The Luggage List

In just over three weeks, I will be leaving England, the country I have lived in for the last 22 years, to become a (hopefully permanent) resident of the United States (just in case you didn’t know from all the hundreds of posts on here talking about said plan). To mark this life changing event, we have come up with the Luggage List (Sue and my dad thought up the idea, I picked out the excellent name), which is essentially a less depressing version of the Bucket List (I have no intentions of dying any time soon, so don’t worry about that). The Luggage List is my opportunity to do some English things before I get on that plane to Minneapolis (well, it’ll be to Amsterdam but you get the idea). It’s a good idea, right?

Now, I have worked on about my Luggage List for about a week and I can’t say I’ve got pages and pages of things-to-do. I’ve more or less narrowed it down to two categories, places (to visit) and food (to eat), and there isn’t a great deal in either. I may add to them later, but this is what I’ve got so far.

Places

Places are hard to replace. America has a lot, but it doesn’t really have quaint towns, castles, cathedrals etc. To be blunt, it doesn’t have history. But, after spending most of my childhood going to castles and cathedrals, I don’t really feel it necessary to see them all again. Yes, I’ll probably miss the English Heritage and National Trust sites once I’ve been in America for a few years, but I think I’ll be okay. I don’t need to roam the region visiting every castle I come across.

However, there are a few places I’d like to visit.

1) The Seaside: It’ll be a long trip when I’m in Minnesota, so a trip to Seaham or somewhere like that would be nice. Have some fish and chips, maybe an ice cream.

2) Kielder Reservoir: It has been a long time since I went to Kielder. And as Vanna never got to see ‘our lake’ (as opposed to their hundreds and hundreds of lakes), I’d like to get some pictures of it. Remind me that Minnesota doesn’t have the monopoly on large bodies of water (also, I want to see how it compares).

3) A Castle: Okay, I want to see at least one castle before I go. I just haven’t decided which one yet.

And to be honest, that is about it. I don’t know if it is because my brain has yet to acknowledge I won’t be able to see these places for a long time, or because I don’t have any interest, but there just doesn’t seem to be much I want to see or do. I won’t turn down the opportunity to go places (we may go to Fountains Abbey again) as it would be a good trip (and it’ll offer new photo opportunities; I’m running out of Splat/Georgie material), but generally I’m more concerned about seeing people before I go. Hopefully I’ll see most, if not all, in the next few weeks. Otherwise I’m happy just to watch the World Cup and chill out.

Food

In some ways this is a bigger deal than places. Last night I had a long think about what food I’ll miss, and initially I came up with loads of meals I wanted, only to then realize two things:

1) My diet is different in the U.S, so what I eat here is irrelevant. Vanna and I do different things that I enjoy too. Last summer, for example, I was happy eating pizza bites, burrito bowls…and couscous. I don’t eat those here, but I do okay without.

2) Even if I do suddenly get a craving for something in my English diet, it wouldn’t be that hard to get it. They might not have Red Leicester cheese but there will be an alternative. Their bacon might not be as meaty as ours, but we could go to a farmer for a thicker cut. They might not have big, thick chips like we do, but you can make your own pretty easily. Same goes for curries and Yorkshire Puddings.

Granted, some foods will be harder to get; crumpets, Heinz beans and parsnips all seem to be a rare occurrence. With most things though, there will be a way around it. I’m going to America! Food is not something they are short of. I’ll be okay.

But…there are a few things I want to eat before I go. You know, meals that I might not have for a while.

1) Curry (rice, naan bread…the full deal)

2) Haggis (not sure I’ll find it there, and Vanna doesn’t like it)

3) Shepard’s pie. Yum.

4) Mince + Dumplings (something else Vanna doesn’t like)

5) Corned Beef Pie (America’s version of corned beef is not like ours)

6) Roast with all the veg (parsnips!)

7) Sausages (Vanna doesn’t like them, and their sausage sucks)

Hmm. I think that’ll probably do. Interest that I have more ideas for meals than places, doesn’t it? I just like my food!

Anyway, that is what I have written down at the moment. And in other, related, news, I have already packed one suitcase! It has all my hoodies, shirts and trousers in, plus my suit (the power of vacuum sealed bags!). Rather impressed with that, though I haven’t been able to check the weight yet, so might have to take some things out. I think it is under 50 pounds, but I’m not sure. Fingers crossed. My other suitcase, which will carry socks, underwear, t-shirts etc will be packed later, but I’m confident I’ll get everything I want in the two cases.

In addition, I’ve also cleared out a lot of stuff that I don’t want (extra clothes, drawers full of junk etc). That way it’ll be easier for my folks to clear the room out when I’m gone. I’m nice like that.

23 days. Not long now.

Alex

 

 

Thirty Days!

To celebrate the fact that in 30 days Vanna will be in the UK with me, I thought I would list thirty reasons why I’m excited to see her. Not every reason, of course, but a selection of what I’m looking forward to when Vanna is here. What else can I say? It’s just a nice little way for me to get in the mood for Christmas.

