Congratulations, Squirrel, You've Earned Your NHS Badge!

How can you pack even more into a four-day trip to the UK? Have you considered spending Saturday afternoon and evening in A&E?¹ A sick baby that needed medical attention. And while I think we could probably write a few volumes on how 111 could be better set up for providing updates, and perhaps the US concept of Urgent Care clinics might be a way to alleviate some of the pressures on A&E departments, we walked into the Horton, were seen quickly, and thankfully, Maeryn perked up once her blood sugar level was helped by apple juice. And then we just walked out, and having now lived in the US for almost 14 years…I’ll confess even I found it strange not have handed over a credit card at any point. Maeryn is back to her usual “you will read all the books now, daddy” self, which is wonderful.

Anyway, the concert was great — there may be a separate post coming to unpack all that in the next week or so. It was my first time at Troxy, too; a lovely 1930s cinema that retains a lot of its former glory…unlike what they did to the Oxford Road Odeon in Manchester (still bitter about the loss of that fantastic Screen One). Now, I’m thinking of other venues in London I have known and loved…The Luminaire being the saddest loss, I think, even above the delights of The Astoria (come on, just look at the mirrorball in a venue for 200 people and tell me you wouldn’t fall in love with that place). A packed trip of highs and lows…but next time, maybe we’ll hopefully stay long enough to get over the jetlag before we get more…

And now back in the US as things continue to fall apart. But I have 4 kilograms of Mini Eggs, so things are not quite at their worst just yet. The snow is melting, we’re all house safe, and I’m putting together thoughts for Maeryn’s first homemade birthday cake.

No kings, no tyrants.