It feels a little weird writing a Tourist Tuesday about London as I spent nearly two years doing that while I lived there. However, two weeks ago I was in London visiting my friends, I had a blast, and I wanted to share the highlights. If you’re interested in past posts about London, you can find them all here. Today’s post has some tourist highlights, some new adventures, and some mundane vacation fun. Strap in, it’s a bit of a long and rambling post. Enjoy!

I started the week off bridesmaids dress shopping with my best friend Sarah. I’ve been a bridesmaid on the other side of the ocean before, and it’s always a bit of a bummer that I can’t be very involved. But, I got lucky, and Sarah and I found the bridesmaid dress! I tried it on, we took pictures, we hugged, we squealed like silly girls. It was such fun and it meant a lot to me that I got to help. ”

We also did some goofy shopping too. The two of us went to H&M and tried on the craziest clothes available, and I tried (and eventually bought) a lipstick called “Lady Balls.” The cherry on top of this glorious day was sitting outside of a cafe drinking rosé and eating hummus and pita. It felt glamorous and fancy to be one of those women who is dining out luxuriously on a weekday. See Sarah’s pinky up? We’re so fancy.

The next day I was on my own a bit so I went to the Science Museum to catch up with some old pals. I was surprised by how many people I actually still knew. I was lucky enough to catch my grand-mentor Carlos, who was celebrating his 20-year anniversary at the museum. While I was there, I also wanted to check out Wonderlab, the new interactive gallery that replaced Launchpad (where I used to work). I thought a lot of it was nice, but I didn’t take any pictures. Mainly I had fun playing and chatting with people I knew.

After the museum, I went to the O2 to see Star Wars Identities, where they had awesome props like Han Solo in carbonite!! I also got to make my own Star Wars character and that was awesome too. If you’re in London before September 3, and you’re a Star Wars nerd like me, then you should totally go!

The best part was at the end of the day, SMAC, my girl crew, was finally reunited. Sarah, Charlotte, Abbie and I met for a picnic in Hyde Park. We sat on a blanket outside of Kensington Palace and had beer and snacks as the sun set. The weather was warm, the conversation was easy, and the company was perfect. It was one of those simple, yet immaculate summer moments, where everything is exactly right. The kind of wonderful moments that I have to remember during cold, gray winter months.

On Sunday, we went to a cricket match – Surrey vs Somerset at the Oval! My friend Anna, from DC, had arrived and Charlotte’s boyfriend Felix came too. Felix was integral as he told me everything that was going on. It felt weird to me that cricket is played in the center of the field, but overall I liked it. We saw a Twenty20 match, which is shorter than standard cricket, so not days long and no break for tea. This kind of cricket means 20 overs per team, and an over is six bowls – and I know what all of that means!

Surrey was the home team, and they won, but barely. So there was lots of excitement to be had. What was unusual is British people clap for both sides. That meant, as Somerset started to catch up, Anna and I were a bit confused. Why all this clapping from Surrey fants? Felix said you can appreciate good athleticism while wanting your team to win. Fair enough.

Anna and also I did do some proper touring. We went to Hampton Court, which was Henry VIII’s palace. I’ve written about it twice before, once when I made eggs in a hole and again when I went to the BBC Good Food festival.  I love this place. It’s gorgeous, full of history, and it feels like being in the country while only being an hour outside of London. My favorite thing during this visit was watching the interpreter roast meat in a huge fireplace. Sarah, who has been to training sessions at Hampton Court, said that staff can sometimes take that meat home! That is an awesome work perk.

That night, all the ladies went out for a fancy dinner to celebrate my birthday (which was back in June). We went to Le Meridien, which is a restaurant in a lovely hotel off of Picadilly Circus. The restaurant was beautiful, with a terrace and a curved glass ceiling. The five of us dressed up and had a three-course meal with bubbly and wine. At the beginning of the meal, the waiter was very together and professional, but somehow as the meal went on, he got more and more nervous. He spilled some wine, he kept coming back to confirm what we ordered, and he seemed generally a bit awkward. It was so unexpected, and therefore it was sort of endearing.

For food, I had a starter of seafood that included a scallop (yes!), fish for dinner (hake), and a key lime pie with elderflower cream (yum!). I love elderflower in everything and immediately back in DC I bought myself a big bottle of elderflower cordial. It was yet another night with my friends, and yet another wonderful evening.

True to my style, most of the rest of the trip was a mix of touring and eating. Sarah, Anna and I went to Camden Market (which I wrote about before too). There had been a fire there two days before, but we didn’t see any signs of it. I went to the market specifically to buy gin from Half Hitch, a small batch distillery. I am not so good with drinking liquor, but this gin is so good I would even drink it straight. In addition to the usual botanicals, Half Hitch also uses black tea. It adds a nice mellow flavor. I bought two bottles to ferry home for me and Ryan.

The three of us also ate halloumi fries from Oli Babas and doughnuts from Crosstown. Since neither Anna nor Sarah had been to Camden Market before I showed them the horse stables, piles of antique suitcases, and the always memorable Cyber Dog.

A little less fun, but totally worth mentioning (because I am crazy about it) is that we also went to Sainsbury’s to buy beauty products. I fell in love with Sarah’s face wash and so bought myself some. Anna did too.  The brand, Dirty Works, has turned into an obsession for me and Anna. Dirty Works is not sold widely here, but Anna’s been able to find it at TJ Maxx and Marshall’s. The face wash is so good, it’s creamy but not heavy and smells amazing. Go get it. You won’t be sorry.

On our last day, Anna and I toured the Globe. Unfortunately, we couldn’t see a show, but while we were in the theatre we did get to see rehearsal! It was so cool, even though we couldn’t take pictures. Anna said, the only bad part was that she was so mesmerized by the actors that she didn’t look around enough.

After, we met up with the rest of the girls and had lunch at Borough Market. I got a pie from Pie Minister, which doesn’t look like much, but is truly delicious. What more do you need than a flaky crust, tender beef, and rich saucy filling? Not a whole lot.

