We've got one!

It looks like we've got a flat. (Fingers crossed that the landlord will accept our offer.) It's just up the block from where we are now, so it will be an easy move. It also means that I don't have to break down and buy a monthly tube pass; I can continue walking everywhere.

It's not super nice, but the location and price are right. I'm still just down the block from Borough market, but now I'll have a lounge (living room) and a washing machine.

Tomorrow is the London installment of the London-Paris Number Theory Seminar at Imperial College and Saturday Dad gets here! With his travel banjo! He doesn't know it yet, but I'm going to have him playing old union songs in Trafalgar Square for me.

The Great Flat Search

In June, I will finally move out of the dorm I live in now. I can't wait. Séverine and I have started looking for flats. There is a craigslist for London, but everyone here uses Gumtree.

Fortunately, most flats seem to come at least partially furnished. It's a bit strange to move into a furnished place, but I don't have the time, money or inclination to purchase furniture while I'm here.

We went for the first time to look at a flat this morning near Archway. It was ok. It had pros and cons, but, being our first flat, we weren't inclined to jump on it. Tomorrow we have four viewings lined up. Two are really close to where we are now, one is near Kings Cross and one near Islington.

Kings Cross and Borough (which is where we are now) seem like the best possibilities for places that are affordable and still within walking distance (for me, anyway) of central London (where I work). So I'm hoping we can find something in one of these areas. If we fall in love with some place further out, then I'll just have to join everyone else in this city and become a regular tube user.

London Eye

Kate sent me some photos from their visit. Here's one she might consider entering in the London Eye photo contest:



For that matter, she might enter this one of Flat Stanley and Thin Lizzy:



Still waiting for the prints from her Holga.

Persillade

I've been making Pommes Persillade, from a recipe stolen (as recommended on the previous link) from the cookbook "Jacques Pepin's Table". I say 'stolen' because I don't actually own the cookbook, I just used Amazon's "Search Inside" feature. Anyway, it's yummy and easy and quick, though the first time I made it, I didn't cut the potatoes small enough and I think I also didn't use quite enough oil.

Pommes Persillade

• 2 large potatoes, peeled


• 2 Tbsp canola oil


• 3 cloves garlic, peeled


• 1/4 cup (loose) fresh parsley leaves


• 1 tsp. salt


• 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Cut the potatoes into 3/8 inch cubes. Rinse well and cover with water so they don't turn brown.

Heat the oil in a large skillet. Drain the potatoes and pat dry with paper towels. Saute the potatoes over high heat until browned on all sides.

While the potatoes are cooking, chop the garlic and parsley together (together is key) until finely minced. Add the persillade along with the salt and pepper to the potatoes and serve immediately.