driving
Ali driving his own car, on a normal day, in the United States, will elicit fear, sarcastic comments, and many obnoxious responses from me.
I got off the plane in London and headed straight to my favorite place for scones: Fortnum & Mason.
Ali driving in London:
- On the wrong side of the road…
- In a steady drizzle…
- In a rental where the steering wheel is on the opposite side…
- With the GPS blaring “Please exit the next roundabout” every 5 seconds…
- While Maya whines from the backseat that she suddenly needs to go potty…
Is really just my husband begging me to find a divorce lawyer so he can put an end to his misery once and for all.
Me + Maya on our way to the wedding. One thing I don’t like about London? A good blow dry isn’t easy to come by, thus why my hair looks like straw.
And yet, with all the odds against us, we somehow made it through the chaos. I chalk this up to my keeping my big mouth shut. Which I in turn chalk up to the fact that I am on vacation and thus have slightly more patience than normal.
Plus, this isn’t really a convenient time for a divorce.
Despite his hands being at 10 and 2, our drive was no less terrifying.
Anyway, I was silently celebrating my husband putting the car into park when he said, “I really wish this rental car had a backup camera.”
Yes. Let’s forget about needing a driver who has a clue where he’s going and a 7-year-old who goes to the restroom when before she leaves the house. Because obviously being able to see the pavement the 2 times we reversed should absolutely be one’s priority.
While I'm not going to win Mother/Wife of the Year Award anytime soon, I haven't killed anyone yet or shot myself in the head. And that, my friends, is how I calculate success these days. 
FANCY THAT FANCY THIS 
hehe, you really must have pachints:)
Love it. Pachints!! I have none of that.
He looks like he’s really concentrating!
Cute pictures 🙂
Enjoy the rest of your vacation!
Katie
Thanks Katie! As long as I can keep Ali from driving I think I will. 🙂
Hahaha oh no driving in London is scary! Hope you were still able to enjoy the wedding 😉 I go to London so much and have never been inside Fortnum and Mason….definitely next time.
You must go Sonali! Have a scone for me. 🙂
Your post is great, Ameena, but even better is the video at the end…two of my favorite guys…Shane Victorino and Charlie Manuel. I’m a Phillies fan…can’t help it! Hope you’re enjoying London!!
Wait Fran…which video are you referring to? I didn’t upload a video and I don’t see one…
Chad is not permitted to drive in cities. He cannot be in my presence behind the wheel if the roads have more than two lanes. It’s a rule. It DOES look like you are having a nice vacation, though! Great photos :)Have a blast and travel safely!
I think your rule is brilliant. I should have the same one…for the benefit of my health!!
i would be terrified to drive in london!! I give Ali credit just for getting behind the wheel. I loved taking taxis when I was there, then again, those are some serious professionals who know those crazy streets, glad you made it to the wedding in one piece!
Me too…I can’t imagine how he does it, even if it scares the living daylights out of me.
Hehehehehe! Great way to start my morning – with giggles 🙂
So glad I could make you laugh Jolene!
Love your family. 🙂
Thanks Jennie!
Hahaha… sorry I know it’s not funny for you. Your hair looks great and it looks longer than usual too, no? At least Ali doesn’t wear his fave orange sweater … 🙂
I’m trying to grow it long…but it looks even longer because it’s totally stick straight. The stylist didn’t know what he was doing unfortunately.
From staycation to vacation!! Enjoy. I personally will never ever have the guts to drive in another country so I have to give him props for that. I’m even afraid to drive in another state!!
I’m okay in America but I can’t imagine driving anywhere else! Except maybe Canada?
Love this! We got into trouble once in the USVI. No one told us you drive on the “other side” and the rental was an American car and had the steering wheel on the left as usual! We almost got in an accident leaving the airport. We’d have been expecting this in the BVI but hello, we are still in the US!! Who knew?
Keep on having fun Ameena!
I had no idea that the USVI is on the other side as well! Interesting.
Hahaha…I can’t quite put my finger on why a GPS voice is so annoying, but it sure is.
I used to have a GPS with an English accident…that was pretty cool. But now it’s just a regular voice and it can be a bit…grating.
baaaahahaha! i am crying over here! the 10 and 2 picture is just sooo good! hope you guys have a great 4th!
Thanks Brooklyn! I hope you have a great 4th as well!
hahaha lol You crack me up!
∞ © tanvii.com ∞
Thanks Tanvi!
You seriously always make me laugh. I love the picture of you and Ali 🙂
Thanks Allie! I hope you are having a great 4th. 🙂
hahaha I love your marriage so much. 🙂
Thanks Leah!
This made me laugh! I constantly yell at my husband about his driving and he acts as if I’m the crazy. Sheesh.
