Christmas and Quiet Days

I've been kind of withdrawing these last few weeks, recouping my energy from a very busy 2011.  I've slept a lot and maybe its the January blues.  I always am very reflective this time of year and probably far too hard on myself of what I have and what I haven't accomplished or what the new year will bring.  The truth is I don't know but all I can do is focusing on the best I can do each day which is all we have anyway.

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Happy Love Day

My yoga teacher today said an interesting thing about Valentines Day, that its unfairly limited to 'couples' and how wonderful it could be if it was just a day that focused on being kinder and more compassionate to everyone we meet (including ourselves).  Sure this holiday is pretty schmaltzy and over commercialised but I like that idea of having a day to focus on love.  I wish every day was Love Day.

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Thoughts on Gratitude

Its just a normal day today here in London.   Off to the post office and to do a few errands, hoping to get a good run in too.  Later on though, I'll be pushing our T.V. trays together dusting off the place-mats and sitting down to our Thanksgiving dinner.  Instead of travelling by car to visit relatives  I'll be catching up the next few days via the great technological blessing that is 'Skype'.  I'm hoping I'll get the pleasure of seeing my niece and nephew again and maybe even a few aunts and uncles in the background moaning and loosening their belts cause they ate too much.  I may even look up Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving special on Youtube to round the day off just right.  Being abroad doesn't take the holiday away, it just means you do it a bit different. 

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Expats and the plight of canned pumpkin

I have to credit Libby's marketing team with making their canned pumpkin THEE most sought after thing round this time of year amongst the US expats.   Just this week I've seen posts on Facebook and blog-land from fellow expats trying to band together to find pumpkin or complaining that when they do how expensive it is.  Sure we could make it from scratch (its not that hard to find real pumpkin) but we don't.  It would probably taste the same, if not better.  I'm guessing that its that search for a piece of home this time of year even if it comes in the form of Pumpkin™.  If its not Libby's that your grandma used to use.....well you risk it not being pumpkin pie!

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Happy Bonfire Night

Yesterday, the Brits celebrated burning Guy Faulkes at the stake last night for his plot against Parliament (although technically the holiday is the 5th).  I'm not sure if I'll ever understand this holiday but at least its an excuse for a bit of fun.    Anyway....went to our usual amazing fireworks display on Blackheath.  My pictures are not too bad considering I didn't have a tripod.

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Halloween: London Style

Happy Halloween everyone!

This holiday is s---loooowly starting to get more and more popular in this country.  I'm seeing trick-or-treaters, shops decorated, people buying pumpkins for carving and generally trying to get into the spirit.  I miss the US enthusiasm for the day although I wish there were more healthier options for kids for treats.  James and I had a party for two last night---healthy nachos (organic corn chips, reduced fat organic cheese, salsa, green salad, pinto beans) and some healthy soft drinks (root beer without the HFCS--sparkling water, sweetened w/apple juice from Whole Foods) and watched The Ghost and Mr Chicken and The Changeling.  Great Fun.  Today we shall see if anyone shows up, but we are armed with healthy dark chocolate should trick-or-treaters come!

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Easter Weekend

We're just ending our 4 day weekend here in the UK.  I started the weekend friday off with a trip to Debbie Allens broadway revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.  It was an all black cast with James Earl Jones and Phylicia Rashad.  This was the first play I saw with James when I moved to London in 2001.  It was originally with Brendan Fraser.  Frankly this was a much more enjoyable version.  I dont remember laughing so much the first time or being so touched by performances.  James Earl Jones and Phylicia Rashad ARE brilliant stage actors.  You would not have recognized them if I didn't know them otherwise.  Adrian Lester, a British actor played Brick and I thought he was fantastic.  James didnt join me for the play.  It touches on heavy subject matter:  alcoholism, homosexuality, dysfunctional families all in a long 3 hours.  I didn't mind because I rather enjoyed having a much needed date night with myself. 

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the meaning of Christmas

The last week I've been stressing so much about seeing relatives. I've gotten into arguments with James, been quite angry with alcoholic gifts that they've brought for James that scream 'enabler', refused to meet up with them on Saturday night pulling a sickie, lost sleep because I was freaking out about whether the house was going to be clean enough or if they'd pull the white glove test like they usually do. My temper tantrums this week would seriously give any two year old a run for their money any day.

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Early Christmas

James and I met up in the city yesterday, went to the National gallery and wondered through the West End looking at Christmas lights. It seems too early for Christmas. There were carolers, brass bands playing christmas music already. It takes me a long time to get into the holiday mood I guess. I think the lights and window displays are pretty good this year though. Selfridges and Carnaby Street were my favorite:

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finale

even if it is a weird holiday, i enjoyed seeing the fireworks this year up on blackheath common. it was a perfect end to the last 6 weeks of campaigning and the post election parties. i feel like i've been in a dream and i've got to wake up now and get back to reality. reality though is that i've made some new cherished friends and i've been a part of something wonderful >>

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Happy Easter


We took these pics this morning in Greenwich Park. We woke up to it snowing! This is actually the first snow-fall in London this year as we didn't have snow all through winter. It won't stick unfortunately, but all the poor flowers they don't know what season they are in!

Seasonal Treats in England

As I sit here scoffing down a mince pie it dawned on me that not many know of the seasonal treats you have in England. As an American I can see how some have managed to make it across the pond (like fruitcake & mince pies). However, a few have taken a long time for me to get used to and I've just come to the conclusion they are acquired tastes.

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Happy Easter

Easter in London is always a delight. The weather is better, people are happy (having a 4 day weekend helps) and there's a never ending supply of chocolate eggs to indulge your sorrows. People occassionally give each other presents but mostly its off to Costa Del Sol, Spain or some other European retreat to down gallons of cheap beer. Those of us fortunate to stay in England over Bank Holiday will feast on Sunday on the traditional British garb of hot cross buns with a boiled egg for breakfast with mashed potatoes, roast chicken with some type of veg. (usually asparagus) for Easter dinner after church. Its then a mad dash to some sort of park to walk off the calories with the family!

I do miss the jellybeans and the countless Easter egg hunts in America but celebrating it here is wonderful as well. This time of year is always a sign that the tourists will be soon popping out of every corner and that the warm summer months are nearly here. However this said, I feel truly blessed to see spring and that only a few minutes away I can see ducks, and other birds and smell all of the pollen from the blooming flowers!
Hope you all have a blissful, relaxing Easter weekend.