Gobble Gobble

On the eve of heading to the City of Love, I went ahead and booked the flights to and from Turkey (hence the title...don't hate the pun). I leave on October 15 and return on October 29. If you want to come with, please do let me know and I'll be sure to reserve a double room at the hotels. I'm flying out of Bodrum instead of getting back up to Istanbul. Though it cost more, I just couldn't imagine ending the peaceful last few days with an impromptu trip back up the coast just to board another flight home. Yuck. While I was at it, I booked all the hotels and hostels. I'll book bus tickets from Istanbul to Cappadocia as well as Cappadocia to Olympus once I'm there, but we're all set. I'm still trying to decide if paying 50% of the £170 boat cruise price NOW is a rip off that is certain to bite me in the keister later. It IS the off-season though, so maybe it's true? A horrible rendition of Don't Look Back in Anger has been playing (sung?) over and over again outside my window. Reminds me of myself and my one-day obsession with Redemption Song. I think I'll give that a listen to drown out the sound of this guy's voice. Yikes.

We forward in this generation
Triumphantly.

I talked to Jamie a long while this morning about a few things that were on my mind. Things about comparisons, moving on, and replacements. Our conclusion went something like this: no one can possibly replace anyone else in your life -- just as another woman can't replace your mother, neither can a new partner take the place of a previous one -- the reverence that we have for a past partner fades over time. It's no longer imperative to place that same level of importance on that person: that role they played in our lives gets played by someone new; someone better; someone more befitting of the role.

And so it goes on...the same old conversation. I am sure you're sick of reading about it...at times I get sick of thinking about it. But then again, this is all a process for me: it's a slow and meaningful process from a place of bitterness, anger, and the thought that life would never again be as figured out as it once was, to a place of serenity (among the amazing levels of stress at times, which, I'm pleased to announce, have abated now that I've spent nearly three days in bed, broken up only by a quick trip into London for a Pimms and Lemonade afternoon on a patio), acceptance, adventure (ahhh...so this is the real adventure?!), and pure, unadulterated enjoyment. So when I have some a-ha moment and need to publish it in a flash of self-preservation and -realization, here you will see it.

Image courtesy of Things She Loves via Jsefsnr's profile on Flickr.
Gorgeous, non?

I'm looking forward to spending some time sitting and reading some place like that (above) and drinking it all in. I have the Blue Beast to document my travels and an abbreviated itinerary that allows for the utmost in deviation. I'm looking forward to this trip more than the others: it's my last one before I go home to enjoy a quick summer before embarking on my last year abroad; last year out in the wide open world; last year before the inevitable "settling down". Gulp. As Laura likes to remind me, there are trade-offs with every choice. I've made quite a few and I'm pleased to announce that I'm ready to trade back as of next year. Who knew that one year abroad would turn into three? I might have had some inclination...

Pectorally-Blessed

Hey-ho,

It's my newest greeting: it's what I say to jolt the kids into a place of attention from their reverie of air-headed-ness. I loves it: hey-ho.

I'm writing an actual piece today to fill you all in on what's going on. Life has been moving along at breakneck speed as of late and to celebrate its halting to an abrupt end yesterday, I have spent most of the last 24 hours in my bed. I've made it as luxurious as humanly possible: the smells in here are intoxicating and the bedding is just about as good as I'll allow it to get, being that I still consider myself a nomad. I'm in new jams and I'm just chilling RIGHT out.

The year 11's will write their math exams on the Monday and Friday we get back from vacay, which started yesterday at 3:31 pm. As I've said, we're off for a week (thank the heavens...this term has seemed ULTRA long though it's been the shortest we've had) and though I can say it's all just the weather and the extended periods of light that are making me tired, that just isn't true. I'm stressed out to the max so much so that my pajamas wind up around my neck by morning, pillows are literally strewn about, and my upper body is as tense as its ever been. And those of you who have had an experience spending the night with me ;) will attest to the fact that I sleep like a dead person most of the time: I don't move; don't thrash; certainly don't throw pillows around. And yet, the dreams are all about my imminent failure (read: the kids failing and my internalization of this failure), falling down, running on a beach (read: running away from something), and absolute isolation with a very pectorally-blessed man (read: I really want to get away from life right now and find myself crashing with a large, pectorally-blessed man).