For dessert, I had a super rich and gooey brownie from somewhere else. I don’t remember the name of the vendor, but it was so good. Just go to the market and try them all. We then went to a nearby bar and I got a drink with St. Germain, an elderflower liqueur. The bar had a two for one drinks special, so what was I supposed to do? Not get two?! Obviously not.

For dinner was Wagamama, which I know isn’t a big deal in London but is a big deal to me. I love Wagamama. Does it exist in the US? I need to know. It’s fast casual, not too expensive, and I can get some delicious spicy ramen – yes, please. Also they have some good choices for vegetarians, and vegans like Charlotte, so that’s a plus too.

The night ended with us walking across the Thames, taking photos in the dark, and ending at one final pub. It was such a beautiful night, with some of my most favorite people. I always get a little upset saying goodbye, but I left feeling so content. They are wonderful friends and we were together, full of yummy food, laughing, talking, and feeling so happy. Out with them, I loved London just a little bit more.

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Ok here it is, the last recipe I made in my London kitchen. And it’s a very British dish: beans on toast. Here’s my sweeping generalization: British people love beans and they love toast. (I mean who doesn’t, but still it’s a stronger love in the UK).

Anyway, before moving to London I didn’t know about beans on toast. But now that I know about it, I can’t forget because it’s delicious ya’ll. Beans on toast might be to British people what peanut butter and jelly can be to Americans. It’s easy, inexpensive, quick food that hits the spot when you’re feeling lazy, tired, and can’t be bothered to cook. 

I decided before leaving London I had to make beans on toast for myself. To ensure I was doing it right I asked my friends for advice. For a seemingly simple recipe, my friends had a lot of expert tips and suggestions. Everyone agreed that you have to use cheap white bread. One friend told me that after toasting you have to let the bread sit a bit so it can cool and crisp up (and therefore be a better holder for the beans).

Most people said to spread lots of butter on top of the toast before adding the beans. I decided butter was a must. It was a must, in part because when I arrived in the UK I was surprised by how many sandwiches did have butter on them (like a bacon sandwich), so butter on anything bread related felt especially fitting to me. Again, top tip from a friend – make sure your butter is room temperature so it doesn’t rip up your toast!

After butter comes the beans. I went with Heinz, although my friend Charlotte swears by Branston beans. I chose Heinz though because they have the biggest displays in every grocery store I ever went to. As well, more than one person had told me that Heinz was a very popular British brand (but side note, it’s not a British brand) and it was a go-to for beans and soup – therefore beloved Heinz it would be. So, the beans get heated in a saucepan and then poured on top of the buttered toast. This is the most intense “cooking” part of the whole dish.

Final step is cheese! I know, surprise twist right? There’s no cheese in the name of this dish but everyone told me that you have to top the beans with mature cheddar cheese. After a generous handful of cheese, the whole thing goes in the oven and under the broiler/grill until the cheese gets melted. Take it out of the oven and then if you like season it with a few sprinkles of ground pepper. Now dig in with a fork and knife!

So, beans on toast is a little more work than pb&j – I mean you actually have to heat things! But it’s so easy to make and frankly really delicious. I mean it’s really freaking good. It hits the spot because it’s warm, cheesy, a little fatty, and filling. It ticks all the boxes for a dish when you want to eat RIGHT NOW but can’t be bothered to do a lot. I know that I’m back in the US now, but I think I’ll be making this for myself again. It’s tasty and it’s nice to have a bit something to connect me to the people I love back in London.

Messy level: It’s one spoon of messiness because you need to use a saucepan to heat the beans. Actually, I have one friend who likes the beans cold so if you choose that way you’ll have even fewer dishes in the end. But basically this dish is all about heating individual pieces and then layering them on top of each other. Really straight forward and clean!

Beans on Toast

 

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Ingredients

• bread, number of slices depends on your desired ratio of beans. I'd say 2-4 slices of bread to one can of beans.
• butter, softened so easily spreadable
• 1 14oz/415 gram can of baked beans
• grated mature cheddar, amount used depends on your preferences
• ground pepper, optional

Instructions

1. Turn on the broiler/grill in your oven.
2. Using a toaster, toast the bread to your desired level of brownness.
3. Remove bread from the toaster and let sit for 30-60 seconds to let the toast cool and crisp.
4. Generously slather the toast with butter. Put the toast on an oven safe plate or baking sheet.
5. Empty the can of beans into a small saucepan. Heat the beans on medium until warmed through. This can take about 5-10 minutes.
6. Spoon the beans evenly over your pieces of toast.
7. Generously sprinkle grated cheese over your beans. I like a lot of cheese, but do what feels right to you.
8. Put your beans on toast in the oven. Heat under the broiler until the cheese is melted. This is quick stay near the oven and watch it.
9. Remove from the oven, garnish with pepper if you so desire.
10. Eat with fork and knife. Enjoy!

3.5.3208

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Let me be honest with you for a minute, I’ve been a terrible blogger recently. I’ve hardly posted in the New Year!  Now, I could say the reason I’ve been bad about posting is because of the move. Had to pack, clean, fly, unpack, and then for awhile didn’t have internet or anything in my kitchen. So those are excuses, but the real reason is that I’ve spent the last couple weeks playing with my friends. In London I had lots of dinners, drinks, game nights, walks in the park, and blow outs with my friends, And then back in DC I’ve had lunches, and shopping trips, and take out with my friends here. In short, I’ve been having a lot of fun and not really cooking. 

Also, it’s worth saying I did a terrible job with British recipes in January. But I do have two more for you, starting with today’s recipe for Yorkshire pudding. Pronounced more like york-sure than york-shire (like shire in Lord of the Rings), this is served along side Sunday roasts and goes perfectly with last month’s recipe for roast beef and homemade gravy. Yorkshire pudding is made from a batter and is kind of bready and is used to sop up gravy. Overall, pretty great.

I first made this recipe to add a slightly British flair to our Christmas menu. I was sort of nervous, but my friend said just make sure not to open the oven during baking and everything should rise and cook perfectly. The batter for this recipe is impossibly wet, truly pourable and I had no idea how it would turn into airy bread! But it does, heat the oil first, then trust the oven and it will rise and bake and work out. Your finished product will have a mild flavor, be airy, and have crispy edges and be sort of soft and squishy in the middle. So easy you can make it all the time.

