Movies

Tuesday is 1/2 price movie night here. We have been most weeks, a few exceptions when we have had guests or been away. Some were good, some were not so good.

Top 5 - starting with the best

1. Kickass
2. King's Speech
3. Up
4. The Blind Side
5. Up In The Air tied with Sherlock Holmes

Bottom 5 - starting with the worst

1. Due Data
2. Burlesque
3. Prince of Persia
4. Jonah Hex
5. Eat Pray Love

Here is the list of not great but not bad films we also saw - in our local cinemas with tubs of popcorn and pop:

Clash of the Titans **

Twilight: Eclipse **

Shrek Forever **

The Expendables **

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief ***

Cop Out ***

Alice in Wonderland ***

Iron Man 2 ***

Tooth Fairy ***

Robin Hood ***

The A-team ***

Knight and Day ***

The Last Airbender ***

The Sorcerer's Apprentice ***

Avatar ***

Let me in ***

Red ***

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest ***

Megamind ***

The Warrior's Way ***

The Other Guys ****

Harry Potter an dthe Deathly Hallows part 1 ****

Inception ****

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo ****

The Girl Who Played with Fire ****

Inception ****

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World ****

Despicable me ****

It's Complicated ****

Leftovers

We have eaten ham sandwiches, turkey sandwiches, cured salmon sandwiches (my favorite). I have made turkey and stuffing pie, perky turkey and turkey mulligatawny soup. JD made lentil soup with the ham liquid. We have 6 bags of duck and chicken meat in the freezer. This Christmas will feed us through March I suspect.

Dinner for 2

Today we had Swedish Christmas and very nice it was too. Lots of lovely food, home made snaps (vodka scented with cardamom and clementine peel) and some American Christmas beer.

Tomorrow we brace ourselves for a non Swedish Christmas. Its not really British either as the turkey has been replaced with Turducken. A turkey stuffed with a duck stuffed with a chicken. Yup. American idea. We ordered one last week and picked it up yesterday. It weights 20 lb, 10kg. There is two of us.

Inspired

EL got me all inspired. I made saffron buns that are not great as I seem to have inherited my grandmothers knack for making dry buns. But JD are munching away and my team were very happy to receive a bag each and even said they like them.

Am now making ginger snaps using a mix of an old recipe and a little bit of Amarula. Dough will rest over night and tomorrow I shall stroll to Target and get some cookie cutter shapes (JD wants a ginger man) as we only own wee heart shapes. Report out to follow.

Crash bang

2.45 AM - tree down! So we spent 45 min picking up glass shards, salvaging baubles and generally tidying up. Tonight its back up. Looking straighter today.

The ruby red slipper photographed below didn't make it. Smithsonian will have to be visited again.

Quick note

Pamela should have won. But at least Matt didn't win.

Exited not to be travelling

While I miss family and friends I must admit its lovely to not be at Heathrow with lots of bags or in an airplane with cranky parents and tired kids. And its lovely to be done with all Christmas shopping by early December as it had to be sent rather than hand delivered.

Food is planned and some of it purchased. Tree has been moved indoors and been decorated. Its lovely. The 4th Advent candle lit and just a few more days to go!

Christmas is saved!

Proper food ordered to make sure we get a real Christmas. As I dont like the Christmas ham its going. And meatballs we are making ourselves along with Jansson and Gravlax.

Item # Name Qty Price

KM200 Liverpate - Leverpastej - Danish style-Homemade 1 $7.65

HE712 Anchovy Whole, Grebbestad/ABBA 1 $6.95

KM126 Wienerkorv - Swedish style 1 $15.90

VE311 Cucumber Salad, DANU 1 $4.95

CC803 Salmiac Coins, Nordic Sweets 1 $3.95

HE150 Matjes Herring Fillets, Gaffelbitar, Skansen 1 $4.50

CV140 Lumpfish Caviar Red, Royal Sweden 1 $8.50

CC700 Milk Chocolate, Marabou 1 $3.95

CC745 Tyrkisk Peber-Extra Hot, Fazer 1 $6.75

Its cold outside

Our wee tree is outside in the cold, it will come in tomorrow. JD gave me two new baubles to hang in the branches - Love Iittala!

