August 13, 2009
Birfday presents!!  After seeing me drool over the Far Eastern Odyssey television series and curl up in bed with a Nigel Slater cookbook, Rob got me these two FABULOUS books for my (ever so slightly belated) birthday present.  Anyone want to come over for dinner?

Birfday presents!!  After seeing me drool over the Far Eastern Odyssey television series and curl up in bed with a Nigel Slater cookbook, Rob got me these two FABULOUS books for my (ever so slightly belated) birthday present.  Anyone want to come over for dinner?

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August 4, 2009
In London, go to this bike shop and this bike shop only.

Okay, so there may be only one person in all of London who reads this blog (thanks Will!) but I just have to rave about how fantastic the guy is who owns this bike shop.  Gerard is honest, genuine and even plays in a good band.  I think Rob might have a man-crush on him as well—I called him today and they were shopping together at the local hardware store!

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On Sunday, Rob and I woke up at Frankstock feeling, well, WAY better than everyone around us.  So we took a drive to a nearby town for a delicious English breakfast and then stopped to pick plums from this place.  Less than 5 quid for a punnet of hand-picked plums and two jars of plum chutney.  YUM!  And I finally had a chance to wear my new wellies.  A perfect day really….

On Sunday, Rob and I woke up at Frankstock feeling, well, WAY better than everyone around us.  So we took a drive to a nearby town for a delicious English breakfast and then stopped to pick plums from this place.  Less than 5 quid for a punnet of hand-picked plums and two jars of plum chutney.  YUM!  And I finally had a chance to wear my new wellies.  A perfect day really….

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Our first camping venture/music festival in the UK was a complete success.  On Friday night, I drove Rob and two friends up to a field just outside of Burnham Thorpe in Norfolk for ‘Frankstock 2009.’  After a dinner stop at one of the many Little Chef restaurants found along the motorway, we set up tents and went down to the stables.  Later, these guys showed up and one of the highlights of this trip was getting a private show.  The actual music festival was the next day and Rob and I were both pleasantly surprised by the GREAT music throughout the night.  Two favourites to check out are Smokey Angle Shades (http://www.myspace.com/smokeyangleshades)—listen to the song ‘Don’t Leave Me’—and Wild Wolves (http://www.myspace.com/thewildwolves)—the song ‘Honey” is a fave.

Our first camping venture/music festival in the UK was a complete success.  On Friday night, I drove Rob and two friends up to a field just outside of Burnham Thorpe in Norfolk for ‘Frankstock 2009.’  After a dinner stop at one of the many Little Chef restaurants found along the motorway, we set up tents and went down to the stables.  Later, these guys showed up and one of the highlights of this trip was getting a private show.  The actual music festival was the next day and Rob and I were both pleasantly surprised by the GREAT music throughout the night.  Two favourites to check out are Smokey Angle Shades (http://www.myspace.com/smokeyangleshades)—listen to the song ‘Don’t Leave Me’—and Wild Wolves (http://www.myspace.com/thewildwolves)—the song ‘Honey” is a fave.

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July 25, 2009

How lucky am I?  My 31st birthday was spent celebrating with family and old friends in Austin, Texas at the wedding of one of my best friends!  Although it was a short Texas trip (Thursday afternoon to Sunday afternoon), I was able to squeeze in lots of important things:  swimming in Barton Springs, eating Mexican food, driving a car, shopping at a mall.  I described the visit as ‘painfully nostalgic’ for some reason—I guess I finally came to the realization that I never get to go back to high school!

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Yikes—I’m a little behind on updating!  A few weeks ago Rob and I took a trip out to Dover (leaving behind lots of snickering by our British friends who would NEVER go to Dover on purpose).  It’s just a short train trip from London and an amazing place to go for a day trip or overnight!  On Day 1 we visited Dover castle and my favourite part was visiting the secret wartime tunnels (http://www.dover-kent.co.uk/defence/tunnels.htm) where the tour guide essentially told us don’t leave the group or may take us a long time to find you….  Then it was on to the famous white cliffs of Dover.  The little lines in the grass on the picture are the footpaths we followed, walking a few miles out and back.  That night we stayed at a B&B whose first claim to fame was hosting lots of the Channel swimmers.  Surprisingly, we had an amazing dinner there—with nearly everything being locally sourced!  The next morning we woke up early and started our 8-mile trek along the cliffs in the opposite direction to the town of Folkestone.  We had a fabulous seafood lunch at an old pub in the wharf area before hopping on the train to come home.