With this terribly cold weather we’re having here in DC, a comforting Sunday roast sounds like the perfect warming meal. It’s so cold, I need everything to be hearty! You can make your own Sunday roast with these recipes for roast beef or chicken, roasted potatoes, vegetables, lots of gravy, and of course Yorkshire puddings. Enjoy and stay warm!

Oh, one last thing. Anyone know why this is called a pudding when it’s not a dessert?

Adapted from BBC Good Food.

Messy level: Incredibly clean cooking! Mix everything in one bowl then pour into muffin tins. That’s it. To be extra precise (although it makes one more dish), it’s good to transfer the batter from the mixing bowl to a large glass measuring cup. This helps you make sure each Yorkshire pudding is the same size – but you can also just eyeball it if you want.

Yorkshire Pudding

 

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Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

25 mins

Total time

30 mins

 

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup/140 grams all-purpose flour
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup minus 2 tablespoons/200ml milk
• sunflower oil or vegetable oil, for coating the muffin tin.

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 440°F/230­°C.
2. Drizzle some oil in the bottom of 4 holes in your muffin tin. Put the muffin tin in the oven to heat the oil.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and eggs. Mix until smooth.
4. Slowly pour in the milk, whisking the entire time to prevent lumps. Stir until you have a completely smooth batter.
5. Transfer the batter to a pitcher, or use a large spoon as a ladle for the batter.
6. Take the muffin tin out of the oven (or just be careful and open the oven and slide the rack out enough so you can pour). Carefully and evenly pour the batter over the hot oil.
7. Put the muffin tin back in the oven and close the door. Cook for 20-25 minutes. Don't open the door! The puddings are done when they are puffed and the edges are browned and crisped.
8. Best served immediately and when a little warm.

3.5.3208

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Today is my last day in London. Ryan and I fly back to Washington, DC later today. We’ve been here nearly two years and it’s felt both quick and long. In that time we’ve had jobs, made friends, traveled, and adapted to a new place and culture. And there’s lots to say about it, but writing too much might make me cry. So let’s just say, it’s been a truly amazing adventure!

For me, a big part of my adventure was working as an Explainer at the Science Museum. My last day at work was a week ago, and I meant to post this a week ago, but I have been too busy packing/cleaning/hanging out with my friends/being emotional to actually post this. And again, I thought if I wrote about it I might cry. But it’s gotta be done.  Working at the Science Museum has been a lot of things for me. Sometimes (many times) I’ve absolutely hated it. When being yelled at by parents, guarding vomit to be cleaned up, or after being on my feet all day – there were times were I thought, “what am I doing with my life?!” It has been an exhausting and frustrating job.

But there were also great days and more importantly great people. The job was so social and I made lots of friends. I also had children tell me that I made them want to be a scientist, I made bubbles and was called the Bubble Lady, I blew things up and had kids treating me like a rock star, learned more about science, and learned about English foods and words and holidays. I left with a crew of three amazing women who I will love forever. And I bonded with people over Star Wars, chanting USA, baking, and Lego. I have made friends who took care of me when I was ill, who teased me about everything, and who made me laugh hysterically. I have met people who I can talk to about absolutely everything and who I know will be in my life forever. And I feel confident that WhatsApp messages with funny pictures, sweet messages, and weird videos will continue to fly across the ocean.

Overall, it wasn’t always an easy job or one that I always liked, but now that it’s over I can look at it fondly. And completely honestly, it has brought me a lot of love and I’m glad it happened. So in tribute to my Explainer family, below is a little slide show of photos from my time on the job. There’s lots that hasn’t been captured, but it’s a lovely taste of some of the best bits. And don’t worry, it’s not goodbye, it’s just see you later.

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I know I’ve been lazy (and late) when it comes to Tourist Tuesday, but hopefully you’ll forgive me today because this post is Christmasy. Last Friday I went to Winter Wonderland with a bunch of my work friends (and one friend from college!) and it was a festive good time with food, drinks, games, and interesting sights. 

I did try to go to Winter Wonderland last year with Ryan and our friends Sarah and Ben but the queue was so incredibly long that we went to the pub instead. This year, my friends and I were smart and we went during the day to avoid the crowds. However, it really is more magical at night when all the lights are bright – but actually it gets dark here at about 3:30pm so “night” is relative.

Anyway, Winter Wonderland is a fun place to go with a group because it’s nice to just walk around and look at things. It’s free to get in, and then it’s easy to just wander around and take it all in. To me, Winter Wonderland is a mix of Christmas market and the Boardwalk in New Jersey. That might not sound appealing, but I think it is. There are rides, games, food, shopping, and even the circus. While we were there we saw some interesting stuff. We saw a pub/carousel (bottom right above) where drinkers were sitting on horses and riding around in a circle. It looked both fun and a little sad. In the Bavarian area we saw this really tall statue of a man with a bird (top left above). It was creepy, and worse his mouth and eyes moved and his hair blew in the wind. How is he Germany or Christmasy? I don’t know.

The best thing we saw  – or rather heard – was this guy in the photo above. At first, we heard him from afar and thought it was just recorded Barry White music playing over the speakers. I think he was singing Can’t Get Enough of Your Love. And then we got closer and we saw that it was an actual real person singing. He was pretty good, and a little bit hilarious to listen to. He was a little all over the place and hitting all kinds of high and low notes. He even had a small crowd of teenage girls dancing along at the foot of his pavilion.

Of course, while we were there we did stop to eat and drink. Some of us were drawn to German sausages, others got donuts, and I got some churros. Even though it wasn’t too cold, we did warm up with mulled wine and cider. I enjoy the festive gold foil stuck in this plastic cup. They really are pulling out all the stops to make it merry, am I right?

