Cat sitting

For the last two weeks I've been cat sitting for some friends of mine. I have cat-sat for my neighbours quite a few times so thought nothing of saying "yes" whn my friends asked this time. Let me tell you, this is a different experience to my neighbours cats. My neighbours have indoor cats that never leave the flat and are right next door to me, so no travel is required to cat-sit. My friends live 30 minutes away so I've been staying at their house, and their cats are outdoor cats so I never know when I'll see them. Pauline is the black cat and she's older and is usually around. Rocky has given me much to worry about as I don't see him much. I didn't see him for 3 full days when my friends first left: I was so nervous something had happened to him and I was going to have to explain that I had lost him! Luckily I've seen more of him in recent days and my friends are due back Saturday. I'm almost there... just have to make it through 2 more days of keeping the little darlings alive :-)





Rocky got very affectionate tonight and decided to make himself at home on me.









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You can take the girl out of Texas but not the Texas out of the Girl

I received a belated birthday gift from my sister yesterday. When I moved to England, my mother sent me lots of Texas and Paris Texas gifts, I think so I didn't forget where I came from. Since my mother moved to Kansas I get American gifts rather than Texas ones (I guess Texas nik naks aren't readily available in Kansas - go figure). My sister ha joined in to the themes gift giving with Paris memorivilia (sp?). This year a Paris pillow. I think it accents my chair very well! (unfortunately it cost her twice as much to post it than it cost to purchase... it's one special pillow!) Thanks Seester.



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RIP my twenties!

That's right, I have officially entered the next decade of my life ... my 30s. It's odd - when I was entering the last decade of my life (eg when I was turning 20) I was engaged to be married and had my life all planned out, now I'm entering my 30s single with no idea what tomorrow will bring let alone having my "life planned"! How life changes in a decade!!!


Apparently life doesn't start until my 30s,
My 30s are for rectifying the mistakes of my 30s,
and although growing older is inevitable, growing up is optional (we all know I'll opt out of that for many more years to come!!)
...all great stuff I've been told today!


I went out (on a "school night" - I must be made) with a few friends.... it turned out to be great night out! A great start to my thirties! Thanks all who made it out tonight, you helped make the start of my 30s brilliant!

Claude and Hayley

Claude and Mary H

Lindsay being a bit silly! Love her!!

Hayley, Lindsay and I

Lots of people came and went but I was too busy talking (surprise surprise) to remember to take pictures!

....This is the end of the eveing hard core people left (and late comers :-)

Neighbour Alex pulling a fantastic face, me and Lindsay

Andrew (Hayley's other half), Adam, neighbours mark, Neil, and Alex, me and Hayley

Same group, but Adam's taking picture instead of Lindsay this time!

How far would you travel to eat at Taco Bell?

... would you spend an hour and a half driving there and 2 hours getting back home for the yummy goodness of Taco Bell? I certainly would!!!

Matt enjoying his first few bites of taco Bell yumminess (I don't think he enjoyed his first experience at Taco Bell as much as I enjoy it, but he was certainly a good sport!)






Many times I've posted pictures of me eating Taco Bell, but this particular picture of me eating bean burrito at Taco Bell might be the best ... It's me eating a bean burritto from Taco Bell in England!





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I'm at Taco Bell!!

It's Taco Bell... in England!!!!



Matt ordering


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Good day to come!

Yep... Taco Bell is back in England! I am SO super excited. Even more super excited because Matt and I are going to Taco Bell tomorrow! Yep, I'm easy. What do I want as a birthday present ... to visit Taco Bell! Whoop whoop, Taco Bell here I come. SO excited :-)

What a goon!

My friend, Paul, came over last night and afte. A drink and some destressing work talk (sometimes you just need to get it out!) we went out for a japanese dinner. Yum yum! As Paul lives a fair way out but work across the road from my flat he stayed the night.

