tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34976318702071974902024-03-13T10:23:32.592-07:00LeBlanc LeBlogLeBlanc LeBloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098961079133336288noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497631870207197490.post-63346160251136470102015-07-13T12:39:00.003-07:002015-07-13T12:39:56.477-07:00SarniesI love most things about America-land, I really do. But without beating around the bush, I absolutely LOATHE the sandwiches here. This is what many 'normal' American sandwiches look like:<br />
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Loaded, I say, loaded with meat - way too much bloody meat!!! How much meat do you need, and why bother with the bread at all? Have you seen some of the sandwiches that Adam Richman eats on Man vs Food? They're not sandwiches at all, they're just huge piles of meat! American sandwich bread is usually sweet and slightly floppy - everybody in America should immediately travel to the UK and try a delicious, crusty, filled baguette or sandwich from the local baker on any High Street, I promise you that your mind will be blown. Even Marks and Spencer sandwiches are better than most of the deli sandwiches over here. Oh the joy of fresh, granary bread, filled with whatever takes your fancy, that doesn't involve a massive pile of meat. Yes, we too can make large sandwiches, but not the colossal size that is so normal over here. If the filling is tasty and the bread decent, you don't have to!<br />
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Perhaps the meat quantity in the US is to disguise the taste of the bread. Brits want to taste the bread, it's equally as important as the filling. A favorite sandwich back home is prawn cocktail, either on bread or in a baguette. Prawns in America are called shrimp and a shrimp cocktail sauce here is
bright red and slightly spicy. It's pretty good, but it's not British prawn
cocktail, which is prawns mixed in a creamy, tangy sauce. Baguettes are not and should never be soft, America. You should never, ever be
able to bend a baguette. If you can, you should stop what you're doing and immediately run for the
hills. <br />
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I miss British sandwich menus too. It's mostly the same old, same old here - reuben, turkey, ham, blah blah blah. ALL PILED HIGH WITH MEAT. I would love to be able to order a chicken tikka sandwich, a coronation chicken sandwich, any variation of flavorful British cheese with pickle, or even some tasty meat - just not in a huge pile (don't mention mad cow please)! <br />
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Anyway, as always people, this blog is written mostly tongue in cheek, so please don't be offended! I do have a favorite sandwich place here called Jimmy Johns which has just the right amount of meat and tastes delicious, so it's not all bad :) Our Scottish vacation date is drawing closer, and it's safe to say that we will be out and about a lot, sampling delicious sandwiches all over the Highlands. I really can't wait! Prepare to be bored to tears with millions of food photos when we return :) Till next time...! LeBlanc LeBloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098961079133336288noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497631870207197490.post-89385574021821454142015-07-07T07:33:00.001-07:002015-07-07T07:33:31.689-07:00Anyone for Tennis?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheuYAHVT0pxTjro0ypq-_6AEb_JRjUoxIktDKhUBhhbITLOeC4emvtwX9h7ww5TBIIZ3N9YFg1KB4ecs1iKIgeJopg8GG-QQZnRnNxcHLYCgCdhvW9XiqTC_-zaU_NxKzQU2MVhEHV0cRZ/s1600/wimble.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheuYAHVT0pxTjro0ypq-_6AEb_JRjUoxIktDKhUBhhbITLOeC4emvtwX9h7ww5TBIIZ3N9YFg1KB4ecs1iKIgeJopg8GG-QQZnRnNxcHLYCgCdhvW9XiqTC_-zaU_NxKzQU2MVhEHV0cRZ/s1600/wimble.jpeg" /></a></div>
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ESPN, you are killing me. It's Wimbledon time, but for some reason you don't think it's necessary to show games in their entirety. You cut without notice to other matches and play commercials at ridiculous times - I can't bear it! Don't you realize that my heart literally stops beating when Andy Murray is playing? For God's sake ESPN, I'm Scottish, we rarely win anything, but Mr Murray has a good chance this year so PLEASE let me watch a whole game! Your commentary is also extremely dull, a good commentary team can add so much to the whole experience and yours is sadly lacking. It was the same for last year's World Cup - your commentators had little to no enthusiasm and commercials were way too frequent, I miss the UK so much at times like these. At home, I'd get to see the whole match plus the pre-match build up, post-match commentary, interviews and even get to see what Kim (Andy's wife) is wearing!! I also like to see who's in the Royal Box, who the Beckhams are sitting next to, and what other celebrities are in the audience. No such luck on TV over here. Bah humbug!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">C'mon Andy!!!</td></tr>
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One of my favorite American holidays has just taken place, the 4th of July. I'm happy to report that it was Molly's least stressful Independence Day ever. Usually, the 2 weeks preceding the day itself are full of fireworks going off at all times of the day and night and Molly will be found pacing our closet, shaking and panting like she's going to die. It's equally as distressing for us as it is for her, as there's not much you can do to help her. We've tried prescription tranquilizers in the past, and also her thundershirt - which actually works pretty well for thunderstorms, but fireworks not so much. Anyway, I took her to the vet here a few weeks ago, and she prescribed our fur baby some human Xanax. I gave her one the day before the fireworks, another the day of, and she was pretty calm even during the noisiest part of the night which was unbelievable! I stayed with her in the one air conditioned room of the house most of the night, played some loud Taylor Swift music and it all really worked. She got up the next morning, right as rain and no more fireworks have been heard since. I'd definitely recommend asking your vet for Xanax if your dog suffers during fireworks or storms.<br />
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It's been bloody well roasting here recently! So much so that we had to buy a portable air conditioning unit because we were all sweating and whining profusely. I know, first world problems and all that... When somebody tells you it rains all the time in Seattle, believe me, they are lying. We're off to Scotland on our hols soon, I know there's not a chance of the weather being this nice there and it's going to be tough dragging out all our long sleeved shirts and trousers to pack. But this time next week, I'll be in my beautiful homeland for the first time in 3 years, and I'm more than excited, regardless of the weather. <br />
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Life here continues to be very good, the kiddos have done a variety of summer camps already and we've done a few outdoor activities as a family. We recently hiked to Annette Lake on a hot Saturday. It's a 4 mile climb to get there, but once you reach the top you are greeted with this view:<br />
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Even my youngest who didn't enjoy the last mile or so of climbing agreed that it was worth the effort. We spent the day chilling on one of the small beaches, swimming and chatting to other hikers before the return hike down. We are so lucky to live this close to such beautiful destinations like this, and we intend returning to Annette Lake to camp out overnight towards the end of the summer. <br />
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Anyway, that's my quick catch up for now, blogging has definitely taken a backseat recently! I'm sure I'll have lots to report after our Scotland trip though, so till then folks, have a great summer! <br />
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<br />LeBlanc LeBloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098961079133336288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497631870207197490.post-35410151501377294772015-06-04T12:05:00.001-07:002015-06-04T12:05:10.757-07:00Shoes, Soccer & OutlanderIt's safe to say that blogging has been on the back burner since we moved to WA. Perhaps it's because I've been in the States for so long that I'm finally used to most things over here, or maybe it's just because we're now living somewhere that I could actually see us staying for a very long time. Regardless, we've definitely settled in here and got in our groove! <br />
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Of course, most days I still say things that are prone to confusion. I was speaking with an American friend the other day discussing what she should wear to an interview. We got the outfit sorted, then I told her just to finish it off with a nice pair of court shoes. There was a silence so I realized that I'd said something not quite right. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you UK style court shoes:<br />
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And the US version of court shoes:<br />
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I guess I should have known, given what country I'm in, and it definitely wouldn't be a good idea to wear court shoes to an interview in the US. Lesson learned...<br />
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Speaking of sports, we've become diehard Seattle Sounders fans and have already applied for season tickets for 2016. We've been to a few games recently, and have tickets for a few more before the end of this season. All we need to do now is learn some of the songs/chants! To be honest, I think I've been to more soccer games here than I ever went to in the UK. The atmosphere here is amazing. It's also very family friendly so we can take the littles without worrying about the football hooligans or casuals that you sometimes get back home. Shame really. Although we did find a pie and sausage roll stand in the stadium that serves delicious, authentic Brit food - albeit for a small fortune. But it's well worth it for a taste of home and the Scotch pies were AMAZING! The beer selection isn't lacking at the stadium either. You can't beat watching a game, beer and pie in hand with the sun shining. Go Sounders, fight and win!!! <br />
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We've been to see the Mariners play (baseball) too, it was definitely a fun experience but not nearly as exciting as soccer. Sorry baseball fans, but the most exciting part for me is what celebrity gets to throw the first pitch! I love the patriotism before the games though, (both soccer and baseball) hats off and standing for the National Anthem. It gets me every time. I really feel lucky and proud to be both a British and an American citizen, and I love how Americans celebrate their country. 'MERICA!!! <br />
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Another huge bonus of living here are the many local breweries and wineries - and they're all fantastic! But man, I'm going to weigh 200lbs soon if I don't refrain. My favorites are too numerous to mention, but it's so cool to be able to visit the actual brewery of your favorite tipple whenever you're out and about, or just go and try a new one someplace you haven't been before. Oregon beers and wines are plentiful here too, and just as tasty. I think I'm slowly turning into a beer snob - although I still wouldn't say no to a good ol' mass produced Shocktop :) <br />
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Our neighborhood is also pretty fantastic. There's never a shortage of kids outside playing. Friday afternoons/evenings have turned into Fun Friday for kids and grownups alike, we enjoy our adult beverages, chuck some food on the BBQ, order pizza for the kiddos and everybody just hangs out. If this is the American dream, then I like it a lot :) <br />
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Has anybody else been watching Outlander on TV? I read the books last year after being pestered by a few friends for years. I had no interest because it sounded so cheesy - time traveling back to Scotland - umm, no thank you. But, I gave it a go and ended up absolutely loving them. In fact, I cried when I read the last one and I wish Diana Gabaldon would hurry her ass up and write book number 9!!! Anyway, there's been a TV series made from the first one and it totally did the book justice. My friend DD, who coincidentally is also a genuine Sassenach, lives close to where they're filming Season 2. She's been down taking photos and spying on the handsomeness that is Sam Heughan and some of the other characters. I'm more than jealous! Funny thing is, it's given me a renewed interest in Scottish history. It's not that I've never been into Scottish history, I have, but I will definitely be looking at places differently when we go home in the summer. Culloden Battlefield (which features heavily in Outlander) is not far from my parents' home at all, and I want my kids to know about my homeland's colorful and tragic history, so we will be visiting there for sure, amongst other places. I consider myself very lucky to come from such a small but beautiful country with such a huge history - and as patriotic as I am about America, Scotland will always have the number one place in my heart. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sam Heughan as Jamie in Outlander. Phwoarrr!!</td></tr>
