Off Holiday

One two hour train ride, one three hour plane ride and one nine hour bus ride later we are home. It is boiling hot here (or feels that way after the coolness of the UK), and already I miss the comfort of being able to eat cheese to feel better. There were so many good cheeses on offer – Cheddar, Stilton, Brie, Leicester…sigh. But it’s nice to be back here with all the cheap, fresh, yummy produce. And I did enjoy my toast (basically like a grilled cheese sandwich but better) on the bus ride home. I also discovered Turkish Delight. We had a sample in the bus station in Afyon – it was excellent! Not too chewy, and covered with a fine powder sugar and sweet but not too sweet - like a fig is sweet – naturally and not overpowering. I regret not buying some now! I had already bought four jars of peanut butter though, in England, to bring home and space was limited so no Turkish Delight for me.

We stayed with Peter’s family who live in a town near Bath. Highlights of the trip included: eating cheese, eating Indian Takeaway, picking blackberries and making jam, making chutney, drinking Mr. Perette’s dark beer with strawberries in it at the The Old Green Tree pub in Bath, sausages from The Bath Sausage Shop, walking over the fields and watching BBC and ITV programs like Come Dine With Me and Dragon’s Den. Also, being able to read the newspapers and magazines was a bonus. As was the availability and cheapness of wines, spirits and beers (we can get all of those things here but the selection is small and not it can be pricey).

I am having a hard time posting pictures today so I will post some from the trip later.

I begin my new job tomorrow at the university doing proofreading for anyone in the university who requires it, as well as organizing writing seminars. There may be other duties – I am not sure yet, but I look forward to having more of a routine and a new challenge on the job front….

Oh, no progress in knitting BUT, I did finish a draft of a paper I have been working on. That makes me feel better. Almost as good as a nice slice of cheddar on a cracker! With a nice handpulled beer (half pints for me please!).