Home Sweet Home

I walked to the Post Office today on my lunch and posted out the gift to Meg. I have had a lot of fun working on it but I am happy that it is on it's way to her now and just in time for the bundle of joy to make his appearance.

I feel odd now though because I have been working on it non-stop since August 29th so it feels weird to come home from work and not have it to work on it. Nic, a co-worker, has asked that I stitch a freebie pattern of Robert Pattinson (Edward to fellow Twi-Hards) so while I am slowly working on that I may stitch a little bit on Nova also.

High: 39°
Low: 29°
Forecast: Late Rain and Snow
Sunrise: 8:02 AM
Sunset: 3:55 PM

Andy and I went to the Everton v. Liverpool match today... otherwise known as the Merseyside Derby.

We played really well today, much better than over the last few weeks but we still lost 0-2. It was a very unlucky loss and even Liverpool supporters who called in on the radio on the drive home admitted that they were lucky today.

But oh well... life goes on. We have some really hard matches over the next two months so hopefully the team pulls together or we are going to find ourselves at the bottom of the table with half the season already played.

High: 41°
Low: 36°
Forecast: Rain
Sunrise: 8:00 AM
Sunset: 3:56 PM

Got out a few more decorations today... next will be the Christmas lights to put around the banister on the landing.

On another note I am happy to report that Baby Boy (aka Bunny) Bennett's gift has now been completed and it will be posted out to Meg on Monday. I will not be posting any photos of it until it has been opened as I do not want to give anything away. Once it is safe to show it off I'll post some pictures that I took before I wrapped it all up.

High: 40°
Low: 40°
Forecast: Rain
Sunrise: 7:59 AM
Sunset: 3:57 PM

Now that Thanksgiving is past it means I can officially put up Christmas decorations without it being 'too early'. Although I have noticed that here in England people put their decorations up sometime in December but being the American that I am anything past lunch time on Thanksgiving is acceptable.

My Mom made this snowman and I think he is so cute that he now gets to be the first to greet visitors when they come in. Of course Winnie-the-Pooh has also put back on his Santa outfit and gives a cheerful Merry Christmas when people come in.

I think tomorrow I'll drag out some more Christmas decorations to put up!

High: 42°
Low: 37°
Forecast: A Couple of Showers
Sunrise: 7:57 AM
Sunset: 3:58 PM

Now I am stuffed!

High: 44°
Low: 39°
Forecast: A Couple of Showers
Sunrise: 7:56 AM
Sunset: 3:59 PM

So... apparently they do not sell pre-made pie crusts in England. Not the kind that you can roll out to use and not the kind that you would find in the frozen food section. Zip. Zero. Zilch.

So I had to resort to making my own... from scratch.

The above mess was made even with wax paper that I had put down to roll the dough out on. Hopefully the Pumpkin and Pecan Pies taste better than this mess looks!

I now have four days off from work, tomorrow is Thanksgiving... great times!

High: 47°
Low: 41°
Forecast: Very Windy
Sunrise: 7:54 AM
Sunset: 4:00 PM

I had to order some Libby's Pumpkin Pie filling online so I decided to pick up a few other goodies. The Butterfinger is for Debbie at work who had told me before how much she loved them when she visited America. I took the PayDay and soda into work with me and shared them with everybody.

The Grape soda was a hit but everybody was undecided about the Root Beer. The PayDay was also a hit but how could it not be? All that sweet and salty goodness!

The Corn Bread mix is for New Years when I make a big crock pot of Ham and Beans and of course I will be making a Pumpkin Pie on Thursday!

High: 46°
Low: 43°
Forecast: A Couple of Showers
Sunrise: 7:52 AM
Sunset: 4:01 PM

Phase Two has officially started! Now back to working on it...

High: 44°
Low: 41°
Forecast: Rain
Sunrise: 7:50 AM
Sunset: 4:02 PM

The above picture is of the 'skip' that I posted about back on October 11th. It was gone for a week or so but now it is unfortunately back. As you can see it blocks this back ally which means we can not use this as a way to drive out.

Now... to make matters even worse the above 'skip' has a partner in crime and as you can see in the below photo there is now one parked right outside our back gate and it is stopping us from even putting our garbage bin in our back garden.

This is ridiculous! What if we needed to use this back gate in an emergency? I don't know who to call but if it is not gone in a couple of days I am going to have to complain to somebody about it.


