final antics, Cardiff to London

When I came downstairs for breakfast this morning, I had the following conversation with Roy to start my day:

Me: I'm having the leftover tortilla for breakfast.
Roy: Oh right, because you hate our bread.
Me: I hate your bread?! Must I awaken to these baseless accusations?!
Roy: Yes. You said you won't eat our homemade bread because you need protein for breakfast.
Me: Oh that's right, yes, I despise your bread.

Then:

Roy: this article says that you get a better workout on a long walk if you stop and take rests
Ann: why is that?
Roy: your heart rate has to keep readjusting from rest
Me: yeah that makes sense
Roy: also you get a better workout from going downhill and uphill
Me: that doesn't make sense. Who says that?
Roy: they
Me: they who?
Roy: the Italians
Me: oh “the Italians?!”
Roy: they're from Milan, which is barely Italian. Anyway it's like cars, they use more petrol if there's a lot of stopping and starting.
Me: oh that's how the Italians are making this argument?
Ann: I don't understand
Roy: well you not understanding is hardly a reason for it to be untrue
Me: for the record I always side with Ann
Roy: well what do you know! You're just a woman!

He was also working on fixing some batteries which I commented on and then got teased for pronouncing it “badderies” which forced me to accept that Americans really do say “wadder” and fail to pronounce the T’s in many other words.

After eating breakfast (and grudgingly a bite of Roy’s admittedly delicious homemade spelt bread) we went on a short drive to an art studio where a friend of theirs was having a show. She’s a well known local artist who wasn’t there in person but it was fun to see her work in this intimate gallery in a residential neighborhood. It was very intense feminist work reflecting women’s body image and past trauma, so I teased Roy when he acted oppressed that “men aren’t allowed to do this kind of work.” He took it well.

We went nearby for coffee at a lovely cafe and chatted about all of the places they’d recommend I try to see this year while in the UK. Roy had lots of ideas for Scotland, Ann had tips for ski trips, and we confirmed our plans for high tea at my place once all back in the US. We drove back home for me to grab my things, and when Ann did an excellent parking job there was this hilarious exchange:

Roy: Ann did something right for once!
Ann: I take no notice of him.
Roy: oh Ann, you're beautiful. You're wonderful. Despite what everyone says.

Roy and I had at least 3 hugs before Ann drove me to downtown Cardiff an hour ahead of my train so that I’d have time to hit 3 spots before boarding. It was absolutely pouring and really a lesson in which of my clothes I thought were waterproof but aren’t quite. In the big indoor market I got a few more Welsh cakes and a GF one for Ben, then at Pieminister four savory pies, and lastly at Mrs. Potts two slices of the Dream Cake. I realized as I ordered that I had played it really tight on timing, with my train departing in 7 minutes and I was about a 5 minute walk from the station. So I ran in a semi-panic and made it with a few minutes to spare.

Thankfully the trains are so clean and comfortable that I was quickly able to peel off a layer of wet clothing and feel reasonably relaxed if still a bit damp. I honestly would have loved a longer train ride in order to try to get done all of the things I had on my list: some PTA emails, going through our family photo shoot gallery that just arrived, a phone call with Shannon, and lots of journaling, but I did my best and made a dent before getting to Paddington Station.

Fortunately by the end of my ride I had mostly dried out and the weather in London was clear, making for an easy tube and bus ride home. It was great to reunite with my crew, then Bill and I took off for the Roebuck’s “winter showcase” which turned out to be . . . just us. It’s their casual event to show off their holiday offerings and, since no one else showed, Elliott gave us an absurd buffet of everything: mulled wine, nonalcoholic beer, prawns, steak, chips, pot stickers, fried cauliflower, and pigs in blankets (here that means mini sausages wrapped in bacon).

We stumbled home very full even though James was warming our Pieminister pies in the oven. We all sat down to attempt to eat some pie, and then relaxed into a buffet of Cardiff desserts and an episode of the Rookie. Now waiting for Ben to get to bed so James, Bill and I can watch the next episode of Only Murders.