So, in no particular order, I’ll list my reasons off with a small explanation (if necessary) as to why they’re included. Starting with…

1. Seeing Vanna again after five months apart. I don’t think I need to explain that one.
2. Crumpets! Vanna has never tried this delicacy…I’m determined to change that this Christmas.
3. Winter is the most romantic time of the year.  Christmas isn’t much fun when you’re on your own. Certainly a family time.
4. Going for walks. I’m one of those people who likes walking, but not on my own. I end up striding around because I feel I need to have a purpose. With Vanna, I can just amble around, stretch the legs and enjoy the cold (but not freezing) winter air.
5. TV becomes fun. I’m not a big television person, but Vanna really likes our shows. I can happily watch something like Come Dine With Me for hours when I’m with her. It’s just one of our things.
6. Snuggling. Who doesn’t like snuggling?
7. Buying Vanna an engagement/wedding ring. It’s been a long time coming, but hopefully we’ll find the perfect ring this Christmas. She’s gone without one for far too long.
8. Vanna meeting my family. Especially around Christmas, it’ll be a nice time.
9. Writing boost. Been struggling to write my novel lately, and a lot of that is down to my situation. Being with Vanna will help tremendously.
10. Sorting my stuff out. I have drawers of junk, and clothes that need binning. I can’t be bothered to do it, but Vanna is quite keen. Job done.
11. Day trips. Vanna wants to go to London, I’m not so sure. We’ll figure out something though.
12. Company. Yeah, just not being alone is nice…
13. Cinema! Not really something I can do alone. Vanna wants to watch the second Hobbit film, I’m thinking Anchorman 2 (if it is out then).
14. Christmas pudding. Another thing Vanna hasn’t tried. I don’t think she’ll like it though.
15. Someone to play games with. Yes, I’m lots of fun, I know.
16. Another chance to persuade Vanna to Xbox. She’ll learn to love it.
17. Packing. Vanna loves packing clothes, and she’s really good at it. Again, job done.
18. Someone to watch the football with. My dad doesn’t like watching games on the computer, so Vanna can instead.
19. Keep me from boredom.
20. Clean my room.
21. Take care of me. I notice that the last three have a certain…theme to them. Well, she doesn’t mind.
22. Presents!  I’m hoping for a certain something, but we’ll see.
23. Someone to tease. In case she can’t entertain me, I’ll entertain myself by ribbing Vanna over something. Again, she doesn’t mind…
24. Trying something new. I was told ice skating, but I’m hoping there is something else we can experience that won’t involve me falling over a lot. Failing that, there is the panto.
25. Helping me to be healthier. Vanna’s been into organic foods recently, and I could do with cutting out some foods.
26. New Years Eve. Problem we have is where to go. Newcastle would be good, but Durham would be cheap. It’s a tough one. Still, we’ll do something more exciting than sitting in the house like we did last year.
27. The Pub. There’s a really cool pub in Durham that I want to take Vanna to, so that’s definitely something on the list.
28. Vanna has to listen to me. She can tell me to shut up, but because I’m not bound by the usual social convention, I can continue talking anyway. So there!
29. No Skype. Skype creates the foundation of our online relationship, and I really don’t like it. Being together in person thankfully cuts out the blurry, constantly disconnecting middle man…and I can’t wait.
30. Vanna gets my cultural references. So often the person I’m talking to fails to understand what I’m referring to. Vanna just gets me, man.

And there we have it. No doubt Vanna will be annoyed I’ve missed something out, but that’s what I came up with. Maybe I’ll do another 20 in ten days, and then 10 in twenty days. Might be pushing it though. I love her, but sixty reasons? Hmm, I don’t love her that much.

Heh…I wonder how much trouble that will get me in.

Alex.

Time To Share The Crumpet Secret

Now, this probably won’t come as a surprise to most of you (and if it does, I can’t help but be concerned about your well-being), but I’ve been to America a couple of times in the last few years. Yeah, I know. Three times, in fact. Get me, eh?

Anyway, during my many forays to the States, I have found myself in the same kind of conversation (not a complaint; merely an observation), where I get asked something along the lines of; what are the differences between here (the US) and home?

Of course, there is a long list of things I could mention in response. I won’t bore you to tears by bullet pointing them all here (besides, I’ve probably already done that in the past), but one thing I do usually refer to is the food. Our bacon is better, they put cheese on everything, they don’t know what an acceptable portion size is…things like that. I’m sure you all have your own examples (even if you haven’t travelled, it isn’t hard to notice certain differences when  you watch American television shows/movies). Though both countries have many similarities, there’s plenty of things that we don’t have in common.

But that’s obvious, right? What’s my point?

Well, once I’ve exhausted all the food examples off the top of my head, I sometimes get a follow-up question. And as of yet, I have been unable to form a satisfying answer to said question, leaving both parties rather unsatisfied from the encounter.

What are crumpets?

I have eaten crumpets for years (that’s right, ladies), but I really struggle to answer this accurately. The best I’ve come up with is this;

“They’re like (English) muffins, but with holes…and they are fluffy and light…yet at the same time heavy and crunchy. Yeah…”

Not a fantastic answer, in all honesty. I don’t know what image it creates in your minds, but it’s probably wrong.

So, I vowed to myself (it must have been a very slow day) that, one day, I would find a way of describing the phenomena (phenomenon?) that is crumpets, and share that knowledge with those poor Americans who’ve yet to experience it for themselves. Because that is the kind of guy I am.

And, as it happens, I had crumpets this morning. And my camera wasn’t too far away. So I grabbed it, and took some pictures. After all, what better way to understand crumpets is there than through the help of photographic evidence (except for seeing them in persona, that is)?

So, here you are Americans. Crumpets. You’re welcome.

Behold!

Solid base, slightly crunchy. Perfect.

Look at that spongy inside

 

Not very artistic, but they get the job done. Is that your curiosity sated, people? Let me know.

Alex

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Shrew update: The trap has not caught him yet. Still no sign of him since the first sighting. He’s hiding because he knows we are onto him. Don’t worry, we’ll get him. Mark my words…we’ll get him.