A list of the strange English Food you encounter living as an American in London >>
Read MoreAfter a whirlwind 9/10 days I'm finally home for good. We got back yesterday from the 'shire' or what the Brits refer to the Midlands. Lots of warm fires, miniature mince pies, running and spending time with James' side of the family. These are just a few of my favorite photos from the last 4 days >>
Read MoreThese are the faces I saw these last few days. Most were extended family coming together to celebrate the life of my gran. A couple were people I hadn't seen in years that I spent an afternoon or evening with. One thing is certain is that they all made a very very difficult trip a little bit more bearable. I'm now off again tomorrow to see James' family in the countryside. Fresh air, quiet and the chance to catch up again with my thoughts after such a whirlwind few days >>
Read MoreWill miss you Dearly Gran >>
Read MoreFirst snow of the year hit London today. Perfect weather for soup, tea and soft duvets. Hope you are keeping warm wherever you are >>
Read MoreSince my Thanksgiving post, I've been thinking about how exactly being an expat can change a person. I think its different for everyone but this is how I've changed and what I've learned from living abroad >>
Read MoreIts 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.
Read MoreI 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!
Read MoreOne of the worst things about living abroad is not getting to see family as much as I'd like. I missed my other Gran's funeral because I didn't have enough money to cancel a trip to Rome scheduled AND fly to the USA. I chose Rome because it would have been the most financial loss. I felt horrible but the day of the funeral I went to the Vatican and lit a candle for her. I know its no consolation prize for being there, but I think my gran would understand (at least I hope so).
Well now my last gran, my last grandparent living is on her last breath. I'm having a lot of feelings run through my head because I wasn't expecting this to happen as quick as it is especially round the holidays. I thought at least I'd have till the new year. Life doesn't work that way I guess.
Read MoreOK, I've been living a hideously boring mundane existence this last week and there's nothing to write about or pictures to post. Instead I thought I'd impart a few bits of useless information about the Royal Family you probably never knew before. I think its timely information given Prince William and Kate's recent engagement don't you think (very exciting stuff)? I've gathered these from the Internet and listed a few I've heard since living here too:
Read MoreYesterday, 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.
Read MoreThese are from the weekend. I went to a Gauguin exhibition at the Tate Modern. In just a short walk to the museum you pass by such history: London Bridge, Borough Market, Clink Prison and Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. The Millennium Bridge is new but it's symbolic of what you see throughout the city; a connection/contrast between the old and new (in this case St Paul's and the Tate) >>
Read MoreHappy 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!
Read MoreI was up at 5 a.m., out the door by 6:30 so I could try to get to a 7:30 yoga class this morning in the city. Had to run practically the entire length of Regent Street to get there in time cause of transport problems which happens all the time in London. The class was smaller than most which was nice. It was a different format than I was used to with my regular vinyasa flow class but change is good. By the end of the class the teacher was calling me by my first name and getting me to do things that I usually secretly try to avoid during yoga class: headstands, handstands, etc. I hate them because they freak me out because they are completely out of my comfort zone. Changing your center of balance/grounding from your feet to your hands can be disconcerting. Of course never raise your hand when the teacher asks if you haven't done many handstands. She brought me up for extra help with a few others. She showed us a different version of a handstand that worked the core muscles. Funny I was able to do the alteration without any problems which surprised me. Later on we explored headstands and she came over and I told her I wasn't ready for what she was showing me. She said if I could do the handstand alteration from earlier, I could do this alteration physically. She said it was about trusting yourself first in your head and heart and then the physical would be there.
Read MoreYesterday I met James at the Red Lion Pub near the bottom of Whitehall (the street leading to Big Ben). We turned round the corner and went through security. My bag was searched and I got my picture taken. Walking round the corner we then found our way to Portcullis House. Its a modern building where a lot of civil servants work. Its full of a beautiful light coming in from the massive glass ceiling. It was nice to see so many school children there getting a tour round the place. Nothing like breeding future civil servants eh?
Read MoreI honestly didn't think I would get another shot of the Pirates set before they left and since my
last post on the subject but I took this Thursday of last week. Loads of other people were taking pictures in between filming and I figured why not. Its not the best picture because its so far away but you still get the gist of everything.
Read MorePhotos from Greenwich and Borough Market
Read MoreHave been experimenting with film. This is a black and white roll back from the spring that I just got developed from one of many morning weekend walks >>
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