Happy Christmas

While browsing a local bookshop today, I discovered a picture of the church I attend in Surbiton from October of 1940… and I managed to find on line versions (above).  Not to worry, they rebulit.  This is what it looks like now (below).

Photo Credits:

The Blitz and Bomb Damage

GeoLocation

Do Season

'Do' is the English word for what Americans would call a party or social gathering.  This time of year is do season.  I have been to three in the past five days.  It would be quite easy to up the December do count with very little effort.  I am skipping the hospital-wide Christmas do, as well as the many ward-based dos.

The most atypical of the season was the OT department do at The Half Moon in Putney.  One of my work colleagues is a member of a parody girls band called Hot Skank.  They were amazing.  It is made up of former staff from The Half Moon, a gig pub where some pretty famous British folk / rock / blues artists got their starts in the 60s 70s and 80s.  It was supposedly in danger of being torn down several years ago.  I am suspicious of how the existence of a petition suddenly turns an unprofitable pub into a profitable one, but I am happy to live with the delusion that a small group of well meaning people can affect a positive change.

Photo Credit

Musicborn

Ladies and Gentlemen...

... your attention, please.
May I introduce to you:
Dr. My Beloved Wife

Imagine there's no doggy bags; I wonder if you can…

This is not the case of American versus English language, like 'take out' and 'take away' or 'eggplant' and 'aubergine'.  There is no cute English idiom for it: its not a 'rummy sack' or a 'Cockney satchel'.  As far as I can tell, 'Doggy bags' just do not exist in England.  In case I have an English reader, I might have to explain that a 'doggy bag' is container that a restaurant in America gives where you put the rest of your meal that you couldn't finish because the portion size was so ridiculous that the only way you could possibly finish it is to take it away with you afterward and have the rest later, or tomorrow,… or presumably give it to a dog.  I cannot make my mind up whether the absence of the doggy back is an improvement or not.  We have not dined at too many restaurants in England.  I must admit that I do enjoy the shock and awe at Antonio's in New Bedford as the single portion of Carne de Porco à Alentejana, big enough to feed a small family, arrives at the table.  Even though I know it's coming, it amazes me every time.  My advice to the English reader on holiday in America: the proper response to the offer of a doggy bag is "no, thank you, I am on vacation".  This response will not stop the quizzical looks or the many suggestions on how you could still benefit from taking the rest of your meal with you.  Other than ordering a half portion, this is the best I can offer.

Photo Credits

Twenty Flight Rock

American Bedu