That's 61.49 pounds... Now at the time our $1.00 was equal to their 0.56 pounds. so that is basically $120 for one tank of gas!!! He can get roughly 400 miles to the tank. They don't sell things by the "gallon" here its by the litres. And the bottom line that says 107.9 that means that it is 1 pound 7.9 pence per litre. I was totally confused because I would have thought it would have been like this 1.079.. that is the way it would be done in America. but here it is 107.9 So when I first saw this I was like its 107 pounds for a litre? OMG.. but they just place the decimal in a different spot. Okay so now I understand that.I have got to eat a few very interesting dishes since being here. Nearly everything you eat here is home cooked.. it isn't fast food or delivery here. There are a few places over here that you can find back home such as KFC, Burger King, McDonald's, Subway, Pizza Hut. Anyways, So I had the pigeon that I believe I mentioned in an earlier post. That was really good. it was 3pounds for 2 birds, so basically $6. Stuart made them with a really nice sauce and put it over Mashed Potatoes. Really good. As seen below (and I think in a previous post as well)
I have had Pad Thai which so far is my most favorite dish. We have had it 3 times since I got here... each time though it gets spicier and spicier. We had it last night and it was like WOW.. that is hot. but I ate most of it, because it was just sooo good. Now I know why they drink white wine with it, it does take the burn out unlike water. I will have to get the recipe before I leave, cuz it will definitely be something I am gonna try to make when I get home for the family... Wont be as good as Stuart's but I will try. Also each time we make it, seems to have more of it. The first time there was this much (below), the 2nd time more and last night the bowl/plate was completely covered.. mmmmmm!
Okay, I have also finally tried the Haggis. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Though it wasn't a true Haggis because it was not in a sheep's stomach, it was in a bag. It tasted more like a sausage type with a different texture. The ingredients of Haggis is usually a sheep's stomach filled with lungs, fat, liver, herbs, and a few other things that I can not think of at the moment. But to see it, you wouldn't know that was all in there, because it is like all mixed in, I guess my thoughts were that I was going to see all the different parts inside, and I think that is what grossed me out more than anything. But it didn't look bad, smell bad, or taste bad. I admit it is not a favorite dish, partly because I have never really been a huge fan of "sausage" to begin with, I eat it, but I don't crave it. We also had mashed potatoes and swedes along with the Haggis. Stuart made a whisky sauce as well.
Other than the fact that there is no such thing as Mt Dew over here... I am getting used to the no sugar thing. I still joke about it, but it really isn't an issue for me anymore. So that is good and I have made progress!
Okay let's see.. what else have we done.. We don't just sit around and eat all the time. We have done quite a bit of cycling the first 2.5 weeks. The cycle to Bristol was the last time though. My bike is put back together now I will have you know... Stuart did it last night. I need to learn how to do it because we have been discussing the possibilities of me taking the bike home with me in December. (so when he comes back to the US we can cycle)
I have got to meet his Mother Beth, his brother Robin, his grandparents Jean and Fred. Some of his friends from work and Akido. We have gone to Akido 2 times, tonight we are going again I believe, its Thursday. I got to meet Madeline, Jason, and Rosa. Stuart's nephews and family. Been to the pub 1nce.
We have been to Stone Henge, Wookey Hole, Cheddar Gorge and Caves, Lyme Regis, and Redhill. We are planning our London trip the first weekend of November. I will get to see Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, The Eye (But we aren't riding it... nooo way Jose), The palace, and we are going to eat at the School Dinner's restaurant (LOADS OF FUN) hehe. Then stay at Mike and Diane's house Saturday night and then come back home Sunday. The week of November 10th we are going to travel up to Stuart's father's house for a few days so that I can meet them. That will be fun, they seem very nice and I cant wait to meet them.
Of course we have seen a lot of Bath. We go into town quite regularly park in the Victoria Park which is free parking for 3 hours. Then we usually make our way to Pret a little place in the center of town. He gets a latte and a croissant.. I get a water and croissant. Then we make our way around to at least 1 book shop, and sometimes a few clothing shops just to look around.
