Christmas Without the Fam - What's a Monkey to Do?

As you may know (or maybe not), we decided to stay in London for Christmas. All of our friends here were out of town or with family. So we were pretty much on our own, gulp.

The holiday got off to a bad start because (oh shit) I effed up our Christmas Eve reservations. I accidentally made a LUNCH reservation at Hix in Soho, instead of a dinner reservation. Yeah so Dave had to work, lunch was not a possibility. OK, it's fine. 

I just need a last minute dinner reservation in London on Christmas Eve, no problem - yeah right. I ended up with a Christmas miracle reservation at 36 by Nigel Mendham. Thank god for someone else's last minute cancellation. The meal was good and the wine was better - a £50 2007 Joseph Faiveley burgundy = happiness. The restaurant even had traditional English Christmas “crackers” for us. I had honestly never heard of these before, but then I am German and Irish.

So (for those of you non-English, or perhaps just ignorant to the ways of the English like me) they are small Christmas packages that make a popping noise when you pull them open. Fun, sort of. Then inside the cracker is a paper crown, a bad joke, and some small prize.

I got a crown and toe nail clippers. Effing sweet!

Dave got a crown and a plastic fancy pen, NICE.

And don’t think we are totally selfish a-holes, all dinners out and hotels. On Christmas Day I woke up at the crack-of-ass dawn (ya know, about 7:45am at this northern latitude), and went to do my usual Tuesday volunteer shift at the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. After all, the dogs don’t know it’s Christmas – they just want some love and a walk.As an aside, I recently read Bill Bryson’s Notes from a Small Island. One of the things he describes is the English propensity to get quite excited over the smallest of luxuries. For example tea: really tea is just slightly tasty brown water to which, you add some milk. Then you drink this with a scone of some other bready-type-of-thing with raisins or even sultanas (if you are really going crazy). The English go mad over their afternoon tea with a giddy gasp of “oohhhhhh tea”, Mr. Bryson’s words – not mine. Mind you, this is a good thing! If you can’t find an appreciation for the simplest pleasures in life, you are probably a bit sad. So I can understand the excitement over the whole Christmas cracker-thing having read Mr. Bryson’s observations. I mean, the crackers we got were really funny - but kind of lame.

In case you are wondering a typical shift for me includes lots of cleaning floors, comforting stressed dogs, teaching basic commands, giving treats, and walking dogs. Today we had special donated Christmas treats to give to each of the pups, as shown in that photo over there on the left! (Insert yet another shameless plug for donations to my London Marathon fundraising effort here.) It was an unforgettable way to spend Christmas morning for sure. Dave joined me a bit later that morning for dog walking in the rain, what a trooper.

Working at the home with a bucket of soapy water for cleaning, ew.

\It cleared up after my shift was over, so Dave and I walked all the way from the home back to the Savoy Hotel where we stayed for the holiday (the Tube was closed for Christmas). Uhm this is a bit further than you might think, and really not recommended due to the city’s propensity for sudden rainstorms. However, we were lucky this fine Christmas afternoon, and we had a sunny and peaceful walk along the Thames. It was such a joy to be in London, walking in the sun and taking in the views, without the usual crazy commotion and traffic.

We had Christmas dinner reservations at Bar Boulud at 8:00pm. We tried our best NOT to drink the entire afternoon beforehand, but it was raining and everything was closed for Christmas (except for pubs). What to do, what to do? Apparently, find an uber-cheezy casino and play games! We were BIG winners on the Toss the 10 Pence game. This thing is a complete rip-off and totally addictive.

You cheap plastic watches will be mine!

The satisfaction of victory, priceless.

BTW - I got that dinner dress at a used clothing store for £5.

Dessert at Bar Boulud.

On Boxing Day (December 26^th), we had to check-out of the gorgeous Savoy Hotel - only after treating ourselves to breakfast in bed. Normally, I am wayyyyy to cheap to spend $40 on hotel coffee, bagels, juice, and fruit, but WTF it was Boxing Day after all.

Dave was meant to live like this.

We spent the rest of the day avoiding the shopping areas and sales like the plague, and instead went for a run and cooked up some chili. 

So despite missing my family and dog this holiday, I really tried to put it aside and just be happy enjoying the peace and quiet of what is probably my last Christmas in London (*Insert melancholy sigh here*).

As an aside, one of the Wireless connections coming up in my list at the cafe I am at right now is called “Olly the Hung Horse”. I love this person, whoever it is. I almost spit my tea out seeing that one, right after gasping “ohhhhh tea”.