All kidding aside, we've all been sleeping poorly. We're all stressed out, so rest assured (because I'm not), I'm not alone in this plight. BUT with all that said, the journey is just about over now. I have the big picture, I understand fully what my job is now, not only for the older kids, but for the younger ones as well, and I'm fully in the groove. The revision sessions will continue through the holiday, but I fully intend on being totally and completely intoxicated on champagne whilst in Paris for those glorious four nights, so I will have no idea about any math at home. And so it should be.

Last night I made myself some pasta, downed a bottle of wine without feeling much affect at all, and slept blissfully (or as blissfully as a year's worth of stress finally coming to an end will allow) until about 8 this morning. We had to work (more kids; more math...argh), but then it was rest time. I slept today from about 2 until 6:30. I guess I was tired. I'll catch up on the resting until Tuesday and then I'll catch up on the champagne drinking. I'm not kidding: this is Paris in the spring...it's time to live it up.

On the agenda are three main things:
1. A walk down the Champs Elysees to Jardin Tuilleries.
2. Picnic lunch in the Parc du Champ de Mars (killer view of the Eiffel Tower).
3. A day at Versailles.
(oh! And Sacre Coeur and Notre Dame too, but I've seen them already. I'll just need a refresher)

I'm sure there will be other gems thrown in, but those are the main ones.

What else is going on? I'm preparing to come home. The Jays game is booked on the calendar for August 13 at 1 pm against the (who really cares?) Angels. If you are coming, I can't wait to see you :) I think there should be some drinks at the Distillery District once the game is over and a sufficient amount of Baseball Beer has been consumed. Any great places you can suggest?

I'm off now to meet the good doctor in London. Oh and it's Sunday...I've skipped a day and taken a looong time to write one post. Have a great Sunday.

x x x

Eddie Vedder Society with Johnny Depp

Guitar porn.



Though I'm not a huge Eddie Vedder fan, I think we all have Lady Love for Johnny Depp. Swooning. Thanks for the link, Carmen xoxo

Keeping up with the Parisians

Anyhoo, we're off now for a week. I'm off to Paris and I have nothing planned except a little day trip out to Versailles and a gander along the right and left banks. I'm sure croissants will be a major part of my diet, as will running along the river. Why not, right?

In the spirit of taking a little time away from the madness that has been my life for the past six weeks (though it is tres North American and my life has shifted so far away from there this year), here is an image I just adore...

The original copy of this image has the paper flipped from page to page. I hope it works on my blog.

image courtesy of Bibbity Bobbity Bo via From Me to You

Irony

I thought it a bit serendipitous that on a particular day a few days ago, this was a post on one of the blogs I read on the regular...

Image courtesy of And I Love Her

It reads, "Get up and go far".

I love it when I look back in a moment of contentment and comfort and realize that it all happened so that I could be right here. This was all meant to happen in some odd way, and perhaps we are all better off that it did.

Isn't that the name of the game? Maybe every person affected by all of this (affected by me and my life, of course...I am still an only child and the I do still think that the world, at least the bit that affects me, is at least slightly turning for my benefit) is better off now that all of that has happened.

So get up and go far.

Why wouldn't you?

Jagged Edge - Let's Get Married ft. Reverend Run

It's Friday...the kiddies have gone home, the wine has been opened, the holiday commences.

Thank god.

Thought an old school jam might just be just what we need right now.

Whoot whoot.




This song reminds me of the Barking Frog, tight pants, and Leanne cutting up the dance floor. I can't wait to see you all again :)

Turning Down the Lights

It's a great day.

It's special in its own little way...

Jimmy Fallon delivered last night when he brought on Justin Vernon. Love love love all things Bon Iver.

Enjoy your day...let it be a perfect one.

Paris Dreaming...

Image courtesy of thingssheloves.tumblr.com via flickr.

Because I'm headed to Paris in a week, I thought I would do some research. Unfortunately the books are all too involved and the romance is gone when I try too hard to intellectualize it all. I think I might just wander, drink the city in, talk to locals, and see what it is that I can see in four little nights.

But lordy, what an amazing amount of photos and ideas for the city. I found this movie that debuted at Cannes this month. I'd love to catch a glimpse of it before I go. It's called Midnight in Paris. Swooning.

I hope your travel dreams (be them as romantic as mine, as tranquil as a weekend on the lake, or as calming as a walk down the block) are just as luxurious as mine feel right about now. The night is cool, the neighbour has lit another backyard fire, and I'm wrapped tightly up in leg warmers under a blanket. Life is good.

