April 3, 2008. Today we had David and Joshua’s parent teacher conferences. Everything was good and they don’t seem to have any unrepairable problems. They are doing well although David is skating by. Both really do enjoy their school and have some nice experiences to remember.
April 4, 2008. Off to London we went on Easyjet, which was pretty easy. With adequate research, you can actually save some money, which we did by taking the train from Gatwick to London. It’s only 30 minutes or so. Then you can take a taxi, since the Tube is so incredibly expensive (unless you’ve worked out the discounts which are never available for short stays). Anywho, London is a great town, really fun, they speak English and it’s so diverse — lots of different people walking around. It was a nice day today and I managed to get a half hour run in before getting a “mini cab” to Sam Rosen’s brother’s house, since he was putting on a gathering for family for Asher’s (Sam’s son’s) Barmitzvah. Our friends the Azouz clan were there (three brothers, Edward, David and Jeffrey plus Edward’s wife and Jeffrey’s girlfriend), Morris ex-wife and his soon to be second ex-wife (soon to form the Morris Rosen’s ex-wife’s club). Also the Azouz brother’s mother was there; she’s close to 90 and sharp as anything, although not too physically healthy after she had to give up smoking as a result of her heart attack. It’s just great to see them all. Photos are here.
April 5, 2008. Today was Barmitzvah day and we walked over there, getting there late — no problem. Very reform congregation, I’m told, and reminds me of ours in Aspen. About half way into the ceremoney, Anne and I noted that Asher yawned and about 30 seconds later he fainted! Just fell down backwards. They took him out, and after about 10 minutes he came back, sans tie and jacket and finished. Great work. There is so much pressure on the kid, he’s a wonderful super-mature kid in many ways, but the combination of all the work he put in, lack of food, etc… caught up with him. Photos are here.
We went to dinner tonight with 15 people, which is always a way to insure disaster.
- Too much food was ordered as well as alcohol (and you know who pays).
- The kids are hungry and ordering food always takes too long.
- One of the mothers freaked out and berated her mate in front of everyone else (more or less) for not taking proper care of his son by making sure food was ordered for him.
- One of the guests offered a tiny artificial rose to a woman sitting next to us (who wanted to be moved we were so loud), which he does to everyone who comes into contact with him, man or woman, and her husband told him in clear language that giving a rose to someone else’s wife was inappropriate, more or less. The wife thanked him for the rose on the way out.
- Adults break glasses and kids, who take their shoes off, step on the broken glass and cut their feet on the glass and/or tables requiring a mad rush to “hospital”.
All to be expected. Every meal of this size generally ends in a visit to the hospital.
But what really was terrible was at the end a glass of orange juice got spilled on one of the single women’s (girlfriend’s) coats and that was reason to more or less ruin the evening.
So it goes; more to report tomorrow.
–
April 6, 2008. It was snowing this morning in London! Big flakes that turned into smaller flakes. A rarity, we’re told.
We went to the Science Museum, which is a huge free museum that has many displays like “plastics” and “materials” that tried to explain how things work and in a sort of disorganized way explain the progression of invention related to those topics. Everything was new in 1996 but is dusty and in need of an undate.
–
We met David Azouz at a very good pizza place near the museum and then walked together down Kensington to go to a book store, which I promised the guys. They bought some books, I bought a book (books are ridiculously expensive in Barcelona).
–
A note about London — this is a very vibrant place, with some many different people. It’s a lot of fun too, since it’s so busy.
Anyway I went for a run in the park when we got back, over to Speaker’s Corner where there were some religious guys telling people to their amusement how to be saved. You can say anything here, as long as you don’t say anything about the Queen (it’s treason, I think).
–
Then off to Asher’s Barmitzvah party. A huge amount of fun. Lots of old friends, really a great party. Sam gave a low-key and humorous speech where he gave Asher his copy of Everything Men know about Women (blank pages) and finished by giving him a package of dental floss (and Asher, this is dental floss). Very nice.
–
April 7, 2008. Back to Barcelona on Easyjet, which requires a cab (car) to Victoria Station (14 pounds), train to Gatwick (33 pounds), Easyjet to Barcelona (lots) and cab from Barcelona to our apartment (27 Euros). Then waiting almost an hour to get the bag (it made it, luckily). It can be cheap to fly around Europe, but you have to plan ahead and NEVER change plans. I did get flights to Mallorca for 200 Euros for all of us and that trip should be reasonable, but you just sort of grin and take it.
–
April 8, 2008. Back into the “routine” of Barcelona, Spanish lessons, dealing with stuff at home (taxes!, work), working out.
–
April 9, 2008. Our first time being invited to a local’s house. It was great fun, and makes us realize that if you have a social life (assuming you can stay up very late) you can have a lot of fun. We were one of four couples. Everyone had some interesting stories about how they got to where they were in their lives and careers.