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Anyway, that's it for now, life is fantastic in WA and it just keeps getting better. I'm going to try to be more consistent with the blogging now too, so be warned :) Till next time from sunny Washington, folks! <br />
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LeBlanc LeBloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098961079133336288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497631870207197490.post-46301054455679255262015-05-06T09:04:00.002-07:002015-05-06T09:04:27.159-07:00Happy stuffLet's talk poo for a moment. As a Mum to 3 kiddos and 1 fur baby, I've changed countless diapers and cleaned up many messes that have caused me to gag over the years, but that's all part of being a parent of course! Recently though, I've had to deal with way too many poo situations of toilet blocking proportions. Is it because American toilets are different from British toilets? I don't remember the toilet ever blocking this much in the UK, or is it that my kiddos are doing something they shouldn't? Regardless, after spending 45 minutes trying to unblock the downstairs toilet from one of the kiddos this morning, the feeling of elation I had when I was finally successful, led me to shriek with happiness. Today's tools included the obligatory wire coathanger, baking soda, vinegar, washing up liquid and finally, the plunger. I hate even touching the plunger because of it's history. To me, it's in the same category as raw meat. Shudder. But in the end, it came through and finally sent the poo of epic proportions on it's merry little way to the Pacific Ocean. Strange the things that make you happy huh? <br />
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Lots of other things have made me happy this week! Middle son did great at the soccer tryouts and made the team, we are so proud and excited for him. One of his friends from down the street also made the same team, and they're now thick as thieves which is great. There are a lot of kids in the neighborhood so there's always someone for my kids to play with. It was the same in Tennessee, but I was worried there would be nobody for them to play with here - happily I was wrong!<br />
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We took a ferry ride to Bainbridge Island and drove from there out to Poulsbo at the weekend, the dog came too. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding the ferry</td></tr>
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It was a beautiful day and the scenery was amazing. We considered living out there when we first moved here, but the daily ferry commute for the husband was a bit daunting so we ended up by the mountains instead, which definitely isn't a bad thing. Bainbridge was gorgeous as was Poulsbo. We walked on the pebbly beach, found tons of crabs and had lunch outside in the sun at JJ's - Molly too. It's just a shame that it's taken her till she's 14 to calm down enough to be able to do that with her! Poulsbo reminded me of Scotland and Cornwall, and we had a wonderful, relaxing day. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Poulsbo</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JJ's</td></tr>
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Instead of taking the ferry home, we drove down to Gig Harbor to check it out too. Another gorgeous waterside town with incredible views of Mount Rainier. Seeing Mount Rainer as many times as I do also makes me very happy. It's bleedin' massive. It doesn't look real, but there it is, sticking way up into the sky. It's hard to take your eyes off it when you can see it, I'm so lucky to live in this amazing place! <br />
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I met up with a friend from Korea for lunch at (of course) a Korean Restaurant in Redmond. It was so good to hook up again after all these years! The conversation, the food and the sides were fabulous and I'll definitely take the family back for dinner. <br />
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This past week wasn't all rainbows and unicorns though. I had the misfortune to meet who could only be described as the most miserable and rude man in Washington in the parking lot of my daughter's martial arts center. Parking spaces there are pretty tight, and my parking on that day wasn't exactly stellar, BUT, there was still some space between me and the line as you can see in this pic (my van is on the left).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18RfNzgYjeKGPZ_zFxRcEj3rRHvq5J3d2g-LDU7PQBXr48YISrQaEGSuCEJ9oOml5BSeREj-iJ_U2PLKvilN1AuDQwa5ADbzkXxJmafTdvb-hNtMvD8tHXukFozOeJO7VxWx-o3RZ2KkE/s1600/parking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18RfNzgYjeKGPZ_zFxRcEj3rRHvq5J3d2g-LDU7PQBXr48YISrQaEGSuCEJ9oOml5BSeREj-iJ_U2PLKvilN1AuDQwa5ADbzkXxJmafTdvb-hNtMvD8tHXukFozOeJO7VxWx-o3RZ2KkE/s1600/parking.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am not parked on the line!!!!</td></tr>
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Anyway, there I was, sitting in the van with the boys, waiting to go in and collect my daughter, when my new friend pulled up in the space on my right. He opened his door and it banged loudly on my van. He just looked at me and walked off. I was a bit disconcerted of course, so got out for a look, and asked him if he'd just dented my van. He kept walking so I said it a bit louder but with a polite excuse me. He turned round and started yelling at me, saying he hadn't touched my van, it was just my mirror and that I had no right to accuse him of anything because of my parking. I was speechless, he'd obviously had a very bad day, but there was absolutely no reason for him to start screeching! He refused to acknowledge that he'd banged my van, yelled a bit more, then turned round and stomped right into my daughter's martial arts place. Not one to remain silent - especially when I'm in the right - I called after him that he was the rudest man I've ever met and that he obviously has a problem. A lady in the parking lot was concerned about me (bless her) and she too agreed that he was indeed crazy. I then had to run the gauntlet of walking inside the building to pick up my daughter while he was there waiting for his son. Ha! I can't wait to see him twice every week as we pick up our children at the same time and place... <br />
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So apart from the miserable b****** mentioned above, it was a mostly happy week! There are so many things to do around here that we will certainly never get bored, although it could get pretty boring being yelled at in the parking lot every week! <br />
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<br />LeBlanc LeBloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098961079133336288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497631870207197490.post-8215868007303274532015-04-28T20:20:00.003-07:002015-04-30T19:59:37.272-07:00Elk, Cherry Pie & SoccerThis place amazes me every day. On the way home last week this happened:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ERaswsqy-vFkB-5EszbIeece0sMetYnqwiJ13G4oRcaBKTX92_0kdrXs69l1r3YIA98B0HhTCok5GZ9KdeihKADPfLlA0DGgGhGQla4kxT3i90sZls75Ut2nPec1xVTxPgPVy0D6GEUj/s1600/elk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ERaswsqy-vFkB-5EszbIeece0sMetYnqwiJ13G4oRcaBKTX92_0kdrXs69l1r3YIA98B0HhTCok5GZ9KdeihKADPfLlA0DGgGhGQla4kxT3i90sZls75Ut2nPec1xVTxPgPVy0D6GEUj/s1600/elk.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Right next to the road. Yes, I pulled over like a tourist and took a photo, but wow, who gets to see an elk herd this close up? They might look like gentle giants but somebody's dog was actually attacked by one of them at a nearby lake yesterday, so I'll be keeping our Molly on a short leash when I'm up there!<br />
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We had family visiting over the weekend and it was so much fun being tourists. We hiked locally to Teneriffe Falls on Saturday. The trail was pretty challenging for the kiddos towards the top, but it was so worth it to see the Falls.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So steep!</td></tr>
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We rewarded ourselves afterwards at <a href="http://www.twedescafe.com/" target="_blank">Twede's Cafe</a> in North Bend, famous for being on Twin Peaks and for having the most awesome cherry pie. I can confirm that it was indeed the best cherry pie I've ever eaten - crust and all - which is really something because I usually don't like pie crust! <br />
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After we cleaned up from hiking, we drove to Seattle to <strike>drop a small fortune on</strike> buy shirts and scarves for the Sounders soccer game that we were going to the next day. Mission accomplished, we took a walk around the waterfront for some people watching, a scenery fix and a <a href="http://rachelsgingerbeer.com/" target="_blank">Rachel's Ginger Beer</a> to go. I'm still getting used to all these imaginative ways to park downtown and get around. We used <a href="http://zirx.com/" target="_blank">Zirx</a> for our parking. You tell them your whereabouts, some nice man shows up and takes your car away and then keeps it someplace safe until you're ready for it later on. No matter where you happen to end up later on, they will deliver it back to you! It's pretty cheap too!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrMeX6bJJiwiurlQR5KOuslyNlfiAsZLR_HoqRoVztg8S7SrBKdKfxI0pxi3iGQSDGyCN9y3QgmQxcibOMm8FhzpBs_RMN6OSoVyTuZ4tAr5gC7PKJaieTOevcInODYvogKYoFYUtjWC16/s1600/crow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrMeX6bJJiwiurlQR5KOuslyNlfiAsZLR_HoqRoVztg8S7SrBKdKfxI0pxi3iGQSDGyCN9y3QgmQxcibOMm8FhzpBs_RMN6OSoVyTuZ4tAr5gC7PKJaieTOevcInODYvogKYoFYUtjWC16/s1600/crow.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daughter in crow pose with a view :)</td></tr>
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We decided we wanted to eat Korean BBQ, so we uber'd it out to Shoreline where the only Korean restaurant in Seattle with grills at the tables is situated. It was well worth the trip out there. The taste of bulgogi, kimchi and mandu transported us back to Korea, minus the nasty smells of Songtan of course. OB beers were consumed and a bottle of soju purchased to take home. Only the husband partook in the soju though, I'm still scarred from drinking one too many soju slushies when we lived there! The staff were lovely, helpful and we will definitely return in the future. If you fancy giving it a try, here's the link: <a href="http://oldvillagekoreanbbq.com/" target="_blank">Old Village Korean BBQ</a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Korean BBQ</td></tr>
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Sunday was game day. We arrived pretty early at the stadium, but there was already tons of people milling around. The Seattle Sounders/Portland Timbers rivalry is serious, some drunken 'lady' was yelling swear words at our kids while we were looking for our friends. Normally Americans are so nice that it was a bit of a shock to be honest! The atmosphere in the stadium and the game itself were FANTASTIC!!! We ate authentic Scotch pies, rather expensive, but they were the real deal. The stall also had sausage rolls which I will definitely try at our next game. We yelled ourselves hoarse, learned some of the team chants and watched the Sounders win. We also met up with 2 friends that we haven't seen since our wedding, many years ago! They were supporting the opposition, but still hung out with us for a while even though we were decked in Seattle shades of green and grey :) Middle son was in heaven seeing two of his soccer idols, Dempsey and Martins and it was so exciting when Dempsey scored. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdmv32NfNjnML69DIfrIzACkEk8nRTVcfy7o4PgSFKpe6eN01AvXscMdvpefa0JcBF7uMydEMJzPBZgcunOGqDpxlcN6gfuLOvFBV1xUw53_zBO-sVeByPgBPifOHm7wY9UUUgPJa52MWO/s1600/soccer1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdmv32NfNjnML69DIfrIzACkEk8nRTVcfy7o4PgSFKpe6eN01AvXscMdvpefa0JcBF7uMydEMJzPBZgcunOGqDpxlcN6gfuLOvFBV1xUw53_zBO-sVeByPgBPifOHm7wY9UUUgPJa52MWO/s1600/soccer1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Posing!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocking our Sounders scarves :)</td></tr>