Christmas in London

The Monkeys are spending the Christmas holiday in London. I am not sure exactly how this happened - us being stationary for a holiday, that never happens - but here we are. I suppose we figured it was going to be our last Christmas in London (we are scheduled to go home in June of 2013), so why the hell not see what sort of festing we could do in Blighty. Here is/was the lineup so far:

* Yesterday we went to a Chelsea versus Aston Villa Game (Chelsea crushed 8-0).

Pregame parading.

  

Passing the flag around, this is big over here and super cool to watch.

* After the game yesterday, we went to Winter Wonderland - a (strangely) GERMAN festival in Hyde Park, complete with German beer, sausages, Spaetzle, and other such foods. Weird, but I am always for for a Bratwurst - withhold all dirty comments. Pervs.

Recreating Oktoberfest, or something like it.

• And then there was Zip-lining over Winter Wonderland - this would SO not be possible in the USA due to various liability laws. You jump off a windy platform and fly over crowds of hundreds of people on a pretty half-ass zip-line set up. Needless to say, it was VERY fun.

Preparation.

 

This should probably be illegal, that is the zip line there.

 

You just step off the platform, I look scared.

• There were also rip-off carnival games at Winter Wonderland......Dave loves that shit.

 

Dave was convinced he could master this- not so much.

So what is next:

• A 2-night stay at the Savoy Hotel!
• Christmas Eve and Christmas dinners at various fancy places.
• Christmas Day volunteering at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home (and here is yet another shameless plug for donations to my London Marathon effort for the home).

I have been asked by like 10 people, "what are you doing for Boxing Day?"

Then I had to ask, "when is that again."

For reference, Boxing Day is December 26th. It is a big holiday over here, way more important than Christmas Eve, it seems. I have nothing planned because I didn't know it was a thing there. So I have no idea what we will do. I assume EVERYTHING will be closed. Ideas are welcome and appreciated if anyone knows of something going on.

On Saturday we leave for Austria to ski for a week at St. Anton, and I am so excited I could tinkle. Pray for snow and Merry Christmas. xo

London Marathon 2013 - I Need Your Help

That's right y'all.

I have never done this before and will probably never do it again. I am running a race (the London Marathon, obvi) to support a charity - the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.

I am now one of those charity-racers that I have made fun of, I really have - honestly. As in, why not just do a race and raise money separately. How do these two things go together? What about the charity overhead, how do you know the charity is doing good work, where does the money go, why not just donate your race fee and expenses and sleep in the day of the race......blah blah blah. I am cruel and heartless, and apparently a hypocrite. 

Because here I am, asking you all for money.

I have been volunteering at the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home here in London for about a year now. One day a week, I go to the home and clean kennels and/or walk, play with, feed, train, and snuggle with dogs. Rough job, I know.

You would not believe the amazing work that goes on at the home, on behalf of the staff as well as the army of regular volunteers. People sometimes say to me, "I could never do that - isn't it sad." Actually, it isn't sad at all. These dogs are so well cared for. They are given medical treatment, trained, loved, and (as needed) the old fixeroo. They get to run through the on-site agility courses. Most impotantly, any dog can stay as long as they need to - until they find a home.

There are quite often tears of happiness, not sadness. Generally, this occurs when a very sweet dog gets rehomed, especially if it is one of the longer-stay doggies like Marcel here.

Me and Mutley on our walk at the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home!

The home has the most dedicated and knowledgeable staff who work SO hard, I mean the work is really physically hard. After completing my short 5-hour weekly volunteer shift, I am toast. I don't know how they do it every day for 40+ hours each week.

The home receives ZERO government money. They are fully funded by donations. And only positive reinforcement is used when training! I can fully vouch for the effectiveness of this organization, I am amazed each time I volunteer. These are just a few reasons why I am, asking you all for money.

This is where you come in (in case I haven't mentioned it before), I need your help raising £2500 - which is a lot-o-cash because that number is in £ not $ (ouchie). You can donate here: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AmieAshton. There is no fee and Virgin Money doesn't take a commission or anything.

So donate on behalf a dog you own, have known, love, have loved. I am doing this for Sammy because I miss him more than a normal person should.


I'll keep you posted on my training. I normally follow a rather non-typical training plan, we'll just see how it goes.

AND THANK YOU! xo

Miami Byotches

So after a visit to San Francisco for work, I decided to make a stop in Miami for a week on the way home to the UK. Nice.

A week in Miami in December when it is cold and dark in London, what could be better? Not much, well maybe Hawaii - but that is a reeeeeally long flight from London after all.

Anyways - my little sister ditched her hubby and 18 month old and joined me in Miami for part of the stay. After all the time I spend with Dave, it was nice to share a room with a female who doesn't mind having E! on in the background while we are getting ready and futzing about in the room. Dave HATES E!. I love it in a I-need-to-zone-out and-not-think-about-Syria kind if way. Plus my sis always has great hair products for me to borrow, yet another reason she is perfect to share a room with. 

