Lesson number 1...

Last week for a few days it was just me and the kitties while my recently adopted family was away.
So, I had some time to finish getting over jet-lag, do a little more exploration of Henley-on-Thames, (more about that later, along with some photos), and get settled in a bit more.

Since I arrived the weather has been unseasonably sunny and warm I'm told, though there have been a few grey skies and a bit of rain here and there. One day as I was leaving to walk down to town it was looking a little grey, and having gotten quite wet on one or two occasions previously, I remembered this time to grab an umbrella... there was a forest green one and a hot pink one...  my backpack being hot pink and me, with the propensity for co-ordinating things, like clothing or accessories I grabbed the hot pink one and went on my way.

By the time I got to the first roundabout I thought I felt a sprinkle-by the second roundabout I was sure about it. A little further and it was full on raining. Thinking I was all prepared and feeling pretty proud of myself too, I pulled out my trusty umbrella only to discover that it did not work! So, there I stood in the pouring rain, fooling with the umbrella. The trouble was that not only would it not fully open, but also, the little thing-a-ma-jig that makes it stay opened was broken. 'Just hold it in place' I thought and proceeded on. Almost immediately, a gust of wind messed with that idea... so another stop, another attempt at figuring something out. Just then a royal mailman rode by on his bike looking at me curiously. "Umbrella doesn't work" I said. As if it wasn't obvious, and don't ask me why I felt I must explain. He just nodded and gave me a 'oh, that's too bad' look, but, I suspect he had a good chuckle when he was out of earshot.

At that point, I was pretty much soaked and decided to backtrack to the bus stop not far away... I closed up the umbrella, turned around and headed back. When I reached the bus-stop I realized it would be at least 20 minutes before the bus came by, there was no shelter, and the rain was continuing at a steady pace...

Hmmm.

At that point, I wondered if I should just bag it and come home or keep going since I was already wet... I chose the later and turned once again towards town... Where I would be arriving in just a few minutes if I had only kept going in the first place and not spent so much time fooling with the umbrella or backtracking or standing at the bus stop in the rain! I'll bet I had not taken more than twenty steps when the rain died down, and in another twenty it had stopped completely!

So...
Lesson number 1: It's probably more important to make sure the umbrella you are borrowing actually works than it is to co-ordinate the color with your backpack! (The green one works perfectly).
Lesson 1a: Getting wet won't kill you - unless of course you happen to be the wicked witch of the west from the Wizard of Oz.
Lesson 1b: In England as in life, choose a direction and then...Whatever storms may come... Keep. Moving. Forward... No matter what!

sending love,
susie

Tea for Two... Hundred and Forty

Well, we all know England is tea country, right? I had my first 'cream tea' Saturday (October 23) in London at an Italian restaurant of all places... It seemed a little bit strange to me to find it on the menu, and yet, this is the land of tea... so perhaps it's not all that strange.


In case you are not as into tea as me, here's a little lesson, thanks to Wikepedia...


"There are regional variations as to how a cream tea should preferably be eaten. The Devonshire (or Devon) method is to split the scone in two, cover each half with clotted cream, and then add strawberry jam on top. Traditionally it is important that the scones be warm (ideally, freshly baked), and that clotted (rather than whipped) cream and strawberry jam, rather than any other variety, are used. Butter is generally not included, and the tea should be served with milk.


Clotted cream (sometimes called clouted cream or Devonshire cream) is a thick cream made by indirectly heating full-cream cow's milk using steam or a water bath and then leaving it in shallow pans to cool slowly. During this time, the cream content rises to the surface and forms 'clots' or 'clouts'. It forms an essential part of a cream tea. Although its origin is uncertain, the cream's production is commonly associated with dairy farms in South West England and in particular the counties of Cornwall and Devon."


It was lovely. Italian restaurant and all. I mean... I was in London. L-O-N-D-O-N! How could it not be?


Monday I was at the grocery store for the first time since I got here and found my two favorite English Teas that I get back in VT! PG Tips and Yorkshire Gold... except that they were the hugest boxes of tea (of any kind) that I have ever seen!! Not a puny little box of 40 teabags. Oh no. Try 240 teabags. This is my kind of place!

"leavin' on a jet plane..."

"...don’t know when I’ll be back again…"

Well, okay, I do know when I’ll be back since I have my return ticket, but, I’ve been thinking about that song for a number of days and wanted to include it.