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Speaking of soccer, this week middle son started tryouts for select soccer. It's a whole different ball game up here (pardon the pun) from how it was in Tennessee. The pressure on the boys here is enormous. My son is 9 years old and awesome at soccer, but there is a good chance that he might not get selected. I can't even imagine how rejection would feel for a kid his age - not good obviously, and probably very spirit crushing. There were a lot of boys there for the first session and to me, it looked like not enough coaches taking notes on the boys trying out (but that's probably just an over anxious Mum thing)! All the kids out there were awesome, the competition is high and this isn't even premier - a whole other level higher than select. I don't want my son to be mollycoddled at all, but I also think he's kinda young for all this pressure. One more session to go and then we find out who made it. Please cross your fingers for my wee lad! <br />
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Otherwise, things are going great here. There are so many things to do, see and eat. I miss our friends from Tennessee of course, but we're starting to make new ones here in WA. I've even seen the sun A LOT contrary to popular belief! I'm also happy to report that I haven't bumped into any bears yet, let's hope that streak of luck lasts. And of course, you can be sure I'll tell you all about it, were it ever to happen! LeBlanc LeBloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098961079133336288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497631870207197490.post-48162164346783936202015-04-17T10:37:00.002-07:002015-04-17T10:37:41.947-07:007 thingsI would like to share some new (to me) things this week. <br />
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Number 1:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZ16ZPY8hVBMrlq2jCHRAaoNAzFML-r-qyg9Z_ZEgvd8cg0KFaubVuDYhS8OxeSr_9bXHw9jfDNvW7-cKWmImshs1Nww7Z9sc1Z2pGKRhjvQ0UyW0aw7mnc74vTtpLvmrmCI62wcBmLlo/s1600/licen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZ16ZPY8hVBMrlq2jCHRAaoNAzFML-r-qyg9Z_ZEgvd8cg0KFaubVuDYhS8OxeSr_9bXHw9jfDNvW7-cKWmImshs1Nww7Z9sc1Z2pGKRhjvQ0UyW0aw7mnc74vTtpLvmrmCI62wcBmLlo/s1600/licen.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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My Washington license plates! No more Scottish flag on the front of my car (sniff), but I guess I won't be so easily recognized on the road any more, which probably isn't a bad thing when I may be having a bad driving day. <br />
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Number 2:<br />
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A bunch of reusable shopping bags. Recycling rules here and I'm getting used to it already. I used to reuse my plastic grocery bags for poop patrol, but they weren't always reliable, if you know what I mean. I now buy proper poop bags and don't have to worry about getting poop in my fingernails ever again (true story). <br />
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Number 3:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJ9vFCnd44tlnnxVyMgSVaHuN4WMziUsZ4IRwz5VlEjLnEYvds6nhsZOoXEreeyMO0gyCb92PVQoT72HtTDtjhie6t42f9-a-ZuAU9RCVBODyrEUsiBdnkikyMN6PhTNOZZxyHt8MdgOH/s1600/spray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJ9vFCnd44tlnnxVyMgSVaHuN4WMziUsZ4IRwz5VlEjLnEYvds6nhsZOoXEreeyMO0gyCb92PVQoT72HtTDtjhie6t42f9-a-ZuAU9RCVBODyrEUsiBdnkikyMN6PhTNOZZxyHt8MdgOH/s1600/spray.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Bear Spray!!! Yes, yes, I know I'll probably never need it, but we plan on taking a lot of hikes around here with the kiddos, and you just never know. Better safe than sorry! <br />
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Number 4:<br />
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My brand spanking new bear proof trash can with a locking lid! Because it's been a warm spring, bear activity has been pretty high around our neighborhood and the surrounding area. Do I want to get arrested for feeding bears from my trash can? No sir. I would rather pay the extra $4 a month for a locking lid to keep my furry friends away. <br />
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Number 5:<br />
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Strange (to us) snacks. I'm in the healthy mecca of America, so I may as well jump on the bandwagon! I even made raw brownies last week, strange tasting at first, but the whole pan was gone in a day so they were actually pretty good. No photo of those because they were eaten so quickly!<br />
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Number 6:<br />
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Every time I look out the window and see this in the yard, I jump because I think it's a bloody bear or something. It's the husband's shiny new smoker/bbq/thingy and it's absolutely massive. I have absolutely no idea how it works or what it does. I only know that it eats wood pellets that look kinda like gerbil food. The husband assures me I will be enjoying delicious smoked meats soon, perhaps if I'm lucky, it will also do the laundry or help the kids with their homework.<br />
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Number 7:<br />
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Homework. In Tennessee, the kids' school had a no homework policy which I absolutely loved. The kids had lots of time to play outside with their friends and time to do their after school activities. Here, however, my youngest especially seems to have quite a lot. I have always had an aversion to maths (sorry America, still can't call it math), so let me tell you people, I've nearly been brought to tears this week by 2nd Grade geometry. Thankfully my kids are cleverer than me, but I'm glad it's the weekend tomorrow and NO HOMEWORK!!!<br />
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So that's it from beautiful Washington for now. The weather is going to be nice all weekend - it really doesn't rain here all the time - and we're going to go hiking with my bear spray :) We did a fantastic trail last weekend at Mailbox Peak, which is a mere 20 minutes from the house. Here are a couple of photos for you.<br />
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I am truly astounded by the beauty of this place every time I leave the house and I really can't believe we live somewhere so beautiful! Livin' the dream baby... well, apart from the homework! LeBlanc LeBloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098961079133336288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497631870207197490.post-61939092096406332422015-04-07T13:44:00.001-07:002015-04-07T14:13:04.287-07:00What's going onSo, we've been in the Pacific NW for over a week now. The movers came on Wednesday and Thursday, then we moved in to our new house on Saturday after a final breakfast in Seattle at the Portage Bay Cafe. Man, that place is the bomb. I had bananas foster french toast, smothered in caramelized bananas, sauce, fresh strawberries and coconut. I could eat it every day and never get bored. Perhaps that's why when I weighed myself this morning for the first time since all this moving house business began, I saw that I've gained a massive 10lbs!!! Eeeek! My excuse is that we've been eating out for every meal, every day, over the last 2+ weeks, but I don't have an excuse any more, so it's time to get back on the healthy train.<br />
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The kids started school on Friday, just to get a feel for it before Spring Break. I'm happy to say that they loved it and are really excited to go back! Middle son is doing a UK Elite Soccer Camp all this week, and it's rained quite a bit. If we were still in Tennessee, the camp would for sure have been cancelled, but here, it's business as usual! It's the same at their school. If it rains, the kids still have outside recess. The only time they don't, is if there is thunder and lightning. Just like back home in Scotland really. Monday marked the husband's first day of commuting. He left pretty early and his drive was only 30 minutes, which is pretty good for driving into Seattle. <br />
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The funny thing is, although we've downsized quite substantially from our Tennessee McMansion, we still have to buy new furniture for our rental house. I thought we'd have way too much stuff, but turns out not so. Our house is lovely and has amazing views. There is a golf course out back, we can see Mount Si from the front, and beautiful tree covered hills to the side. Like the bananas foster french toast, I don't think I'll ever tire of such spectacular views! Another difference from Tennessee is that there is no air conditioning in most houses here and our rental doesn't even have ceiling fans. I can't complain yet because it's not summer, but we'll see how that goes...<br />
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I'm loving being able to buy beer AND wine in the grocery store, and even better, you don't get asked for your ID every time you do so! It's the small things! My freak magnet is still drawing them in though and I did have an encounter in the Safeway bathroom yesterday. I was waiting for my son and trying to avoid eye contact with some lady who was literally just staring at herself in the mirror and poking her forehead. She then asked me if I shopped at Safeway or QFC the most. I said Safeway to be polite, she then launched into an angry tirade about how people at the other grocery store are so much nicer. As soon as my son was done, we were out of there at top speed. I guess being approached by strange people isn't just a Tennessee phenomenon. Otherwise though, I'm happy to say that everybody I've met so far has been really friendly! <br />
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Anyway, sorry this was very mixed up and random, but I've been too busy to sit down and think about writing a proper blog post! Hopefully normal service will be resumed once the kiddos are back at school next week. Till then! <br />
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LeBlanc LeBloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098961079133336288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497631870207197490.post-15121991168996542862015-03-31T12:35:00.002-07:002015-03-31T12:49:06.532-07:00So Far In SeattleIt's been a busy week! We drove 2400 miles, settled into our temporary apartment downtown, applied for driver licenses and WA vehicle registration, set up our utilities and registered the kids in their new school. When we registered for school in Tennessee there was a permission form regarding your children being paddled. Although I myself was hit with a ruler and a belt on my hand at school, it's not the practice to hit a child nowadays right?! I was shocked to read the form and I thought it was a joke, but as I looked around the classroom filled with other parents scribbling away, I realized that it was for real! Needless to say, I declined to sign my kids up for paddling in Tennessee. It was nice to see, when doing the paperwork here, that paddling is not an option and in fact, isn't even mentioned.<br />
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This place is pretty similar to back home in the UK in many ways. You can buy wine in grocery stores for starters - yippee!!! No more dragging the kids into the liquor store if I'm picking up a bottle of vino for dinner, and getting frowned at for doing so. This is life changing, people! When you're grocery shopping, if you don't bring your own bags with you, you are charged 5c per bag, which isn't a bad thing at all and will encourage me to try and remember my own bags next time. It definitely costs more for groceries here though. It also doesn't rain here all the time contrary to popular belief. The weather has been lovely, t-shirt weather in fact, and it's only rained once so far. <br />
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Gas is 70c per gallon more expensive than it was in Tennessee. That's going to be a shock to the system. We've already experienced Seattle traffic at its worst, but because it's still new to us, we were quite content to sit in the van, and admire the scenery. I'm sure that'll get old soon enough though. The husband will be the one dealing with city traffic while the kids and I spend our days in and around our new abode close to the mountains. <br />
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We now live 25 minutes from a ski resort! Granted, the snow season hasn't been great, but we're that close to stunning, craggy mountains that we can enjoy year round which is pretty cool! The view from the kids' new school is Mount Si, which is pretty spectacular. They can also see Mount Si from their bedrooms. I don't think we've ever lived anywhere with such amazing views.<br />
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Recycling wasn't really a big thing in Tennessee. Here, however, it's highly encouraged and even compulsory, which is great. I'm still learning though, it took me an embarrassingly long time to sort out our lunch trays at Panera after we'd eaten. Hopefully I'll get used to that quickly! <br />