We also had a lovely time on the games. My friend Chi and I played one game where we shot arrows at balloons on a target. The vendor was somewhat un-supportive. I asked him to show me how to use the bow, and he did, but after he said he thought maybe he was going to need some protective armor. However, I showed him (sort of) I was able to shoot 2 of the 4 balloons. I actually shot one of the balloons on my first try! The last time I shot an arrow was in high school gym and I was awful. So, look at me now Mr. Randall, I am a semi-decent archer!

Anyway, I didn’t win a prize, but I felt like a winner. After Chi, Charlotte, and I played another game and Chi picked the winning number and won a giant Toblerone bar. In fact, it’s actually 58 small Toblerone bars but the giant packaging in impressive. Everywhere we went for the rest of the night people kept talking to Chi.

As for the rides, we were all tempted, though slightly fearful. We wanted to go, it looked fun. But after eating and boozing we were afraid of getting sick. In fact, I hate to say this, but I think we were also feeling a little bit old and lame. But, Chi, Imogen, Abi, Adam and I did eventually ride a medium-sized looking roller coasted called the Wild Maus XXL. The queue for the line was like a fun house with lots of obstacles. Instead of just standing in line, the floor had spots that spun around, boards that wobbled back and forth, and even a water area where you had to jump on logs. It was the best line I’ve ever waited in.

I’ve been on a Wild Maus ride before, but not one so big. Basically it’s a fast moving roller coaster and though it doesn’t go upside down, when it takes turns it takes them really really sharply. Basically as you go around the turns it feels like the car might fly off the tracks. It also has a lot of speedy up and downs. Needless to say we all did a lot of yelling and laughing. The photos of us afterwards were funny too. Our hair was flying everywhere and everyone was making crazy faces.

After Winter Wonderland we headed to a Christmas party hosted by our other work friends Dan and Dominique. I know there party has nothing to do with Winter Wonderland, but I wanted to tell you about the Christmas pudding. I wish I had taken more pictures of everything because they made everyone a big Christmas feast and there house was decorated with lots of decorations. But, the Christmas pudding (above) was my favorite thing because I had never seen one before. It’s a holiday tradition here in the UK and it’s basically a rich, boozy, fruit cake that you cover in brandy and light on fire. How beautiful is that?! I thought it was delicious and maybe next year I’ll try to make one for myself.

It’s almost Christmas, but Winter Wonderland is open until 3 January in case you’d like to check out some of this ridiculous fun for yourself.

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I don’t have a green thumb. Or to use the British phrase, I don’t have green fingers. Either way, I’m not good at keeping plants but I do enjoy looking at them and having them in the house. So recently Ryan and I decided to spend a leisurely Sunday morning browsing the plants and flowers at the Columbia Road Flower Market. 

The Columbia Road Flower Market is open on Sundays from 8am until about 3pm. Also, during December they have Christmas Wednesday with evening shopping. What I loved about the market is that it’s small but intense. One road packed full of all kinds of flowers and plants. And when you’re finished looking around and shopping it’s an easy walk to Brick Lane or Spitalfields Market where you can grab a bite or shop some more. 

Besides lovely atmosphere, my favorite thing about the market was all the yelling. Not angry yelling, but the attention-grabbing advertisement yelling done by the vendors. As the Columbia Flower Market website states, they all yell “everthin’ a fiver.” They also yell about how their flowers are better than those at the other vendors. The vibe is fun and animated. This may sound silly, but the market feels like the English markets I’ve seen in movies or read about in books. It’s loud, vibrant and alive. 

And so many things really are available for a fiver (£5). In the photo above you can see a bunch of thistles, an orchid, and some holiday berry branches are all out there for £5. I was also surprised to see a lemon tree, which was more than £5 but still seemed like a great deal given how many lemons are already on it! For whatever reasons I didn’t expect to see so much variety. I thought there would be flowers, house plants, and maybe Christmas plants. I was pleasantly surprised to see lemon trees, orange trees, and even a pretty sizable chilli plant.

I was right about Christmas plants though. There were trees, and holly, and berries. The wonderful smell of evergreen trees was in the air. But my favorite Christmas plant was the unexpected and hilarious Santa cactus. I nearly missed seeing it since he was hidden away, but thankfully Ryan spotted them and pointed Santa out.

The plants I ended up being drawn to the most were the succulents and cacti. And not just because they were dressed like Santa. Actually, some of the succulents were painted gold and bronze – I think also in an attempt to make them Christmasy. And did you notice, the succulents are good deal, at less than a fiver?

But I like succulents and cacti because they have such interesting shapes and colors. There are spiky ones and furry ones. There are colorful ones and plain green ones. Some are little bulbs and some have swirly arms. I find them fun and I enjoying looking at them. Also, not having a green thumb I feel like maybe I’d be able to actually take care of them.

Although tempted by many things, surprisingly we left without buying anything. But really, who wants to carry a tiny cactus home on the tube? Not me. Although maybe in busy times I could use it as a weapon…

But I digress. The plant that I was most tempted by was an amaryllis bulb. When Ryan and I lived in the US, twice his mom gave me an amaryllis bulb around Thanksgiving and early in the New Year it would bloom with its first flower. I loved it because it was so beautiful and because it was fairly easy to take care of. I didn’t take a picture of the bulb, but I did take a picture of some giant stemmed amaryllis plants. They were very impressive.

As we got to the end of the road we stopped for a bit and listened to a very hipster looking folk group. One of them was playing a washboard and another was dancing on a piece of wood. It was very hipstery, but also very pleasant to listen to. It was cold so we walked away towards Spitalfields in search of lunch and warmth. It was an absolutely lovely way to start a Sunday and I look forward to going back soon.

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Last Friday I went to the see Zippos Circus at Hampstead Heath with some friends from work. I think part of the reason we went was because those of us who live in North London were tired of all the plans always happening across the city. The other reason is that it sounded like fun and we got a deal (£8.50!) from Time Out. Some of us had never been the circus before, and some of us (like me) hadn’t been since we were kids. I don’t know what exactly we were expected going in, but it turned out to be a total blast. 

The tent was set up outside on Hampstead Heath and inside was pretty intimate. There wasn’t a bad seat in the house and since it wasn’t full the seven of us got central seats facing the middle of the ring.

