Wimbledon

Jim, who looks a bit like Tony Soprano here, I met in '98 via his brother Richard, who I worked with at First Boston. At then, Jim was involved with Excite @Home and trying to save the European business after being poorly managed by his predecessor. Prior, he was a lawyer at White and Case and banker at Credit Suisse and Salomon Bros covering Turkey where he met his wife; subsequently he spends some considerable time in Istanbul, where he has a second home (Jim's wife Perry founded the largest air business between Turkey and Britain).  


Today, Jim at Google (with Richard) and responsible for global content partnerships - a senior role requiring time in California. In that sense, he and I enjoy a need to be on the West Coast while not especially appreciating the travel. Lucky him, travelling business class while I'm usually in Premium Economy. Being a sole trader has its disadvantages, no doubt. I meet a number of super interesting middle aged dudes and their manicured wives, who mostly stick to themselves around a lawn table drinking white wine. Us men talk about BBQ, finance, football .. usual stuff, with a different angle: most have a connection to Istanbul as well as London making it a dynamic group. 


One of the fellows (Irish, indeed) a criminal prosecutor for the government and we talk about his various assaults, murder and rape cases "which barely result in a conviction" he notes. "Disgraceful." Jim's house is large and airy with a backyard that makes me think of the Midwest. Unusual in any city and especially London. Perfect, though, for a lazy afternoon while the kids run around beet-red (Madeleine comes up to me breathlessly: "Dad, I threw up, but it's Ok" before darting off. Hmm). 


 Kids buzzy in the car ride home and now watching Andy Murray at Wimbledon following a cold bath. I pick up Sonnet on the way home from her conference at the train station and she manages not to freak out that I leave the kids solo. It's gonna happen sometime, oh boy.