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So that's it for now, just a quick blog until I have more time. Our stuff arrives tomorrow so chaos will ensue for a few days, but it's one step closer to being settled. We're really looking forward to our new life here and so far, so good. Molly has had a few walks around the city and has even visited her first Starbucks. She did so well traveling in the van for 4 days to get here, and now has yet another trip under her collar, making her a very well traveled dog indeed. I'll blog about our mega road trip soon!<br />
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<br />LeBlanc LeBloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098961079133336288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497631870207197490.post-53694625255913358052015-03-23T06:51:00.000-07:002015-03-23T06:51:32.571-07:00My Robin Is Cuter Than Yours, But Your Badger Is Scarier Than Mine...Things in America still surprise me on a daily basis. As a lover of the outdoors, I used to think I was pretty good with my nature recognition - until I moved here. When I saw my first American Robin, I was surprised. Yes, it has a reddish breast, but it's kind of scraggly and big. <br />
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Now THIS is a proper robin, all cute, plump, and heavily featured on British Christmas cards.<br />
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Call me shallow for judging things based on their appearance, but the British robin is very much prettier than its American counterpart :)<br />
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Even a simple thing like the oak leaf is completely different over here. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the British oak leaf, all round edges, cute (for a leaf anyway), and instantly recognizable:<br />
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The American oak leaf, however, looks like this.<br />
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What the heck! It's all spiky! I would have no clue what tree this belonged too, were it not for all the acorns on the ground below.<br />
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I bang on a lot about all the scary animals over here in America-land, bears, mountain lions, snakes and the like. But one animal that is supremely more scary over here in comparison to it's British relative, is the badger. Just look at this beast, it's pretty bloody terrifying if you ask me.<br />
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In comparison, here is the bonnie British badger, aw, just look at his cute lil' face...<br />
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I did try to get a fierce photo of a British badger, but this is as scary as it gets, which isn't very scary at all really, compared to his American counterpart.<br />
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Anyway, I know what badger I'd rather encounter when out hiking in the woods, so yes America, you win the battle of the badgers. But us Brits definitely win the battle of the birds, the cute ones anyway! <br />
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<br />LeBlanc LeBloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098961079133336288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497631870207197490.post-22340519213534400002015-03-16T04:56:00.002-07:002015-03-16T04:57:46.781-07:00Cream Cakes and Brussel SproutsI spend way too much time at the grocery store. Luckily our local store is pretty awesome. Free cookies for the kids, lots of food samples, great bakery & food choices, a British section, and lots of lovely people who work there - two of whom are now my friends. Because I go there a lot, I'm now so used to the American way that I'll probably be a hot mess when I go to the supermarket (UK speak for grocery store) in the summer. See, even the name of the place is different! In fact, the whole grocery shopping experience here is completely different from back home. While at home I'd say "I'm going to get my messages", here it's "I'm going grocery shopping". <br />
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A good thing about American stores is that you never have to search your handbag for a coin or token in order to unlock a cart (known as a trolley in the UK). Here, carts are plentiful and easy to access. I'm a bit stressed right now due to our impending move, and believe me, I would KILL for a proper cream cake. Brits, can you believe there's no such thing here? How can people live without cream cakes? We have shelves of the things at home, all light and fluffy, with delicious fresh cream fillings and toppings. The cream here is overly sweet and just not really used very often in cakes for some reason. If you asked for a meringue at the bakery here, they would laugh. Meringues here are tiny little processed powdery things in a plastic container. At home, they are huge, fresh, crunchy, chewy and filled with delicious fresh cream. I've been dreaming about fresh cream doughnuts for the last few weeks too. No such thing here.<br />
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It took me a while to get used to the different names used in the USA for everyday grocery items too. Coriander is cilantro, aubergines are eggplant, rocket is arugula, courgettes are zucchini and spring onions are green onions. To this day, I still find it embarrassing to say "URBS" instead of the British "HERBS". If I said that at home, I'd be laughed out of the shop. I've said this before, but I also can't get used to is calling pasta "noodles". Noodles are in the Chinese section for goodness' sake! Pasta is Italian, and it's called PASTA! Our syrups are totally different too. When you say syrup here, it's assumed you mean Mrs Butterworth's or Aunt Jemima's, a dark concoction found in a plastic jug that you pour on your pancakes or waffles. Ha, we have potato waffles at home, I'm pretty sure Americans would gag at the thought of those! Anyway, syrup to me is golden syrup. It comes in a beautiful, heavy, silver and green can with a lid that is permanently sticky once opened. It's golden, it's heaven on earth and mostly used for baking and making puddings, or if you're feeling really decadent, on a sandwich with butter. But maybe that's just me!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMe2k_uqOjTF87IKNEbSNzLcZctrsMf1DZar3sRLLoqLX8Eu5cwYE8Rg1LXsemEcmXH4yCbrZJGZRMPP5qYeyaBrVcyotibTvCcFXeYc7qvupeldCgLxRBqoOii0M8nMqsa_D-f829d9gx/s1600/syrup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMe2k_uqOjTF87IKNEbSNzLcZctrsMf1DZar3sRLLoqLX8Eu5cwYE8Rg1LXsemEcmXH4yCbrZJGZRMPP5qYeyaBrVcyotibTvCcFXeYc7qvupeldCgLxRBqoOii0M8nMqsa_D-f829d9gx/s1600/syrup.jpg" height="320" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tate & Lyle golden syrup. A British icon!</td></tr>
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America isn't big on roast potatoes either. We have them in the frozen cabinet at home, and they are almost as good as freshly made. I'm not the best of cooks, so I would probably cry with joy if I saw frozen roast potatoes in the freezer here. Squash? If I asked for that here, I would be given a large orange fruit. At home, squash is what we make drinks with, it's a juice concentrate we add water to. I grew up drinking the stuff and sometimes I wish my kids could too. Instant coffee? That's considered slightly ghetto here. It's either filter, Keurig or it's crap. There's only a tiny space on the shelf for instant coffee, I almost feel like I'm being judged for buying it! <br />
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The best thing about grocery shopping in the US is the lovely packer who will happily pack your groceries into bags and do a fantastic job. No tip required. They will even offer to bring your cart to your car and help you unload. This makes me feel like a princess, even though I rarely do it because I'd rather struggle by myself than have to make small talk and watch somebody else do something I'm more than capable of! <br />
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Anyway, we move out of the house next week so we're currently struggling to make meals with what's left in our pantry and refrigerator, making my grocery store trips less frequent. Recent 'gourmet' meals in the LeBlanc household have included quesadillas with brussel sprouts, cereal for dinner, olives on toast, tuna from the can, shake n bake chicken with brussel sprouts, and rice with brussel sprouts - there sure were a lot of brussel sprouts in the freezer and my poor children are probably scarred for life. To all my readers, whatever you're eating, I'm pretty sure it's way better than what's for dinner over here. Anyone for brussel sprouts? <br />
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<br />LeBlanc LeBloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098961079133336288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497631870207197490.post-44819755762959844922015-03-12T03:26:00.001-07:002015-03-12T03:26:22.803-07:00Letters From The Heart<br />
Warning, this is an overly sentimental blog post, so continue at your own risk! <br />
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I've begun many posts over the last couple of weeks, but there is so much going on that it all sounded very disjointed. So instead, I decided to write small letters to my family, so that we can remember in the future, how this move felt to us all!<br />
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Dear L,<br />
You have perhaps grown up the most since we've lived here. You started Kindergarten here and went from being a baby to being a boy. You are such a homebody and would be happy for us all to stay home together every day and snuggle on the sofa watching TV. You are so happy being with our family and your brother is really your best friend. <i> </i>Our neighbors' girls have also been a huge part of your life here (and all of ours). I love seeing you play with them and treating them so nicely and respectfully, I truly think they have made a mark on you that will last for your lifetime. You are not really a fan of the outdoors, but these girls always make you want to actually go outside and play, which is fabulous! You tried some sports, but are more interested in the snacks than in actually playing! But L, you are truly AMAZING at building lego and solving puzzles. Age recommendations are meaningless when it comes to you. Your concentration levels are incredible and you will sit down for as many hours as it takes to build something. You excelled at Robotic Lego Camp which you absolutely loved, your attention to detail is so much more than I could ever give. You are devoted to your big brother, as he is to you. When he cries, you cry. When he is upset, you are equally as upset, if not more. Your commitment to each other always makes me emotional, and again, I'm sure it will last for your lifetime. At 7 years old, you are already talking about when you and C will live together both during and after college! Although you have grown up a lot, you are still incomplete without your 'blankie' from Korea. That brown, furry thing grosses me out, but you are seldom without it. I love seeing you first thing in the morning, said blankie wrapped around your shoulders. It has traveled to so many different places with us, probably more places than the average person! And even though you're not too excited about outdoor activities, you like nothing more than to go camping as a family, and hang out by the campsite all weekend. It will be tough for you leaving your friends and your teacher here, and I know there will be tears shed, but L, I know that ultimately you will be fine because of your love of us all being together. xxx <br />
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Dear C,<br />
My tender hearted boy! I think it's going to be the most difficult for you when we leave Tennessee. You have loved and enjoyed all our experiences here and have become a thoughtful, clever and sporty boy. You are so kind and considerate to everybody. When your brother hurts, you hurt more because you care about him so much. You are so concerned about the well being of others and you are equally as happy with your boy friends as you are with your girl friends - especially our neighbors' girls who you love like sisters. You are the sporty one of the family. It's true that you can fall over fresh air and are a wee bit clumsy sometimes, but when you're participating in any kind of sport, a change comes over you and you are one with whatever it is you are doing! Basketball, gymnastics, you name it. You excelled at soccer as soon as you started playing. So much so that we signed you up for Strikers last year, something that you love passionately and are totally committed to. You watch the Premier League on TV, you memorize the pages of the Match books and comics that Granny and Papa send to you, and you can answer any question about soccer players and teams worldwide. You practice constantly in the yard. You get so anxious before your games which kills me, as I know how much you actually love playing, but hopefully you will grow out of that! You absorb everything at school and I rarely have to help you with your homework. So much so, that your teacher wants to have you tested for being gifted. You are already sad that you will be leaving your friends, your teacher, your beloved Strikers and your amazing coaches, but I know you will quickly get used to life in Seattle. Your heart will break saying goodbye C, but you know that at least, you are moving with your best friend - your brother. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching every one of your soccer practices and games and look forward to more at our new home! xxx,<br />