The show started with some tumblers called the Zulu Warriors. I don’t have any great pictures of them because they were so quick everything came out blurry. They were like the most amazing cheerleaders I’d ever seen. They were throwing each other in the air, jumping about four feet in the air, and creating these amazing human pyramid structures. There was a  guy called Mr. Nadler and his dog Speedy. They did some really cute tricks many of which had the dog crawling all over the man. My favorite trick is anove where the dog jumped on to Mr. Nadler’s feet and then the man did a handstand while balancing the Speedy on top. It was impressive balancing, plus Speedy was just super cute.

And while we’re talking about balancing, let’s talk about Kremena. She’s from Bulgaria and did acrobatics competitively and even won a few medals before she turned to circus performing. She looked amazing, but mostly I was impressed with her strength. She looks amazing!

One my my least favorite acts over the course of the show was the clowns. They were trying but their tricks weren’t very smooth. When a tube was meant to explode and fall on the head of a clown, that clown caught the tuba and put it on his head. Or when a clown was flapping his wig, you could see his arm moving as he pulled the lever. It just wasn’t seamless. However, I did like the trick above where they shot a canon at a piano and it exploded. It just looks funny to see a piano explode.

Many of the performers in this show however, were truly impressive. Odka the contortionist defied my understand of human anatomy. First of all, she entered in a bottle (above). How did she fit in there?! Then when she got out she twisted into all kinds of shapes. When I showed Ryan the picture below, he was unsettled. He said it was confusing to look at because, “her top is on the bottom and the bottom is on the top.” And she look perfectly happy like that!

Most impressive though was that she could shoot an arrow using her feet! The amount bending that this took blew my mind. She was even able to shoot a balloon in this position. It was mind bending for me and body bending for Odka.

An integral part of going to the circus is light up toys (which lots of kids had) and snacks. But for me, the best circus snack is cotton candy. I decided to indulge and so did my friends Amy and Pooja. In addition to the crazy sweetness, the funny texture, and the overall gritty stickiness, what I love best about cotton candy is it’s giant size. Just look at it!! It’s bigger than my head and nearly as big as my torso. Truly amazing.

Overall my favorite parts of the circus were the acts that frightened me. The ones done at extreme heights or by crazy daredevils. Those acts gave me the feeling of being on a roller coaster. You know the feeling – scared, exhilarated, and delighted. For example, Stefanie (in the photos above) did all kinds of crazy acrobatics while dangling in the air from an over-sized umbrella. She twirled, she swung around, she held poses, and she even balanced from her face. FROM HER FACE!!! I was literally yelling aloud in amazement.

In my opinion the best act was the Galaxy Duo (although I think the guy did the most awesome stuff). Basically they had this giant spinning baton with cages on the end and the two people did tricks in and on the cages. I was completely overwhelmed by how cool and dangerous and amazing this all was. At first the guy was just on top of the cage doing tricks, then he was jumping rope (photo below) and then he was on stilts.

And then he was BLIND FOLDED!! I was dying. And even better my friends were dying. I love the photo above of Imogen and Becky covering their mouths. Sarah (bottom right in the photo above) even shouted, “don’t do it!” I like to believe that he was totally in control the entire time, but there were moments with the blind folds where he pantomimed like he was falling. It made my heart jump, but he landed safely every time. Throughout the whole show the ring master did a below average job of hyping up the crowd, but for this guy there were thunderous and appreciative applause.

Although I generally thought the ring master was a lackluster when it came to his rapport with the crowd, he did have a cute act with some budgies (which I’d call parakeets) he had trained. They did cute things like ride in a car, swing, and slide down a slide. What made it especially cute was that the birds kept being “naughty” and running off to keep to play and do more tricks. It was a funny bit him acting all put out and frustrated and the birds kept scampering off. It was a nice relief to the thrill rides of some other acts.

The finale of the show was the Cage of Terror (above), which also had my entire group of friends yelling with shock and excitement. It started with one guy on a motorbike riding around inside. Mind you, it’s not really the big of a cage. Then a second guy started riding around inside. And they went upside down. Crazy. Then after two were in there, a woman got in and stood in the middle. And she didn’t just stand, she waved and moved around. Moved around like a crazy person!

When she got out, a third motorcyclist got in. My friend, and the crowd, and I were all dying. And then we saw it. THERE WAS ONE MORE. ONE MORE. All of us were shouting about there being a fourth one. In these above photos it is hard to see but those red blurs are the four motorcyclists. Then, when it seemed like there couldn’t possibly be more the cage slowly started to split open. And the four guys were still riding. It was terrifying and thrilling and amazing. When the cage finally closed and the guys got out the applause were insane and they had a standing ovation.

As the smell of fuel and burnt rubber lingered in the air, all the performers came out for one final bow and to wave good bye. The seven of us left smiling, laughing, and chattering away. We saw some amazing things, but what I loved best was that for a few hours my friends and I shed the seriousness and cynicism that can come with adulthood. We laughed, and yelled, and squealed, and were thrilled just like children. It was a great evening.

Zippos Circus is still around in London, although not in Hampstead Heath. They’ll be performing at Brent Cross from 27 October to 1 November, 2015. Check out their website for more details. The most expensive tickets are less than £30 and the cheapest are £7. It’s well worth it!

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Yesterday Ryan and I went on a date. Yeah, we went on a date on a Monday and in the middle of the day! I took the day off and he took a half day and we went to Action for Happiness‘ Creating a Happier World event. Action for Happiness is an organization that works to create and encourage a happier and more caring society. The Creating a Happier World Event was about ways to put that mission into practice. It was a full afternoon event and featured a number of different speakers, but mostly notably we heard from the Dalai Lama.  

The event was held at Lyceum Theatre here in London, which is where they do the Lion King. It’s a gorgeous, very ornate theatre with tiny, somewhat uncomfortable seats. Although after sitting for a long time, what theatre seat doesn’t become uncomfortable? The afternoon started with a few accounts from people whose lives had changed after becoming involved with Action for Happiness and their course – and then shortly thereafter we heard from the Dalai Lama. I thought it was cool he was early in the program. Usually the most noteworthy person is left until the end, but it was great the Dalai Lama was early because then his opinions, advice, and words got to be a part of later conversations. If the Dalai Lama had been last we would have heard what he had to say and then left. With him going first we got to think about it, talk to each other, and ask questions.

