I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what the dress, which had been speculated about endlessly, looked like.    I couldn’t wait to see the groom’s face when he saw the bride or to hear all of the traditional pieces of a royal wedding..  live.

It’s different when you see it later in the media.  Bits are chopped off and transformed into a good media piece.  I wanted a chance to see the whole thing, as it happened, and I was glad to be able to.

Brit came in while the crowd was assembling outside the balcony.  I said, “Look, Brit!   They’re about to kiss on the balcony.  It’s a big deal!  Look at the crowd!”   She was equally impressed.

I was excited for Britain that day, seeing people happy and celebrating together.

We’ll have to fly in for the next one. 

Photos I found taken by someone who was there.

Earlier this week, TLK and her friend got together and made valentine chocolate lollipops.   I’ve never seen candy made before, so it was interesting to watch (and really easy).

Today, they set up booths and sold their items.    The parents were invited.   Upon entering the classroom, we were all handed loads of fake money.    We went around to various tables and asked the kids how much their items were.   Some of them were quite the sales people.   While I was buying a chocolate lollipop, the boy at the next booth said, “I have bookmarks.  I had help making them.  They’re only 3 tickets.”

How could I resist?

I ended up with quite a stash of popcorn, cookies, chocolate lollies, a clay dinosaur and a bookmark.

This was a brilliant plan!  

With their profits, the kids were allowed to go shopping amongst the leftover items for sale.  I’m interested to see what TLK comes home with.

We’re already going through our list of “things we can do next”, which involves a day-long tour of London. Yay!

The thoughts flying through my head:

• Wow, I’m finally here.  7 hours wasn’t that long.
• Look, the sun is coming up (it went down at lightning speed to me, and back up again)
• Hmmm…  look at the traffic… it’s really backwards (to me)
• Look at the old buildings..
• (Big smile)  OMG…  Ian is waiting for me at the airport!  (stares at Heathrow airport… thinks “OMG… again”).
• Hmmm… how long will it take to get through border control?
• Ummmm…   *will* I get through border control?
• Are the questions over yet?
• Yay!  I’m in!     Now, where do I go?
• There’s my luggage (grabs it)
• Wonders what I would have to declare in customs already.   Goes the “no customs to declare” way.
• I’ll just peek through doorway into the arrivals lounge.   Notices handsome man in spiderpig t-shirt looking around.
• (jumping up and down inside… and ever since, really)

This is what happy is.      I recorded every second of my visit to England in my head.. meeting Ian, meeting Gem and Fletch, meeting family, adjusting to different ways of saying things, walks through the park and the market..  but mostly just relaxing and feeling at home.

I’ll be back.  

are here.

They were all lovely.

One afternoon, we spent awhile with Ian’s sister and nephew and the infamous Bouncer, their boxer, whom I thought seriously about stuffing in my bag.   We admired the garden, the paintings on the wall done by his mother and talked about what we’d been doing since I’d arrived and jetlag and round-a-bouts.

I felt really at home and happy.

Btw, evidently, Fletch knows some sort of Crocodile Dundee move with dogs which calmed Bouncer down, after which he sat down at his feet.

Another afternoon, we visited Ian’s mom and step-dad.  We went through family photos and we talked about various news-worthy items and had tea.  I admired more art on the wall and the beautiful woodwork throughout the house.

Ian’s mum and I talked about making Ian’s tea (when I thought I’d messed it up, she said, “Tell him we both did it”.)      We talked about what would keep Ian and I on the phone for 5 hours at a time, which we have done.   And we talked about their trip to Florida ages ago.

I was touched that Ian’s mum sat right beside me and narrated all the family photos.

Ian’s step-dad is actually Polish.   Actually *from* Poland, not a derivative of some distant relative from Poland.   He’s a master builder and I saw some of his work in photographs, as well as around their house.

When we left, his mum and step-dad gave me a hug and kissed me on the cheek.

It was really nice.  

Next trip, I hope to meet Ian’s dad and maybe some others…  :)

Roast dinner, cooked by my personal chef

Yes, those are mushy peas. No, I did not eat all of this.

Update: Replaced roast dinner picture with the gravy included.

We walked through the museum itself (fascinating.. you must go, if you can), then walked down the canal, where a man and his wife were about to turn their canal boat around in the canal.