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Dear A,<br />
You have grown up so much since we moved to Tennessee, but thankfully, you are also still my little girl. You are sweet, helpful and always happy to help around the house. You love nothing more than to make everyone's beds and make us all breakfast. You took over responsibility for the dog here - feeding her and taking her outside - not once have you complained, even when it's raining! Although you do like to wind your brothers up sometimes, I know you love them and always look out for them. They don't know it yet but they're extremely lucky to have you as a big sister. I love watching you with our neighbors' little girls, you love them like sisters and are always happy to play with them, despite the age difference, which matters not a jot to you! You would play outside every minute of the day if you could and you just love hanging out with your friends. In fact, you experienced your first big girl sleepover here with another of our neighbors who you are also going to miss! We feel blessed that you are such a "go with the flow" girl. You admit that you're going to be sad leaving here, but you are also truly excited for our next adventure. You've matured so much since we've been here. You're very responsible and you actually love going to school - I sure hope that lasts! Your confidence has also grown here, firstly through gymnastics, and then you discovered something you are very passionate about and excel at - karate! I'm so proud when I watch you execute your katas and moves, and you pay such close attention to your sensei (unlike your brother)! You were selected for the Demonstration Team and loved performing your moves at various venues around town. We so enjoyed coming to watch you! You also began yoga classes which brought you to a love of yoga, just like your Mummy. You are definitely a rule follower and everyone you come in contact with, comments on your beautiful manners, your good behavior and your sweet nature. Daddy has been gone for most of this move and you've helped me out so much. I will be forever grateful for you A, thank you for everything you do, every day xxx<br />
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Dear J,<br />
I'm not going to lie, I was very skeptical about moving here when you retired from the military and took a job with Amazon. I'd never even heard of Murfreesboro and didn't really know much about Tennessee apart from country music and Nashville! It was kind of scary that we were going to be miles away from the nearest base and there would be no more shopping at the commissary or the BX. But... I can't even begin to say how proud I am of you and how grateful and happy I am with our life together. You sucked up several months on night shift which was hard on all of us, but we managed and made the most of it. Daytime dates were actually fun! We had fantastic weekends exploring the countryside in and around Murfreesboro and took the kids on several hiking, boating, camping and mountain biking adventures. You would always surprise us with some new place you wanted us to visit, and we have had so much fun being tourists and exploring. You have worked your ass off (as usual) and you were promoted after your first year with Amazon. You then went on to be promoted again just before Christmas last year which led us to this move to Seattle. You are so committed to us, your family, that it still amazes me. We are truly a team and I love that our best friends are each other. Although I'm sad to be leaving our friends and our life here in Tennessee, I am also excited for our new adventure - and we have already been amazingly lucky to have had so many adventures in our life together! I've missed you over the last month and I'm so excited for us all to be together again and begin our new chapter. Love always xxx<br />
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So my friends, there you have it for this week. Yes, I'm an emotional wreck! Tennessee friends, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the amazing friendships and experiences we've had with you all. Not only have you made this place one of our most favorite places we've lived in, you also made our transition to life in the civilian world so very easy, thank you so much! We love you all and hope to see many of you again in the future. Till next time... xxx<br />
<br />LeBlanc LeBloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098961079133336288noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497631870207197490.post-81815833304908795182015-03-02T03:43:00.000-08:002015-03-02T03:43:12.905-08:00Bears and Angry BirdsRegardless of where you live, when you move house, you take into consideration all the usual things like schools, location, walkability etc. But when you move anywhere in America, it's a good idea to research the local wildlife too. The scariest things here in TN are without doubt, the snakes, and unfortunately I've seen too many of those! Apparently in Washington we won't have to worry about venomous snakes. They do however, have bears and mountain lions. Shitballs! Do you play dead or act big and loud when you see a black bear? I have no idea, time to do some research I guess. Apparently we have to use special garbage cans in our new neighborhood to stop the bears foraging for food in your trash. Yikes! But truly, this is part of why I love living over here, there's definitely never a dull moment!<br />
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The kids and me went out for breakfast recently. It's always a struggle to order tea over here. Servers rarely understand that when I ask for milk on the side, it means I want it at the same time as my tea. My tea duly arrived minus the milk. I asked again. And again. 15 minutes later (yes I'm sad, I timed it), my milk was brought to the table, but of course by now, my hot tea was bloody freezing. I waited another 10 minutes for fresh, hot water, but I did eventually get my nice cuppa. By the time our food arrived, I was kind of frustrated after the tea debacle, but looking forward to eating. Ha! Middle son ordered a pancake with a smiley face made out of fruit. We were all about to get stuck in when the waitress decided to become Chatty Kathy. She started talking about the pancake face and told my son that if he moved the apple slices, it would look like an angry bird. I was looking like an angry bird myself by now, hungry and fed up waiting for my tea for so long. I was about to say something when she took it upon herself to use her long, nasty fingernail to move my son's apple slices to make the angry bird face. Ugh! I told her we were in a hurry to eat, so she left and I removed the apple slices before I let my son eat. Yes, worse things happen to your food while it's still in the kitchen, but I'd rather not see people touching it with their fingernails! I wasn't feeling very generous by the time we left, so Chatty Kathy's tip wasn't very large...<br />
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This little episode reminded me of an experience we had in Korea. The husband and me had popped in for a coffee somewhere and I ordered a latte. The server was lovely as are most people there who work in stores, restaurants etc. She was chatting away, we had no idea what she was saying but we nodded politely and smiled a lot. Until... she was in the middle of making my latte when she took the spoon out of the mug, put it in her mouth, sucked it and returned it back into my mug. For real. She then presented it to me with a huge smile, like it was something very special. Yes, it was indeed very special and there was no way in hell I was going to drink it. I waited until she wasn't looking and dumped it into the trash can before slinking away silently. She was such a nice girl that I really couldn't get angry, but man, how gross is that?! <br />
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Anyway, eating out here is usually a good experience, so you'd think that by now I'd have learned to be more patient with the tea thing. But nope, I still get a bit grumpy when it happens again and again. Tea is very important to most of us Brits you know! I did spot a Tea and Crumpets Cafe in Seattle when we visited, so I'll definitely be going there for a taste of the homeland when we live there. Speaking of which, it's less than a month to go before our mega-drive to live in the land of bears! Till next week folks! <br />
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<br />LeBlanc LeBloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098961079133336288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497631870207197490.post-73060918015334043872015-02-23T03:45:00.000-08:002015-02-23T03:45:54.744-08:00Ice, Ice BabyIcemageddon swept through Middle Tennessee at the beginning of last week, leaving roads impassable, stores closed, power outages and a thick layer of ice everywhere. School has been out all week and we've been pretty much stuck at home for the duration, which the kids have, of course, loved. We did have a break mid-week when things almost returned to normal, but then the next wave of ice came.<br />
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I've spent over 4 years of my life living in the Dakotas, where we experienced massive blizzards that shut everything down for a day or two, but life always returned to normal very quickly. This ice storm, however, was totally different to anything I've ever experienced before. Because we generally don't get much snow or ice here at all, it takes a long time to restore roads and get things running normally again, even after a dusting of snow. Grocery stores are chaos before anything hits - bread, milk and eggs always sell out immediately. We knew this storm was coming so we stayed away from the stores, unlike most of the residents of Middle Tennessee. After it hit, the ice was everywhere. Our driveway was totally impassable and the dog refused to leave the house to go to the bathroom. All our trees were bent over from the weight of the ice with their branches touching the ground. Power lines were covered and trees and branches were coming down all over the place. It was beautiful, but totally paralyzing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIrdmrpjw0Qq4eB3TnymQRRbjJ9tEdfUDn75R2G0azdGuBhNWAXUqPlp7HCX89NRR4wAyuAUcgrQc3CMgasN7__vVpUayGFvdatGwrmkeUqji2ZgHZel-BY4QSJGUYJPTkLEqgzAVV5gQ/s1600/icebush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIrdmrpjw0Qq4eB3TnymQRRbjJ9tEdfUDn75R2G0azdGuBhNWAXUqPlp7HCX89NRR4wAyuAUcgrQc3CMgasN7__vVpUayGFvdatGwrmkeUqji2ZgHZel-BY4QSJGUYJPTkLEqgzAVV5gQ/s1600/icebush.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trees looked like Christmas decorations!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dog refused to go near our icy steps of death</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My poor lil' bent over tree!</td></tr>
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When severe weather hits Britain, we're happy to stay home, have a cup of tea and eat some biscuits. Continuing in this tradition, I'd stocked up on Hobnobs a few days before, so the kids and me happily munched through a couple of boxes during our captivity. Chocolate biscuits make everything more bearable (of course, so does beer). I'm so lucky that the Publix down the road has a British section where I can grab some goodies from home at extortionate prices if I feel the need, so thank you Publix! <br />
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We've already experienced a few major events as a family. Blizzards in North and South Dakota, a typhoon in South Korea, Kim Jong Il's threats to annihilate us (again in South Korea) and an earthquake in Washington DC. The worst event, however, was the great pumpkin shortage of 2009 at Osan AFB, I kid you not. My fellow Osan-ites know exactly what I'm talking about. During Thanksgiving and Christmas of that year, nary a can of pumpkin could be found on the South Korean peninsula, sending us all into a frenzy of trying to procure the goods to make our pies for the holiday season. It got desperate people. If rumor started that a tray of canned pumpkin was on the commissary shelves, we'd all sprint down there like crazy people to try and grab a can. Most of us with family in the States ended up begging them to send us some cans, which my Mother in Law very kindly did. A few months later when the shelves were finally stocked with pumpkin, every single one of us started to hoard for the future. To this day, I always have several cans of pumpkin in my pantry for 'just in case', possibly a mild form of pumpkin PTSD, which I'm pretty sure my fellow Korea survivors suffer from too ;) <br />