I left him to fend for himself this morning as he had a late start today. I came home to find he had left little "surpises" for me dotted about the flat: there was a bear ornament in a drinking glass in the cupboard, an angle figurine (sp?) in the refrigerator and a picture of me as a 19 yr old in my bowls (I have no idea where he found that!). What a goon he is. SO much fun though!

Somehow after we got back from dinner, Paul managed to rearrange my lounge furnichure... how dis my chairs end up in the middle of the lounge?! Neither one of us could recall!


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Girls' night in

Two weeks ago Claire and Mary H came over for a girly night of pamering, gassing and movie watching. A great night in! Lots of laughter and silliness!






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Happy 4th of July!!

This weekend I went to the Midlands to celebrate the 4th of July with my second family. Jenny, John & Patty's eldest daughter, and her family have moved back from the States to live in England. So this trip was extra special to get to catch up with them too!

As it was the 4th, I donned my American flag shirt (and American flag flip flops that my motet gave me for Christmas). I thought I should get a picture in this get up while eatig a slice of watermelon (can't get much more 4th of July, right?). Patty took a couple pictures of me eating the watermelon, but this one amused me the most (and it's the only one where you can see the American shirt :-)




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First BBQ of the year

Paul and I have been friends for a few years now but I've never been round to his place, which I often harrass him about. He works across the road from where I live so we often go out somewhere around my flat. I also harrass him about the fact that he's had several (last minute) BBQs but never invited me. So he found himselflf with a free Sunday during our lovely 2 weeks of summer (England generally has only 2 weeks of good summer weather) and invited me round to his for a BBQ.

He has a lovely house in a "suburban" area on the outskirts of London. It was very surreal for meo be in the quiet burbs rather than the traffic congested, every bustling and noise infested London.

We had a great BBQ lunch, watched England loose spectacularly in the World cup game, then chatted for a few hours and took a stroll around the area. A great Sunday afternoon by my account (well it was afternoon and evening as I didn't leave til about 9)!

Paul at the BBQ... he dropped the same burger through to the coals twice - SO funny! For me at least.


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Challenge: 2 mountains, 2 days

More to come, but I couldn't resist a quick blog entry. I was crazy enough to comit to a Twin Peaks challenge about a month ago ... Hike 2 mountains in 2 days and get people to donate money to sponsor you to do this. I said, "That sounds like fun!!" Oh how silly I am.

I did it though, and lived to tell the tale.

Day 1, mountain 1. On the sumit of Mount Snowdon in Wales (1085 meters - tallest mountain in Wales)




Even found energy for some jumping jacks!!






Day 2, mountain 2. The Glyders (999 meters high).




My legs are telling me that they climbed 2 mountains! I hear them loud & clear!!

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Trash Day

Wednesday morning is apparently trash day here, so I took out the trash bags tonight. As I grabbed one of the bags I was greeted by a started creature living in the trash...




(it's a frog)


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Happy Hour

Monday night my grandfather to me that 10pm was happy hour at the McFarlands. Apparently the doctors had advised him that 2 alcoholic beverages a day is good for the body (I think the heart?). He asked if this health benefit was extended to a third beverage; it is not. Anyway, thus began the tradition of Happy hour. I think it's a good yradition for my grandparents, and it is certainly fun to enjoy it with them :-)

This picture is from Tuesday's happy hour. Whisper, the cat, joined in this evening.


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Hel-hen's night

Last night I went to my friend (and former flatmate's hen night). Such a good night out!!! There were 8 of us in total; we met for a drink and then headed for tapas. Really good tapas I might add! Such a good night! I headed home after the meal as I had a flight to catch today. (I'm currently writting this blog in Newark, NJ airport waiting for my next flight.)


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A small taste of Canada

My route to visit my grandparents in Virginia included 3 flights: London to Ottawa, Canada; Ottowa to Newark, New Jersey; Newark to Norfolk, Virginia. In Canada I had to clear Canadian customs then go outside and check in to clear US customs (very paculiar I thought), but that's what I had to do. On my brief (5 minute) trip on Canadian soil i got to see a half dozen Mounties still past. I thought it was pretty cool, and very blog worthy!