I fully intended to add a post or two over the last couple months, but, well, life has been busy… so, here I am writing en-route... October 17, 2011.

The storage unit is full, all that could be sold is sold, all that could be given away has been given away and the house is, for the most part empty. I was there yesterday to pick up a couple things and it was almost surreal… hearing my footsteps echo as I walked through each room, lots of memories and hopes and dreams came flooding in. And then, almost exactly eight years from the joyous date of our closing to buy our home I found myself closing and locking the door behind me for the very last time.

Eight… the number of new beginnings.

This last couple years has been a time of letting go for me…inch by inch… and it feels like I have finally made it, and reached a milestone.

The last weeks and months have been so, so busy in preparation for this very day… and I can hardly believe it is finally here! Honestly I’m not sure that it has fully sunk in yet, but I am writing from gate 5 at JFK in New York City as I wait for my flight to London at 22:45 tonight.

And so, though I am bone tired and stuffy headed, I say…

 Let my very great adventure BEGIN!!!

love,

susie

whoosh...

That is the sound my days are making as they fly by...

Still lots left to do to prepare for 'My Very Great Adventure' but things are coming together.

I have my passport now. Hurray!

Have done a bit of research on Henley-on-Thames and the surrounding towns. Located a wonderful health food co-op True Food Community Co-operative (http://www.truefood.coop/ ) in Emmer Green not far away by bus. It is a relief to know I will be able to get the quality of products I am used to using in my every day life. Of course there will likely be plenty of health food stores/co-ops, but i'm glad to know of one for when I get there.

Still continuing with the never-ending ending here at my home, but I am getting there. It will surely be something to celebrate when I am done and moved out. Bittersweet... because there is a degree of sadness too. Such is life.

until next time-
susie

 

Checklist for Saturday...

1) Final class on Nutrient Dense Crop Production with Dan Kittredge at beautiful Shelburne Farms.
Check.
2) Sell a couple things at Once Upon a Child.
Check.
3) Unload a car full of stuff at the Goodwill
Check.
4) Buy plane ticket to England.
Check.
Wait. What?!

Yes, that's right folks. My Very Great Adventure is a trip to England!

In addition to the usual tourist things... visiting museums and castles, immersing myself in history, dining in pubs, seeing a garden or two, visiting Beatrix Potters "Hilltop Farm" in the Lake District (now a part of the National Trust)... one main focus during my time there will be to learn as much as I can about Willow (Salix spp.) and the many 'value added' products that can be made from it. Check out (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willow). Willow is a pretty amazing plant! I am particulary excited to learn how to make woven willow products, from baskets to chairs and beyond, artists charcoal, and living willow landscape elements such as fences, furniture, sculptures and buildings!

Growing willow and using it to make beautiful and useful household things is just one of many traditional crafts that have been passed down through the generations in England (and all of Europe) and is still carried on today.

Here's a link to a video that shows one skilled craftsman working on a chair and sharing a bit about willow: http://www.woodlands.co.uk/tv/2008/10/willow-weaving/

While i'm there, 'home base' will be with my friend Melissa and her family. They just moved this summer from the states on a work Visa to a nice little town west of London a half hour or so, and are getting settled in nicely.

My goal is to do an extended internship where I can work alongside a skilled craftsman and learn as much as I possibly can during the time I have. I am still working out all the details of that experience, but there are also tons of classes offered all over England on all the things I mentioned above, and more. So, a few classes in addition the internship would be nice too!

What an adventure! Right?! I can hardly wait...

But, there's still lots to do... and pack... and take to Goodwill. Lots of loose ends to tie up here before I leave so i'd better get back to it!

So, dear family and friends, please do check back in, maybe become a follower, whatever that means! And come along with me on My Very Great Adventure!!!

love-

Ready...Set...Write...

OK. Already i'm a little confused because I thought I was at blogspot and apparently i'm not. No matter. A blog is a blog. Right? At some point I imagine i'll be very comfortable navigating around in here and might change the appearance or something equally adventurous. I am a Luddite, of sorts, with a very good imagination. For now, just to get some text posted on the pretty background I chose would be nice.

The real adventure, as in, "My Very Great..." will begin tomorrow! Check back in to find out what it is!

In the meantime...

be well!