l o n d o n f o r r e s t

We returned from the fabulous city of Philadelphia on Monday, and just had a couple bits and bobs to do before Corey went back to work (‘bits and bobs’ is London speak for ‘errands’).  We accomplished UK bank accounts, healthcare activation, library membership so I can check out travel guides, and grocery shopping. Alas, I am still waiting to get a phone contract.

On Tuesday, I started the serious leg work of applying for jobs, and had my first interview at primary school in my neighborhood. I am visiting again tomorrow to determine if this could be an ideal situation for me starting in December.  I enjoyed wandering the shops and food vendors at the Exmouth Market just a block away from the school.

Wednesday: Jogging has proved helpful as I hit up Hing Yip grocery market, noted further cafe options to patronize while blogging, and familiarized myself with bus routes.  My new healthcare tracks how many miles I run and walk each day, and we are able to earn free prizes for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. No way, you say? We used our vitality points and saw “Legend” on Saturday night FOR FREE because of the paces I walked earlier in the week. It’s really so civilized!

A bar with a built in green room?!

I think I was on Calcedonia street.

From a footbridge over the canal.

Thursday: I GOT HIRED ….as a tutor…..part-time.  This means I have some work starting in November!  After my interview, I also attempted to find a farmers’ market in Bloomsbury, but I’m noticing that the farmers’ markets tend to be large spaces for food vendors, rather than booths that actually have fresh fruits and veggies. The search continues. However, I did stand in line for GoodKarma lunch- where you pay what you like for a steaming plate of curry. See the captions below.

Back to Bookish Bloomsbury for the Farmers’ Market.

Paella for days!

Quiche and breads.

Thai curries.

Shortbread that isn’t quite short. Go big or go home!

Donations based + volunteer servers = Good Karma.

Queue it up for Karma lunch.

I felt good just standing in line being a part of it all.

This past weekend was only the second weekend we’ve spent together in London since I’ve been here, and we made the most of it.

Friday, we partied at the British Library for the opening of the new exhibit called ‘West Africa: Word Symbol Song’. The evening was a tribute to Fela Kuti which meant the library turned into a concert venue full of talented artists belting out Fela tunes. We admittedly didn’t get to see the actual exhibition because we were queuing for an hour for jollof rice.  We went early to hear an interview with Lemi Ghariokwu, the man who designed many of Fela’s album covers. And I have to be really honest: I enjoyed the woman who interviewed Ghariokwu (still finding her name) because her questions were impressive, because she has beastly public speaking skills and because she deftly navigated through an interview as a woman- being interrupted at times, and having the designer try to relate to her with comments that I don’t believe he would have said to a male moderator (when asked about some of the symbolism of bodies on his album covers, he rolled his eyes and said ‘are you going to make me talk about boobs?’). I’m done. When I find her name, I’ll revise this post to ensure a proper shoutout.

No librarians workin’ tonight!

Felabration! “I am using my music as a weapon.”

I was mesmerized by the dancing on stage. Some of the dancers, I believe, were from the Broadway show.

She slid down the escalator rail to pump up the crowd! So fierce!

No one wants burgers when you can have groundnut chicken!

We failed again… too quick to devour our meal of groundnut chicken, black eyed pea stew, and apple cake.

The album covers were an incredibly powerful way to participate in the movement. Lemi spoke of his connect to Fela as that of a citizen to a demi-god.

He said that Zombie was a challenging cover to create because he knew he’d be stepping directly into the line of fire with the Nigerian government.

Outside of St. Pancras station after the Felabration.

Saturday, we ventured out to Greenwich to see where time starts!  Greenwich is an area that I would add to the list of sights to see while in London. The markets were full of delicious food and fun artists.  We probably ate some of the best Ethiopian food I’ve ever tasted. The stalls near the water are in the midst of the massive Cutty Sark ship, one of the fastest tea clippers in British maritime history. You can walk up to the Royal Observatory to take a tour, stand on the Prime Meridian or just take in a great view of London from the top of the hill.  (I already said this, but then we used our vitality points and saw our free movie to round out the day…at a movie theater within walking distance from our apartment which means we earned more points… I’m just so tickled by it all).

Come prepared to dip into your coin purse.

We split the veggies and goat cheese, and it came with a lovely side salad of bulgar wheat and chickpeas.

Shoutout to my long time family friend, Sophia and her hubby, Matt. Can’t wait to meet Finley!

Nothing like a stroll in the park while we wander up to the Royal Observatory. See the leaves changing in the back?

View from the top of the park. A bit stunning, London- or quite lovely, London.

Greenwich Mean Time- where time starts?!? The museum includes such a thorough history about the accurate mapping of longitude while at sea.

This quarter wheel would have a telescope attached to the top so while checking out the stars, one could also determine the angle of the star from the same viewpoint each evening. This contraption also had wheels to roll around the Octagon room.

Ahoy Cutty Sark!

I want to buy an art piece that says something to the effect of “The sleeping fisherman catches no fish” – like the early bird catches the worm but in Italian. It’s done in blue and gold (go bears) and has three fish on it (go pisces).

Find the Ethiopian stall and wait until they put the ‘mixed veggie end of day platter’ up for 3 pounds 50. Then tell her you don’t need a lid so she heaps on the red lentils.

Check the sign: The first shop in the world based on longitude 😉 Clever, clever!

The Prime Meridian! I see you NYC and Los Angeles!

Sunday Funday- Corey uploaded his contacts correctly into his iphone, I pretended to do some wedding planning, and then it was time for American football. Below you’ll get an insider’s view of where we’ll be every Sunday until February.  Go Birds!!! True fans dedicated to that 1:30am Monday Night Football game (yes, we took a nap and then woke up for the game).

Where the magic happens, folks!

Auh- mer-ica.

Unfortunately, there was a poker tourney happening in the cabaret lounge where we usually watch the games on the big screen. We were relegated to the side screens, but you get the picture.

During half time, some are keen to hit up a few tables.

Finally, though our goal is to cook at home, we determined that our neighborhood has some decent restaurants.

1. Ottolenghi (see previous post in the ‘O’ section of London Anne to Z…)
2. Afghan Kitchen: (illusive hours during the week!) order the spinach/lamb, and the pumpkin/yogurt- I’d skip the baklava as there are better options at Borough Market and Yalla Yalla
3. ZenMondo: the owner also makes the ceramic plates that they use in the restaurant! We’ll go back because many people had large steaming bowls of udon or sukiyaki which we didn’t try
4. Akari: large portions, sound saba handrolls, more mainstream with their roll options
5. The Angelic: complete with interesting veggie options and wifi- I’m drinking a cider here as I write
6. 69 Colebrooke: a small cocktail lounge down the street from our crib
7. Up on deck: The Little Viet Kitchen (closed on Mondays we learned)
   

   ZenMondo’s Chirashi. I believe the tea mug and the dipping sauce plate were both done by the owner.

   

   Akari’s sashimi platter

   

   I attempted to make this without many of the main ingredients- fenugreek was not on the shelves at the oriental grocery. Corey still said it was good–bless his heart.