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Things are progressing on our move. We'd planned on flying our dog to Seattle before the kids and me went, so that the husband could pick her up from the airport and take care of her in his bachelor pad in downtown Seattle until we got there. But... What do you do when your vet tells you your dog is in fact, too old to fly to your new home? You plan a massive, mega, cross country driving trip of 2420 miles, so that your fur baby can still come with you of course! I actually like this plan better anyway for selfish reasons, because I'd miss her the few weeks she'd be in Seattle. She's my morning wake up call, my crumb cleaner-upper, my home security system and best of all, she's always makes me smile, even when I'm feeling grumpy. It's going to take us a few days to do the drive, but it's going to be amazing showing the kids all the different states that we'll be driving through. I'm most excited to see some of Montana, I'm not too excited at the prospect of the kids squabbling in the back of the van for all of those miles though, or at the prospect of my old lady joints freezing after sitting still for such a long time. I'm pretty sure we'll see some crazy things to blog about though! <br />
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So, it's safe to say that I'll be happy never to see ice again, although if we do, at least I'll always have a stock of pumpkin in the pantry for if we run out of food. Have a good week y'all!<br />
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<br />LeBlanc LeBloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098961079133336288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497631870207197490.post-25495520842466765192015-02-16T04:53:00.001-08:002015-02-16T04:53:37.961-08:00Recently......it's been pretty hectic around here, between selling the house, sick kiddos, husband working in Seattle, and the all usual weekly activities. I could whine for Scotland, but instead, I'll share some things that sucked, followed by things that were fabulous to make up for it. Here goes. <br />
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IT SUCKED <br />
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1. Finding out I have arthritis in 3 different places on my knee, I have lost a significant amount of cartilage, I have a misaligned knee joint, and I also have something called a popliteal cyst on the back of my knee. A steroid injection didn't make much difference. The doc said my running days are over, I prefer to think of it as no running for a little while, or at least until I find a new doctor in Seattle who will be more proactive in getting me back in my Mizunos...<br />
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2. Being told that mostly due to my age, I now need to wear bifocals every single day for the rest of my life. I've never even worn glasses till now, apart from reading glasses - without which, I can't read menus any more. Not that I have anything against glasses, but it'll take a bit of getting used to. On the bright side, they're progressive lenses so don't have the old lady bifocal line on them, but I haven't mastered the art of drinking tea and managing not to steam them up yet! And I sure as heck don't feel bloody well old, although I may look it - I don't really know, because I can't see properly in the mirror these days... <br />
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3. Filling in a ridiculous amount of house selling paperwork, and having to wait for all involved parties to complete their parts. While it's great that we have a relocation company working with us, it sure does add a lot of required signatures and approvals. Plus with the husband not being here, there's a lot of extra scanning and emailing going on. <br />
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4. Youngest kiddo projectile vomiting all over the bathroom.<br />
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5. Middle kiddo being sent home from school sick.<br />
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6. Regularly being told by people that I'm not being fair to the kids by moving to Seattle and starting them in a new school in the middle of the school year. I personally think (hope) that moving mid school year, the kids will have time to make friends at their new school before the summer holidays, and will therefore have friends to play with when school is out. Also, many people have reacted negatively to our news saying "Oh no, how awful" or "Oh no, the weather is awful up there". Our family is used to moving every couple of years from our time in the military and many of our friends still move every couple of years with no adverse effects, so I think we'll be just fine. So there! <br />
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ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE <br />
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1. A fun afternoon was spent drinking champagne and eating cookies outside (in February no less) with my good friend and neighbor. Plus, later on in the week, a fun morning of pedicures followed by lunch with the same friend. Can't complain about that! <br />
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2. The fact that the projectile vomiting happened in the tiled bathroom and not on the carpet made for easy clean up! Yippee! <br />
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3. The house is under contract! Every time our lovely realtor comes out to the house, she brings a box of cookies for the kids,which of course have to be sampled by Mummy first. I sure seem to be eating a lot of cookies these days... <br />
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4. So much help from my previously mentioned friend and neighbor with printing and scanning the zillions of pages of house related stuff, because my own printer keeps messing up. I really don't know what I'd do without you JW!<br />
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5. Middle kiddo had a soccer game at 7am on Saturday morning, which meant waking everybody up at 5.30am. I'd normally complain about that if it wasn't for the fact that his recent games have mostly been at 9pm on a Friday evening, therefore spoiling my usual Friday afternoon beverage time. So, 7am on a Saturday morning? I'll take it! <br />
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6. Although my knee hurts like heck, I can still practice my beloved hot yoga. I'm thankfully only limited in a few poses.<br />
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7. Scandal and The Walking Dead. Olivia Pope and Rick Grimes make me happy. Yes, I do know they're not real. <br />
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8. We're going to Scotland in the summer on vacation! It's been 2 years since we last visited, so this trip is long overdue. I intend to stuff my face with square sausage, proper bacon, twiglets, proper bread, massive amounts of British chocolate, every cake that Asher's Bakery has to offer and many other foods I miss from back home. I may or may not weigh at least 10 lbs heavier at the end of this vacation...<br />
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Anyway, I hopefully managed not to whine too much, and even found a couple of extra good things to compare to the sucky ones so it's not all bad! Hopefully, normal blogging operations will be resumed next week. See y'all then! LeBlanc LeBloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098961079133336288noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497631870207197490.post-27281745081019444042015-02-09T04:56:00.001-08:002015-02-09T04:56:15.226-08:00Battle of the Soaps - UK/USI'd like to start this week's blog post by asking if anybody knows what a sex funeral is. Apparently someone, somewhere out there in cyberspace, googled "sex funeral" and ended up on this here blog of mine. While I'm pretty sure they must have been extremely disappointed with my blog's content, it's kinda freaky that somebody would even google that in the first place - shudder. Anyway, enough of that kind of thing, let's talk about soap operas! <br />
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Anne Kirkbride, who played Deirdre in Coronation Street (a highly popular UK soap opera) recently died after a short illness. It was all over the UK media and many people were saddened by her passing. It got me thinking about the major differences between soap operas in the UK and the US.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9f33-HTrmJOqjtxReYInH7K3pkGL_76TZaMPGEMkmcfcLziEfX_C4uSRyZdEoioTaxJGDv7nKkKu5w-aKR1VYxtuimt4dIHIp2O73VuLlEoeWpSxTAlCFHLswC-oBvaCdqoQyxFd1Fhh6/s1600/deirdre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9f33-HTrmJOqjtxReYInH7K3pkGL_76TZaMPGEMkmcfcLziEfX_C4uSRyZdEoioTaxJGDv7nKkKu5w-aKR1VYxtuimt4dIHIp2O73VuLlEoeWpSxTAlCFHLswC-oBvaCdqoQyxFd1Fhh6/s1600/deirdre.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RIP Anne Kirkbride aka Deirdre Barlow. A soap icon in the UK.</td></tr>
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Soap operas are hugely popular over here, and back home in the UK. Soaps here in the US are shown during the day and therefore have a more limited audience, while in the UK, the main soaps are shown during prime time in the evening and therefore have a much wider audience.<br />
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American soap stars look mostly like this:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDx2PBDXIeszZxlFBSONy5Y5AaUMTMk2NUZp8y_Mgh_uewi1GUG18zCNI-q-qjdb1T0-Mru7betC25qVpHklbLhguaGLJjNjN03IGprE6ojJyJVlkHnwjW-KlPJ6d-4Vdqz_hR3NXzkfn3/s1600/soap+us+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDx2PBDXIeszZxlFBSONy5Y5AaUMTMk2NUZp8y_Mgh_uewi1GUG18zCNI-q-qjdb1T0-Mru7betC25qVpHklbLhguaGLJjNjN03IGprE6ojJyJVlkHnwjW-KlPJ6d-4Vdqz_hR3NXzkfn3/s1600/soap+us+1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Susan Lucci, I have no idea what soap opera she is in because apparently American soap stars regularly switch between shows!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXvDJJ5HPgmLSGy12VSWIexYU7KOoarPiCpCm6VsH_mGr72v_y6fFY43Ekg1mGj_LyC6hIPdRA5ra3CjSijE-S-Pg_Yqc4bU9hx8WUcTjjFGeG2DUrojHjvUvv816EYZXmwgx-Vu0pf9Q/s1600/us+soap+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXvDJJ5HPgmLSGy12VSWIexYU7KOoarPiCpCm6VsH_mGr72v_y6fFY43Ekg1mGj_LyC6hIPdRA5ra3CjSijE-S-Pg_Yqc4bU9hx8WUcTjjFGeG2DUrojHjvUvv816EYZXmwgx-Vu0pf9Q/s1600/us+soap+2.png" height="200" width="151" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Carly from General Hospital. I have no idea what her real name is either. GH is actually one of the only American soaps I have ever watched. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-Wm6XtJJ5p27P1dcsXDO7E7UDDvtiUVhimRr0jZ-C-w9U-Aef61BLHK0XHXNmbqxZHjeZIfEel1C-xymzUZic5QGo88tnRkcvRa8-d8Ld2agu3wclMpG9R9Mhq37TudA2K2V7oBkI7ks/s1600/jason+morgan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-Wm6XtJJ5p27P1dcsXDO7E7UDDvtiUVhimRr0jZ-C-w9U-Aef61BLHK0XHXNmbqxZHjeZIfEel1C-xymzUZic5QGo88tnRkcvRa8-d8Ld2agu3wclMpG9R9Mhq37TudA2K2V7oBkI7ks/s1600/jason+morgan.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jason Morgan, again from GH, and again, I have no idea what his real name is. Just Whoarrr!!!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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You get the picture. American soap stars are glamorous, beautiful and not really similar to normal, everyday kind of people. British soap stars on the other hand, mostly look like this:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOItX2lGSGTrpGaGiqeMekYvezZSVeY9fuvXkOTaccOZuBLnIX0rnZ_P6vzHvxpn5_t4-mIvOj17bzJB6GlwnTMcSiQRTHZPZNunsXLL8bdgRMzRqRE7VD9Inif_KkBUgBxHN543-20iuU/s1600/gail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOItX2lGSGTrpGaGiqeMekYvezZSVeY9fuvXkOTaccOZuBLnIX0rnZ_P6vzHvxpn5_t4-mIvOj17bzJB6GlwnTMcSiQRTHZPZNunsXLL8bdgRMzRqRE7VD9Inif_KkBUgBxHN543-20iuU/s1600/gail.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gail from Coronation Street, real name Helen Worth.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tyrone from Coronation Street. Not exactly Jason Morgan...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mo from Eastenders, definitely not American soap opera material!</td></tr>
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Although obviously there are also some attractive people on Coronation Street and Eastenders too, British soaps are so much more realistic. It's rare to see outside shots in American soaps, most are set in studios and have the obligatory fuzz/golden lighting to make everybody look even more beautiful. British soaps have scenes in the street, down the market, in the garden, you name it. It's real life baby! <br />
