No matter where you go, a Monday is still a Monday

So yes, it’s Monday….June 6 to be exact…and we’re entering Week 2 of our London experience. We’re having a great time exploring the city; however, our days here have not been without some minor challenges. We thought we would share a couple…..

One of the great joys of being able to spend a couple of weeks in a city is being able to pretend you’re a native and experience the lifestyle of the locals. Last year’s trip to Paris was our first opportunity to try this,  and we have looked forward to our two weeks here in London. We anticipated that this trip would be a bit less challenging since we’re in an English-speaking country; however, every day here has shown  us that language isn’t always the barrier. We “get” the currency….most of the time; although the different size paper bills and the odd shaped coins threw us for a day. The Tube (subway) is well laid out and easy to travel, and honestly, we’d just as soon walk to burn off all the calories from the pub food. No, it’s the day-to-day things we take for granted back home that are making us crazy at times.

First, morning coffee.

Trust me, you don’t want to be in the same state with either of us until we’ve had the first cup. Imagine our dismay when we arrived to our apartment and found that there’s no coffee maker. We have a cafetiere (a coffee press) and a tea kettle for heating water. My history with a coffee press is checkered, and I’ve yet to make a cup fit to drink. I made two attempts after we arrived last week, and following the second, we made a beeline for the local market for instant coffee.  Also, they don’t know about Land ‘O Lakes Half and Half here. Milk appears to be the creamer of choice, so in the same lovely market, we located something called Double Cream.

This works well, but it will curdle like crazy if you don’t stir like a human version of a Cuisinart. In the end we have morning coffee, and we’re happy.

Second issue…..laundry. This has never been on my list of favorite activities, but I have to admit to having a new appreciation for the old Maytag. My first attempt at laundry here drove me to the brink of tears. Again, our first hint that trouble lay ahead came in the market. Despite the fact that we are in an English speaking country, deciphering the packaging and labeling of cleaning products is confusing. Bio or non-bio…..that’s the question. I’m still not sure about the answer; however, the matter was further complicated by the fact that some detergents go directly into the washer and cannot be used in the washing machines that have a “drawer” dispenser–and of course our’s does. After sweating this for about five minutes, I grabbed a bottle, and returned to the apartment to do the laundry. Let me add here, that this was an essential task as neither of us had all the items we needed for the next day. Enter the washer/dryer.

This is a combined unit that functions as a washer, a dryer, and a dry cleaner. It’s a great space saver, and truthfully, now that I’ve used it, I wouldn’t mind having one at home. It works beautifully….once you figure out how to work it. It didn’t help that the book of household instructions left here in the apartment includes an instruction manual for an entirely different model. I called down to the concierge for help. He (first clue that no help was coming) suggested I consult the book of household instructions……..I can now say without hesitation–When in doubt, punch every button on the panel. Something’s bound to happen. It did….the washer ran for nearly three hours. I still have no idea what actually happened, but I do know that Google is my best friend as I was able to locate the owner’s manual for “our” washer/dryer. It now works like a charm.

I could go on, but you get the drift. Fortunately, we’ve been able to laugh throughout these little trials, and we love London. Our only regret is that we don’t have more time here. We’re dashing about like a couple of marathoners trying to see as much as we can in the time available. Tomorrow promises to be another busy day. For now,  just let me say that we are relieved to find that some tools are universal…..and we’re glad.

Good night!