Pimms @British Embassy

Alastair got invited to the British Embassy, at a mingle-event for UK graduates living in DC, and I got to go too. I Ubered there as 35C / 90F and needed to look presentable. Lots of well dressed people getting out of taxis and queuing up to drive in to the embassy, causing a traffic jam on Massachusetts Avenue. The checks were less thorough than I expected with only an invitation and ID needed to be let in.
We were wondering what time to get there (invite was for 6pm) and decided to meet at the gate close to that time, which appeared to be about right. After signing in and receiving our name badges we proceeded upstairs and were welcomed by waiters with mixed drink trays. We both had champagne and then got to work on the mingling.
The bar was fully stocked with a variety of very British drinks, there were Fullers ESB, Strongbow, Gin&Tonic and of course Pimms No1. No more champagne for me, I stuck to Pimms the rest of the evening.

The British Ambassador and his wife showed up around 7 PM apologizing that the guest speaker was unable to  make it, but he wished us a lovely evening and made himself available for anyone who wanted to speak with him.
They opened the doors to the patio and as the evening cooled down slightly groups of people gathered outside, remembering their time at University back home and comparing experiences of DC.

I know I have said it before - but why can't they make ladies formal clothes with pockets? I refuse to carry a handbag around, but need to put my key, credit cards, ID and phone somewhere. It is not always you can bring your husband around. Today business cards would have been useful as well.
Leaving around 8pm many people was walking around watching their Uber-car arrivals on their smartphones.

Deale, MD

With hot weather expected for the next 4 months or so I though it was time we explore more of the shore around Chesapeake Bay. It is nice to be on the water when it is hot and there will be less mosquitoes. We have previously been to Annapolis and a few towns on the Eastern shore (Oxford, Cambridge & St Michael's), although nice - it is a long drive. This time I proposed Deale, MD, the closest place to DC just under an hour away. I did not know anything about it, just picked a spot on the map.
It was an easy drive and Deale turned out to be a very nice little small-town on the Bay, just as expected. We found a small seafood restaurant called: Skipper's Pier Restaurant.

 We had crab cakes which were great and are looking forward to returning. On the platform in the picture above, they were setting up for a live band playing and it was lovely to sit there and eat, overlooking the marina.

 After lunch we drove around the rest of Deale before heading through small very small coastal town down to Chesapeake Beach. Chesapeake Beach was much more commercial and a much larger town. There were hotels along the seafront and a distinct lack of parking, so very difficult go go out for a walk and a look around. Sometimes I wonder if these beach town actually want visitors? We will continue exploring the nearby Western Shore and are thinking of renting a sailing boat together with friends in the near future. To be continued.