High: 48°
Low: 47°
Forecast: Rain
Sunrise: 7:49 AM
Sunset: 4:03 PM

Laura M, Laura C, Laura H and I went shopping today and to look at some beautiful Christmas displays. I made a joke that I would be standing out today not because I am the only American but because my name is not Laura!

The above photo is from Barton Grange which is a huge Garden Center and they have all of their Christmas displays set up as 'Christmas Around The World'. This is from India and I love the colors. Because there were so many beautiful displays it was very difficult to pick a picture for today.

I have posted all of the other photos here so please take a second and look through them, there was some beautiful items. We even ran into Laura White from last years X Factor signing in Preston!

High: 52°
Low: 41°
Forecast: A Couple of Showers
Sunrise: 7:47 AM
Sunset: 4:04 PM

A bunch of us girls from work went to see New Moon tonight and it was a lot of fun! We had to wait in the lobby for about 45 minutes to an hour before they let us into the theater but once we got in we found some great seats and the real fun started.

The atmosphere in the theater was great, there was ooohhhhing and aaahhhhing and even some clapping.

I will not post details about the movie because I know not everybody has seen it yet but I will say that other than one very cheesy moment the movie is wonderful!

And as for the unanswered question... My answer is YEEEEESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!

High: 51°
Low: 40°
Forecast: A Couple of Showers
Sunrise: 7:45 AM
Sunset: 4:06 PM

I know it seems like a random photo but it makes me laugh every time I come down this road and see this stop sign. This is seriously the only stop sign I have come across since moving to England. Not only is it the only one I have seen but look how tall it is! Andy actually had to point it out to me one day... it is just so tall.

I also laughed when I was taking my intensive driving lessons because the instructor pointed out that in Preston where I took my test there was in fact one stop sign and that I needed to keep an eye out for it as most people are not used to seeing them. I told him one thing I do not need help with is stop signs, I am quite used to them. Needless to say I was not taken on that driving test route so I never saw the mystery sign.

High: 54°
Low: 44°
Forecast: A Couple of Showers
Sunrise: 7:43 AM
Sunset: 4:07 PM

Tonight while we were watching last weeks episode Desperate Housewives I made the comment that I was freezing... this is very unlike me as even in the dead of winter I prefer to have a fan on than the heat.

Andy got up to check the radiator and it was stone cold. Andy of course gave me 'that' look as he went into the kitchen to see if I had turned off the boiler as I sometimes do when I am too hot in the house. I confirmed I had not but he checked anyway.

After around 5 minutes he came back to say that the boiler was not turning on. I double checked and it was in fact not working. The number 40 and 80 kept flashing after you turned it on and off and after you hit reset.

So we called the landlord not thinking there was much that could happen at 8:00pm at night. He wasn't home so Andy left a message. At around 9:00pm he called back and said he probably wouldn't be able to get anybody out until tomorrow which we understood since it was so late.

It was at about this time that I remembered... *duh* We have a little electric fireplace in the living room that could be keeping us warm. So this is what the picture is of. There is a space under the rocks that light up and then the heat is pushed out from above them. It warmed us up rather quickly.

Then at 9:30pm the landlord called back and said it was too cold to make us go without heat and hot water so he and his plumber would be out in just a few minutes. They came in and it only took around 10 minutes for it to be fixed. There was no pressure so it was not igniting. He said if it happens again he will just replace the boiler.

So YAY for heat and hot water but an even bigger YAY for having such a great landlord!

High: 53°
Low: 45°
Forecast: Periods of Rain
Sunrise: 7:42 AM
Sunset: 4:08 PM

Remember this post regarding my new project? I have been working on this project non-stop and finally this morning I put the finishing touches on phase one.

Yes you heard me right there are two phases to this project but I am so very pleased to be done with this first part as it was the hardest bit. I have to go this weekend to buy some additional things to finish it off and then I will take my pictures of the finished project.

No you will not be able to see it right away because it is a gift for somebody (I wonder who it could be) and they read this blog so until it gets shipped and opened by them I will not be giving anything away!

Trust me though.... it is going to be beautiful!

High: 48°
Low: 45°
Forecast: A Couple of Showers
Sunrise: 7:40 AM
Sunset: 4:10 PM

Andy finally got around to sending off his old paper Driving License so that they can update his address and be issued one of the new hip pink plastic ones.

