Igor has been in London for nearly two full weeks now, and he must say, he is getting mildly irritated. While Igor is enjoying his charming flat, there always seems to be something a little off. First the keys don't work, and then they do, but there aren't enough of them for all of Igor's posse. Then the light in Igor's bathroom goes out, so a light must be taken from the hallway (after all, Igor's needs are greater than the rest of the flat's). The hallway lights have to be replaced, but then it turns out a few of the living room lights have gone out as well. Then the washing machine breaks. And the whole time, Igor's lackeys must deal with maintenance rather then attending to him! The outrage! What's a turtle to do in such a situation?

But these are but small hitches in the greater scheme of things. Igor continues to regularly meet with Her Majesty the Queen, and often goes galavanting around London and other places that he may not say, but he assures you it is Someplace Quite Grand And Important.

Meanwhile, Heeseung has been pursuing more humble adventures. This past week (not that any of you care about Heeseung's week, Igor knows) entailed of:

• seeing the intriguing thriller "Rope" at the Almeida Theatre (Alfred Hitchcock made a movie based on the play.)

• going to the National Gallery to view more British landscape paintings (and there are still a great number of landscape paintings yet to be examined for Heeseung's art history class)
• starting bikram yoga (Heeseung learned the hard way that she is, indeed, made up significantly of water. Igor prefers not to think about it.)
• and baking blackberry and strawberry thumbprint cookies

and mixed berry fruit tart, in which this:

and this:

were combined to make this:

There was also a brief walkthrough the British Museum, which is a convenient less-than-10-minute-walk from the flat (Igor doesn't walk, of course, but is transported by his retainer), but since Heeseung didn't have time to properly poke around, she'll have to go back again this weekend. She may want to move in there permanently, although it still is a bit too early to tell. Igor doesn't understand why Heeseung is wasting time visiting museums and galleries when she should be attending to him, not that his feelings would be hurt by a mere minion's lack of attention; it is just incredibly inconvenient for him. After all, becoming cultured, while important, ought to be done in one's own time, Igor would like to remind Heeseung. And it is all Heeseung's fault for not being born as cultured as Igor was. Although most of the population is not and cannot be.

Igor and Heeseung also rode the bus for the first time.

They rode in the top half of a double-decker bus, and while Heeseung enjoyed the experience, Igor may have experienced height vertigo did not suffer from any affliction of any kind, other than abject horror at the prospect of encountering germs whilst utilizing public transport. Why Heeseung insists on taking disease-infested vehicles, Igor does not know. (One of the very, very rare moments that Igor does not know the answer.)

Having barely survived his bus-riding experience, Igor needed to recuperate with some french toast.

In fact, there has been a great deal of eating, as of late, which is normally wholly welcomed, if Igor were not watching his shapely figure. He is still, of course, extremely attractive, however, so worry not, dear readers. Recent meals have included:

soba, edamame, dumplings, and red bean bun

and brie, arugula, and apple on a lightly toasted baguette.

Igor has been appeased by the food selection as of late, although he is careful not to be too complimentary. Can't have the help getting complacent, now.