My alarm clock this morning: bagpipes. Bagpipes have one volume – LOUD. Apparently, there is an all day bagpipe competition at our hotel today. That’s way too much bagpipes, so decided we should make ourselves gone all day. Grateful, though, that all the bagpipers are skilled, and this is not learn to play the bagpipes day.

Spent the day walking *all* over London.

Checked out a couple of watch stores. They are my favorite because they always have the best bathrooms. This is something I think a lot about when I travel abroad.

Popped into a pipe and cigar store. Don’t smoke either one, but I love the smell of pipe tobacco and cigars. Learned that Winston Churchill only smoked long cigars, but never finished them bc he didn’t want to be seen with a short cigar. Sales guy: Winston was a vain guy. He gave the remnants to his gardener. Winston: that’s gross.

LOOK at this woman’s coat! I’m bold when I travel, so walked right up to her, told her she looked fabulous, and asked her where she got this magnificent treasure. And she TOLD me! Am now on a coat mission.

Mandatory stop at our favorite (and we think best) bookstore in London – Hatchhard’s. It’s been in business since 1789. Found several titles I couldn’t leave without. The Shooting Party?!? Could this BE more relevant for us this week?? (Hat tip, Chandler Bing).

Then.

Ken and I have a particular knack for accidentally ending up in the middle of major protests in European cities. Today we walked right into the middle of a Palestinian protest. Mostly peaceful, but still uncomfortable. Did not love all the smoke bombs and decreased visibility. Took a couple of pics and quickly retreated to the periphery toward . . . .

My favorite store in all of London – The Whiskey Exchange. Best selection of gin, Irish whiskey and Scotch (though Scotch is mostly terrible) anywhere. Bought a couple bottles we can’t get at home. Hurray!

Absolutely perfect squad dinner at Wilton’s tonight. I have forged so many friendships (and a marriage) through the sport of shooting. So very grateful for these people.