Silent night

JD in bed, he and his bro went all out last night with a drink fest starting at 3PM and finishing at midnight. Bro and girl flew home today so tonight its just me and the washing machine awake. Lovely. Guest bed packed away. Strictly caught up with. Life generally good. Apart from me thinking its Friday and its just Tuesday. Booo three more days of work to get through. My motivation level is low. If you take one apple and add one apple on top of that and then one apple on top of that - that is how low my motivation is. Blue in more ways than one.

Book survey part 1

For Eva-Lotta. I wrote my answers guessing what Amy and Barbara might have answered. Quite funny. Although I suspect B has stopped hating the main character in every book, that must have been a pregnancy issue like a craving oddity.

1. Favorite book from childhood
Taran and the Magic Cauldron

2. What are you reading now?

The Art of Running in the Rain (but it is annoying me so might never finish), Grave Secret.

3. What books have you reserved at the library?
None. But I need to go borrow some travel books: Chicago, Seattle, San Fransisco

4. Bad book habits?
Half read books everywhere.

5. What do you have at home from the library?
None

6. Have you got a reading device?
No but I have the kindle app on my iPhone and am reading Great Expectations right now.

7. Do you prefer reading one book at a time or to have several on the go at the same time?
Multiple choice is my preference

8. Have you changed your reading habits since you started blogging?
No

9. Worst book you have read this year?
One I didnt finish and that I dont remember.

10. Best book you have read this year?
100 aringen som klev ut ur fonstret o forsvann

11. How often do you read outside of your comfort zone?
Rarely

12. What is your comfort zone?
Fiction. Books that make me happy, books that keep me reading.

13. Can you read on the bus?
No

14. What is your favorite place to read?
In bed

15. What do you think about lending out books? Any rules?
I only lend books I dont mind losing. I give away books to people that I think they will like.

16. Do you turn down the corners in your books?
Yes

17. Do you ever write anything in the margins?
No

18. In educational books?
Lots

19. Which is your favorite language to read in?
English, Swedish.

20. What makes you love a book?
It has something special that makes me happy.

21. What insipires you to recommend a book?
That I like it and want others to discover it.

22. Favorite genre?
In phases; detective novels, vampire books, fantasy, modern fiction, award winners, youth books.

23. Genre you dont read very often (but wish you did)?

None

24. Favorite biography?
Clarissa Dickson Wright

25. Have you ever read a self help book?
Yes, listened to some book on women and eating - Women, Food and God? Something like that. Made me feel very normal.

Escape

We left for warm Florida on Tuesday, arrived to a lovely warm night so we had some tapas and sangria on a rooftop bar in Sarasota.

Wednesday morning we golfed. Oh that is such a nice sport when played in sunshine and with buggies. We didnt play very well but lots of interesting birds on the course (including an ibis eating a snake) so that kept us from despairing over our odd shots. Wednesday night - sunset cruise and we saw lots and lots of frollicking dolphins and an eagle couple. It was a lovely evening and the sunset was breathtaking. I spilled red wine on me as it got a bit choppy at one point but that just proves that you should stick to bubbly on twilight cruises.

Thursday - Thanksgiving - we went to the beach while the food was cooked for us. Very spoilt we are. My first swim in the gulf of Mexico. Salty and around 19 so refreshing. This was followed by an amazing amount of food. Phew.

Friday - started with rain so we went for a brief shopping trip as its Black Friday after all. We didn't buy anything as the queues were horrific. And by the time we got to the stores the sun was out! So the afternoon was spent on the beach (Siesta Key) and some swimming in the sea. Dinner on the beach as well, checking out the sunset once more. A good last night in the warmth.

Saturday - back north. Its cold but sunny and time to decorate for Christmas as its 1st Advent.

Sending packages

we are getting closer to Christmas. I know this because I have got the back of presents out, that I have been adding to through the year whenever I find anything suitable. Today we tried UPS instead of the Post office and it was a treat. Yes they are more expensive but they are nice and helpful and the whole experience was significantly less annoying than going to the post office. I love Royal Mail but the US post office is just plan rubbish.

So today 4 packages are on their way. Another 5 will go after thanksgiving. A couple more items are needed and a lot more needs wrapped. So bring on Christmas! I am moderately ready!