So what did we do, not a lot...... Our days generally consisted of coffee, a walk/run/bike ride, a nap on the beach chairs outside of our hotel, a discussion of an outing that we were never actually going to do (day cruise to the Bahamas, tour of the Everglades, driving to the Keys, kayaking, etc.), then cocktails. That is about it.

Sorry Mom, this is like the only pic of the two of us.

Overall, I did like Miami. I am not sure I need to go out of my way to go there again, especially since it is a 6-hour flight from San Francisco and Hawaii is closer. However, Miami has a few things going for it:

• Warm water and clean beaches
•  Reasonably priced hotels, we stayed at the perfectly acceptable Park Central Hotel for just $139 a night
• Cuban food, especially from Puerto Sagua - you MUST eat here if you come to Miami
• Stone crab at Joe's, we were lucky enough to be there during stone crab season (October through May) and ate at Joe's twice
• The vibe, dancing, and music at night is so cool, there is so much energy you will never be bored in Miami.

I feel so happy!

Yes - a giant shell-encrusted dreidel and menorah, explained by Finny.

Miami has its downsides, to be sure (sorry to be a downer but this is shit that I wish someone would have warned me about):

• Walking past the 100 identical restaurants along Ocean Drive (near our hotel) is an awful experience, you get hassled to the max by the staff to sit down and eat/drink. The restaurants are not very good and are ungodly expensive. Avoid at all costs, except for a few of the more noted restaurants like Quinn's or Avalon.
• Clarify the price of what you are ordering, especially with drinks. The drink prices are rarely listed on menus. One day we paid $25 for two Coronas and then $18.95 for a mojito - I am not kidding. Getting ripped off REALLY ruins my day.
• It is not pedestrian/bicycle friendly, even though they have the Deco Bikes scheme now - you cannot really ride safely many places. I am probably just jaded by my recent experience with European bikefriendlyness though.

 

I was meant to have coffee on the beach every morning.

Miami - You Are Hot

Hello from Miami! I am working outside at my hotel by the bathtub-sized pool - in the shade of the palm trees (no wifi at the beach or else I'd be working down there). This does not suck.

I am so happy to be missing the London deep freeze right now I could cry. I met my sister in Miami on Friday and we had an outstanding weekend, which included a lot of swimming, dancing (like the white girls we are), and drinking fishbowl-sized glasses of mojitos and bloody marys. My sis left yesterday, but I am staying through the week. Dave is meeting me today for a few days of R&R after his eyeball appointment in Utah yesterday.

Here is what I will say about Miami:

The men are sexy.

The women are sexy.

It's hot and sweaty.

There is music everywhere: Samba, drums, dance, Tango, Spanish guitar, good (and sometimes very bad) R&B, etc.

And lots of alcohol.

I really like it here.

But then, I am a SoCal girl at heart. I am happiest when my first decision of the day is whether to put on underwear or just wear my swimsuit again because I will be in the ocean shortly anyway. Generally, I just wear my swimsuit.

Well I'll post some photos later. I didn't bring a purse with me so I haven't really been taking my camera anywhere to get photos. Only my room key and a credit card will fit down the sweaty front of my shirt, no room for a camera. I am such a classy lady. 

The Things You Notice

It is true what they way about travel, it makes you appreciate your own backyard.

I am back in SF - and it is nice to be here. The weather has been relatively warm, at least compared to London. I have been running along the eucalyptus/pine smelling tails around Stanford, and going to Yoga again. It's just comfortable.


A few things I have noticed:

• There are a lot of cars, and a lot of traffic. It took me 90 minutes to get from Palo Alto to Los Gatos the other night, wtf.
• People are very picky about what they eat (no gluten, local only, no soy, no nitrates, no dairy, no meat, nothing with a face, no carbs, no yeast, etc.). I can't keep it all straight. This is probably just a Bay Area thing though.
• I really miss Mexican food. I don't think there is a single pinto bean or tomatillo in all of the UK. And the Brits think that ketchup is spicy......
• Americans are really, really friendly. I have talked to more people at Yoga Source in 2 days of yoga than I have in London in 18 months of yoga. LOVE.
• There is a lot of TV, always on and in every room. The Brits don't seem to watch the same amount, nor do they generally have TVs in bedrooms or kitchens and such. I never really thought about that before.
• The green Bay Area hills are so beautiful. I really took the topography for granted. I can't wait to be back on my bike out there riding.

Anyway, what I am saying is that it is nice to be "home" and I am really looking forward to our spring return to friends, warmer temperatures, triathlon, and Sammy.