It was fun to see them maneuver their boat in the canal.  Afterwards, they headed through a long tunnel (about 1.5 miles, if I remember correctly, and I may not).

Walking along the footpath, we found blackberries (yum) and talked about poisonous berries vs. the berries you can make wine out of (don’t confuse the two).    

It was SO much fun!    

I think that one day, I fancy a vacation involving a canal boat, a handsome British poet and TLK.

We talked for awhile, then headed to a nice local pub for Leffe.    Leffe.    What can I say?   Leffe goes down smooth.   It goes down smooth x4.   The light german beer inbetween just makes you want more Leffe.

Can you say “toasted”?   I thought you could!

After too many Leffe’s and some pistachios and cashews, we went to an Indian curry house, where I asked Ian to order for me (lamb bhuna) and then Jane and I attempted to use the ladies room.    I could not walk a straight line at this point, or stop laughing.   I washed my hands and attempted to use the hand dryer, which we could not figure out.    Finally, Jane got it working, so I used it for .. oh… 2 seconds, and was ready to go.

After dinner, Jane and I walked back in the rain whilst the guys picked up snacks.    Somehow, I ended up drinking a glass of wine, got a headache and decided that Leffe was not good for me, to the extent that  I have sworn off Leffe.  Although I will always remember it’s very smooth taste.   Good Belgian beer.  

In the morning, I made pancakes, after the guys went out for supplies and Jane made us coffee.     What is

fun about British households is that coffee and tea always seem to be readily available.   At home, I can go ages without drinking a thing, but we were always picking between coffee and tea.

Anyway, the pancakes seemed to live up to expectations.

After awhile, we headed off to Cambridge, for a tour of the city.   The city was amazing, full of students returning to school and people wandering through shops and coffee houses.    The architecture was ancient, by American standards, the company was wonderful and I think I can safely say we all had a great time.

Day 1 – This was a day of travel.   The dogs had been dropped at the kennel.  The child had been dropped at her father’s, and I headed for the airport 2 hours in advance.  I was frazzled.   I couldn’t find the airport.    The construction around the area had eliminated a few signs indicating the logical route to the airport.

Ok.   Who has taken the airport?   Oh.   There it is!

I parked in far-away parking and rode the shuttle to the airport, checked in my luggage and waited for the plane to leave.      Ian and Jane were texting me all along.    So exciting.   I am leaving the COUNTRY!

Day 2 – Starts at 6am when the plane lands in London, having not slept most of the overnight flight (but tried).    I notice the directional traffic differences from the air, the fact that the sun is rising already (it’s midnight my time) and then….. it occurs to me… “OMG!  Ian is in the airport, waiting for me!”

I proceded through security after speaking to a very thorough border patrol agent.

My luggage was immediately available.  I grabbed it and headed for the restroom, since I’d needed to “go” for the last 45 minutes.   LOL     Eventually, I found the correct customs line and proceded without incident (or person to talk to) in a matter of seconds.

I spotted the man in the Spider Pig shirt.   He was EXACTLY what I expected.    He smiled at me and said, “See?  I knew you’d be perfect.”     We shared a hug and kiss, he grabbed my suitcase and we started walking… smiling at each other.    We talked about how bizarre it was that I was actually there, then I grabbed his hand and it was off to find the car.

We took a long country route home.   I saw loads of old architecture and deer, as my handsome tour guide began to describe what I was seeing.   Part-way through, the jet lag started to hit me.   I felt nauseous, especially on the round-a-bouts… many, many round-a-bouts.

We spent some of day 2 going through Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose, looking for various items for my personal chef to cook!

We slept for awhile.   We called Jane to say “HELLO!” (as we say it to each other) and we arranged for Day 3, visiting Jane and Fletch.

Day 3:   Saturday in the market.   We don’t have many (if any) open air markets where I’m from, especially filled with Indian food, fresh fish, clothing, and especially my handsome British tour guide.

After walking through the market, we walked through the shopping mall, looked around at various things, found Butterfinger candybars and returned home.     Soon after, we took off to meet Jane and Fletch, where some really bouncy woman met us in the parking lot, very excited to see us, and very much like I imagined.

I’ll leave you with these photos for now.   More to post on Day 3 later. 

The meat and cheese case in the market

My handsome tour guide

Lots of interesting/fresh fruits and vegetables