Ready for home

I am ready to get out of London.  Yes, I will miss the warm weather, but I miss my wife and kids so much it actually hurts.  I think I need about 2 weeks of solid hugs before leaving on my next trip over here.

Tonight Mike Walker (American coworker) and I went out.  Mike is Mormon, I am not.  Mike is not terribly adventurous in his eating, I am.  But Mike is a great guy - and resourceful - and he found the perfect restaurant that we both could love. It is one of the reasons I like Mike - we always find common ground in what we want to do.

We met at Tottenham Court Road Station.  When I came out of the tube, I looked for a place to meet Mike.  This 2 story statue seemed like a good place.  Good rule of thumb - when meeting people in a strange place, find the most obvious landmark and stay near.

The restaurant we went to is called Barrafina, and it is located on one edge of Soho.  They serve tapas and the most delicious tuna tartar (with a side of guacamole) this side of the Atlantic ocean.  The restaurant only has 23 seats, at the bar, and patrons wait in line behind the bar for seats to open up.

Yes - it’s the upscale Al’s Dinkytown Branch - with good wine and waiters who barely speak English.  (Do yourself a favor - if you haven’t been to Al’s, click on the link above to read more.)  Luckily, we got there early before the line formed.

After a great dinner, Mike went back to his hotel and I decided to walk home.   The weather was warm and Soho and the West End was really busy.  I wandered down alleys and onto small streets.

Eventually, I came out at Trafalgar Square, where some people were caroling under a huge Christmas tree.

I wandered around, trying to feel the Christmas spirit and truly reflect on how lucky I am to be here.  But my heart isn’t here.  It is back in Minneapolis, where my children put on Christmas shows that I missed and my wife worked really hard to get everything ready.  I felt overwhelmed with guilt.

Right before leaving, I came across this simple nativity scene night, nestled between 2 of the huge guard lions.  Christmas in London.  I’m so lucky to be here are this time.  If only my family was here too, I could enjoy it so much more.