I think the driving argument is inevitable in any marriage…
Enjoy your vacation!!
You know I may sound weird but on vacation I am more panicky and with no patience at all.. Yes I think I need some shrink to get me out of my Hyper Mood..LOL
Have fun!!
Thanks Reem!
I can see why you’d be panicky on vacation…so many variables…so little control! Sometimes I’m the same way.
who DOESN’T love a good roundabout lol? you look so pretty good blow out or not 🙂
Thank you my friend! So nice of you to say. 🙂
You do fish Ameena 🙂 Love the holiday snapshots, can see you are having a great time 😀
I fish? Not sure I follow?
Thanks though…we are having a great time. 🙂
For compliments 🙂 You look beautiful without the blow dry!
Definitely pursuing a divorce right now would be untimely. Who else would they get to roll clothes, pack up and provide snacks, and likewise keep life-as-you-know-it together? Life would be almost unimaginable any other way. Wouldn’t it? Well, maybe for just a second or two then, you can let yourself imagine. 😉 Enjoy the scones, and the wedding!
In this case it would be untimely for Ali. 🙂 But maybe I could catch a break!!
Love it. It’s not a “convenient” time for divorce. Hilarious!
Thanks my friend. 🙂
Ameena! I have enjoyed your last few posts and finally I have a minute to comment! I’m so happy you get a chance to relax. It’s so wonderful to ease burdens through the small opportunities to be alone. My husband wants to live in London- he loved it there so much. Hope you are having a wonderful time. I love the pictures of you- you gorgeous woman. And your daughter is a doll. Take great care,
Shauna
I want to live in London too! So sad to be leaving today… 🙂
And thank you for all the compliments Shauna…you are the sweetest.
On our way out of Paris, my father almost ran over an elderly gentleman and then when we were pulling out of Dreux he ran over my mother’s foot. This is just part and parcel of our lives.
My God…your poor mother! I can’t even imagine how angry she must have been!!
Oh man, I can’t even begin to imagine driving in another country. I was confused enough after returning from my British Isles vacation a few years ago…I kept looking the wrong way before crossing the street 😉
Same here…the “Look Right” etc. on the streets somehow confuses me even more. Not sure what my problem is?
Driving on the other side of the road freaks me out! When I visit my in-laws in Doha, I I keep thinking the chauffeur is going to crash when he takes a turn. Left hand drive makes me nervous. Which is strange, because traffic on Indian roads in general can make anyone nauseous.
Left hand driving makes me very nervous too…
And I want to visit Doha!!
Oooh.. i have to try this place Fortnum and Mason… I have heard from you and a couple others it’s really good. OMG, i’ve never driven in another country, i’d be terrified, especially driving on the other side.
You will love it Nisha! I went no less than 3 times if you can believe it. In a week. 🙂
Can I just say you look beautiful. I think your hair looks fabulous but don’t put too much stock into that because this is coming from someone who thinks a ponytail is fancy. Maya is a doll, she definitely got the best of the both of you in the looks department and regardless of her spelling I know she’s a genius.
Enjoy London. Drive safe Ali 🙂
You are so kind Marie…thank you for always leaving the best comments. Ones that make me feel 100 X better about my hair. 🙂
You know I love the stories/adventures about you guys!
And seriously, you are quite gorgeous together.
Damn you.
Xx
London!! I miss london. More pics of London please Ameena!
This brings back lovely memories of my father trying to drive us around in London – he managed to scrape both the driver’s side mirror and the roof rack off the rented van. Good times.
i can’t iimagine driving – or letting someone else drive me around – in europe! what an experience! reminds me of vacationing in aruba – huge roundabouts and completely foreign-to-me road signs…i stick to the bus or taxi!
i think your hair looks great, ameena – i envy the length!
I think you hair looks fab, blow dry or no. But I do want to see some wedding outfit snaps. And did you bring home any scones? Maybe if they get stale and super hard, you can just huck them at Ali and Maya every time they drive you batty? Multi-purpose scones.
Driving on the wrong side of the road in the wrong end of the car would probably send me over the edge! I am pretty sure I’d kill us all without or without the back up camera. :)~
Hey Ameena!
So sorry it’s been such a long time since my last visit. I feel like I’ve missed so much. Every time you do a London post I get so jealous. Have never visited London before and would love to some day. Been to their airport, but that it. Haha.
Oh I would so have my hands on 10 and 2 if I ever had to drive on the opp side of the road. My seat would also be super close to the steering wheel and I’d prob have some phone books under me to make sure I can see not only over the steering wheel, but over the whole hood of the car. So Ali actually looks quite relaxed there compared to me. Hope you guys enjoyed the wedding and that you’re all doing well!
We had a great time and can’t wait to go back…London is fantastic. I hope you get a chance to visit one day soon!