It’s a little hard to just write about everything that I heard from or noticed about the Dalai Lama, so I thought I’d keep this closer to a list, with some bolded words so you can get the highlight. First, my impressions.

• The Dalai Lama is funny. The whole event was about happiness, and it’s clear there’s joy in his life and that he gets joy from sharing that with others. During his hour-and-a-half conversation with Lord Richard Layard, His Holiness made jokes, silly faces, and stuck out his tongue (more than once). My expectation was that he’d been more… serene? …serious? I don’t know. He’s a man with a lot on his mind, for example there were protesters against him outside the building loud enough that we could still hear them inside, and yet he addressed it all with good humor. He talked a lot about compassion, treating others with affection, and finding exchanges that are difficult or frustrating to be opportunities to change your thinking.
• The Dalai Lama is soft spoken. Honestly, sometimes it felt hard to hear and to understand him. Alternatively, I think being soft spoken was an excellent was to create an atmosphere of stillness and attention. In a theatre of about 2,000 people everyone was quiet, listening, focused. Throughout the afternoon there was talk about cultivating attention and being mindful of the moment, and I think being soft spoken helped me practice that.
• The Dalai Lama is human. Obviously. But I think a lot of times noteworthy people are built up to be something other. Think about politicians who cultivate a persona and can’t give a straight answer. Or celebrities who always have to look thin and beautiful. I found the Dalai Lama to be surprisingly relatable. When asked how to solve the mental health crisis, he said, “I don’t know.” He went to say more, but I like that he didn’t have to have all the answers. When asked how he deals with loss and personal suffering he said, “first I lose my self control.” Again, he went on to say more but I loved that because it’s true of everyone. And at the end he said he was tired and was looking forward to going home, having a shower, a cup of tea, and then getting on a plane to America.

The second portion of the day we got to chat a bit to the people we were sitting near about what stuck with us from the first part of the day. It’s a bit cheesy, but I liked hearing what resonated with strangers. Primarily though, the second half of the day was a panel discussion where participants talked about happiness in science, education, and in our communities. Everyone was interesting in their own way, but I was particularly taken with Anthony Selden (second from the right above) who is the school master for Wellington College. He spoke about how today’s methods of schooling are outdated, how there’s a focus on grades and graduation over what kids need and how they should learn, and he talked about how there’s a lack of stillness in school. First of all, I love hearing passionate educators talk and I love hearing about education reform. Additionally, I believe that learning should be fun and I loved how he spoke about letting kids have time to be still. It’s something I wondered about when I worked at Live It Learn It. You know, is there a place for yoga or breathing exercises in experiential education? I think so, but I didn’t find the answer then. At my current job I’m not sure how I could incorporate this idea, but it’s something I’d like to think about further.

I also really loved Matthiew Ricard (far right in above photo), a Buddhist monk who spoke about altruism. During a discussion about video games, and creating those that teach valuable skills, he made a joke that there should be a game called “the Great Hospital,” where you tend to characters injured from other video games. I picture that as such a visually interesting mishmash of characters from worlds like Mario, Call of Duty, and Minecraft.

He also led a short meditation. What I loved was that he said meditation doesn’t have to be a big practice that takes lots of time. It can be just 10 seconds to think about sending someone love and compassion. He said try to do it six times a day, or just once an hour. I like it as an idea because those 10 seconds are likely to make me feel happier and better and maybe that positive mood can spread.

It was a very cool day and a unique experience. I want to end with four takeaways I had from the day. They are just things that resonated with me and that I’d like to try to incorporate and remember going forward.

• Happiness is a choice. What I learned from the day is that happiness is an action. I get to choose how I react to things, how I treat things and people, and how I enjoy things. I can choose to wallow, or feel wronged, or stay annoyed. I can choose to be a victim and say “the world (or whatever) is doing this to me.” Alternatively, I can choose to have agency in my own life and get over things, move on, and see silver linings and so be happy.
• I can train myself to think differently about things. This is something I really want to work on. For example, think about commuting to work. I often get annoyed by people walking slowly. I can train my brain to let it go, to think that it’s an opportunity for me to slow down in my own life, and to try to be compassionate to other people and how they need to exist in the world. Mostly I need this at work. I’ve had a rough summer and have felt so angry at visitors, my managers, and the museum as a whole. It’s for me to change how I think about things, to find new ways to enjoy myself, and to figure out how to find happiness at work. 
• It’s ok to show anger when it’s going to benefit the other person. This might sound totally crazy, but hear me out. It’s ok to be angry if by being angry you let the other person know that they have hurt you, and thereby they will feel compassion and maybe change the behavior. The Dalai Lama gave the example of a naughty child saying that it’s ok to display your anger so they know what has gone wrong. And then presumably from there the child would learn what is positive and kind behavior. Anger sometimes is an outlet for the person that’s angry, but who does that help? I like that maybe anger could be helpful.
• Try out 10 second meditations throughout the day. I really liked this idea a lot. I like that it gives me some time to be still during the day while also thinking more positive thoughts. I think it’s great to think positive thoughts toward other people too.We tried it out in the theatre and so initially I thought of Ryan and my family. But then later when Ryan and I were walking to get bubble tea I thought about the guy blasting his car horn as he tried to navigate rainy traffic. He seemed like he needed some love. Then at night when I was reading headlines I thought about Joe Biden. I feel sad about the loss of his son, so I thought he could use some good vibes too. It’s random, but I liked it. Possibly the best outcome of all of this is that even though I’m in my own head, I feel like I’m getting outside myself and thinking more about the well-being of others.

It was a cool day and I hope to keep it. Hope you’ll find something interesting in this post that you might want to use too.