Report out

It was fabulous! My salmon went down a treat and it was missed by many as there was just so much food to choose from. A lot of warm food, from kielbasa to sausage bread, from jerk chicken to beef bourguignon, from trifle to egg custard tarts. We stuffed our faces and enjoyed every last bit of it!

Cant wait for next years event. I am thinking being a bit more traditional and maybe making meatballs or pannbiff or flaskpannkaka...

Foreign food

On Monday we are hosting an International Food day at work with a pot luck where people bring in food from their home countries (or in many cases, food from their grandparents home countries).

I am bringing in Gravlax with Hovmastarsas - cured salmon with dill mustard sauce. I got a large side of salmon last night and its currently curing away in the fridge. I am particularly looking forward to the Romanian meatballs that one of my colleagues is bringing in as well as the gulab jamun another colleague is bringing in.

I think its a fantastic idea and I missed last years event so this is my first one. I have seen the list of foods, we will not leave hungry come Monday... Unfortunately we are not allowed to accompany our food with the matching spirits from the home countries, some rule about not drinking at work. Fneh!

Sleeping

Ah last Sunday we made the fatal mistake of trying a Tempur-pedic bed in one of the shops in the mall. We have since spent every night reminiscing before falling asleep in our old banger of a bed.

So yesterday we said 'no more!' and went to Sleepys for the rest of our lives (geddit?). In the brilliant American way we got it delivered today. And our old one removed for a small fee. In some ways this is the best country in the world!

Its white. Its huge. Its firm. It smells (apparently its the material, not harmful and will go away after a few days). I love it already. Tried skyping from it earlier and can confirm its a good skype place.

After an extra terrible nights sleep (due to noisy neighbours as well as sleeping on the old mattress on the floor) I am giddy with excitement about having an early night.

Same old same old

Working a lot, its been raining but both those things are ok. Life is pretty good and I can still remember the feel of walking barefood on the hot sand.

Sea sun and sand

I miss it. Want to go back. Autumn is pretty and all this is prettier. And salt water is the best cure for almost anything I betcha.

Catching up

This week its all catching up. Work, cleaning, excersise, food. And most importantly. Strictly. Both Come Dancing and Come Bitching.

My favorite remain: Pamela. Although I secretly also like Matt and Gavin. Least favorites: Brucie and the blond one. Yuk. Get rid get rid and give us new hosts please.

Oh and I want Ian back full time!!

Carving

we are at it again, carving pumpkins. Its great fun although my owl on a tree isnt as great as I hoped. JD is doing a spider in a web and its bound to be amazing!

pumkin seeds are in the oven, one half curry flavored and one half earl gray flavored. using a combo of two recipes

we are munching the last ones from last weeks carving, they were toasted with salt and garlic.

Food

Dinner was great. I didnt go for the take away I kinda fancied instead we had roast butternut squash (tossed in olive oil, salt, pepper chili flakes), boneless pork chop and green tomato salad. Mmm.... The red wine the Parents left behind went very well with this dinner. Happy its Friday. While I love having guests I love having time to do absolutely nothing.

Packages

Spent 35 min at the post office today. US Postal service is nowhere near as nice as Royal Mail but on a positive they open at 8 and are next to work. I saw enough to understand why the staff are a bit grumpy, people are quite stupid. I was nice and polite though and filled out all forms and taped boxes shut.

There were two boys who were in with their dad and they were eyeing my stack of parcels with interest, another reason to send more letters and packages, inside we are all still 5 years old.

October

October is starting off great:

Friday: G visiting NY on her way to Mexico so we had time for some sightseeing and dinner. Her 13 year old nephew taught me a new 'Swede' story. Very sweet.

Saturday: Pumpkin picking and carving! Love the orange.

Sunday: C and boyfriend is in NY so we are meeting for drinks and a show.

Its a good thing I have to work Mon-Fri so I get some time to relax. No more guests for the remainder of Oct but P is coming in early Dec - all confirmed!

Visits

September has been fab but busy. I now have a cold as a consequence. But also have some great memories and photos.

We loved Washington so that one is a keeper.

We also found a new restaurant in NYC (new to us) which we loved - also a keeper.

And finally realized we have a fab beach just around the corner - keeper.

Green tomatoes

Got 2 lb of green tomatoes today in the veggie box. What do I do with them? I have no idea. Am thinking chutney. Tips welcome.

Also got collard greens. No idea what to do with that so am giving it away.

