I WENT ON DOWN TO LONDON TOWN . . .

. . . and I took a lot of pictures, or else was in pictures taken by either Bex, Nicole, or Jamal. I haven’t made a big-ass post that’s just a bunch of pictures in a long time, so:

16 SEPTEMBER 2026:

I arrived in London around 10:30 a.m. It took me about two hours to get from Stansted Airport (arguably London’s worst (and cheapest) airport) to Bex’s neighborhood in Southeast London. Were I back in Berlin, I’d be well into Poland on my way to Warsaw in that amount of time . . . but no matter: it was all worth it to see a special girl I know. And so gladly I endured the four forms of transportation and many hours of travel across Europe . . . from my detective’s tower in Berlin to merry old England.

Bex biked over to the nearest bus stop and retrieved me, and then I bought her lunch at a nearby cafe on account of 1) she’s my fiancée and 2) she was putting me up for five whole nights. After discussing our wedding at length, we shared a sort of chocolate-swirled pastry and headed home.

Later that evening, we took shots of Limoncello and headed to her roommate’s gallery opening, where we ran into Brother Jamal. We pounded free beers and walked around like the larger-than-life cartoon characters we are, signing autographs all along the way.

Afterward, we made a pitstop at her ex’s place to grab a bag of BEX shirts she’d left behind some time ago, one of which she gave me. (I slept in it that night, and woke up the next morning with a sleeping Bex’s hand resting atop my T-shirted stomach, just above her own name. But I won’t post that picture . . . lol . . .)

17 SEPTEMBER 2026:

Bex’s band lifepath 99 had a show at THE GRACE. Being London, it took us about an hour to get there via at least two forms of public transportation. We hauled all her gear there . . . she told me that my presence (and prodigious muscles) saved her from having to take a £45 Uber. Hey, what else am I good for if not my capacity to carry heavy things, and be a sweet and perfect angel . . .

At the venue, I hung out with her and her band in the green room. I had brought along my camera to film the show. Olivetti arrived just in time to help Bex get ready. She attached some sort of ghostly fabric belt to Bex’s waistline. The opening band Lifeloose (another “life” band??), comprised of two girls who both appeared to be 4’9″, hung out with us as well, and I befriended them within thirty seconds. (Nicole said: “You’re such an Aquarius.” To which I replied: “I am as He made me . . .”) Nicole had us all draw two tarot cards before the show. I forget what mine indicated . . . I’ll have to ask her. But Bex and I both pulled the Four of Pentacles. I love it . . .

We stepped out to get food before she went on. And upon returning to the venue, Nicole and I had to check in at the front. Of course, we were on the guest list, being VIPs and all. The woman behind the counter asked for my name. I uttered the sacred words . . . the name I am known by in certain circles across the wild world:

☆ HOLLYWOOD RYAN ☆

Olivetti gave me a look. I know this look. It’s an implied eye-roll without the eye-roll. I said, “What? I really am on the guest list as Hollywood Ryan.” The woman behind the counter said, “He is.” Hah! I love it.

I stood near the stage and filmed both Lifeloose and lifepath99’s sets. I don’t know if my footage is any good or not, but I did it anyway.

Apparently Bex has written and recorded a whole album, which they played in its entirety . . . I along with the rest of the world had only heard her single up until now. Anyway, it ruled. Everyone was really into it . . .

Afterwards we got FOOD again, and then took the tube home. In bed, beneath the glow of her red lights, Bex showed me her adult coloring book. We consumed drops of liquid melatonin and fell asleep like two perfect angels.

18 SEPTEMBER 2026:

Next morning (or afternoon, I reckon), we woke up and utilized that adult coloring book. She told me it soothed her. I believed her once I too felt soothed by it.

We DICKED AROUND her house all afternoon, Getting Stuff Done, and at nightfall took the train AN HOUR (or more) across town to meet up with Brother Jamal and Sister Olivetti at some bowling alley / arcade / billiards / bar-type place where they literally frisk you when you come inside.

I don’t know if you know this or not, but I’m a pretty good bowler. I was on a league as a kid (The Shooting Stars . . .) and so I played every weekend for at least a year or two. I’m used to bowl-sharking everyone . . . but I was bested by left-handed Bex. I did come in second place but it stung a little. Later, she and I teamed up for billiards and handily steamrolled Jamal and Olivetti. Admittedly, Olivetti did go on to kick our asses in foosball. So it goes.

AS IS OUR WONT: We had an impromptu photo shoot in the arcade . . . and then the four of us headed home on the train in the same direction. Jamal and Olivetti departed at their respective stops, and Bex and I returned to her fortified compound and stayed up till the late hours doing whatever it is we do at night.

19 SEPTEMBER 2026:

Bex needed new eyeglasses, so we went to Soho to look around for some. We went into a fancy coffeeshop to get out from the rain and drank fancy cappuccinos. And then we got the hell on with it.

At a department store, my natural Aquarian friendliness prompted me to tell a 60-year-old woman she had fantastic hair. She was taken aback and had me repeat what I had said. She replied, “Well, I like your hair too.” A woman with her whom I assume was her adult daughter looked on, seemingly bewildered that a younger man appeared to be hitting on her mother. But I was just paying her a compliment! We departed as friends.

On the way home, we stopped at an M&S, which is kind of like Trader Joe’s in a way, and RESTOCKED. (I’m sorry, but I will never get over these people referring to chips as “crisps”. Give me a break with that.)

I stole some ghostly white roses for Bex, and at her behest, bought her a lighter featuring a topless woman inexplicably holding a violin. This was got at some a tourist shop near the station where we had stopped off so I could grab postcards. I befriended two women at the postcard rack, being that I am, as Nicole pointed out, a card-carrying Aquarian.

Once again we headed back home to make a cute little meal and eat cute little snacks and have a cute little night. That’s the only way to fly.

20 SEPTEMBER 2026:

We all met up at Olivetti Tower to eat a bunch of Italian food Olivetti had graciously made for us . . . and, once satiated, I lay on the ground with my new best friend Phoebe the Cat.

21 SEPTEMBER 2026:

Bex left for her nanny gig around noon, so I walked to a nearby coffeeshop to work on who even knows what for a few hours. I drank an iced Americano and ate a gigantic-ass cookie until the place closed, and then headed for Gatwick Airport to chill until it was time to fly back to Berlin. I felt a sadness to leave my friends. What can I say? I love them.

I’ll be back in a few weeks for Halloween . . .

WELL!