From My Fair Lady

Here is a clip the Mother Hen just shared with me. I love it on so many levels: professionally; personally; emotionally. I just think that sometimes beautiful words come into our lives for a distinct reason.

Thanks for sharing, Mummy!

Eliza (singing):
What a fool I was, what dominated fool,
to think that you were the earth and the sky,
What a fool I was,

What an elevated fool,
What a mutton-headed dote was I!
No, my reverberated friend,
you are not the beginning and the end.

Professor Higgins (speaking):
You impotent hussy there's not an idea in your head or a word in your mouth that I haven't put there.

Eliza (singing):
There'll be spring every year without you.

England still will be here without you.
There'll be fruit on the tree.
And a shore by the sea.
There'll be crumpets and tea without you.

Art and music will thrive without you. Somehow Keats will survive without you.
And there still will be rain on that plain down in Spain,
even that will remain without you.
I can do without you.

You, dear friend, who taught so well,
You can go to Hartford, Hereford and Hampshire.

They can still rule with land without you.
Windsor Castle will stand without you.
And without much ado we can all muddle through

without you.

Professor Higgins:
You brazen hussy,

Eliza (singing):
Wihtout pulling it the tide comes in,
without your twirling it the Earth can spin,
Without your pulling it, the tide comes in
Without your twirling it, the earth can spin
Without your pushing them, the clouds roll by,
If they can do without you, ducky, so can I
I shall not feel alone without you
I can stand on my own without you
So go back in your shell
I can do bloody well
Without...

Professor Higging (singing) interupts:
By George, I really did it,
I did it, I did it,
I said I'd make a woman and indeed I did,
I knew that I could do it,
I knew it, I knew it,
I said I'd make a woman and succeed I did!

(speaking)
Eliza you are wonderful

Not Exactly as Planned...

Are you a
"make tomato sauce when life gives you tomatoes"
or not?

Hello my lovelies. I have a quandary...what do YOU do when things don't go as planned? I'll give you a brief synopsis (though keeping things brief is not exactly my forte):

I was part of a really amazing group of individuals that came together at this fantastic place and talked about what they coined, "blue sky thinking". Right up my alley, right? SO not. I'm not a big-picture thinker. I have to know something inside and out before having the authority to speak on it. For example, I only NOW can talk to my Year 11 students with conviction, after having known and taught them for 9 months, about the content of their exam. I've poured over those papers: have spent literally countless hours reviewing them, marking them, even taking them, but only NOW feel SURE about them. I feel I've mastered them now and only now. I didn't GET IT until now...I didn't feel confident about it until now. And that's really how I am about everything.

When I worked at the bank, I was reticent about doing everything until I could talk about the product inside and out with clients as well as colleagues. I had to breathe the mutual fund, GIC, or mortgage before I'd DREAM of talking about it. Martha Stewart's "make it until you make it" philosophy was certainly NOT what I was all about.

Fast forward to real time. Here I stand in a classroom, completely able to teach these kids things about their exam, but not having a full grasp on the content as a whole. It is a strange thing: I'm just not a big-picture thinker.

That said (because that was quite a diatribe), I was involved in this blue sky thinking. We were talking about the ideal school: what it looked like; how it ran; who was responsible for what; how the kids acted; what programs were offered; the list went on and on. In short, it was a perfect world for each of us in turn because, as we quickly learned, one person's ideal school was certainly not that of another.

After a long deliberation among some clever thinkers, we came up with a philosophy that would work. We were gung-ho: we were eager to pass it on to those with whom we worked.

Before that could happen, I was asked to deliver the prospect to all the members of the Boss Squad (naturally they have a real name, but I'll keep that to myself). Whoa. Talk about a rush to the head. Surrounded by the principal, vice principals, and all the men and woman who made those sorts of instrumental changes that regularly influence the school in palpable ways, I gave a 40-minute presentation about what we'd discussed. I was so excited, so amped, so privileged to be asked to be a part of it. As a direct result, I was calm and ready to present these same bits of information to my team and a few others.

Gulp.

I shouldn't have been so self-assured. They tore me apart: they asked questions to which I didn't have any answer; they questioned the rationale behind it all; they wanted to know more specific details than I had; they were not thrilled. I think more upsetting than my not being prepared fully for this was the underlying negative energy I got from the group. Though some were excited (and most saw the intrinsic value in the proposal), it was still overall a meeting headlined by Debbie Downer.