Painful

Trying to work out the UK tax return. Normally easy peasy. I had completed it, I thought, and sent it in only to receive it back with an obscure note asking for more info. Trying to decipher the note and decipher the form and decipher the help pages for the form. I am very tempted to just pay someone to do it for me.

Team Michelle

At last its autumn! Finally finally finally!

Not only do we get to stay in and admire the rain wet street and the leaves on the road. But also I get to see Strictly!

And I finally get to read updates on my favorite blog. Bliss.

Night out

Spent a night out in NYC last week, stayed overnight in a hotel so felt very exciting. Cocktails (well G&Ts for me) on a Manhattan, lovely warm evening and great company. Finished off the night checking out the sky to see Mars being close to the Moon - in our jimjams - which must have amused the taxi drivers. Turns out the Mars thing was a hoax - mainly.

America, America

JD is back home! He told me how cold it was back in Belfast and hard to find stores open. Hehe. Already turning into a Soft American Man!

Tomato sauce

4 lb of tomatoes this week! Jeebus. And they were all super ripe, if left would be gone by tomorrow. So we have peeled, de-seeded and grated all evening. Then added the good olive oil, salt, pepper and smidge of sugar. Mmmm. Now will be frozen to cheer us up on a dreary October day.

Done but not done

Carpets all cleaned, hard work but looking nice.

Just sat down to enjoy a well deserved cup of tea.

Woops!

Tea cup fell over.

Tea stain on carpet.

Lets start again.

Cleaning

Gosh carpets are disgusting. I wish we didnt have them in the apartment but we do so have to live with it. As I am too lazy to go and sort out a rental machine and too tight to get a company to do it for us I bought a carpet cleaner vacuum cleaner machine thing. It arrived today. It works! Unfortunately I have to move all the furniture before starting. Its hard work. But 1/5 of living room done (the manky area by my recliner) and 1/3 of bedroom. Tomorrow will attack another part and plan is that by end of weekend it will all be done.

Veggie box

This week in our veggie box we got:

1 cucumber

3 peppers

2 chilies

1 bunch of basil

1 small box of cherry tomatoes

2 lb summer squash

2 lb tomatillos

3 lb heritage tomatoes

1 bunch spinach

1 bunch edamame beans

I gave away some squash, tomatoes and peppers as I still had plenty from last week. This is what I have done with the veggies:

• Heritage tomatoes - raw tomato sauce (grate skinned and de-seeded tomatoes, add 2 tbsp olive oil and salt/pepper)
• Squash bread - they call sponge cake bread here, funny. Its nice and has ground cloves, ginger and cinnamon in it.
• Steamed edamame beans and just ate.
• Salsa Verde with tomatillos.
• Cucumber peeled and cubed was served with the scrambled eggs for brunch.

Made pesto with last weeks basil so have used this weeks as garnish as plenty of pesto left. Spinach is staring at me whenever I open the fridge so will have to make something with it soon...

Last weekend of summer

It feels a bit like the last weekend of summer. Not because its going to be cold tomorrow (oh no, we are back to 28-29 and high humidity next week) but because we are just back from what we believe will be the last camping trip of the year. From now on in we are too busy with other stuff to go camping. Which feels a little sad. But all the other stuff is good other stuff so I wont be sad for long.

We went canooing down the Housatonic river yesterday. The nice man from Clarke's Outdoor Store drove us 6 miles up river and then we paddled slooowly down the river passing massive corn fields and sighting the occassional house a safe distance away from the river. We had a snack break and two swimming breaks so we were not working overly hard. We finished by a line of orange buoys indicating a fall - a power station. Turned out it used to be (about 120 years ago) a bustling place where the Housatonic Railway had its repair shops and turn table thingymajig. Now its the middle of the forest. Nice little history lesson for the day.

Today we started off with breakfast by the Housatonic river (scrambled eggs with bacon and new potatoes) we headed back via Macedonia state park camp site - a definite one to add to our list for next year. As we made our way south and west we hit Wassaic - small village in NY State which also was a bustling place 120 or so years ago. The man who supplied the Confederate army with condensed milk built up the place after relocating his business from Texas, dontchaknow. All very quaint and sweet and very sleepy on a Sunday morning.

