Potty Talk

I love that they call it the "loo" over here. They got it right in that department. I mean really, public restrooms are no place you would want to hang out and "rest". And, they never have a bath in them.  But imagine my surprise to see this sign at the local playground

Look closer.

Drew and I pondered WHY would this public toilet get an award. We thought the idea of a "Loo of the Year" award was hysterical. It looked like every other public toilet we've seen around with the exception of the painted tile mural. Perhaps that is the reason it has won this (what I can only assume is a highly esteemed) award.

But then Matt read there are London Loo Tours. What?!
So I did a quick Google search to see what this is all about. I was shocked to see how many hits came up. Most were targeting singles. In my circle, public restrooms were always something to be avoided if you could help it. Here, they're date night destinations.

The descriptions made me laugh out loud and I just had to share them with you:

Whether you're looking for a practical perspective of London, a deepened understanding of history or just want to take the piss... Do join me! Rachel (The Loo Tour Lady)

The Bloomsbury Loo TourPart of the UCLoo festival: Explore the loos of Bloomsbury, and grab a sandwich in a (very clean and lovely) urinal!

A website for singles in London has brought new meaning to crap dates after it organised a
night out for its members in toilets across the capital.

Not your bog standard datenight! 

Singles looking for love join tour of public loos   

• New dating event involves touring public toilets on a pub crawl

• As well as meeting singles you learn the history of the lavatories

• Experts share facts about the politics behind public conveniences

• Currently being pioneered in London, hoping to expand nationwide
• 
  
• 
  
• If you're coming to London you might want to add one of these tours to your itinerary--or not. 

1. 
   

   Loo Tour

   lootours.com/‎

   Bookings. Welcome to London Loo Tours ... a unique way to experience the rich history of London! The project is continually evolving, so check back for updates ...

2. London Loo Tours – Now. Here. This. – Time Out London

   now-here-this.timeout.com/tag/london-loo-tours/‎

   Simona Valle · No, we're not taking the piss: it's a tour of London's toilets. Tuesday June 18th 2013 in Fun London. Search. Most popular posts. Watch police at ...

3. The Loo Tour: Art Meets Function | Tours | Time Out London

   www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/the-loo-tour-art-meets-function‎

   18 Mar 2013 - This addition to London's walking scene promises to be no flash in the pan. Led by Rachel Erickson, you'll discover the social significance of ...

4. Flush away bad dates with a romantic toilet tour - Metro

   

   metro.co.uk/.../dating-firm-hopes-to-wipe-out-competition-with...‎

   by Mark Molloy

   14 Aug 2013 - Dating site DoingSomething.co.uk has teamed up with London Loo Tours to host an event that is a mix of a singles night, pub crawl and ...

5. London Loo Tours | Facebook

   https://en-gb.facebook.com/LondonLooTours?group_id=0‎

   London Loo Tours. 161 likes · 11 talking about this. London Loo Tours began as a joke, and a few months later I find myself actually leading groups through the ...

6. Singles looking for love join tour of public loos with ... - Daily Mail

   www.dailymail.co.uk/.../Singles-looking-love-join-tour-public-loos-someth...

   15 Aug 2013 - However rather than quaint pubs or swanky bars, the tour stops off at public conveniences. The website has teamed up with London Loo Tours ...

7. Art & Culture Tour in London, United Kingdom: The Loo ... - Vayable

   https://www.vayable.com/.../3868-the-loo-tour-art-meets-function‎

   This tour is perfect for the immensely practical tourist with a sense of humour and an interest in hygiene. My own interest in toilets fountained from a very practical ...

8. The London Loo Tour - London's most fun dating site for single ...

   https://www.doingsomething.co.uk/date-ideas/unusual.../london-loo-tour...‎

   Toilet Dating. A one-of-a-kind pub crawl with a 'crappy' twist. Some of the 36 people who fancy doing this. bartosh · danielvsg · rpdrummer · fromeastowest ...

