The Shanleys ventured forth from the tri-state area, over the pond and into London last week. They did it!
The weary travelers - face it, no one ever sleeps on the red-eye - were greeted by Andy, bearing a large sign reading, "SNORTY." Snorty is the beanie baby bull that Margot fell in love with last summer. He has been sending her emails from Connecticut, documenting his life with the Shanleys and begging for an exchange program to England. So, he came as well.
When the Shanleys arrived, Margot was so overcome she couldn't even speak. Soon enough, she was all over Kerby, following her everywhere and just grinning like crazy to be near her. Owen started the week feeling a bit ill as well, but was in full dance-party, collision-course mode by the end of the week. It was agreed he's going to be a terror at Leete's Island this summer.
We allowed the Shanleys to rest for an hour or two. Then, we all jumped on the tube to watch Chelsea v. Huddersfield Town at Chelsea Stadium. It was supposed to be a beat-down but Huddersfield was the first to score and the visiting fans went wild. Chelsea came back, dominated and won, of course. There was lots of chanting, songs and good fun.
It's worth noting that fans from visiting teams have to enter and exit via a separate entrance, heavily protected by mounted police. Football is no joke here. The food served is mostly pies (meat pies, not fruit), fish 'n chips and sausages. It gave the stadium the aroma of a KFC. Mmmmm..
On Sunday we wanded around Central London a bit. We returned to Hampstead to treat the Shanleys to a Sunday Roast. After trying all the locals, we finally found one with an available table, The White Bear. Lesson #2 for Sunday Roast: Book your table in advance. (See here for Lesson #1). By this time, Owen had a melt-down so I took him home. Every one else stayed for a nice meal, or so I hear.
Then, the plague hit. Kerby fell first. She was poorly, as they say here, all Sunday night and into Monday. She recovered in time for her personal shopper spree at TopShop. Kerby tried on lots of cute outfits while Margot stalked her every move, hanging out in the dressing room with her, chatting incessantly and picking the appropriate "up-do" for Kerby's free hairstyling blowout.
The next few days were a blur of London tourist venues and relatives making sprints to the loo. Danny and Kay fell ill too. They were all troopers and managed to take the Big Bus Tour and visit Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, London Eye and lots more.
We had a great time hanging out with the Shanleys and we're so excited they made the trip. We can't wait 'til they come back.
See some photos here.
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