Kayaking

So at end of last weekend I was convinced I was never going to go kayaking again. The teacher lady was insane and while I learned how to get out of the kayak even with a splash skirt on the next person panicked and B had to help her get out of the kayak, somewhat shaken... I was not able to get back in on my own and while teacher lady finally showed us a way of helping each other into a kayak in deep water it was too little too late. I did learn that the paddle is key and the theory behind the stroke. But it was a lot of hassle carrying kayaks, loading on and off and on and off the cars. Phew.

So last Sat night I was happily committing to a kayak free life. A week later we rented a tandem kayak (recreational this time, not sea kayak) and practised getting back in as well as paddling technique. Great fun! So we will continue renting kayaks. Just not buy any. Which is handy as we have no space for them.

BBQ

We are having a kayak lesson tomorrow, 6 hours of how to kayak in the sea. 3 hours theory and 3 hours practice. Betcha I will be knackered at the end of that. So we have decided to finish the event with a bbq. I have made tzatziki and mango/peach salsa (the peaches are in season mmm so wonderful) and steamed blue and pink spuds for a salad.

My friend B has soaked fruit for sangria and we are all set with pork loin, steaks and sausages so JD doesnt feel its too girly a bbq. There will just be the three of us but of course there is food for 10. Just the way it should be!

To date - 27% - Goal is 52% by Jun 2011

create your own personalized map of the USA

Planning

We are in for a busy autumn!

Aug - 2 camping weekends - CT and Maine then JD goes to Belfast for a weekend

Sep - parents visiting - Washington visit - then Johanna comes over for a few days

Oct - Gunnhild visiting en route to South America, we have a week in Bermuda and Amina is planning a visit. We will try and squeeze in a weekend in Vermont as well.

Nov - no plans! Thanksgiving might be an opportunity for a road trip or if someone who likes food comes over I will happily engage in marathon cooking!

Dec - no plans! We are hoping JD's brother might make it over for Christmas.

Note that in these plans I only have to fly once, which makes me very happy. The thought of spending time in airport just makes me tired. The thought of driving my lovely car around the country though (or taking the train to Washington) makes me happy.

Weather

Weather is a lot more exciting here than in Sweden or UK! Yesterday we had rain come through and when it rains it pours. Suddenly all the cars are driving around in lakes with mega splashes and walking home it felt as if I was in a sauna where someone had been a bit too keen with the water splashing onto the stone - increadibly humid.

Today we are promised more rain and thunder so I am planning an evening on the balcony admiring the nature show.

Sunday doodles

Its Sunday and we are back from a great weekends camping, saw a bunch new birds (for us - most locals have probably seen them a million times) and we either saw a turtle (my guess) or Loch Ness monster (JD's guess) poking its head up in the lake.

The tent is water proof if correctly set up and even if set up half arsed in the semi darkness its almost water proof. So that is good!

We still bring way too much stuff but have reduced somewhat from the first time. We are working on it. We have also realized that anyone who comes visiting will have to buy corned beef as we cant find it in the stores - just ready canned corned beef hash but that just isn't what we want.

And we found a lovely cup cake shop in New Milford (which is a lovely town to start with) where we bought a Violet Beauregard's Blueberry cupcake and an Elvis Banana cupcake with peanut butter and bacon topping. The Elvis was great! Surprisingly scrumdiddlyumptious!

JD has about 10 tomatoes on the plants at least and 2 peppers. The heat is on here so we should be able to start harvesting tomatoes from next weekend I suspect.

Dinner tonight is Spinach Lasagne as our surprise veggie back has contained spinach for the last three weeks and I have been blanching and freezing. No more lettuce and I have to admit I miss it already.

Hot

Its hot and humid here. So I have turned American and driven to work (and left JD on the train station on the way) all week. Except this morning we walked as we were not in a rush. So we strolled along slowly as its so hot that anything faster than that is a killer. Strolling past the circus on the way! The Big Top is up and lots and lots of caravans around it. Might have to get us tickets for next week...

We are going camping - again- at Lake Waramaug - this weekend. Fingers crossed the new tent will be water proof as weather forecast says thunder and heavy downpour at some point during the night. I am an optimist though so think we will be fine. JD's suggestion is putting up the smaller tent inside the larger one. Double water proofing.

No cook dinner is planned for tonite - cheese, wine and salami.