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One of the first things I did when I moved to London was visit the Globe Theatre. My undergraduate degree is in English Literature, I love Shakespeare, and the first time I visited London in 2004 I didn’t get the chance to go. So in March of last year I took a tour of the theatre. The picture above is from that first visit. It was an amazing visit. Located along the Thames, the Globe is a beautiful place to see. It’s nestled between modern buildings but somehow when you’re right up against it, it’s easy to picture what it might have been like in Shakespeare’s time.

During that visit I walked around the museum exhibition first and saw historic objects and costumes from performances. I learned that the currently building is a reproduction that open in 1997 and was funded by an American called Sam Wanamaker. I toured inside the theater and learned that they had to get special permission to have a thatched roof because since the Fire of London in 1666 there’s a law against them. It was an incredible day where I just felt excited by all I’d be able to see and do in London. That day was a lovely sunny spring day, but on my most recent visit the weather was quite the opposite. This time it rained. And it rained a lot. 

I had a great first visit to the Globe, yet it took me over a year to go back to see a play. Ryan and I talked about going, and always said we would, but we often forgot to sit down and buy tickets. So one day in July when I was thinking about it I decided to just buy a standing ticket so I’d finally go already. I fully know that being a Groundling is part of the draw when going to the Globe. It’s one of those authentic experiences that you’re supposed to have. Besides that, it’s cheap with tickets being just £5. But I wasn’t sure it was an experience I wanted to have. I mean standing for over 2 hours? That’s what I do at work why do it in my free time?

All the remaining seats for the day I wanted (last Thursday) were obstructed view, so I decided to try standing. Also, once I watched a play at the Blackfriars Playhouse in Virginia – which is a reconstruction of another Shakespeare theater and the seats were so uncomfortable. I went with my high school friends and their significant others to see The Country Wife, which was hilarious, but ohmygod were we uncomfortable. Straight backed wooded benches aren’t so snuggly. With that knowledge, I figured standing couldn’t be so bad.

My ticket was for Much Ado About Nothing, which is a comedy. I was really excited about going and then I saw the weather forecast a few days before. My app said rain and even had the little illustration of lightning. Great. But I was going. Because isn’t standing in the Globe Theatre while it’s raining one of those other super authentic experiences? Let me digress for a second to ask, if it was raining in Shakespeare’s time would people really have gone to the theater? Wouldn’t they have stayed home? Do we go in the rain now because it’s a tourist attraction? I don’t know.

All I know is I did see a show in the rain. Most of the time when you go to the theater you dress up and specially pick you outfit and do your hair. This was the same for me, but with a rain specific focus. Photo of my ensemble is above. And I can hear you saying, “wow! what are you wearing?! who are you wearing?!” because that’s how chic I look – so I’ll tell you. I wore Hunter Original Back Adjustable Wellies in Hunter Green, super soft skinny jeans from New Look, the shell from an LL Bean Storm Chaser 3-in-1 Jacket, and a cosmos large umbrella from the Science Museum. I washed my hair and put up wet into a tight top knot. Why do my hair when I was going to get rained on. Now you can have my ultra sweet look. 

I felt lucky to be a local because the tourists were wearing sandals and canvas sneakers, which were definitely getting water logged. Just in case you ever go to the Globe in the rain, please know you can’t use an umbrella inside but that they will provide you with a poncho if you don’t have anything. Anyway, as I stood in the rain before the show started my jacket started to cling to my arms, my backpack got heavy with water, I thought that maybe I wouldn’t be able to last throughout the whole show. But I did and it was totally and completely amazing.

Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy, so obviously people get married at the end. There are two couples – one who love each other from the beginning but misunderstandings ensue that keep them apart for awhile and the other couple hate each other at first and then they fall in love. If you haven’t seen it, check out the 2012 Joss Whedon version. It’s on Netflix (at least here in the UK). Anyway, you can see the ending pretty much from the beginning but the twists, the jokes, and above all the acting makes it mesmerizing. And of course the language makes it. I think Shakespearean English is like a muscle. When I don’t use it I’m out of practice and it takes me a bit to understand what’s going on, but once you warm up and get into it then appreciating the words gets easier and familiar.

Emma Pallant, the actress who played Beatrice, and Christopher Harper who played Benedick (the characters who hate each other at first) were incredible. The electricity they show between the two characters was intense and real. Pallant’s Beatrice is smart, snarky, likeable, and she also feels modern. The way she looks at Harper’s Benedick is just like a school girl who rolls her eyes as the popular boy pesters her, but wants him to come back and bother her because it’s fun to tease him too. And I found I couldn’t take my eyes of Harper’s Benedick. He was full of swagger and over confidence but completely endearing and I always wanted everything to work out for him. His physical humor was perfection. The way he hid when the character was eavesdropping on a conversation was over the top and expressive. When he strutted out on stage after learning that Beatrice loved him, he looked like a puffed up peacock. It was big and overt and side-splittingly funny. I truly found I couldn’t get enough of him.

It was also the most intimate and connecting theater experience I’ve ever had. I’ve been to plays where I’ve sat close to the stage and I’ve been to performances with seating for only 40 people – but this was something different. The actors came in and out of the audience. They talked to us – and even played catch using oranges with us. They made jokes about us and included us in the action. It felt like we were partners in the story and brought into the fold with each of the characters. Thankfully the rain did stop a little bit before intermission – but I couldn’t have left no matter what. It was one of the best theater experiences I’ve ever had. I will definitely go back and this time won’t wait a year between visits. 

After the show I went to the gift shop. They had lots of fun objects. I liked the Groundling t-shirt, though I didn’t buy it. I  also liked that phrase on the mug, because that’s exactly how I felt afterward – that I could waste my time there in the theater. I did buy the Shakespeare gingerbread cookie. It was funny and delicious. I also bought Bill Bryson’s book Shakespeare and a t-shirt that just said Globe Theatre on it.

That night when I went to bed, it felt like the first time I rode a roller coaster. This is nerdy, but hear me out. The first roller coaster I rode was called Kumba at Busch Gardens in Orlando Florida. I had wanted to ride a roller coaster for awhile and I finally got up the courage to do it. And it was a blast. Afterward my dad bought me a t-shirt from the ride and I remember feeling excited and exhilarated because I had had a wonderful time doing something I had dreamed about and had thought about for a long time. I wore that shirt as soon as I got home from the park and I remember feeling so happy. When I got home from that theater I had the same feeling. I felt like that little kid again, happy, excited, and wearing a crisp new t-shirt.

