As some of you may have figured out from: a) my Ikaw Rin arms-length self-portraits; b) mountain of post-sports tournament laundry; and c) ability to attend comic-con -- the LLDD-Hyphen-L is not with me in London right now. She had to go back to Manila to finish some Moira MacTaggert-esque research involving meat (you think I'm kidding). Nonetheless, in her relatively short time here, she was able to clearly establish our married way of life at post: I work, she visits castles/rubs elbows with royalty/shops.
I'm kidding. Of course it's not always like that. Sometimes she makes me leave work to help her shop.
(kidding! kidding!)
Anyway, here are some pictures she took while travelling to some of London's most interesting spots. (while I was back at the office putting tabs on reports and reloading the photocopier)
HAMPTON COURT
The LLDD-Hyphen-L joined the ASEAN ladies group in visiting the home of Henry VIII. You would think his marriage history would give the LLDD-Hyphen-L pause, but nooooooo. She was more like "subukan mo lang".
It's immediately apparent from the LLDD-Hyphen-L's pictures that the real beauty of Hampton Court lies in the exquisite details: the obvious attention and creativity bestowed upon every fine feature, line, and design element . . .
. . . and that's just the tour guide's 'stache!!
(holy victoria, that thing is sweet!)
Hampton Court's grounds and gardens look no less impressive and meticulously maintained. If only Hershey's sponsored a day and wrapped all the trees and bushes in silver to make them look like giant chocolate kisses, then we'd REALLY have something!
The LLDD-Hyphen-L couldn't wait to take on Hampton Court's world-famous garden maze. She said it wasn't so hard and completed the thing in record time.
I have my doubts.
And right before the ASEAN ladies leave, the "Man" makes an appearance. Hala ka, sweetie, nandyan na si King! Bakit ka raw nandaya sa maze!
WORLD MARKET
Hey, just like back home. All the resident missions get together under one roof and sell their country's finest at a bazaar. Kulang na lang pa-raffle saka watchyourcar. Just try to keep the LLDD-Hyphen-L away from a place like this. Just try.
The Philippines, as always at events like these, came strong and straight-up represented. When royalty arrived (middle photo), she headed straight for our wares. Fortunately, the LLDD-Hyphen-L acted like a true, responsible, professionally-trained shopper and didn't go on a purse-to-purse buying spree against the royal. (Thank God!)
No, she was happy and content just to find these rings for pasalubong that cost five-times as much if she bought them in Portabello Road.
(pero syempre, ang sabi sa mga pinagbigyan, galing Notting Hill lahat 'yan = )
As might be expected, all the diversinationalTM stalls frontloaded their best stuff in a bid to attract the most number of customers . . .
. . .but only one had the genius (and the right) to place a tequila machine on its premises. Viva!
PENNY SALE
To celebrate their 150th anniversary and acknowledge their roots as a penny arcade, Marks and Spencer had the brilliant idea of holding a sale where some designated items would be sold for just 1p each (i.e. 75 centavos). Holy zara, even I could get behind a sale like that! Go sweetie, go!
Unfortunately, that was a sale the entire London could get behind as well. Lines formed hours before opening time and snaked from the front street entrance all the way to the back alleys. Someone from M&S (obviously a guy) thought sending out blonde women to give out free hot chocolate would keep the crowd happy, completely forgetting that the blondes+chocolate=happiness formula doesn't work with women shoppers. When the doors did open, the sale items were quickly snapped up, and many who had waited in line were left holding nothing but their now empty cups of choco.
Among them, the LLDD-Hyphen-L.
Now, this could have been a crisis situation and I could have felt the wrath of the LLDD-Hyphen-L when she got back home. But like I said before, she's a pro, so she quickly recovered from her penny-sale disappointment.
By going to Harrod's.
Specifically, the dessert section of Harrod's. Because as we all know, Harrod's + Chocolate = EVERYBODY HAPPY!
"Well, but she's gone now", you may be saying. "Now you can go back to your bachelor ways and do wild and crazy dude things like . . .um . . .attend comic-con. Or something". Perhaps, except the LLDD-Hyphen-L regularly sends me pictures from Manila that make me miss and yearn for her even more, if not continue to ask: "seriously, sweetie, what the hell goes on in your office?!"
Do you want me to go over there? Is that it? Is that what this teasing is all about? Well, let me tell you, sweetie -- it's working! I will do it! I will go there! And I will bring the chocolate!
1 comment:
At least the LLDD-L was able to fulfill her duties as a diplomat's spouse in one way or another.
Who's the Royal lady in the Philippines' World Market stall? I take it that she's one of the older but far-down-the-succession royals, maybe a cousin or in-law of HM the Queen. Did she buy anything? :P
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