9. London Loo Tours on Eventbrite

   www.eventbrite.co.uk/org/3633919613‎

   London Loo Tours is using Eventbrite to organize 5 upcoming events. Check outLondon Loo Tours's events, learn more, or contact this organizer.

10. London loves loos: the Loo Tour | UCL UCLoo Festival 2013

    blogs.ucl.ac.uk › UCLoo Festival 2013 »‎

    2 days ago - A couple of members of the project team recently took the London Loo Tour, in preparation for the UCLoo Festival taking place 19th November ...

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Next

Doctors, Decor and Decorum

• Didn't see that coming
• London Hospital Tour
• Barf bowls and pendant lights
• Fun with bowls (not bowels)
• Won't be buying one of those
• Boys will be boys

These are just a few of the titles I considered for this post. Can you guess what it's about? 

It had been a normal Sunday afternoon and we had just finished up a dinner of roasted chicken, quinoa and tomato salad and little mint chip ice cream (this is relevant because it "comes up later").  We retired to the reception room (that's living room) and started watching TV. 

Suddenly, I began feeling stomach pains. Gas maybe?... They quickly got stronger...Ulcer?  Soon the pain was stabbing and shooting and I felt like I was in labor (NO, No chance of that!).
I began shaking and sweating from the pain. 

Finally I announced, we need to go to the hospital. 

While Matt and Drew stumbled around finding just the right trousers and socks to wear for the walk over to a hospital, I stood in the rain waiting and waiting and waiting--yes it felt like a lifetime. And yes, we walked in the rain to the hospital, only taking one wrong turn. I'm a low maintenance kinda girl even in times of stress. 

Luckily I was able to walk right in and be seen by a Doctor after a relatively short wait. He was English, young, handsome seemed to know what he was doing and talking about. He only took one personal call while examining me and quickly diagnosed I was in pain. I would need a CT to determine what the problem was, some pain killers and a barf bowl. 

He handed me one of these. 

My first thought was , "Now this is an excellent use of recycled materials."

It reminded me of these upcycled pendant lights I had just seen at the The Conran shop

I took pictures of these upcycled cardboard pendant lights because I thought it was very clever and maybe could be a craft project to try with Drew. 

I told the Doc about the pendant lights I'd seen earlier at the Conran shop and his response was, "what's up with that place?" Apparently some other clients, customers, guests, patients had also mentioned the shop that day. We both just shrugged and said, "who shops there "?
At this point I'm thinking, am I in the twilight zone?...

After using said recycled product for my "upcycle" the doctor asked if he could make a joke about my dinner. I ask you people, "is this normal?".   Sure, make a joke, especially if I'm on my deathbed and it's at my expense. It wasn't that funny, so I'll spare you. 

Fast forward, after a sleepless night in the hospital and worsening pain and still no diagnosis, Drew and Matt come up for a visit. Drew has a cup of cocoa that he has declared the best cocoa ever. He asks if I can stay at the hospital a little longer so he'll be able to get another cup tomorrow. Then he notices the bowls look like little cowboy hats--kinda like a fascinator for boys. 

Matt thinks they make for a great tossing game. After a quick match of,
Toss the barf bowl on the sick lady's foot. 

it's required all patients wear these lovely stockings. Please not the stack of bowls on shelf.

my pain took a turn for the worse and I asked them to please leave. Before he left, Matt took a picture of me with an oxygen mask on--saying, "we'll laugh about this later" then my men headed home. 

It turns out I had appendicitis and some other issue with a tangled intestine that had some adhesion connecting it to my bowel. Luckily my surgeon is a specialist who gives talks in DC about rare medical oddities. He's got my stuff in a jar and he's going to show it to me tomorrow. If you want to get a closer look, book your tickets now for his US tour coming in April. 

Drew and Matt will be opening for him with an act called
 Little Cowboys Do Singing in the Rain

I'm home now and recovering just fine. But, as I was gathering my stuff for the walk home, I paused a moment about the experience and the unused bowls sitting on my bedside table. I thought they really are amazing, we could paint them, decoupage them, serve chips in them, use them for Halloween costumes, the possibilities are endless...