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First of all, I think it’s wonderful that I can go see a farm while still being in London. On Sunday I wanted to do something out of the house, but I didn’t want to do the usual things. I was feeling tired of crowds and museums and loafing around. I found a list of “alternative” things to do in London and Hackney City Farm caught my eye. I could be outside, I didn’t have to book anything, it was free, and only a short ride away. Yes please.

To get there I took the overground to Hoxton and walked about 1/3 mile the rest of the way. The farm is also accessible from the tube using the Bethnal Green stop and then also walking about 1/3 mile. The actual farm is located inside Haggerston Park. As I walked through I saw people having picnics and playing tennis. When I arrived at the farm there were a few families and small groups of adults. The clear lack of crowds was a huge plus. I also immediately saw lots of animals. Squeal!

I liked that the animals were mixed in together. I know almost nothing about farming, but the set up seemed friendly, the animals had room to roam, and everything I read about sustainable happy animal farming seems to say that mixed use and shared spaces are the best. So anyway, it seemed a good signs that the ducks, chickens, sheep, and goats were all chilling together. A donkey was nearby too. 

The first animals I saw were goats. This little kid was feeding them bread (I’m not sure if that was even allowed), but that’s why they are so eager looking and close to the fence. The goats are a beautiful tawny color which I haven’t seen much before. Nearby were some sheep relaxing in some shade with ducks and chickens noisily wandering around and poking in everyone’s business.

I was really hoping to see some pigs during my visit. I love pigs. I have loved pigs since I was a little girl. I think they are cute and amusing. I collect things with pigs on them, I have a whole Pinterest board of cute pigs, and I barely eat pork products because 6 year old me decided I shouldn’t (in recent years this has gotten lax). I love pigs. And when I told my friend Katerina that I went to this farm she asked, “did you see the huge pigs?” The answer: a pouty no.

There was a big mound of dirt and lots of signs with facts about the pigs. But no pigs. Why? It was hot and pigs don’t have sweat glands. They were hiding in this shed (photo above) to stay cool. You can see the chickens were hanging out in the shade too. Inside you can just make out a pig leg. Sigh. So no pigs this time, but I’ll be back to see them another time. I did see Charlotte’s web though. And by that I mean, I saw an elaborate spider’s web outside of the pig pen, so naturally it’s Charlotte’s Web. Since I have a new fancy camera I wanted to see if I could get a clear shot of the web. So here it is. It’s artsy, and also gross, in it’s own way.

But anyway, instead of pigs I became mildly obsessed with the chickens and roosters. I’m thirty years old, I know what a rooster looks like. But also, I had no idea how beautiful roosters are! They are so colorful! That vibrant red cockscomb, the blue wing feathers, and the jaunty jade tail feathers. This bird is faaancy! I saw more than one rooster and I thought they were all gorgeous, but the one below was my favorite. I also heard some authentic “cock-a-doodle-doo’s” which pleased my city-mouse heart to no end.

I liked the chickens first because of how colorful they were! I know that chickens can be white, brown, yellow, black, and with lots of other color combinations. However, I hardly ever see those chickens. I really enjoyed getting to see different varieties of chickens. I also like that they were just everywhere. Sure, it was a little freaky that they were just right there next to me. And sometimes when I was taking a picture I’d hear crowing so close it felt like it was in my ear. And yes, the nervous-around-animals side of me had the small panics of “oh my God is it going to come peck my feet off?!” But the normal side of me loved it. I loved that the chickens owned the place and could really be free range and come and go as they liked. I saw them leave the coop, walk around the farm, and pop in to different pens with other animals. I even saw one chicken find and eat a worm. That’s the kind of hipster foodie thing people advocate for, so I enjoyed seeing it. I also saw some baby chicks scampering around inside, which you can see in the bottom right photo above.

In addition to animals, the farm also has a garden. It’s a smallish plot, but lovely to walk around in. I enjoyed the informative signs that explained what plants were and why some things were planted and kept together. Ripening all around me I saw raspberries, apples, squash, tomatoes, and chard. The ladybug stone is very cute and was next to a pond where apparently tadpoles had just been born. I couldn’t see anything exciting there, but I like that a plain pond had life in it. Also I didn’t know that apple could grow in big bunches. I thought apples grew… independently with space around them. But, I saw a bunch of apples so I learned something new.

While walking by a tree called the Wishing Tree I saw a number of little kids playing. One of them, about four years old, walked up to me and offered me a handful of dirt while saying something unintelligible. It felt like being at work where kids do weird things and I just have to roll with it. In the end, he only gave me one stone out of the pile. Go figure. Also, I saw this tomato plant with wool in the bottom of the pot. Why do you think the wool is there? Is it to insulate it? Or to keep the water in? I really don’t know, I might have to do some research.

After the garden, I went into the shop. They sell cute farm-themed kids toys, books about bees and composting, and branded t-shirts and bags. Additionally, they also sell eggs, honey, produce from the garden, and some potted tomatoes. A small bag of potatoes was just 80p which I thought was an incredible deal. The farm also has a pottery studio with drop-in classes for both adults (£15 per class) and children (£5 per class). It was closed while I was there, but I peaked in the window and the studio looked spacious, bright, and like a lot of fun. I’ve never used a pottery wheel, but it seemed like a fun thing to try. After walking around it seems like most people end their visit in Frizzante, the cafe at Hackney City Farm. The decor is cozy and contains a mix of well loved wooden furniture. The menu is Italian focused and uses local and seasonal ingredients. It’s a great place to sit and rest your feet after wandering around the farm. If you’re visiting on a Sunday and still  have energy after the farm, my friends have recommended walking onward to the Columbia Road Flower Market. I didn’t know it was so close and so didn’t do this, but maybe for a future Tourist Tuesday I’ll go – and also return to the farm to see the pigs.

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