So I wanted to cry at one point. I wanted to lash out at another point. I wanted to use the phrase, "shut up" at yet another point. Many thoughts crossed my mind and yet, through it all, I maintained my composure. I took deep breaths, wrote down all the concerns, and moved the conversation along. I was firm: I was direct. I told the team that this had been decided and if we all "played along" it would work really, really well. Conversely, if we took a backseat and waited to see it fail, it most certainly would. I endeavoured to keep the energy level high, the questions flowing, and the answers simple.

In the end, I was deflated, defeated, and yet, surprisingly hopeful. I thought, "Well Bergamo, you could either slump down and proclaim it a failure, or you can rectify the issues and come back stronger next time." I obviously opted for the latter, but it begs the question,

What do YOU do when the going gets rough and the players are not on your side?

* Pics are mine from Riomaggiore.

Dim Lighting

Outside these walls, the town rests. Lamps in windows are dim, even the streetlights barely
illuminate the pavement...
humming quietly in the wonderment of dusk.

I can see you,
playing your guitar
on the edge of your bed,
humming quietly along,
smiling as I sang
out of tune...
we were out of time...
and then you were gone.

Seeing you under city lights
just wasn't the same.
Neon never really did it for me...
and you...
you were gone for real this time.

And now we live
eons apart.
Worlds apart...

There are moments though
when I recall the nights
watched each other,
touched,
asked those questions
you were dying to ask
but just couldn't...
and then did.

Those moments are magic.
It's those moments we bottle
somehow
and uncork when times get rough.
It's times like those
that remind us that
it's all worth it.
Any pain, any heartache...
it can be remedied by a little sweetness
from our past.

There are times when I feel like my whole heart is opening up.
That sounds a bit much, but I'm serious.

I feel like there is room for anything in there:

new people; new days in new cities; new illuminating moments.

This room seems to pulsate with energy
and light
and joy.
Maybe my heart has grown.
Maybe it's healed...
wouldn't that be amazing?

I just can't stop smiling...

Kate Nash - Nicest Thing Live on Abbey Road

Looking Back on Snowy Nights

I just found this post with this picture and my heart just swelled up to twice its normal size.



Here was my sentiment when I wrote this post...

"I hope you had a happy holiday like I did, surrounded by special people who remind you that it's not where you are, but WHO you are that really matters.

The snow has been falling steadily today, coating the ground in a blanket of cold. It's magical."

Is that the cutest?
I thought you would think so ;)
They really are special people.

If I can reiterate it now,
it's really not where you are
...it's all about WHO you are.

The sun is still out,
the night is still young.
I'm tucked in my bed,
blissfully unaware
of the goings on out there.

I'm not lonely;
I'm not unhappy.
I'm blissfully aware
that life is just as we make it.
And I've made it pretty,
pretty good.

The Weeknd - High For This [with Lyrics]

We loving The Weeknd yet?

Because I'm love love loving.

Sheep and Wolves

Image courtesy of Halifornia.

These are my sentiments today. I've put my foot firmly in my mouth three FULL times today and actually knew I was doing it. Did I care? Did I alter my words before they fell out of my mouth?

Is that perfume?

I'm not well known for keeping my inner thoughts in. I'm pretty good at getting them out there. Much to the chagrin of many of my loved ones.

Awfully fuzzy lines

I'll admit it now...I have a bit of an obsession with Bon Iver and all people associated with Bon Iver (and everyone who has listened to them with me). Hence this Justin Vernon vid. I just can't get enough of the emo music. Is this emo? I'm fairly certain. But what else can you listen to all the time? Nothing. This is so relaxing.

Justin Vernon also sings this little delight...

"When the time comes
and your love is lost on me,
I will grant you sympathy
if you let me down easy...

When the time comes
and you have to let me go
I will leave without a sound
if you let me down easy."

Yup, it's sad. But lord, we do all need a bit of sympathy sometimes, don't we?


As usual, I digress...

Well, well, well.

I've slacked off in the blogging department, but then I can't stand it when people say they've done that. I got a little freaked out when I viewed my "Stats" (you can't see them unless you sign in as me) and there are viewers (readers?) from Australia. Who is in Australia? Give me a holler, because I'm perplexed.