Well... we got it back today. I opened the envelope and saw his new paper copy and imagine my surprise when I looked at the plastic one and found it was not his license!

Nice.

We called the DVLA and they said to just post both copies back to them and they will get it sorted. Well thanks for offering to do what you should have done the first time! Needless to say neither Andy nor myself are very happy about this. If you think about it this means there is a very good chance that Andy's license is now either in the hands of the man above or who knows where. They now have his name, date of birth, address and driver's license number. *ugh*

High: 46°
Low: 44°
Forecast: A Couple of Showers
Sunrise: 7:38 AM
Sunset: 4:11 PM

So the thingamabob on my vestibule door that keeps the door closed broke off this morning and now my door will not stay shut.

Looks like I'll be going to B&Q (the English version of Home Depot) this weekend.

High: 48°
Low: 44°
Forecast: Cloudy
Sunrise: 7:36 AM
Sunset: 4:13 PM

The Rocky Horror Show will be playing at this very theatre in four weeks time... and guess who will be there? That's right... me and some friends from work! YAY!

Everybody gave me their money for their tickets yesterday and the plan was to go to the bank early this morning and then book via Ticketmaster online or over the phone. Well I called Ticketmaster this morning before I went to the bank and they said they were sold out for the Friday and Saturday night show. We didn't mind going on the Monday night but Christian (who we also work with) had tickets to go with a bunch of his friends on Friday night so we thought it would be cool to all be there for the same show. When I mentioned we really wanted Friday the guy on the phone said that if I went to the box office at the theatre itself they would probably have more seats available because Ticketmaster only gets a percentage of them.

So off I went... alone... I know I have been in England for 1 year and 44 days but today was the first time I have taken the train alone. Andy was much more interested in playing Call of Duty Modern Warfare than going into Manchester with me to get tickets for a show he hates. In fact when we were at Beauty and the Beast and I grabbed the leaflet and pointed out it was on his birthday week he asked that his birthday present be me not dragging him to go see this... So cool that is his birthday done and dusted this year.

Anyway... I got there and after having to explain to two different groups of people that there was in fact a line behind me that they needed to stand in I finally made my way up to the window. I explained that I was looking for 4 tickets for Friday December 11th and to my surprise he not only had 4 tickets available but they were in the second row of the circle and looked like excellent seats! I bought them right there and then and walked out very happy.

We are going to have a blast!!

High: 49°
Low: 44°
Forecast: Cloudy
Sunrise: 7:34 AM
Sunset: 4:14 PM

I was on a late shift tonight from 12:00 - 8:00 but as you can see I was rocking out all the way to work...


and all the way home... More about Rocky Horror in tomorrow's post.

High: 51°
Low: 41°
Forecast: Cloudy
Sunrise: 7:32 AM
Sunset: 4:16 PM

Okay... this is weird. I got this balloon from work for my birthday which was 62 days ago! Yes it has started to deflate but I am amazed that it is still floating! Seriously.

I will be shocked the day I come in from work and it's finally on the floor.

High: 50°
Low: 49°
Forecast: Times of Clouds and Sun
Sunrise: 7:30 AM
Sunset: 4:17 PM

Back to Manchester tonight but this time to see Ricky Gervais. The name of this tour is 'Science' which is why the set looks like a laboratory. He was so very funny! The only thing that would have made it better is if Karl Pilkington would have been there... he is from Manchester after all.

Ricky however is a comedy genius and it was great to be able to see him live.

High: 48°
Low: 38°
Forecast: Cloudy
Sunrise: 7:29 AM
Sunset: 4:19 PM

Tonight we went into Manchester to see Beauty and the Beast. The show was so cute and fun! Andy is not that into theatre but he really enjoyed it also, he hasn't even seen the Disney movie version.

The only downer on the night was that on the train from Westhoughton to Manchester I left my beautiful umbrella that is black on the outside and underneath there are constellations. I have already called Northern Rail to report my loss but I'm not expecting to get it back.

So very sad.

High: 42°
Low: 38°
Forecast: A Couple of Showers
Sunrise: 7:27 AM
Sunset: 4:21 PM

All day while I was at work it was sunny, then at around 6:30pm this thick fog rolled in and overtook everything. When I got off work at 8:00pm it was still really thick.

Doesn't it just look eerie?

High: 49°
Low: 30°
Forecast: Partly Sunny
Sunrise: 7:25 AM
Sunset: 4:22 PM

All I can say is... YUMMY!