Yikes—I’m a little behind on updating!  A few weeks ago Rob and I took a trip out to Dover (leaving behind lots of snickering by our British friends who would NEVER go to Dover on purpose).  It’s just a short train trip from London and an amazing place to go for a day trip or overnight!  On Day 1 we visited Dover castle and my favourite part was visiting the secret wartime tunnels (http://www.dover-kent.co.uk/defence/tunnels.htm) where the tour guide essentially told us don’t leave the group or may take us a long time to find you….  Then it was on to the famous white cliffs of Dover.  The little lines in the grass on the picture are the footpaths we followed, walking a few miles out and back.  That night we stayed at a B&B whose first claim to fame was hosting lots of the Channel swimmers.  Surprisingly, we had an amazing dinner there—with nearly everything being locally sourced!  The next morning we woke up early and started our 8-mile trek along the cliffs in the opposite direction to the town of Folkestone.  We had a fabulous seafood lunch at an old pub in the wharf area before hopping on the train to come home.

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July 4, 2009
The other day I found this cute bike in the dumpster!!  I took it out, spent this morning removing rust and oiling it up and it actually works.  All it needs is a little tune up and then I can start cycling to work.  Fabulous!  AND, it’s a Huffy and has a little American flag on the front.  How perfect is that?

The other day I found this cute bike in the dumpster!!  I took it out, spent this morning removing rust and oiling it up and it actually works.  All it needs is a little tune up and then I can start cycling to work.  Fabulous!  AND, it’s a Huffy and has a little American flag on the front.  How perfect is that?

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June 24, 2009
Tonight we both hurried from work, met on the tube and spent the evening at Wimbledon.  This was SUCH an English event:  Pims cocktails at the stands, all the players dressed in only white, real grass playing courts and the incredibly serious & well-outfitted line judges and ball retrievers.  After waiting in the world’s longest, yet most efficient queue, we were able to purchase ground passes for just £14 each and this allowed us to go into the unreserved seats (there were plenty!) of all but the biggest courts.  But the real question is….are we prepared to camp overnight in tents for tickets to the biggest games?

Tonight we both hurried from work, met on the tube and spent the evening at Wimbledon.  This was SUCH an English event:  Pims cocktails at the stands, all the players dressed in only white, real grass playing courts and the incredibly serious & well-outfitted line judges and ball retrievers.  After waiting in the world’s longest, yet most efficient queue, we were able to purchase ground passes for just £14 each and this allowed us to go into the unreserved seats (there were plenty!) of all but the biggest courts.  But the real question is….are we prepared to camp overnight in tents for tickets to the biggest games?

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June 14, 2009
We’re slowly discovering ways to feel like we’ve traveled without spending lots of money on a trip!  Yesterday we spent the day doing a 10 mile walk through the Surrey Hills.  It’s a 50 minute train ride from London, costs about £15 each, and the walk begins and ends at the train station.  To top it off, yesterday was gorgeous with lots of sunshine and temps in the 70’s.  Some of the highlights were: Virtually no cars, no people and definitely no pollution. Picnic lunch (ploughmen’s) in a village green while watching cricket. Using public footpaths.  These trails are all over England—if you buy property with a public footpath on it, you are responsible for the upkeep.  Yesterday’s path literally took us through some people’s backyards! Walking through huge, open meadows—some full of sheep, others full of bunnies.

We’re slowly discovering ways to feel like we’ve traveled without spending lots of money on a trip!  Yesterday we spent the day doing a 10 mile walk through the Surrey Hills.  It’s a 50 minute train ride from London, costs about £15 each, and the walk begins and ends at the train station.  To top it off, yesterday was gorgeous with lots of sunshine and temps in the 70’s.  Some of the highlights were:

  • Virtually no cars, no people and definitely no pollution.
  • Picnic lunch (ploughmen’s) in a village green while watching cricket.
  • Using public footpaths.  These trails are all over England—if you buy property with a public footpath on it, you are responsible for the upkeep.  Yesterday’s path literally took us through some people’s backyards!
  • Walking through huge, open meadows—some full of sheep, others full of bunnies.
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May 31, 2009
Of COURSE this is my winningest moment in slot machines.  Started with $5—ended with $25.  A good night at the Wilkes-Barre Mohegan Sun Casino.  By the way, I also got carded for drinks at the restaurant.  Yep—they weren’t sure that I was 21 years old.  Basically had to drag me kicking and screaming away from this wonderful place! yayjessica: KL kills it at Kitty Glitter slots!

Of COURSE this is my winningest moment in slot machines.  Started with $5—ended with $25.  A good night at the Wilkes-Barre Mohegan Sun Casino.  By the way, I also got carded for drinks at the restaurant.  Yep—they weren’t sure that I was 21 years old.  Basically had to drag me kicking and screaming away from this wonderful place!

yayjessica:

KL kills it at Kitty Glitter slots!
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