4th July

We celebrated 4th July in the way I was told that all Americans do - with a bbq. Now we were in a camp site in upstate NY. Its hot outside so a dip in the pond was lovely! The mosquitoes breeding in the pond less cute but with some super strength mozzie spray I avoided most bites except on hands where I washed and didnt reapply - silly me.

We could hear the fire works but not see them - but I have seen enough fireworks to be able to picture in my head the view behind the trees. Giant new tent is great although I doubt it will hold up in a lot of rain, we might find out next weekend when we go camping again.

3 course lunch

Its the Friday before a long weekend. Noone is in. Well I am and about 3 others. Feels a shame to waste a PTO day on an opportunity to be in the office on my own.

Lunch consisting of - due to lack of self control or ability to choose today:

1) Maryland Crab Chowder - its great. Very creamy.
2) Roast Vegetable wrap with cheese and chipotle mayo - mmm good - its toasted so extra nice.
3) Banana bread - they must have decided to use up old bananas hanging around, its still warm and just so moist and delicious I had to start with a bite in case I wouldnt have space by the time I had had the soup.

Will try and finish all as its rude to leave food I hear.

Whole Foods - Love

Tonights dinner tip - fish tacos a la Whole Foods - using their fab marinated tilapa.

Fry the tilapia for a minute on each sides, slap into the wrap and add lettuce, tomatoes, some cheese and sour cream (fish is hot so dont skimp!). Mmmm delicious!

Best weekend!

I had a fab weekend with Barb - we managed to fit in enormous amounts in just 3 days without it feeling like a rush in any way. But am a little tired this week so glad to be back at work to recoup.

Best bit was the royal wedding, we watched it on the interweb while eating salmon bagels, cherry filled pancakes and drinking champagne. Mhmm. And I cried during the speeches of course. So lovely!

Recipe exchange

I got an email today requesting me to send a recipe to one person and the email on to 10 friends and then I would get lots of emails with recipes. Worth a shot I decided and tonight I can confirm I got my first recipe!

Quick pasta sauce

Chop an onion, a pepper and some smoked salmon into a pot of creme fraiche - add herbs to taste (ok the recipe assumed you are in Sweden and can buy the ready made creme fraiche with french herbs) - pour over cooked pasta and serve with a salad.

Pa-pa-pa-pajamas

Tomorrow I am going to work from home. Almost never happens nowadays as I live just a 10 min walk from the office. But tomorrow I have decided to work from home. In my pyjama all day. Because I can. Oh and because I encourage my team to work flexible when they can and I should mirror my words with my actions. But mainly because I can.

Conflicted

One the one hand I want to make sure we make the most of our time here, seeing as much as possible of the US. On the other hand I just fancy a week in the Bahamas. Luckily for now dont have any money to spend on Bahamas holibobs so its camping for us for the next couple of months.

New favorite chocolate

Mmmm this is my new favorite milk chocolate. Its better than Fazer Blue and that is good milk chocolate.

Guests

B is coming to visit next week so I am planning.

Food - so where are we going out to eat, where are we going to buy food for eating in and what other food can I can cram into 3 days?

Shops - Clinton Outlet mall, Old Navy, Macys, Lord & Taylor, Barnes & Noble oh and any others she might want to go to ;-)

Sights - the gold coast, the beaches, forest, lakes, rivers.

OK so too much for three days as I also want to fit in a pedicure, long chats over wine/coffee, strolls and sleeping!

Veggie box

We have signed up for a veggie box, US style. So it doesnt get delivered but we have to pick it up once a week. And once during the season (Jun-Sep) we have to work the 'pick up'. And its costing me an arm and a leg. But its locally grown and good for the soul. Karma or whatnot.

This week we got lettuce. Yup. 4 different types of lettuce, plus pak choi and radishes. So we went to the new Whole Foods (oh we have found a new favorite store, Stew Leonards have been pipped to the post) and got lots of salad meat - JD is cooking a roast beef tomorrow so we can have lettuce and roast beef sarnies all weekend.

Did I mention the world cup start on Friday? First game is at 7.30 in the morning.

Camping

We went camping during Memorial day weekend. It was brilliant! We had all the equipment except that the sleeping on foam thingies JD got were 1/2 inch and that made it hard to sleep. Literally.

