So...Thanksgiving

My first American thanksgiving was a great one. I spent the day with good friends and eating great food. I have much to be thankful for over the past year and coming to America and I offer my deepest thanks to those pilgrims that discovered Disneyland.

In Britain, churches celebrate harvest festivals traditionally when the wheat has been cut and the apples have been picked. The churches are decorated in flowers and greenery. Fruit and vegetables are also put on display, with a loaf of bread in the middle. The food is given to the needy after the service. I very much enjoyed an American Thanksgiving and a variety of pumpkin treats, mmmmm.

So...my 1st thanksgiving experience

When I got home from church last night I found that my host family had left me a slice of pumpkin pie. This left me with a slight problem...having never eaten pumpkin pie I had no idea what to do with it! I had already established that it was a dessert, despite being made from a vegetable, and I had a feeling I should heat it up but then didn"t want to look super stupid for heating up a cold dessert - imagine what you would say if someone heated up a cheesecake!

So I texted Stephanie for advice - Crisis averted and pie was delicious!

So...speaking of vehicles

I would love to own this British Beauty...


A Land Rover Series 3, LWB, 12 Seater Station Wagon in Java Green.



I've always wanted a Land Rover and this one is even Left Hand Drive so would be perfect!

Hear that Santa? Perfect!

So...vehicles

The other week we took our High School Small Groups on an overnight retreat. Lots of fun was had. On the drive back one of the guys in my group commented that he had never opened a window with a crank before!?!?! - I felt old...and poor!

Here is a picture of my car (just imagine it after a few more thousand miles than this one and far from perfect paintwork). My small group would like to paint the Union Flag over it which would be awesome!!!

Unfortunately if I had the money for such a project I'd probably spend it on a better car in the first place!! So, at least for the foreseeable future it'll remain green and faded, sorry guys!

So...in the movie theater

If you sit near me at the movies and choose to eat popcorn louder than I thought humanly possible please do not be surprised if I launch your food across the room and don't even think about bringing a bag of individually wrapped candy.

Just saying.

So...I got my haircut.

I don't usually enjoy the forced conversation with the person cutting my hair but this mornings exchange was even more obscure than usual.

She was washing my hair and I was contemplating whether these sinks were designed for extreme discomfort, whether it's just me that finds them painful or whether everyone else does too but nobody admits to it - like the "Emperor's New Clothes".

Anyway, she aksed me where I was from and I replied "England" which led to a surprised gasp and all that carry on, she told me she liked my accent then continued with what she was doing. I thought nothing more of it.

Then she asked what city I was from I replied "near London" to which she asked "is that like Rome or Florence?" not knowing quite where this was going I said "I have been to those cities" Then out of nowhere she said "Italian men are very hansome" which I thought was odd, but I don't know - perhaps they are - so I let that comment slide by. This was my first clue that there had been a communication error.

She then commented "Your English is very good for someone who's only been here a year!" This awkward exchange continued and it finally dawned on me that she had mistaken "England" for "Italy" - the accent had apparently not given her a clue as to my nationality.

So now I had realized the error I did what every self respecting person would do....

...I shut my eyes and pretended to be asleep until she was done! Then gave a big tip and ran away.