Last night Jamie (a fellow expat) and I got onto the subject of funnel cakes. I had found a recipe ages ago so I went out in search for it again. I found the recipe and passed it on... she and her husband made some right then and there and loved them!

I decided to make mine for breakfast and again all I can say is.. YUMMY! I even made one for Andy and he liked it also.

Of course they do not have funnel cakes at carnivals and fairs here but what is it that they always say? If you can't beat them join them? Well that is not my style... I say if you can't beat them... just go and make it yourself!

High: 44°
Low: 36°
Forecast: A Couple of Showers
Sunrise: 7:23 AM
Sunset: 4:24 PM

I am in the process of getting my Fall decorations out and up around the house. I put the above on the door that goes into the kitchen.

Well... I am not sure why but if you look at the crow that is in the scarecrow's front pocket you will notice that he has three eyes? What is that about?

Now I can't decide if I want to take a black marker and cover it up or if I want to keep it on there because it's just so random and funny.

Hhhhmmm...

High: 43°
Low: 40°
Forecast: A Couple of Showers
Sunrise: 7:21 AM
Sunset: 4:26 PM

Winnie the Pooh is all dressed up for Thanksgiving this year... and he is not the only one that is excited about this upcoming holiday.

Last year I had just started my job so I couldn't take the day off and it did feel very weird to work the fourth Thursday of November. Andy and I have both taken off for Thanksgiving and Black Friday this year. Not that we will spend Black Friday shopping as it is just another Friday here in England but it will be nice to have a four day weekend.

I do need to find some Libby's Pumpkin Filling though... Andy hates Pumpkin Pie but it's not the same without it. I guess I will just have to take one for the team and eat the whole pie by myself. Oh the sacrifices we have to make in life...

High: 49°
Low: 39°
Forecast: Times of Clouds and Sun
Sunrise: 7:19 AM
Sunset: 4:28 PM

Normally on Guy Fawkes Night you would see a picture of some beautiful fireworks or maybe a roaring bonfire... well this is what you get from me. Yes it's blurry but we were going like 60 mph but you get the idea.

This is a plume of smoke from one of the many bonfires we passed on our way to Liverpool. We passed plenty of fireworks also but I just couldn't get a good picture from the car. It was funny while we were walking to Goodison Park because it felt like we were under attack with all of the fireworks going off from all around us.

Unfortunately Everton lost 0-2 but it doesn't change the fact that I love Bonfire Night! I love the chill in the air and I love the smell of the bonfires. I know my cats could do without the fireworks but hey it makes up for the lack of them on July 4th.

High: 47°
Low: 44°
Forecast: Rain
Sunrise: 7:17 AM
Sunset: 4:29 PM

When you don't have Hamburger Helper what do you do? You just do it yourself without The Helping Hand.

All you need is hambuger, noodles, chopped peppers, chopped tomatoes (that is ta-may-toes), chilli powder and cheese sauce.

Who needs pre-packaged convenience meals?

High: 47°
Low: 43°
Forecast: A Couple of Showers
Sunrise: 7:15 AM
Sunset: 4:31 PM

I am so starting to feel like a stalker at work! I snapped this photo of Georgia (left) and Imy (right) as they were looking outside at the downpour that had started around 5 minutes before.

I forgot my camera today (first time in one year and 34 days that has happened) so I had to take this picture with my iPhone.

It has rained a little bit each day for the last few days... I am loving it!

High: 50°
Low: 42°
Forecast: A Couple of Showers
Sunrise: 7:13 AM
Sunset: 4:33 PM

Andy ran into Asda after work tonight to get some cold medicine as he is not feeling very well. Well while he ran in there I went into Marks and Spencer to try to find some toe socks but they did not have any.

However... I did find these wonderful, soft, cozy, warm socks and they are great. Even better they were on sale for £2.00!

I love these socks.

High: 48°
Low: 39°
Forecast: Rain
Sunrise: 7:11 AM
Sunset: 4:35 PM

No Trick or Treaters means that we have to eat all of the chocolate that was left behind... To be honest I would rather have been able to hand it out to cute little kids in costumes.

On the brighter side I baked the pumpkin seeds today and they are yummy... yummy... YUMMY!


High: 53°
Low: 44°
Forecast: Cloudy
Sunrise: 8:09 AM
Sunset: 5:37 PM