So we went camping again the next weekend on the spur of the moment. But with an air mattress and lots more food. It seems week 1 we had forgotten we like food. And beer. Week 2 was brilliant. A bit wet as it was raining throughout both nights and also plenty of thunder and lightning. But the days were lovely, sunny and very warm. We will be back!

Eurovision!

Spent morning catching up on the semi finals on iPlayer. I like Iceland and Germany as does a lot others it seems.

Eurovision dinner (well it starts at 3 PM here) will be:

• Lemon hummous with fennel crudites
• Oregano pork chops with roast apples and potatoes
• Nectarine, peach and strawberry fruit salad served with Cool Whip (because its fun to say)

Corona served with starter, some nice rioja with the main and a local sweet wine that taste beautifully of elderflower to finish off.

Long weekend

Plans are light - go to the movies tonite, golf tomorrow, camping sunday (!) by a lake where they have canoe rentals. Looove long weekends!

Cause and Effect

I have no voice. I have a terrible cough.

Due South, Bill's, In Vino Veritas, Don Carlos, Riddle & Finns, The Evening Star, Stockholm, summer house, the Heath, the Hill.

To date

Have not done a lot of shopping yet but have had time for some good eating.

Breakfast at Pret on Sunday (no room available so I moped a bit but their carrot cake cheered me up)

Dinner at Due South last night, had local wine and amazing fish.

Today am going shopping with Kazue and Courtney - showing them my favorite stores! Whohoo!

Shopping list

I am flying to England for the first time since I visited JD last October. Not that long ago I admit. But its a year since I got my job over here so an anniversary of sorts.

While in England I want to see lots of people and eat lots of food so here are my lists:

Food:

Moshi Moshi

Don Carlos

Scoop & Crumb

M&S - Pork Pie

Waitrose - Rhubarb yoghurt

Waitrose - Nyetimber Champagne

Waitrose - crumbles with fresh custard

Palace Pier - fresh doughnuts

Shopping:

Neal's Yard

Ollie & Nic

Office

Jewel Thief

Montezumas

Lavender

M&S

Boots

SportsWorld (JD wants certain tees we cant find here)

And I acknowledge that I learned the importance of list making from the expert, as she has visited me many times in England over the last 9 years.

Coming and going

Sister and brother in law has been and gone. It was great having them but tiring to fit both socializing, sightseeing and working into the same day. So today I woke up with a cold. Cant find my echinacea bottle. Annoying.

I suspect sister is even more tired after an overnight flight that was supposed to go via Iceland but due to ash clouds got cancelled and they were rebooked onto a flight via Frankfurt. All well that ends well, they are home now and while tired should have a lot of presents for the girls and photos to show off. My favorite moment was sitting in the sun outside Hopkins Inn admiring the view and the silence.

Pollen and Peru

Its so lovely here this week, sunny and warm. So last night I dragged JD out after work, we had a beer in the sun then tried to get into the Mexican restaurant but it was bunged (5 de Mayo). So we went into the Peruvian restaurant down the road. As you do. I have never been to a Peruvian restaurant before, dont think I have ever seen one. It was very nice though! I had Cebiche (fish cured in lime juice) and then a steak with fresh garlic / parsley pesto style sauce. Mmm...

We shared a jug of sangria with the meal. It was strong. We rolled home through the streets and I woke up very thirsty this morning. But hey it was so nice to be out on such a beautiful evening it was all worth it.

Tonight we went out playing golf (26 degrees at 5.30, just lovely) and we are now watching the UK election results come in. Its very green outside and even I who have never been allergic before can feel it. But its so lovely with sun, warmth and being out and about.

Good things

Movie night and we saw Kick-Ass. Its great! Loooved it.

And I got the latest Sookie. Its a shame I have to work as all I want to do is read it. But at the same time good I have to work as it makes it last longer.

Giant white dogs part 3

We went on a sightseeing trip today and found one of the artist who had pieces around Stamford last summer. I really liked his hippo statue so we went in to check it out. It was a bit too much for us but hey maybe if I win a million. Aaaanyway. Chatting to the artist he mentioned that this year Stamford are having giant white dogs, made of plastic. So that is what they are! They will be painted I guess by different artists and then placed around town. Kind of a copy of the painted cows that travel the world.

