My very first London friend

Claude was my very first friend in London. If it weren't for our weekly Monday trips to the Harvestor, I wouldn't have had a social life at all. For several months we would make our weekly trips to Harester until they became every other week and then once a month until life took over and our trips were no more. Harvestor Mondays with claude are such good memories for me. Tuesday Claude and I met up again at te Harvestor for old times sake and it was another great night. I'm so lucky to have Claude as a friend!

I never knew how much Claude loves apple crumble with custard!


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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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