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The old gang

Thursday night I went down to my old local for an ex-colleage's leaving do. It was really good to see everyone again, I miss them! A good night!

Jo (who's leaving) on the left, Ed on the right




A spot of impromtu dancing fun while singing Abba.





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A walk in the country

Today Matt and I went out to Surrey (just outside of London) for a walk in the country. Such a beautiful country we live in!! My feet held up nicely today on the flatlands and Matt plastered me with sunscreen so all good on that front! Very warm and sweaty 6 miles but good to practice towards my mountain climbs in a few weeks!!

One bridge that we came to, we played "Pooh Sticks". My stick won :-) can you see the sticks?

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Stupid Karen, tomatoe is not a good look!

I put on factor 50 suncream in the morning and topped up my arms with factor 15 midday ... but failed to reach my back. Sigh. The tomatoe look doesn't suit me!

You can (kind of) see my arms aren't red, nor is my chest, but my back an neck were certainly in need of sun screen yesterday :-(


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A 10.5 mile "leg stretch"

Some of you know I'm doing a hike up 2 mountains in a couple of weeks to raise money for charity. (a 7.5 mile hike up Snowdon on Saturday and a steeper 5.5 mile hike up one of Snowdon's neighbours on Sunday.). Today I met the group I'm going with for a practice walk. Andy, who hill walks as a regular leisure activity, kept referring to this as a leg stech - my legs are well and truly streched thank you! I must admit it wasn't a hard walk today, although there were a few steep bits to get up that took my breath away. Ift weren't for trying to break in a new pair of hiking shoes (I've actually had the for 3 years, just never worn them) I think I would have been fine. As is I came home with a slightly sore bum from the steep bits and 2 blisters. It was a beautiful day for a hill walk around the coast though!!!

View in front of me still to walk, about an hour in.




View behind me that we'd already done.




Andy and Sean looking over the cliff edge. Apparently it was scarier on your belly but I thought it was far more daunting standing up, looking over the edge.




A light house we walked pass





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A Hot Rock Dinner

Last week I went out to dinner after work with two colleagues. Sandra suggested a "hot rock" place nearby. "What's a hot rock place?" I asked. Her reply was that they served raw meat on a hot rock and you cooked the meal as you wanted. It sounded unique and something everyone should experience at least once.

What fun it was! This is my plate. It's in 3 portions, on the left was raw veg, middle was the (extremely) hit rock and on the right chips. I ordered a steak and it came on the rock raw, but sizzling away. Sandra said the best way to eat it was to take the steak off the rock, cut into little pieces and cook. Very entertaining!!



After I finished, I had fun with the peppers :-)



PS I got a new iPhone application today for blogging. Apparently this allows me to post more than one picture in a post. And hopefully it will size the pics better. Let me know what you think!


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I've been robbed!

... by the government! I'm sure I've blogged before about high petrol prices - an average tank of fuel around £60, but it's been creaping up and up and up. I was gob-smacked when my total broke £70 today. Can you beleive it?!!

(For those American blog readers, that's over $100!!! I remember my first car, a little 81 Toyota that I could fill up for like $12!!! P.S. I feel old for saying that!)

On top of Oxford Castle

How you dooin!

Star struck I AM! My friend Tesca and took a trip away this weekend and decided Thursday night on Oxford - it was the cheapest hotel we could find last minute in a bank holiday weekend. What a good choice it was! On a tour through Oxford Castle I turned around a did a four take (more than a double take was needed!) on a guy ... Who happened to be Matt Le Blanc. I met Joey from friends!! OH. MY. WORD!

Luckily Tesca stepped in in my moment of girl-ness and asked of he would take a picture with me. He laughed at her request (as she said we might be stalking him all day if she didn't ask as I was too sheepish to ask for a photo with him) and happily obligued.