Giant white dogs part 2

Photo evidence. One is now painted dark blue. And apparently they came on the back of a lorry the other week - a sight to see I am sure.

Giant white dogs

There are about 10 giant white dogs (as tall as I am) standing in an empty shop down the road. Intriguing.

Sunday

Its raining. Perfect weather. I am hungover. Just a little. Just so I feel no guilt about eating breakfast at Dunkin or about spending most of the day in front of the tv but not so that I couldnt eat at Dunkin. I had an apple donut, an egg and sausage muffin and a little of the toasted tuna cheese croissant that JD ordered. That might just be the best tuna sandwich ever.

Friday

Went to work early as had a lot to do. Helped set up the Earth Day lunch and learn. Left work on time and walked home. Played 9 holes in short sleaves and carried my new bag. Love Fridays in general and this one in particular!

Walking to work

Its nice to live so you can walk to work.

Spring

So it was hot and sunny in Phoenix and it was great to see A. Everyone got hay fever as it seemed like everything was in bloom, including the cacti.

Now back in CT and it rained when I landed. Its not overly warm outside but at some point it was warm as I found the azalea bushes outside the flat are in full bloom. Lovely isnt it?

Test

37 of 40 - EL, what did you get?

Movies

Went to the cinema last night and saw 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'. It was shown at the art house cinema in town and I dragged along JD and a friend. I forgot to tell them that the story is a bit gruesome so they were in for a surprise when Lisbeth met her guardian... And most of the audience was made up of little old people probably thinking 'ah a nice Swedish film is just what I want on a Friday night'. I felt for them.

A lot of gasps in the audience during certain sections of the movie. But overall a good film, we all liked it! Wont sell Sweden or Stockholm to any potential tourists but hey ho.

Presents!

Coming back today there was a pile of parcels outside the door! And lots of cards in the post! I am truly spoilt and have now got a new pile of books to read and lots of lovely sweets to eat (and some weird ones - those swedish easter egg filler sugar eggs - Thx Sister...) I feel blessed and loved and happy! JD thinks I am spoilt. He only got two letters.

Wedding

Ah it was a booootiful wedding. And we all scrubbed up well so were presentable, smelling nice and looking good. We were at a resort outside Manama where the wedding was held in two private villas that were kinda joined with pools going through. Amazing. Good food. Lots of wine, champagne and booze. Bussed back to hotels at 2 AM. The next day spent travelling home. It took a while but today we made it home and tonight I am looking forward to my bed!

Onwards

Dinner was nice and well presented but seriously over priced. But it was fun to see the fishes in the acquarium and we had a cocktail on the top floor bar before hand so got to see the views as well as take the very fast glass lifts up the Burj Al Arab.

We are now in Bahrain and its hot. Its definitely an expat place rather than tourist place. Our hotel is very nice with a fully stocked kitchen, a living room and separate bedroom. Oh and a very nice pool! But we are a bit red today after frollicking in the sea a bit too long yesterday before our flight over here. So staying in the shade. Wedding is tomrrow. I got a lovely glittery brooch for the dress at a mall and the nice man explained to me the currency bits and bobs as I got a bit confused. Dress fits so all set for being in the pink tomorrow!


MoF - Flickr not allowed to be accessed in Dubai so photos will be uploaded once back in US.

Horizon

Spent the morning by the infinity pool. Good birthday so far! Now, after a nap, to the beach then to Bruj Al Arab for dinner.

Lie in

We had an unplanned lie in this morning. Well this afternoon to be honest. We landed yesterday at 8 in the morning and got to the hotel and checked in, changed and nipped out directly. So we were by the pool by 10 and had a great day sunbathing. The sea is a lovely and balmy 27 so we did spend some quality time bobbing in the waves as well. We went to bed at 10 and congratulated ourselves on beating the jet lag. I woke up at 12 and found it odd I was so relaxed after just 2 hours sleep so went back to bed. JD woke up at 3 and realized we had overslept. Oops.

Luckily 3 is the perfect time to hit the beach so we did. And spent the afternoon bobbing. This evening we have been to the gold souk and had fantastic shawarma for dinner in a street corner (I got a nice present!) and also to the bars in the hotel where we realized all old russian men have young russian women on their arms and that music doesnt get better if you play it loudly. We found a nice place to sit and sip bear, hear the music at a normal level and play some cards. What a lovely day!