A manager from the apartment office came up to our car window, so I rolled it down, totally having forgotten that it was “drive-thru breakfast day”, a kind of thank you for living at our apartment complex.

We received two of these yummy chocolate muffins and two bottles of orange drink.   

I’m so glad my day is over.

Believe it or not, the worst part of my day involved photocopying paperwork.   Important paperwork.   Paperwork that I didn’t want (but now IS) out of order.

Also, I did not want the photo machine to keep jamming, but it did.

THEN, it would get part way through printing off a job and say, “Oh, wait a minute.  I have freaked out and now you are going to have to start from page 54.  Too bad you have not numbered your pages, eh?”

Several words crossed my mind.

Ian said, “Back away from the machine, take a deep breath..” and several other things to retaliate against the machine.

Photocopying machines typically are the bane of my existence, now that I think about it.   If they’re not jamming, they are beeping.

So much for the government being “paperless”.

Wine and chinese food.    Life is ok again.

Aside from having all the time I could spare to talk to a certain MK poet, I:

Spoke to my mother, who seemed in good spirits today, and appreciated my Martha Stewart spirit of adventure, when I made these curtains without having to sew at all: 

TLK stopped in her tracks when she saw the curtains.   “MOM!   They sparkle!”  Me:  “Yes, they do!  I made those”!  hehe

I put together a roast dinner (this is it in the pre-cooked stage.  It included yukon gold potatoes, onion, carrots, celery leaves, sliced apple, salt, pepper and a little bit of cloves):

I covered it with foil and baked it at 350F for … oh… 3 hours?     It was quite yummy!    I made gravy after we were done.   I like to take left-over roast and stuff it inside of hard rolls with gravy drizzled over the meat.   Wrap each sandwich up in foil and heat it in the oven until it’s hot (350F again).    Really excellent stuff.

Then, TLK and I potted herbs (or “herbs” as the British say..lol)  

(basil, dill, chives and marjoram)

… then I re-potted two very unhappy plants, which seemed to be immediately grateful:

In between, I caught up with Jane, went out to shop a bit, changed my blog design (again), received TLK’s photos (and baby book… yay!) from my ex, thought about Christmas, did a load of laundry, contemplated loads of things, learnt how to feed the betta (who seemed not to be eating) and now I’m writing this, having said goodnight to TLK and said poet.

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.  

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.

Border control was interesting, but I was prepared.   Thanks to Ian.

You’re travelling alone?  Yes

The purpose for your visit?   Holiday

Do you have family here?   No, just friends

Is there a reason you’re here now, rather than any other time?  No, just holiday from work

What do you do for a living?   Technical support; I run a help desk

For anyone in particular?  Yes, (my company’s name)

How much money do you have with you?   xxx pounds and some credit cards

How are you leaving the airport today?    A friend is picking me up

[stamps passport]

“Enjoy your holiday in the UK”

Where then I lollygagged getting my luggage, took a long-needed bathroom break and went to find the lovely man in the Spider Pig shirt.

Last night, moroccan chicken… to die for.   And lots of sangria.