01.08.12 - The Skive

I am admitting to you all that I called in sick today at work, even though I was fine. I just couldn’t face sitting at my desk, doing nothing, for another day. I worked at home instead and wrote two possible blogs instead; one about the Occupy movement and one about social media. So I was working, just not in the office. I only felt guilty when Peter emailed to say ‘Hope you feel better’, little did he know.

I went for a stroll in Golden Gate Park, where I’m still discovering new little tracks and pathways. You never know what you’re going to find down them; trees or tramps. Then I had to pack my bag because I was getting a 1am flight to Mexico City to see my friend Hannah Ellis who works for the British Embassy there.

I had dinner with Bradley at the Woodhouse Fish Company which I walked past on one of my jaunts and thought looked good. I arrived at 6.45pm and it was full, we had to wait for a table. People eat so early here. I ordered a dish that had caught my eye before and sounded delicious; artichoke with crab and shrimp. It was so laced with garlic that it was more of an assault than a meal. The artichoke had been cut in half, the leaves smothered in something like unmelted garlic butter, served with salad drenched with very vinegary vinaigrette and garlic bread. My mouth felt like it had been napalmed; why would anyone do that to a beautiful, subtle artichoke?

Nothing to report at the airport, all very standard. I perused the offerings at the book shop and found some offensive books (see images). I bought myself 'Pinhead or Patriot" by Bill O'Reilly, to educate myself about the American psyche, but much more of that later.




My seat was right at the back of the plane, the only row without anyone else in it, so I thought that I had got lucky. But then I was moved because they were reserved for crew. I was told to move to row 6, which for a few seconds I thought might be in the Premier section. Sadly it was the first row of Economy instead, disappointing.