I've safely crossed and now I'm walking west down Pinner Road, toward the 'mall'. The 'semi-attached' (tho they look all attached to me) houses line just about every block. The left side of the street has mostly shops - 'green grocers', 'fruit and veg shops' and 'off license'(liquor) shops.
As we pass by Monty's we give a sniff and wipe a tear, as this is where we met our first friend, John, owner of Monty's cafe. He was a real hoot - called Jer and all his male customers 'guv' and always had a naughty joke at the ready. Then he betrayed us by selling the shop just a few short months after our arrival.Was it something we said?
We now walk down about a dozen steps to go under the 'roundabout'. Roundabouts are very clever intersections where no one has to stop, just ease in and go around until you get to the street you want to exit. Then make a mad dash for it. At least, that's how it feels when you're inside a car or bus on the 'wrong' side of the road, absolutely certain you are going to crash. Anyway, there is a pedestrian and biker roundabout below the street one. It's very well lit up and, like in many places in England, is under 24 hr camera surveillance. A bit creepy-big-brotherish, but also somewhat comforting as criminals probably aren't anxious to get caught on tape;)
Didn't think you needed a photo of the card shop - the mall looks like any other in the US.
And now, here we are with the Birthday girl. Are you singing?
The angel food cake mix from Grandma arrived early this morning, with just enough time for me to realize I did not have a mixer, an angel food cake PAN, and no prospect of getting one as no one here has ever even heard of angel food cake. Luckily, the box did provide directions on how to make it in 2 bread loaf pans. (Ahh, the camping experience continues...) And lucky for me, they were small enough to fit snuggly in my Easy Bake Oven.
Happy 12th Birthday, Shayna!
6 comments:
Happy Birthday, Shayna!!! You're a beaut!
To keep our track record intact, we'll send you a way-late birthday card.
Unka Gene
Happy, happy birthday Precious! Like always we will be late with birthday wishes. Love the fact that Grandma sent the cake. Cool lady. You must have been very surprised and pleased. Unk and I plan to make up for missed celebrations once you are back in the States. Do you kids have iPods? We need to know as soon as possible. Hugs and kisses, Auntie H.
See Bev, aren't you glad you had prior experience with your easy bake oven when you were 6 years old on Christmas morning! It finally all comes into place....40 years later!
Norb
Just what in the heck are those yellow tables (or whatever) doing in the middle of the roundabout? Are they there just in case a driver wants to suddenly pull over and have his lunch or what?!?!
N.
Shayna says THANKS for all the sweet wishes:)
And yes, those DO look like yellow tables, Bert! But they are actually piping that goes around each pillar - maybe for bikes to lean up against? Or maybe it's a protection for the pillars, which are supporting the auto roundabout up above? I've wondered the same thing actually!
And just so we're clear, this is the pedestrian roundabout, so that people aren't trying to dash across the street in the already-confusing auto roundabout. SO glad we don't have a car here;)
Happy Birthday to Shayna!
Love,
Norah
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