Let's Go Anywhere: Busy, busy week

I just got back from a night out on the town (sort of) and thought I would recap on my week.

Monday was a perfect day here in the Tring area, so I went out for a little run, stopped at home for my camera, and headed over to the footpath near the house. It was a great hike once again and I tried out the new camera, which was very successful. I lost track of time and reality while I frolicked through the fields (literally) and came out feeling fully rejuvenated. It’s amazing what a little nature can do to ya! I babysat for the neighbors who had three little boys Louie(6), Sammy(8) and Joe(11) who were cute but quite the characters. I told Louie to put his pajamas on so Joe went in to help him and they said “ready” as I opened the door and little Louie was laying spread eagle butt naked on the floor laughing…boys!

Playing dress up

Tuesday was a typical day for Kate and I… lounging around, me dozing off on the couch while she enjoys her favorite show, Peppa Pig. I’m feeling more and more sleep deprived everyday. I say I’m going to go to sleep early and it never happens… I’m awaken every morning by crying or yelling or laughing or music or just plain noise! You know me, not quite the morning person so getting up at 7am every morning is bad enough, but to this! Ugh! Really, one of the best parts of my day is waking up and looking at my phone to realize, YES, one more hour of sleep!

beautiful makeup!

Player of the week for football!

Wednesday I decided to drive over to Hemel Hempsted to the shopping center there. I actually made it there no problem (and keep in mind Hemel has like the worlds largest roundabout---a roundabout with 6 roundabouts around it---I mean it’s legit crazy) but I got through it without any issues only to be completely turned around when trying to locate the car park(aka parking lot/parking garage). When all was said and done I found my way and made a b-line for the mall. I shopped around for a couple hours (they have a PRIMARK there which to my disappointment was not as good as the London one and I came away with NOTHING). I bought a few things and went to GREGGS, which is a little eatery that was on this outdoor strip outside the mall. I got the usual ham and cheese and an apple juice, and then came the exciting part—caramel doughnut! I’ve had this strange craving for a pastry for the past week and have googled bakeries around Tring…nothing. Even though a doughnut wasn’t exactly what I was hoping for, I figured it would hold me over.

Luckily we went to the gym and I ran 5.2km so maybe I broke even?

Thursday Kate had ballet, which was the cutest thing ever. I wasn’t allowed to stay and watch but her outfit was adorable and from what I saw (dancing to little mermaid) it was too funny. Lisa made lasagna again for dinner and it was to die for. I’m not a big lasagna fan but oh, my, god is this stuff good! It was followed by this strawberry and custard trifle… I mean come on could I ask for anything better?!

Today was a really yucky day with mostly rain and it was pretty chilly so I couldn’t do much. I spent most of the day camped out in front of the tv planning trips that I’d like to make in the near future. My first one is in the works, Scotland. Gordon will be in Miami, FL for work so Lisa is taking the girls to her parents house and we’re going to drive up to Glasgow for a couple days.

We had two skype dates this week and I think the girls are hooked. They have come to the conclusion that the boys are a little too intimidating (sorry Jim) but might be in love with Jaclyn. Abbie keeps asking to call her so she can talk and see when she is coming to stay at their house. They learned to say hola and adios to her Spanish roommate. Today the girls were playing a guessing game and Beth asked Abbie “who is a girl that has brown hair, from America and is getting married” and Abbie responded “Jaclyn?!” haha no, Katy Perry.

O-H I-O

Tonight I went out with Coralie and Agne again, but this time to the Akeman pub in Tring. This one was a lot nicer than the last pub we tried, very nice and cozy inside. There was a very large age range there, which was interesting, and according to the guy I made friends with, this is the only place people come to hang out if you live anywhere around Tring. This may be a bit premature, but I think I’ll find my man at the Akeman! We all rode together so Agne and I had a beer and we all talked about anything and everything. We started talking about what people do on the weekends and got on the subject of college and of course, Ohio U. She asked if house parties are really like how you see in movies and was totally shocked when I told her they are exactly like the movies, “I must go when I visit you!” I think she’s wild but doesn’t know us well enough yet to decide if she should let loose or not.

Me, Agne, Coralie at the Akeman

Coralie can understand a little of what I’m saying making it difficult to carry on conversation, but she’ll learn quickly I’m sure. She was on the lookout (I taught her the term “scope” like scoping for guys) for people to hook me and Agne up with but they all looked about 12 years old.

We stopped at this little hole in the wall, late night eatery just across from the pub and ordered chips and cheese (cheese fries) which were amazing and disgusting at the same time. There was a mound of cheese on top and Mayo on top of that! Ugh! Coralie loved them because they don’t have them in France.

Well that was all from Friday but never posted so here is the rest of my weekend.

Saturday was Lisa’s birthday so I ordered some flowers (as suggested by my mother). Her parents were in town for a concert in London so the house was a little crazy. Lisa and I snuck out to go into Berkhamsted, a cute town nearby with some nice shops and restaurants.

I was babysitting because Lisa and Gordon were going to a ball at the cricket club, so the girls and I stayed up late to watch X-factor, which is my new obsession at the moment. If anyone doesn’t know what it is, it’s basically british American idol but cooler!

Sunday I went into the city to meet up with some alum sigma kappas for a brunch at Browns. I was able to meet 5 other Sigma Kappas living in the London area and heard about many others scattered around Europe (always up for visitors!). There was a girl named Wendy who was there just in London for a couple weeks who had graduated last year from Maryland so we spent the day together exploring London’s famous markets! Markets in London are definitely some of my favorite things about the city.

Food stals at the market. They have food from so many different countries around the world...Morocco, Tibet, Turkey, Ethiopia, Italy, Spain, China, Bangkok and tons more