Oh another neat story, I got to be in the Circus.. that was neat. But not what you people back home are thinking... there are no animals.. well maybe a cat or dog.. not sure. But the Circus is a group of 3 buildings that are in the shape of a circle. It surrounds one of the most famous "roundabouts" in Bath if I remember correctly. The Circus has 3 apartments per section. (Not sure how many sections per building times 3) But they are very nice apartments. Stuart has a friend who lives in the Circus so that is how I got to be in the Circus. hehe.
Types of vehicles are different here as well. I have seen a total of like 3 pick-up trucks here. You either have a car or possibly a van. The vans are even small by our standards. There are a lot of those "smart cars" riding around, they are soo cute, I would love to take a ride in one before I go. Not sure if that is possible. They have double decker buses that is kinda neat, haven't got to ride one of them yet either. I had my first train ride on the way back from the Bristol cycle we did a few weeks ago. That was neat.
I am somewhat sometimes getting a little home sick. But it isn't bothering me too bad as I talk to my mother nearly every day, my older sister nearly every day, my father and stepmother on Thursdays and Sundays, and then just the random friendly phone call to other people as well. I try to keep in touch with everyone. With my skype program it only cost me 2cents a minute to talk on the phone. Luckily a lot of the people I talk to have a skype account, so if I need to talk to someone I will call them and tell them to get on there. So that is free and saves me quite a bit of money.
I did have a little bit of a spell that lasted about a week, where I got quite depressed inside, but I tried not to show it, and it just stayed all bottled up until it finally surfaced. I couldn't sleep for a few nights and then one night I journaled all my thoughts and feelings and it made me feel a little better. I emailed my thoughts and feelings to Stuart, we talked about them, and now I feel great again. I just have a hard time sometimes expressing my thoughts and feelings verbally. But now I feel a lot better having got my thoughts and feelings down and then out. so Horray!
As far as Second Life goes.. I keep in contact with the important people in there. But Stuart nor I have had the urge to really go in and spend time. I have been in there maybe a total of 4 times. One it is kinda hard with the time zone difference. I feel bad that we don't get to spend any time with Gordon, Stuart gets to talk to Zeb occasionally on yahoo, but it is just soo late to be up to see them. That doesn't mean that I don't think about them. I miss them a lot too!
Ohh and another thing that has been a topic of my interest. I recently just found out, that the Queen Elizabeth.. she has no power, she is not allowed to vote or be political in any way. Basically she just has lots of money, has the title of being the Queen. Its the government that has all the power cuz like us they are a democracy. I was totally like whoa, wait the Queen has no power? what is her purpose then... Basically what it boils down to (IN MY UNDERSTANDING... I COULD BE WRONG) this country used to be ruled by the King and or Queen. That is bloodline... Now that they are a democracy the Government has the power. But they are not going to take the Queen's title from her. I believe there will always be a King or Queen or Prince or Princess whatever... Because they have family and stuff.. so it is basically only the blood that makes them have the title. (0r marriage). So yeah that was interesting I thought.
Something else I found kinda interesting.. there are some places in Bath.. prolly all of England where windows are bricked out. Because there used to be a "Window Tax".. so depending on how many windows your house has, you pay a certain amount of tax for it... so people started bricking up their windows. Then apparently there was a period of time where it just became kinda kewl to brick up the windows and when building a house they would make a spot for a window but brick it up the same way without ever really having a window there.. I will try and get a few good pictures of what I am talking about, its kinda neat.
There are no houses made out of wood or anything other than stone and that sorta stuff. Even out in the country side... the entire country there is no wooden houses.. everything is made from stone, brick, or some plastery looking stuff. You can find some houses with thatch roofs tho that was kinda neat.
Well I guess it is about time to wrap this up for now. That is pretty much it all in a nutshell. Hope you didn't find it too boring.
Until next time
Donna
Wow, that was a long post! I am glad that you are having a good time :-) I really do have to get back to writing my own blog - It's been ages since I made an entry.
ReplyDeleteYou are quite right, almost all of the houses in the UK are made of stone rather than wood; it took me a while to get used to that when I was in the US.
We do actually have a tradition of oak framed building which is quite interesting - although not nearly so common as the stone based buildings. I'll try and find some to show you. Remind me to add the village of Laycock and the list of palces to go.
P.S There is actually a church made of corrugated iron in bath which I must point out to you some time.
Take care and see you laters >:D<
yay that will be fun! I will add that to the list. >:D<
ReplyDelete