A mini JET reunion

It took 3 requests and some photoshopping to get this right!

It was a JET reunion for 2 today as Helen took the bus in from Wales to meet me and do the tourist thing in London. I spent 3 years in Japan with Helen on the JET program from 2003-2006. Our villages were about 15km apart, and we were part of a group of northern Hida JETs that became pretty close, so it was good to see her again after almost 2 years.

As with anything involving Helen, though, you know there has to be drama, and today was no different. I was just about to leave the flat this morning to meet her at Victoria station when she texted to say that her coach had been involved in an accident on the highway. They had been rammed from behind by a truck. Everyone was okay, but they ended up being stranded for 3 hours and didn't get in to the station until 1pm. So our day was cut a little short, but we made the most of it.

After a quick bite we headed to Notting Hill to check out the quaint neighbourhood. I can't say for sure that I found the exact spots that were shown in the movie, and it rained on us for the first 20 minutes or so, but afterwards, when the sun came out, it made for a really nice walk around this picturesque neighbourhood.

After that, it was just a mix of shopping on the Strand and a nice walk along the Thames. The sun was shining brightly and we were just chatting it up, snapping touristy shots every now and then. Didn't really accomplish much, but it didn't really matter - we were just having a good time.

All too soon it was time to get Helen back off to the coach station for her ride home. A short day, but lots of fun nonetheless. I finished it off at the local pub with Gail, Colin, and their friend Neelay, where I had the typical fish and chips with mushy peas. Note that in the UK, they leave the skin on the fish when they deep fry it. Odd for sure, but it doesn't really carry a taste or a texture, so aside from the visual, there's really nothing different. And in the end, I didn't actually eat the mushy peas. Not because I didn't want to eat the mushy peas, but because I didn't know that they were on my plate. I hadn't asked what the green sauce was during the entire meal (it had come in the same kind of tiny bowl the tartar sauce was in), but I guess I should have. Turns out they were the mushy peas...just a bit more mushed than I had expected!