I would live here if it weren't so expensive

Tucked in to a little part of London called the Seven Dials is a small courtyard bordered on all sides by brightly colored buildings. Neal's Yard is a funky escape from the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden. The Yard is hidden away from the main streets and has a cafe, a deli and a bead shop tucked inside.

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Cultural differences

Tonight at the sushi restaurant after seven courses, a hot sake and two large Sapporos the following transpires.

Us to the sushi chef: Jerry, we're done. We'll take the check.

Jerry: What?

Us: We're done.

Jerry: DONE?

Us: Yes. We're done.

Jerry: You're not DONE!

Two more courses and an offer of ice cream later we were allowed to pay the bill and then we rolled ourselves out of the restaurant and back home.

I brought some cheese home with me because I loved it so much

In preparation for a party on Saturday we headed out early on Friday morning to buy cheese. Thomas' uncle took us to a famous cheese shop in London. Nestled near Covent Garden is a shopping district called Seven Dials. The "seven dials" are sundials that sit on a pillar in the center of a roundabout pointing the way to seven streets that stretch out like spokes from the hub of a wheel. A few steps down Shorts Gardens and we arrived at Neal's Yard Dairy, also known as The Best Place I've Ever Been. Ever.

The wheels of cheese were as big as car tires, maybe bigger. I don't know. I was completely awestruck because I have never been in a shop like Neal's Yard. American cheese shops, when you can find one, are filled with little wedges of lots of different types of cheese. But Neal's Yard Dairy had only a handful of types of cheese and they had them in full force.

Seriously, have you ever seen something so fantastic? Neither had I. That's why at 7:30 in the morning I was leaping around, running circles around the two men, taking photos and lunging for samples of the cheeses Simon was selecting. Let's just say that the guys behind the counter will remember me.

So to calm me down we asked them where we could get a good cup of coffee. Without a moment's hesitation they sent us "through the Yard" to the Monmouth Coffee Company. "Best coffee in all of London," they told us. They were right.

Design idea

I can't believe my sister doesn't have this on her mantle. She just must not have thought of it yet. So here you go Nancy - a gift to you.

A view from across the Thames

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