Beyond the business insights, this trip reminded me why I love this work – I get to learn and to see the world.
I adore London and have been there many times, but this time was particularly memorable exploring it with Jonah. In four days we saw three musicals, visited the National Gallery (which is among my top five favorite museums), spent time with friends, had a terrific reader get-together, and walked ten miles a day.
I saw Les Misérables for the first time in London in 1997 when I was 24. Seeing it 28 years later in the same theater with Jonah – who is the same age I was then – was surreal. I’ve written about this musical before as it truly had an incredible impact on me, and I’ve seen it half a dozen times since. It’s my favorite because, unlike most musicals (and quite frankly most operas), it has a powerful, complex, yet aspirational storyline accompanying its incredible music. I had high expectations, but this revival had truly remarkable singers and staging that made you feel like you were in Revolutionary-era Paris.
We also saw The Book of Mormon – we laughed and had a good time, but it’s a “once in a lifetime” experience (i.e., something I’d want to see only once). We also saw MJ – the Michael Jackson show. Though the storyline was hardly groundbreaking, the show was like going to three back-to-back Michael Jackson concerts – one when he was a young boy, another when he was a teen, and the third when he was an adult. Three actors played Michael Jackson, and the singing and dancing were spectacular. I’d see it again in a heartbeat.
To me, London is to NYC what British English is to American English. British English is polished and proper; American English is the wild west. The cities are similar yet different, and I find beauty in both of them. Both have wonderful parks and plenty of cultural opportunities in the form of classical music, museums, and of course musicals. London is older, friendlier for walking, and maybe a touch slower.
From London, we took the Caledonian Sleeper to Edinburgh. We boarded at 10:30 pm and arrived at 6 am (though you did not have to disembark until 8). I really liked it; Jonah (at 6’3”) less so. I’ve taken sleeper trains before in continental Europe, where the sleeping cars were bigger. Though they use the same gauge, the tunnels are smaller in the UK, so the cars are smaller too.
Sleeper trains make a lot of sense – they save you time and money. Today, even a short flight consumes at least half a day. Sleeper trains cost on par with a plane ticket, but you don’t have to pay for the hotel, and you travel while sleeping comfortably (if you are of average height).
Edinburgh is probably the largest medieval city I’ve been to, and one of the most beautiful in Europe. Built from dark brown stone, it feels very Harry Potter-ish at times – in fact the main thoroughfare was JK Rowling’s inspiration for Diagon Alley.
We went on a tour of the Highlands and Loch Ness, which Scotland is trying to turn into a tourist attraction. The loch (lake) is large and quite deep, with murky, cold water. In 1933, there was a supposed monster sighting, and it’s been a draw ever since. England has the royal family; Scotland has Nessie the Monster. It rained half the time we were in Scotland, and I loved it.
Jonah is a good golfer and had dreamed about playing in Scotland, as it’s the birthplace of golf. He played one of the most beautiful golf courses I’ve ever seen – North Berwick, among the oldest in the world. I don’t golf, but was honored to be Jonah’s caddy, pushing his golf bag around the course. It was a very memorable experience and the first time I ever walked 18 holes. I’m never going to take up golf myself – I’d have to give up something else I love, plus I don’t know many happy golfers – but I loved caddying for my son (apparently, it’s customary to tip your caddy, but Jonah must have missed that memo).
We spent a full four days in Scotland, one was taken by Babcock, and we both felt we could have spent another week (at least) to see Edinburgh and the rest of the country.
I love visiting London for another special reason – I have three very good friends who live there – Simon, Ben, and Steve. Simon and Steve I met at an investor conference, Ben at a reader get-together in London a decade ago. Our relationships started out as “investor” friendships and spilled into something more special than that. A lot of my friendships formed like this. Now they are people I talk to a few times a month and see a couple of times a year. I cannot tell you how much I cherish these friendships – they are a big reason why I wanted to go to London.
Jonah has met all of them in the past, and we spent a few hours with each. One of my friends, Steve, and my ancestors came from the same area in Belarus. A few years ago we did a DNA test comparison – we are 8th cousins (0.32% overlap of DNA – our great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandparents were related). I call him Cousin Steve, and Jonah lovingly calls him Uncle Steve.
But of course, stocks still leaked into our conversations. These fellows are terrific investors, in addition to being awesome human beings. We share a similar approach to investing, and though our portfolios are somewhat different, we occasionally overlap on a few ideas.
Ben was pitching Greggs. For US readers, think of it as Dunkin’ Donuts. Greggs is actually the number one rated domestic UK brand. It specializes in sausage rolls and pastries—very affordable. I was intrigued by the company – it has good unit economics and is trying to break into lunch and dinners, so Jonah and I started visiting it frequently on this trip.
I posted a picture of Jonah and me in Hyde Park. An American investor friend, Drew, texted me that he was in London for a few days. We ended up having a wonderful three-hour lunch.
These trips are multidimensional – they’re not just about sightseeing, learning new cultures, visiting companies, or spending time with your favorite son (my two other kids are daughters). They’re about all of the above, which also includes meeting new and old friends.
Key takeaways
- This London and Scotland trip reminded me why I love what I do. It mixed learning, travel, and connection.
- Sharing London’s art, parks, and musicals with Jonah brought back memories of my own first visit decades ago.
- London offered culture and conversation, while Scotland added history, rain, and the quiet beauty of the Highlands.
- Watching Jonah play golf in the birthplace of the game was a proud and joyful moment.
- These travels were not just about work or sightseeing. They were about time together and the reflections that followed.
It’s amazing you never walked 18 holes before, and while experiencing one of the beauties of antiquity, you might want to take the game up with your son. It will bring new vistas and be a healthy diversion…..
I have really enjoyed your recent newsletters. Sounds like you and Jonah are having a great time. I like some of the museums where you visited – The National Gallery and the Tate in London, and the Musee d’Orsay in Paris. And the music you introduced us to this week – oh, boy!
It looks like my niece is going to move to Manchester when she gets married next spring. I will tell them what you said about Gregg (and they’d better write and give me their opinion). Would you please send me Ben’s name and address. I’d like to tell them about a good money person. I don’t know if Lacey and Rowan will have enough to start investing, but it’s so important to talk to someone you can trust.
If you’re ever in the Great Glen again (and the ‘goff’ will surely lure Jonah back!), this pub has about 100 whiskies available for tasteing – all with descriptions too. Could be a week’s worth of tasting, and then ye’re boond to see Nessie!