And so it begins. The long and winding road to the 2032 Olympics!!!
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Taste
Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in America
Remnants from last night…
Ask me yesterday how many St. Paddy’s days I’d celebrated in England over the last 40 years, and I’d have replied precisely “zero”.
We just don’t do it. I don’t know anyone who does.
But in America?
By the time the England v Ireland 6 Nations Rugby game started yesterday (10am PST) the lovely McGilvra’s, in Seattle’s Madison Park area, was starting to fill up with people wearing green tops, socks and even green fingernail polish.
These people were not there for the rugby – we beat the Irish on their special day in case you were wondering 
– they were there for the craic.
By the time the game finished the place was starting to burst for lunch and was doubtless thumping well into the night.
Later in the day, Ashley and I ended up hosting 10-odd people for dinner – corned beef and cabbage cooked fabulously by her sister Colleen – and we got through a good amount of Guinness and (my favourite stout) Murphy’s.
For a Brit whose heritage is most definitely Irish on at least one side of the family, I find the whole “holiday” thing surrounding St. Patrick’s Day astounding and endearing.
For such a proud nation, that leaps to its feet at the opening bars of the Star-Spangled Banner, the fact the whole country seems to turn green on the 17th March every year (even if the person in Gaelic fancy dress has “zero” connection with The Emerald Isle), just shows how relaxed they are about the cultural melting pot they’ve become and how up for a good time they are.
Since I’ve lived in the US, I’ve been to Jewish festivals, Greek festivals, Halloween parties, Oktoberfest shindigs and the obligatory 4th of July party. For most of them, they were firsts for me.
Although I initially balked at the thought of “celebrating” St. Patrick’s Day through my in-built British sense of “ but that’s for them”, I’m glad I did, as we all had a blast.
Now I’m looking forward to St George’s Day on April 23rd which I’m going to be proud to celebrate with my new Seattle family.
Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding anyone?
Mio Sushi Japanese Restaurant in Westlake
My new favourite place in Seattle is just down from our office on Westlake Avenue. It’s just opened and I ate there 3 lunchtimes in a row last week. If you get there early you’ll get a seat, the service is excellent, and the food is fabulous.
What’s more fabulous are the prices! $7.95 for the above – chicken teriyaki, beef yakiniku, tofu, salad, rice and miso soup.
$7.95!
Mio Sushi does a great happy hour which I’d frequent too if I didn’t want to rush back home to tuck Maggie into bed!
Anyone for a Mount Rainier roll??
Maggie Nails Loving You by Minnie Riperton
With a little bit of help from mummy, Maggie knocks the high bit right out of the park!
Maggie’s Bouncing Giggles
Maggie’s loving her new Bouncy Bouncy toy. If she bounces high enough, the lights and sound go crazy. She loves it. So much, she giggle incessantly. 2028 Olympics?
Maggie’s First Laugh…..at her Daddy!
Getting Maggie ready for bed the other day in Cambridge, she just started cracking up.
Not the last time she’ll be laughing “at” her father methinks! Let’s hope there’s a good measure of “with” smattered in with all those priceless giggles over years to come!
Nautical Nellies Nails It in Victoria BC
Another highlight on our trip to Victoria was dinner at steak and seafood restaurant, Nautical Nellies.
We started our meal with crab cakes the Ashley described as, “The best I’ve ever had!”
Afternoon Tea at The Fairmont Empress, Victoria BC
As you can see, Maggie was in awe at the sight of her first cup of tea.
As part of a birthday trip (mine not hers) to Victoria, British Columbia in Canada, Ashley suggested we go for afternoon tea at The Fairmont Empress Hotel.
Pattycake Prints in Seattle Make a Fab Impression
Now I should warn you that I’ve just embarked on two months of paternity leave, so there’ll be a few less technology posts going live between now and Christmas.
Josh LaBelle Meets President Obama at The Paramount
One of the nicest people I know is my brother-in-law, Josh LaBelle.
Josh is married to Ashley’s sister, Colleen, and runs the Seattle Theatre Group which includes the Paramount, Moore and Neptune theatres in the city.
A couple of weeks ago, Barak Obama was in town for a whirlwind visit, which included a fundraising lunch at The Paramount.
Josh got to meet him backstage and said he was delightful!
I’ve never met a head of state, although I was looking at some leather wallets in a tent at the Windsor Horse Show in 1997 and heard a familiar voice next to me ask the local craftsmen, “Do you make these yourselves?”
It was The Queen of England!