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British soap stars pretty much have celebrity status throughout the UK. Even if you don't watch the show, it's pretty likely that you'll have heard of most of the major characters in it or read about them in one of the national newspapers. The 2 main soaps, Coronation Street and Eastenders are watched by millions and even have Christmas Day specials, usually filled with doom and gloom, that are actually a part of most families' Christmas viewing. Not so over here.<br />
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Even the soap names are totally different. The Young and The Restless, The Bold and The Beautiful, Days of Our Lives - compare that with Eastenders and Coronation Street. I guess because Britain is such a small place compared to over here that it's only natural soap stars will be more widely known. You definitely don't get actresses like Anne Kirkbride or Helen Worth on US soaps.<br />
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Although I'm not really a fan of American soaps, I did watch General Hospital for a while when the husband was deployed to Afghanistan, and I enjoyed the little bit of escapism it offered. But I definitely enjoy the more gritty, sometimes comical soaps from back home a lot more. I'm sure most Americans probably wouldn't enjoy our type of soaps either, so I guess, each to his own. But even the husband agrees that British soaps are more entertaining and realistic than those over here, and it's not very often that he even watches TV! I'd be interested to hear my readers' thoughts on soaps too, so please feel free to comment, just as long as you're not into sex funerals...! <br />
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<br />LeBlanc LeBloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098961079133336288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497631870207197490.post-88083354765021430412015-02-02T03:47:00.001-08:002015-02-02T03:47:09.127-08:00Our Trip To The Emerald City<br />
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We recently returned from a 4 day trip to Seattle to check out our new home and the surrounding area. On countless occasions during the trip, I kept saying "This is so much like Scotland", both in and out of the city. The city itself is beautiful, with a mix of old and new, stunning views at the end of roads and my favorite thing - TOTAL WALKABILITY!!!! I've lived in 4 states so far and none of them have had decent sidewalks and public transport as we do in the UK to speak of. Seattle, I am happy to say, is the total opposite. There really are Starbucks everywhere, and crazy people, and friendly people, and dogs - I've never seen so many dogs. We even saw somebody walking their cat on a leash down a busy street. The husband intends to take our Molly to his work to see how she does. Apparently it's the norm at the campus where he'll be working, which I think is hilarious! We did a few touristy things too - we gagged at the sight of the gum wall, watched huge salmon being thrown around at <a href="http://www.pikeplacemarket.org/" target="_blank">Pike Place Market</a> and ate a massive pile of crab legs and shrimp at <a href="http://www.thecrabpotseattle.com/" target="_blank">The Crab Pot</a> before riding the Ferris Wheel. While I did also want to visit <a href="http://uncleikes.wpengine.com/" target="_blank">Uncle Ike's</a>, I didn't really think it would be appropriate with the kiddos...! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just walking around!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delicious crab legs!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The nasty gum wall :)</td></tr>
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Seattle had recentlymade it to the Superbowl Final, so there were blue and green lights and Seahawks flags and signs everywhere. I know jack about American Football, but it's easy to feel the excitement going on for the local team. My soccer mad child is more excited to see the Seattle Sounders play, so of course, we bought both the boys Sounders shirts to the dismay of our friend Lennie, who is a Portland Timbers fanatic :) Unfortunately, the Hawks didn't win the Super Bowl, but man, they sure had a lot of support!<br />
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Our hotel, <a href="http://www.fairmont.com/seattle/?cmpid=google_sea_search-branded-us_branded-e-revsh&gclid=CjwKEAiArqKmBRCOj_qfmuqinnYSJAAkAYwG4pQvHcWkkfORXYvMBjd4tsbslvhl3m26SR8h274GrBoCXajw_wcB" target="_blank">The Fairmont,</a> was amazing. We had afternoon tea in their Georgian Tearoom which was a great experience for the kiddos. The hotel was in the middle of downtown, so we walked to lots of different restaurants and for once, no arguments about who had to abstain from drinking to drive us home. We visited <a href="http://www.spaceneedle.com/home/" target="_blank">The Space Needle</a> which was great fun - for the husband and the kids. I suffer from vertigo attacks every couple of years, so just going in the elevator to the top had me sweating and nauseous. I literally took a couple of photos of the amazing views at the top, then went straight back down to the bottom to wait for the rest of the family, who luckily aren't affected by such ridiculous things. If you come to visit us, I will gladly take you to the Space Needle, but I sure as hell will not be going up top with you! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19mr4jBYOrJ2LkPfQgN6jEB3ShBhqhZbqyETO9wtIq4hRi9RGzS018B-QrRr1iCgrdwjJ6Wn1fpj0NeEwULrKnCIplxdqosmhPXHvNjt-NrJsXN6xwsdcFrb1AWVgO5bMw5PNyJW-TRAI/s1600/sea4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19mr4jBYOrJ2LkPfQgN6jEB3ShBhqhZbqyETO9wtIq4hRi9RGzS018B-QrRr1iCgrdwjJ6Wn1fpj0NeEwULrKnCIplxdqosmhPXHvNjt-NrJsXN6xwsdcFrb1AWVgO5bMw5PNyJW-TRAI/s1600/sea4.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fancy Georgian Tearoom</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyELfpb4zrU1iGFjM0HfZMbRm42q_vATSq58wNG9yoljJ99xtW7GpB3nsukCsQzc-KzblQNOysQAJDDjRAIVlTC62ZS9VNJDMTgxKlmIGpDaCyUXDaV8KHoY92bDb8ylCAMi26nDbQJE5t/s1600/sea5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyELfpb4zrU1iGFjM0HfZMbRm42q_vATSq58wNG9yoljJ99xtW7GpB3nsukCsQzc-KzblQNOysQAJDDjRAIVlTC62ZS9VNJDMTgxKlmIGpDaCyUXDaV8KHoY92bDb8ylCAMi26nDbQJE5t/s1600/sea5.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Afternoon Tea, yes please!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Dv-RVHV4Y7FmxpbJUyN7yLHS2GqKQFuQMymot8khZZTJx9AvPz05ToUQGTuUs6xQny5CyJOM2c5zaambk89ZPNb_JGPrxTTiGuLL41Y9nFjJ8BIs4tNmOUhYkEhNdkPFbk-uXe_UU-yz/s1600/sea6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Dv-RVHV4Y7FmxpbJUyN7yLHS2GqKQFuQMymot8khZZTJx9AvPz05ToUQGTuUs6xQny5CyJOM2c5zaambk89ZPNb_JGPrxTTiGuLL41Y9nFjJ8BIs4tNmOUhYkEhNdkPFbk-uXe_UU-yz/s1600/sea6.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying to be posh...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9Ko4ilYtJ3BS83HC4zAweO-Xhvgklmt-m4D5aOshgAUxdT_5YjWzOK-i05rM1_4g4RsV9vTinYxcgykAwY8d92zBzQ7gIWiTDPA0BT7CK2dQqpt8MQVxVKHqnD3YStPoh_3jOEYN3XaV/s1600/sea3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9Ko4ilYtJ3BS83HC4zAweO-Xhvgklmt-m4D5aOshgAUxdT_5YjWzOK-i05rM1_4g4RsV9vTinYxcgykAwY8d92zBzQ7gIWiTDPA0BT7CK2dQqpt8MQVxVKHqnD3YStPoh_3jOEYN3XaV/s1600/sea3.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the top of the Needle before rushing down!</td></tr>
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We drove out to Snoqualmie which is about 30 miles to the east of Seattle, and where our rental house is situated. Our landlord was happy to show us round as the kids and me hadn't actually seen it yet. Luckily, the husband chose well and we all loved it. Snoqualmie is pretty rural and is surrounded by trees, mountains and gorgeous scenery, there's even a ski resort 20 minutes away. The spectacular <a href="http://www.snoqualmiefalls.com/" target="_blank">Snoqualmie Falls</a> are a mere 2 miles from our new home and can actually be walked or biked to from our front door. Snoqualmie also has it's own <a href="http://fallsbrew.com/" target="_blank">Brewery</a>, which of course, we had to try out. The beer was amazing and I'm pretty sure we'll become regulars there. The closest Walmart is about 28 miles away, so my tales of woe from the Walmart parking lot will be discontinued, but that's definitely not a bad thing :) There are enough stores around that we won't starve, and there are more than enough activities, trails, restaurants etc around that I have a feeling we will love living there. The only down side I can think of is that houses up there are twice the price of those here in Tennessee - and half the size, but as far as I'm concerned, that's a good thing. Less to clean right? <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjergrkVqbYu5GTiEHhkA6eWFhYXjcl1El4gxKkEJVy8XqVLXRUG1kbXfcLAW4ydBg8SfaGqqrRMWgqmcdLulCp1qzalObWayHiCdfwvzKCmVEjKMClBHQdEeTAr1b0Xts7xnkONsUgIUmt/s1600/sea7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjergrkVqbYu5GTiEHhkA6eWFhYXjcl1El4gxKkEJVy8XqVLXRUG1kbXfcLAW4ydBg8SfaGqqrRMWgqmcdLulCp1qzalObWayHiCdfwvzKCmVEjKMClBHQdEeTAr1b0Xts7xnkONsUgIUmt/s1600/sea7.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snoqualmie River</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoa6oECJFNi4bVjkZmciaIH4BZokgU7C5a3UH_LLFAl_lb2bLelU67zp1BQjgX-1ujX39P33Pg3ueU20x-IbtlsxoB3pV5rrQfaU7iCHVNdqxJD1IfMKQLszZvzo1aXdYjvNCNwbmzYPqk/s1600/sea12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoa6oECJFNi4bVjkZmciaIH4BZokgU7C5a3UH_LLFAl_lb2bLelU67zp1BQjgX-1ujX39P33Pg3ueU20x-IbtlsxoB3pV5rrQfaU7iCHVNdqxJD1IfMKQLszZvzo1aXdYjvNCNwbmzYPqk/s1600/sea12.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snoqualmie Falls - 2 miles from our house!!</td></tr>
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It did rain for our first couple of days, but to be honest, because it was a lot warmer than here in Tennessee, it didn't really matter and never felt uncomfortable. It certainly doesn't stop the locals from doing outdoor activities, there were still people running, hiking, biking and just outside doing their thing. Just like Scotland really! We also took a drive out to <a href="http://www.seattle.gov/util/EnvironmentConservation/Education/CedarRiverWatershed/RattlesnakeLake/index.htm" target="_blank">Rattlesnake Lake</a> which is pretty close to Snoqualmie and had a hike around the crystal clear lake and into the woods. People were so friendly, literally everybody said hello and the kids had a blast petting people's dogs. There are walking trails everywhere, we will never be stuck for something to do for sure. When the sun does come out, the views are just incredible. Mount Rainier is massive and looks like it's been superimposed above the landscape. Just amazing! We took a drive out to <a href="http://www.kirklandwa.gov/" target="_blank">Kirkland</a> which is a lovely wee town on the banks of a lake. Again, another very walkable place with lots of cute restaurants, bars and stores and a nice walk along the lakefront. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN43ocHgiLN9nRK95AWD54wTYk07tr_TxnzBhF1CC2rIM1H9gKDmdd4_48CoUHmRi1njssAcyG7APUhs-wgqq-7i1paoCghitap1jirNefRCY_g5_UA3yc93mKMQmIL3psImTrQfs20XZd/s1600/sea2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN43ocHgiLN9nRK95AWD54wTYk07tr_TxnzBhF1CC2rIM1H9gKDmdd4_48CoUHmRi1njssAcyG7APUhs-wgqq-7i1paoCghitap1jirNefRCY_g5_UA3yc93mKMQmIL3psImTrQfs20XZd/s1600/sea2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty Kirkland</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdYsug-1b0F9H3zYQzUoqEFmV11u00rkQzA8fJnZ4qFfsVY4uKuIQR1YcCtn7YPIc77NaYVEzh_gj8G-dcn92_I_WZ7gWPGVcXnXfDng7nte_RSYyjQpC4vH-i0h5KPsZOOdVDPYW1Fgd/s1600/sea11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdYsug-1b0F9H3zYQzUoqEFmV11u00rkQzA8fJnZ4qFfsVY4uKuIQR1YcCtn7YPIc77NaYVEzh_gj8G-dcn92_I_WZ7gWPGVcXnXfDng7nte_RSYyjQpC4vH-i0h5KPsZOOdVDPYW1Fgd/s1600/sea11.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rattlesnake Lake</td></tr>
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So, it's safe to say that our trip to the Northwest was definitely a success, and the kiddos are really excited for when we move there at the end of March. They were especially pleased to hear that school there doesn't start until 9am - a massive hour and a half later than here in Tennessee. Me, I was pleased to see that I can utilize Amazon Fresh at our new address, and even more happy when I saw that they also deliver wine, beer and my favorite champers to your door. Yep, its the small things in life...! <br />
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<br />LeBlanc LeBloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098961079133336288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497631870207197490.post-69593796375621198732015-01-28T04:10:00.001-08:002015-01-28T04:13:34.571-08:00The NewsSo, before I begin this week's rant/whine/observation, I must start by saying that I have a news anchor friend who is both lovely and professional on air.
I enjoyed watching her on the news when we lived in the same town and
I'm sure that I would still enjoy watching her at her new station. She
was always herself when reading the news, but still managed to be
professional at the same time - which to me, is the perfect combination.