Anyway, when it happens that I realize I have an audience, I get a little weirded out. Sort of reminds me that this is public domain and it takes me a little while to get my confidence back to say whatever my little heart desires.

Onwards and upwards, I suppose.

Spring is exhausting me. My Year 11 students are in the ultimate pressure cooker right now: they have final exams and they're ALL freaking out. And for good reason (I hope they're reading this): these are the last exams they'll EVER write and they should be concerned, frankly. Wasn't I? Yes, is the answer to that question. I was freaked out: head down, pencils sharp, lucky nickel out. Get 'er done. However, because of the overwhelming pressure, we're doing some additional revision with them. Saturdays (not for me this week, thankfully), after school, and during the school day when we're off. It's all quite a lot of them, but here's hoping they excel and we can breathe again come June 10.

I've been all around Kent lately. I was back at Rowhill Grange on Friday night, discussing instrumental changes in the school. How privileged did I feel to be a part of THAT? Pretty privileged, my friends. Though I ensured I was asleep in the miraculously soft bed by about 11, we worked right up to that point. Come breakfast, we did it all again (and continued well into the afternoon). Good thing I squeezed in a run before it all began.

On Saturday, we headed to a party for a little celebrating, before I was out to the water for a little date. We were all in bed before the sun went down last night though...for some reason (damn exams), spring is tuckering us all out. After marking one test, I'm going to call it a night again tonight (it's still before 9). Thought I'd share a little something first though.



People pass through our lives, don't they? They swoop in, hunker down, stay awhile, and often times move on. It's devastating sometimes (most of the time?) and totally non-affecting other times. I find it really amazing that you can share the seemingly same part of yourself with others but when it's over, one person flits out without so much as a blip in your routine, while another one lingers for what feels like an eternity. Isn't it odd?

I guess the key is that it wasn't the same part of me that I was sharing. I guess the key is that when those Big Ones leave, they take a piece of you away with them. They've keep a little piece of me somewhere in their hearts, in their minds, just like I've kept little pieces of all of them (you) along the way. I really do try to write all the time, but most of the time I keep the words private. Sometimes though, like now, it's worthwhile to just get it out. What's inside sometimes needs to get out. I can't ever forget that this is an account of a journey and at times I think it's nearly done, while at others it's only just begun. Not sure where on that spectrum I sit today, but I'm here, that much I know.

I move on and I move on
the pain in my chest is gone
and the feeling of feeling
like I'm the only one
who can take care of you
the only one
who knows you
...leaves me more each day.

And then Bob Dylan
or Neil Young
or Neil Diamond
or Feist
sings...
and I melt back.

I fade into my chair,
colours blur
lines get awfully fuzzy.
And the beat of my heart
feels awfully strong;
the sting in the back of my eyes
burns.
I blink fast
because it works...

Maybe it's a pain I need
because I keep you around
only some of the time
when I need to disengage
from the rest of it here.

And up you bubble
onto my surface,
warmer than before,
softer than you used to,
gentler and sweeter.
You don't hurt
like you used to hurt.
But still,
there is a twinge
(no one likes a twinge)
that does two things.
The twinge reminds me
I was loved
I loved
so these miracles
will happen again.
And it keeps you here.
Where I can't help but think
you belong.

The Sufi Whirling Dervishes of Istanbul

Jamie says I've been as communicative to people via phone, email and text as I've been on the blog. I'm really sorry to have slacked so much. Where I would have hundreds of pictures to share, I have none, but I do have a lot of stories to share.

So here is a video of what I feel like right now: a whirling dervish (I'll have to see one of these shows while in Turkey)...



...more tomorrow once I've rested up.

Night night!

Speaking Easy

For Kari's birthday (the gal in green you'll see later), we all hopped on a train and headed to hooker town King's Cross for a prohibition party held in what can only be described as an old school gymnasium.

We got ready First Year Styles at Dani's house: straighteners and hair dryers; eyeliner and lipstick dotted every tabletop, while tights, alternate pairs of shoes, and hair accessories littered the floor.

Curls, hair fasinators (sp?), and pearls were the piece de resistance...we were all fully adorned.

Twas a nice way to start the evening, especially since it started so early. Grandma I really like an early evening: helps with the early rising. Sigh. Pushing thirty AND working full time sometimes takes its toll on me.

Anyhoo, here we are on the train. The Blue Beast has definitely seen better days. She needs to be replaced SOON. First few are blurry only because we were on a moving vehicle. They get better.