I MET MATT LE BLANC! oh wow!! How great Oxford is!

I love my friends!

I went into the city tonight an met up with my friends Clare and Mary. Oh how they make me laugh. I needed to get my iPhone fixed so we started at the Apple store then headed down the road and had Italian for dinner. Good catch up session. Lots of laughter. And a bit of playing with iPhone apps and photos. Good times!!
We arranged a dye next month to go to Mary's and have cupcakes. Looking forward to what will surely be another great night with these girls!!

Life's to short for regrets.

Got this is a forward and I liked it. So I thought I'd share.

Life is too short to wake up with regrets.
So love the people who treat you right.
Love the ones who don't just because you can.
Believe everything happens for a reason.
If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands.
If it changes your life, let it.
Kiss slowly.
Forgive quickly.
God never said life would be easy.
He just promised it'd be worth it.

Old friends are good friends

I came to Derby this weekend to visit "family" and friends. Tonight I met up with two good friends (and former colleagues). Nick (right) has a new phone and he and James had some fun going through aimed of the cool features. Boys and their toys eh :-)
I had a good time swapping war stories and work woes and reminiscing about times past. Time flew by and we found ourselves the last to leave the restaurant!

Silly Neighbours

I came home today to find my neighbour locked out of his flat. He ended up removing a pane of glass so he could unlock his window and climb inside. Oh dear!

Sounds like something I would have done (the locking myself out bit, nit the clever removal of the glass!)

Stupid volcanoe!!!

Thanks to the stupid volcanoe errupting in Iceland my flight to visit my grandfather has been cancelled. Stupid volcanoe :-(

One day I'll be able to say I knew him when...

My neighbour, Mark, is in a band (The Fabulous Lounger Swingers*) an they played at the 100 club (a famous jazz club in London) this evening. They were absolutely brilliant and I had a great evening!

Mark is the sax player on the far right in the picture. Also notice my great photography skills, capturing the 100 in the background (great photography skills, rubbish camera = semi ok picture).

*they are really good. Good enough, in fact, to have been the house band for Big Brother's Little brother last year! They're practically famous!

Crazy Clare

Clare, who I used to work with, and I went to see The Graham Norton Show (comedian who has a talk show) recorded this evening. Oh what fun!! The show was funny and the company was brilliant. (I've already forgotten the names of the guests, erm... there was Billie Piper and Toni Collette from Muriel's Wedding, and an Iranian comedian and the band Scouting for Girls.) We got told off for trying to take a self portrait inside the studio, but we had oh so much fun taking a self portrait on the train home!!

Skiing is dangerous

I met up with my friend, Matt, tonight for a tapas dinner and a catch up. We were suppose to met up several weeks ago but Matt had to postpone due to an injury he got on his holiday ... He had a pretty spectacular fall while skiing and broke his shoulder! Eek! I felt very bad for him as he was obviously still in pain, but I could help giggling at his hand popping out from his shirt. Does that make me a bad friend?

Laughter is a great medicine, the tv said so!

Tonight Becky and I went to see a comedian, Frank Skinner record a pilot for a new panel show called Opinionated. A whole evening of laughter, very good for the spirit after a long day!

One of the segments they did was on laughter yoga, apparently it's a real thing that people pay to attend classes just to laugh. They say it's a good stress relief.

Socks

I'm a fan of socks. I have tons of them - too many! Today I found my frog socks. They make me smile, and I thought I'd share with you!

Hope you have a "hoppy" Easter!!

Attack of the skittles!

Last night James wanted something sweet, so I got him some skittles out. I was in a generous mood and decided to feed him... and then it got a bit silly :-)

Easter weekend .... Traffic traffic traffic

So it's not a good idea to have a lie in on 2 day bank holiday and the start a journey at 11am. 3 major traffic jams and over 3 hours to travel a 2 hour journey is no fun. Next time I should listen to James when he says he wants to leave early in the morning!