All this time I have been struggling with weak lattes only to finally realize that it’s cappuccinos that I need. A single shot will do, straight up with the naturally-sweetened-because-it’s-been-steamed milk. Mmmm.
Unfortunately I discovered this today at 4pm, which is approximately six to eight hours past my normal cut-off time for caffeine. The problem was, I didn’t get around to getting the latte this morning because too much random stuff was going on, including trying hard not to kill the kids due to bad behavior caused by - it’s now clear - sleep deprivation. Anyway, the caffeine withdrawal headache had kicked in so I had no choice. This is what I looked like the other day when I forgot to have my caffeine:
(don’t be fooled - I am not actually awake while taking this self-portriat)
The above shot was taken at Hyde park, or is it Kensington Gardens? It was taken on Peter Pan day, which was kinda for kids a little younger than ours. We still had a good time however. There are pictures of pirates and Peter and wigwams and fairies and mermaids, but really, this is my favorite one from that day:
You can probably tell that Jason just passed is Gold Belt in Kung Fu literally just days before we got on the plane to London. He still practices it from time to time when he’s in a serious mood.
Actually, that photo was from 5 days earlier, when it was cloudy and about to rain all day. It finally did I think, but not a lot. And it was welcome.
Here’s a photo from Peter Pan day:
The weather here has been a lot like California: warm and dry, no clouds. Today it was hot and tonight it’s kinda warm. But that wouldn’t matter to me because my cappuccino is just 9 hours old - it still has another 3 or 4 hours left in it before I will find sleep. Every night we swear we will get the kids to bed at 9pm and every night both are still up at 10:30 to 11. I think it’s the brightness, although the days are obviously getting shorter. Or it might be that they are in the same room. Either way it’s beyond frustrating because they are sleep-deprived and they are not on their best behavior under those circumstances.
But only when they are together. Today Sue and I split up and Madeline was a delight and I heard later so was Jason. Kids … yeah … just kids.
We’ve been talking around the neighborhood with some more of the parents. Hugo’s a popular guy, everyone loves him. It would have been nice to know that while I was freaking out over this whole process. It has been a little frustrating though, with the painting still going on, and two serious plumbing problems that are being addressed, we hope, tomorrow. Still we had neighbors come in and check out the place and they were very envious of how nice it looks inside, people with the same but not as updated apartments as ours. Apparently some are paying much more than we are which makes me feel so clever.
Hugo asked me how old I am and I told him 41 and he said, “I told Mr. D’Arcy that I thought you might be out of your twenties.” I told him I owe him a beer for that. But I think sunblock and muggy weather makes me look younger, as well as being a greasehead my whole life. Oh, and there’s also the maturity factor to consider …
Today Madeline and I went to our local NHS to register. The nice lady there was very apologetic when she explained that prescriptions will cost Sue and me (but not the kids) £7 each. For the privilege of free health care (except for the prescriptions I suppose) all I needed to show them was proof of my address. Nothing else. So I said, “You can tell I am American, so, why is it free for me?” She smiled and said, “That’s the NHS!” She was a little sheepish I thought, implying that they don’t can’t be bothered to check your official status, or perhaps she was proud that if you’re living there that’s all it takes to be covered. She went on to say, “If you get sick after hours go to the hospital about 100 yards down the street. Of course there’s no charge to visit the hospital.” I asked her if I am covered if I faint and hit my head on the way down over the shock of getting no bill, and she just smiled. Then on the way out I said, “I promise to be a good citizen and give back to the society that is providing me free health care.”
I also payed my television taxes today. If you have a TV in your house (we don’t yet) then you have to pay £130/year. I paid it at the post-office. This is to cover the BBC. A color TV license costs a lot more than black and white … wow.
I also have to pay Council taxes, which may be a couple thousand pounds for all I know. So, see, I am paying for my health benefits sort of. Once I’ve paid those taxes I will get a little bit of a break at pool/club I want to join on a pay as you go sort of arrangement. Pay as you go with clubs is a good idea, pay as you go with cell phones sucks. Speaking of which, the Motorola L6 w/i-mode does not sync with your mac, like the Motorola L6 w/o i-mode supposedly does. So I have to return that phone as soon as I drain the SIM card I so foolishly topped up with £20 instead of £2, and I only have 13.5 days to do it. Wait - I have to do it before we had back to the States in 10 days! Don’t let me forget!
But back to the pool. If I don’t get swimming soon I might not be able to recover from the pain in my right shoulder that’s slowly creeping back into my life. I think my shoulder does not like even a small amount of weight on it, say a bag or a back pack. I had two shots before I moved here and things were great but now … not so sure. We’ll see.
OK - here’s a shot of the water play area fountain thingywhatsit which is part of the complex where the pool I so desperately need is:
Perfect for a hot day. And I think we have a week of hot days in our immediate future. The water just sprays out three sprayers at the top and runs down. The kids can run around in the water and get as wet as they like.
Dumb question alert: are cappuccinos stronger than lattes?
I think they are just less milk. Same amount of coffee, less milk. But … what do I know?
1 oz shot of espresso ~40mg caffine.
1 cup of black tea ~50mg caffine.
1 cup drip coffee ~200mg caffine.
Cappuccinos: 1 shot espresso, 1 shot steamed milk, equal amount of foam. Dry/wet versions changes the ratio of milk/foam.
Latte: 1 shot espresso, fill 9oz streamed milk, almost no foam.
Where’s a true spellcheck when you really need it? “steamed” not “streamed”.