Good weather continues

Another beautiful day in London and the weather is supposed to stay nice through the week—so good news for Vern and Beth’s visit. Skip is going to put Maddie on the bus in the morning as I will leave early to pick them up at the airport. Maddie wants me to wake her up before I leave so that I can brush her hair and put it up in a ponytail for PE. We have failed in not training her father how to make a proper ponytail. Every father of a daughter should be able to do that blindfolded. I’m sending him to stay with Lile Choate for some post-ex-pat, wife-is-going-back-to-work retraining when we get back.

Speaking of Lile, yay for wife Andrea who just got notice that she was accepted into the anesthesiology residency program at UAMS. It's been a long road. I am so proud of her and her husband and her kids. It was definitely a group effort!

I have to say, as proud as I am that I can drive in London, I am growing quite weary of it. Just running one of Maddie’s friends (who lives almost within walking distance) is like maneuvering through an obstacle course. With so many roads that are designated two-way (but only wide enough for one car at a time) driving is a game of bob and weave all the while looking out for pedestrians, cyclists and motorbikes. Wonder if I’ll be better at video games after my time here.

Alcohol is the big news here in England. Drinking (particularly binge drinking) is becoming an increasing health problem here. An article in the Times today had a startling statistic that the average adult in England is consuming the equivalent of 120 bottles of wine a year. And that’s the average. But then, I guess that would be the equivalent to having a glass of wine every day—and a lot of people here do that. Plus the average wouldn’t be lowered as much as it would in the States (especially the South) by so many people who don’t drink at all.

The government is debating raising the price in order to reduce consumption. Some suggest a tax on all alcohol, and others are suggesting only raising prices on the cheaper liquor with the highest alcohol content that those looking simply to get drunk are most likely to choose. It’s become quite the hot bed topic. There are those who think it’s a no brainer because of the high rate of consumption and the direct and indirect (drunk driving, domestic violence) health problems. Then there are those who think that such measures are extreme and feel that raising prices will penalize stores and pubs who are already struggling in a difficult economy.

I have to wonder if price is the solution. Beer and wine here in England are already more expensive than in Germany, and while Germans certainly enjoy a nice beer, there weren’t the health concerns over excessive consumption that there is here in England. It seems like pricing won’t be addressing the root problem—although I don’t know what the root problem is.

It will be interesting to watch this play out and see what happens.