Enjoy the ride of prohibition...

The menu. The girls opted for whiskey, while I stuck with vodka and champagne in a little doozy called, "The Gatsby". I'll take it! All drinks were served in tea cups to fit the theme. It was very well done.

And this begins the photoshoot of Jocelyn and I. It didn't stop for some time.












Train surprises...

After thoughts and deep, meaningful discussions...

This couple was in LOVE with our Canadian accents. They even pinpointed that we WERE from the Great White North. I just love the English at times.

And that classic face I make at the end of a night when I'm just about ready for bed, teetering between wake, sleep, drunk, and trepedatious about the day ahead. For me, it was taking 40 kids to an amusement park. Oh dear. Good thing I only had two "The Gatsby"s...

...or was it three?

Happy Mother's Day!

To all the mothers out there who have been a role model, a trooper, an inspiration, and provided a shoulder upon which to cry, I salute you. It was a great day for me out at Thorpe Park (an amusement park here in Jolly Olde) with 40 kids and enthusiastic staff, but it was so great to come home and talk to my Mummy.

Here's a picture she took during an early morning walk. Finally spring has arrived back home.

I hope you all enjoyed Mother's Day for the umpteenth time or for the very first time :) It's a great excuse to celebrate a wonderful lady.

Bruce Lee - Be water my friend

I'm feeling particularly serene today. Hence Bruce Lee...

Obama

Image courtesy of Halifornia.

Obama kicks ass in SO many ways.

Too bad Harper's a douche.

I hope you are having a good day. I certainly am.
Kids are ready to be back:
they're enthusiastic while still being manageable.

I'll take it.

The Truth

This might help to explain that truth is not always fact or fiction:
it is truth for each one of us.
My "truth" might not be your "truth"
but it is still my truth.

Quote courtesy of Anais Nin
Image courtesy of Halifornia (newest blog obsession)

Ballet

Image of their Demi-Pointe Pro courtesy of Repetto

Though it might seem a bit odd, I have wanted a pair of actual ballet flats for most of my life. Never thought it was couth to own them though, since I've never been (or so I'm told) a ballerina.

But I think on this trip to Paris, I will line up with the thinnest and the lithe-ist of them and buy my very own pair of Repetto shoes. And for €27, can I really go wrong?

I have been following This is Naive.com for the longest time. She does whole updated posts about various cities and Paris just happens to be one of them. Since I trust her Lo-Fi London posts SO much, I am positive that her suggestions about Paris will be equally delightful.

Thoughts on a (yet another, I know) Day Off

I was thrilled to be able to talk to Laura yesterday, if only for a brief interlude between feeding her daughters. They are home, healthy, and thriving. She's exhausted, as is Jesse, and I just so wish I could be there to help out. Sigh.

So on a completely unrelated note...

I'd really love to go back to the day when I had eyebrows. I'd love a big, full eyebrow like Bambi here. Picture is part of an ad for Oyster, via Because I'm Addicted.

Furthermore, I love the joy in this picture.

This gal used to be on Degrassi and now kicks it on the new 90210. I've never really gotten into that show since it re-aired. Some things can't be improved upon, I guess. But her glee is nearly palpable. Gotta love it.

I found some quotes yesterday that I love love love that I thought I'd share...

"I'm not in this world to live up to your expectations

and you're not in this world to live up to mine."

Bruce Lee, Kick-Ass Master
Quote courtesy of Dictionary of Quotes

"I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours."

Hunter S. Thompson, Author, Free Bird, Mescaline Aficionado
Quote courtesy of guardian.co.uk

I'm puttering around home today, getting ready for the three and a half weeks ahead until our next vacation (Paris, here I come!). Any Parisian suggestions for me?

A Real London Wedding

Weddings here are done just a bit differently than how we do back home.
That said, there are striking similarities that helped to remind me a little of those old celebrations I've come back to like quite a bit.

Andy is the head of the science department at school. He was married to Bella on Saturday, one day after the Royal Wedding.
After the civil ceremony at "city hall" (naturally it's not called that here in posh old England, but my propa English vocab-lrrry precludes me at present), we all took a boat ride down the Thames.
Following the boat's docking, we went to a garden party along the water's edge where the champagne was flowing like wine ;) followed by a seated meal with superb wine. It was really quite lovely.

Here's a few snaps from a great day out in the sun...