'd bought tickets for the Tower of London and a river cruise - by the time we actually got to the tower our 24 hours tickets were about to expire - we didn't get to take advantage of the river cruise, nor we were entitled to get back on the bus to come back to our hotel, and we didn't get to finish the rest of the route.

Altogether, while I enjoyed the time on the bus after we found seats with functioning static free audio, I know the next time I come, and I'll be back and do another bus tour as I didn't get the full overview, I'll use a different company. Boo on your poor communication in a situation where it would have cost you nothing, boo on you, big bad Big Bus Tours.

BRAVISSIMO, Bravissimo!!!

Making the most of more!

That's their slogan, and it's perfect.

This post is for big breasted women. If you aren't one, or if you don't have one in your life that you love, then move along now, move along.

I got lost in here yesterday, in one of their London shops. It is a bra and clothing store for women - they don't stock anything smaller than a D - teeny tiny band sizes on up to the more than plentiful... and they go up, I think to a K. I have no idea, nor do I ever want to know, how large a K is, but if you wear one, then this is the place for you!

Not only do you get a private fitting - and this has nothing to do with taking your measurements, but a more real life approach to getting you in to the size, shape and support you require - but then the fitter also runs around pulling the different styles and sizes that may be best for you. I hate bra shopping - more than I hate most other things that I hate... there aren't many things I really hate, it's a very passionate negative emotion, but bra shopping is one of them. Yesterday was the closest thing to bra shopping heaven that I think you can find on planet Earth. It was glorious. I bought dresses that fit - three dresses that fit my body and my breasts - I don't remember the last time I owned a single dress that fit both parts at the same time. Life altering. I actually like dresses - a very little known fact - one you wouldn't have had any idea of, as you rarely, rarely see me in them... actually I like buttoned shirts too - another article of clothing you wouldn't have seen me in as I can't find ones that actually fit. Now - you'll see my wardrobe evolving, slowly as there are budgetary concerns, but evolving nonetheless.

In addition to bras they have pajamas with super soft built in support, shirts and dresses cut to fit your actual breast size (you don't have to buy a larger size to fit your boobs, strapless dresses that stay up, button down tops that don't bunch, burst open or gather and so much more... their clothes come in your true body size and then three boobies styles - curvy, really curvy, and super curvy - depending upon how bountiful you are you pick the C, RC or SC.) They also have bathing suits cut to fit your true size as well.

This is almost revolutionary for my life. If you wear a D, either in US or Europe, you're quite likely truly something else... when's the last time you went to Victoria's Secret and found an abundance of comfortable bras, or a wide selection of bras above D or DD? We tend to buy larger band sizes and smaller cups than our true band and cup. I have been fitted in the US on numerous occasions but never at a shop that had this selection - over 10,000 bras in varying sizes in the stockroom at all times. CRAZY!!!

And, for those of you who are feeling that you're unfortunate as you don't live in London, or have plans to visit in the immediate future,- amazingly enough they work with you over email to get you fitted in the right size. The emails and letters posted to their sitting room from all over the world testify to their miraculous abilities in that regard. They originally started as an on-line shop - there were a few things I wanted that fit but would have fit more perfectly in a different letter size - so they're shipping them from the main warehouse at no extra cost.

So, ladies, and their loving male counterparts... do something wonderful for yourself today - check out Bravissimo. You'll thank me later. And your breasts will thank you.

One unfortunate point - they don't ship to the Czech Republic. I don't know why, being EU it seems like they should, but they don't. Most of you, if you're reading this, since it's in English, may know someone in the UK or the US or any number of other countries that they do ship to - and can have it shipped there, and then sent on. That's what I'm doing. There will be a slight delay, but the pleasure I have in knowing that it's possible for me to find clothing that fits outshines any minor frustration. Thank you Bravissimo.

Portobello road, Portobello road...

I think I spent the majority of the day trying to recreate Bedknobs and Broomsticks... as I'm here to write this for you, you may safely assume I wasn't successful.

However, there were a few other interesting developments. The Kid has decided that London is a lovely place and she is now interested in looking at colleges here. I think she fell in love with the shopping, the friendliness of the people, the ease of speaking English, the theaters and the bookstores.

We saw Billy Elliott tonight - another outstanding performance! Seriously - we laughed and cried and I am completely blown away by the caliber and abundance of talent I've seen on the stage. If anyone wants to join me, I'll be treating myself to a few other upcoming performances during the remainder of the year - my birthday, some holiday or another, maybe an early/late Christmas... second Saturday of some month? you name it :)

Sooo tired, so off to sleep. Tomorrow is Buckingham Palace, the changing of the guards and some shopping! Got to get Mom ready for her next adventure.

Love you all - let me hear from you!

best laid plans - Foyle'd!

Actually, that was the plan. After an in depth and interesting tour of Westminster Abbey we tracked down and spent the afternoon at Foyles, an excellent bookstore here in London. Oh the joy and wonder of sitting the midst of 5 levels of English language books!!! After the scarcity and inflated prices of English books we've been exposed to for the past few years, this was like a little bit of heaven.

This was followed by a quick lunch and then a leisurely meet-up with a few of Mom's friends from Berkeley who had been part of the group traveling together through Wales. We journeyed through the British Museum and then on to quick dinner off of Charlotte St... quick so we could get over to Victoria Station and drop Coral to meet up with her friends - apparently the senior class is here on their senior trip right now, and they dropped her a line or two asking her to join them for a late night on the city...

It's now 12:23 and she's arrived back at our hotel, escorted by one of her teachers... from the sounds of it, Mom is sleeping quite peacefully (and soundly) in her bed, Coral is next to me working on her homework, and I am about to fall asleep. Therefore I am wishing all of you a good night and sweet dreams.

The plan for tomorrow - Portobello Road (I love Angela Lansbury and Bedknobs and Broomsticks!), Kensington Palace and then Harrods... and for the evening - another West End show... Billy Elliot (love that movie, too).

London, West End, Drury Lane Theater - Oliver!

Seriously - rocked my socks off! Hilarity and hi-jinks were bountiful. And the company was impeccable too :)