Plus, she is hot and wears fabulous clothes :) You know who you are KKF! However... <br />
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American news programs drive me NUTS. As in throw things, and scream at the TV nuts. I can hardly bring myself to watch the news over here! Most local programs look like they were filmed in the 70's, complete with grainy pictures and bad outfits. The American national icon of news, Barbara Walters, is never shown without 'fuzz' - they make her all blurry and golden looking. It hurts my eyes just trying to focus on her! Why do they do this? Don't get me started on the Fox Clones - they're all so highly made up and you really can't tell them apart. Were they cloned especially to work on Fox News? <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhvR5EVHR4Tn32FEMVfbcMBKY-DqaJjCnY7lcIhVYiDQQ-l6WkyEgsmSgLph0y54TufV2_AcWCIwcLbDXw9-ThPtmna_RhYmz2mpcAhAlRz23tlnF69FTcbaYkfEqDcOe4Y9iEg4HtnWH/s1600/walters__130328170730.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhvR5EVHR4Tn32FEMVfbcMBKY-DqaJjCnY7lcIhVYiDQQ-l6WkyEgsmSgLph0y54TufV2_AcWCIwcLbDXw9-ThPtmna_RhYmz2mpcAhAlRz23tlnF69FTcbaYkfEqDcOe4Y9iEg4HtnWH/s1600/walters__130328170730.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Permanently Fuzzy Barbara</td></tr>
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The other channels are not much better. Robin Meade for example. Perky, pretty, and a very nice person I'm sure, but OMG, her dramatic facial expressions and chummy banter are wooden and embarassing. Stop!! I'm not going to go into the politics of the main news channels here - we all know who is right wing, who is left wing and all that goes with it. But what makes me scream the loudest is when Fox News constantly proclaims itself to be "fair and balanced". It's as fair and balanced as I'm tall and big boobed. If you don't know me, believe me, I'm anything but. <br />
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Thankfully, we do get BBC America news. It's a haven of peace, tranquility and normalcy for me. No judging expressions when reading news stories (Megyn Kelly on Fox News is the queen of dramatic faces) and no dramatic pauses between words when the story is something that the newsreader disagrees with (Megyn Kelly again). I know the BBC has come under a lot of criticism for its news programs back home recently, but I miss the BBC news immensely. They read the stories plain, simple, impartial and without embellishment. Isn't that how the news should be read? I miss the deadpan Moira Stuart and her like (I know, she doesn't work for the BBC any more). Serious with a bit of polite banter at the end. Perfect!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUToBHQGzP36s6oNSzdU4rq_NgiMTUfp7FTeLW2d7koYioTh6aVGUMAsT4Sttq4J_uln5jUzsmPdJQ1D5SFDV5iPaPH9dOQUG7Zm05Vk6UWjpjcdrISkgne6HkPd3VF-BibsAsZw4hTxk/s1600/moira_stuart_1291125c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUToBHQGzP36s6oNSzdU4rq_NgiMTUfp7FTeLW2d7koYioTh6aVGUMAsT4Sttq4J_uln5jUzsmPdJQ1D5SFDV5iPaPH9dOQUG7Zm05Vk6UWjpjcdrISkgne6HkPd3VF-BibsAsZw4hTxk/s1600/moira_stuart_1291125c.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lovely Moira :)</td></tr>
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At home, we have half an hour of world and national news, followed by half an hour of local news. Simple, no drama. The weather isn't drawn out like it is on the local channels here. At the beginning of the hour of local news, they tell you that they will tell you (confused?) what's coming up weather-wise in 10 minutes. At the 10 minute point, they tease you with a small piece of weather information and then announce that they will tell you more in a further 10 minutes. This continues all the way through the program. All I want to see is the bloody weather forecast!!!!! Want some international news? Forget it. The international news is usually the shortest part of most programs.<br />
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Anyway, so ends my wee rant about the American news. I guess I'm getting old because when I was younger, I hated watching the news. But shouldn't news be just that, NEWS? Not judging, drama and criticism? So today, I leave you with a cute video of some random puppy - this is actually normal on news channels here. To fill in gaps? Who knows. I just know that I don't watch the news to see cute animals!!!! Have a good week peeps!<br />
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<br />LeBlanc LeBloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098961079133336288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497631870207197490.post-44550598116968495452015-01-19T04:40:00.001-08:002015-01-19T04:40:11.487-08:00First World ProblemsEating out is one of my favorite things to do, mostly because I'm not exactly Martha Stewart in the kitchen. One thing that always surprises me here in America though, is that even in some of the fancier restaurants, you are mostly expected to use the same cutlery for each course. When I finish my appetizer, I always put my knife and fork together, vertically on the plate for the server to take away before the next course is served. So I really hate when they pick up these utensils and place them back on the table when removing the plate, either that, or they gesture for you to do so. Yuck!!! Why can't I have clean cutlery for my next course without having to ask for it specially? I personally think it's pretty gross to have your used cutlery sitting on the table between courses, I don't remember this happening in the UK!<br />
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One thing I have become used to, however, is the practice of being given your bill promptly - sometimes before you've even finished eating. I hated this when we first moved here, but I guess some things are easier to get used to than others. Nowadays, if I don't get the bill promptly, I start looking for the waiter and get all twitchy. If we ever move back to the UK, I wonder if I'd find it difficult getting back to having to ask for the bill again. Ah, first world problems...!<br />
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The High School in our neighborhood has a massive parking lot which is always full of cars belonging to students and teachers. It got me wondering what happens at lunch time. Do hundreds of students get in their cars to go out for lunch? That would be total chaos! In Scotland, we have an hour for lunch. You can opt to stay in school and eat, or you can leave to go and have your lunch elsewhere - at home, the local chippy, or wherever you like. We would walk down the High Street and grab a tomato soup and iced bun from the bakery before walking slowly back up to school. Even when we lived in Glasgow where the school was a lot bigger, we would leave school and walk downtown for lunch. You're not allowed to do so here, lunch must be eaten in the cafeteria and either brought from home or purchased there. I don't know if students here even have a full hour for lunch, but I'm glad I experienced being able to leave school in the middle of the day for a wee break. <br />
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It would appear that they have changed the chocolate used for Cadbury's Creme Eggs in the UK. There has been a major outcry and no bleedin' wonder! Sorry America, but I always describe your chocolate as being dumbed down. It just doesn't compare with the creamy, melt in your mouth chocolate we get back home. Don't get me wrong, it does fine and I have been known to eat copious quantities on occasion, but it just isn't as good as British chocolate - especially the legendary Cadbury's Dairy Milk. Cadbury's was bought by Kraft however, and they have decided to change the chocolate used in the British eggs to a standard Cadbury's chocolate. I'm sure it will be good, but for goodness sake, why change something that isn't broken?! And as if that's not bad enough, they've also reduced the number of eggs sold in multi-packs, without reducing the price! Sort it out Cadbury's/Kraft. The Creme Egg is an icon and should remain the same. Imagine if they changed the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup over here? Outrage would ensue! Yep, another first world problem!<br />
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On that note, I'm off for a brew. I'm craving a Creme Egg now, so it's probably just as well that there are none in the house. Happy eating y'all!<br />
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<br />LeBlanc LeBloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098961079133336288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497631870207197490.post-6888195532895464172015-01-15T03:50:00.003-08:002015-01-15T03:50:40.636-08:00Thoughts on moving so far...Thankfully I'm used to moving every couple of years from our time in the military. It's actually enjoyable for me to declutter and dejunk the house. Seattle is going to be a lot more expensive than here, and our new house will be half the size of our Tennessee McMansion, so Goodwill and the dump have had several visits already on my quest to have a minimal amount of 'stuff'. Our family of 5 fit into a 3 bedroom apartment when we lived in Korea, we managed fine and it was actually very liberating living in a smaller space than we were used to. Less crap means less cleaning and less stuff to tidy up which is never a bad thing!<br />
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Some places we've lived, it took several months before we truly settled. It was different here. It was so easy to settle down, get in a routine, make friends and get on with life. It could have been so much worse - this was the first place we lived when the husband retired from the military, so it was definitely a leap into the unknown, but it was totally painless, mostly thanks to the lovely people of Murfreesboro! <br />
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Seattle is a huge distance from here. Huge, as in it might as well be an international move (we've done a few of those too!) Plus, seeing as I'm not from America, it might as well be an international move because it will be very different from Middle Tennessee! So far in the US, we've lived in North Dakota (yes, it was freezing in the winter, but the people were lovely), South Dakota (one of my favorite places in the world), and Virginia (not one of my favorite places in the world) and here in Tennessee. The Pacific North West will be a complete change of scenery and pace from Murfreesboro for sure.<br />
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We were really worried about how the kids would react to moving, so we made them a power point presentation about Seattle (which most of you have probably already seen on Facebook), talking about beautiful scenery, wildlife, crab legs and camping in teepees! They watched it, were silent for a few seconds and then started screaming with excitement. Now the hard thing will be to live up to the hype we created!<br />
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Things are happening very quickly. The realtor has already taken the photos and put the "Coming Soon" sign up in the yard, the house has been inspected, the moving company have been to see how much crap we have and we've told pretty much everybody we know that we are moving. I'm not really looking forward to the day that the house goes on the market because it's not fun trying to hide all evidence of family life - 3 kids and a dog, at a moment's notice to make the house look good for showings. It's also going to be heartbreaking saying "see you later" to all of our friends here, but I'm not going to think about that until the day comes. And anyway, I do believe it will be "see you later" and not "goodbye"! <br />
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A lot of people can't believe we're still moving around after leaving the military, but we're not ready just yet to put down roots anywhere and we're fortunate that the husband's job has many opportunities for us in different locations. It's an adventure and we're very lucky we get to still do this in the civilian world. Without going into too much detail, it's been a lot easier to move as a civilian so far. Way less paperwork and chasing around after signatures!<br />
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So for now, we're house hunting in and around Seattle, trying to suss out good schools, karate clubs, soccer clubs and all that you need to know when you move with young children. I'd be lying if I said I haven't been looking at all the Hot Yoga studios for myself too :) We actually don't have too much time before we leave, so it's all a bit of a whirlwind, but I'm hopeful it will all turn out fine. I'll keep you posted! <br />
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<br />LeBlanc LeBloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098961079133336288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497631870207197490.post-84126913788186174022015-01-12T15:27:00.003-08:002015-01-13T05:16:09.387-08:00Bits and BobsWow, it sure has been a while since I blogged. Happy New Year y'all! Although I really must stop saying y'all because WE'RE MOVING TO SEATTLE IN MARCH!!!! What words will I pick up there? Happy New Year dude? Happy New Year man? Who knows, but I'm excited to find out. The next few weeks will probably be pretty busy, but it's not like we haven't moved before so it'll all work out fine. It's been interesting receiving different reactions to our news. Most of our friends are excited for our new adventure, but I've actually had a few people react in horror and tell me how awful it is! We have loved living here for sure, and have made many wonderful friends that we will be sad to leave, but we feel pretty lucky that we have this opportunity to move to the North West and live near the mountains and ocean again. <br />
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We had a lovely holiday with my parents who came over for Christmas and New Year. Lots of food and drink was consumed, and many walks taken to walk off the aforementioned calories. We visited Nashville, Franklin and went to the movies. My "lucky" Mum had the experience of seeing people shopping in their pajamas at 3pm in Walmart, an experience not to be missed I tell you! <br />
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Speaking of Walmart, I had yet another adventure in their parking lot. There I was, innocently packing away the weekly grocery haul when some bloke came up and asked if that was a German flag on the front of my van. I explained that it was actually a Scottish flag, but I guess he didn't believe me. I then had to listen to him talking nonsense about flags of the world while I hastily chucked the dog food in as fast as I could, before jumping in my van and driving off at top speed. I really must check the van to see if there is actually some kind of sign on there that attracts weirdos...<br />
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Driving here at night really freaks me out. There are no cat's eyes on the roads AT ALL! Is it the same all over America or is this just a Tennessee phenomenon? Please enlighten me! It's so hard to see where the road is in the dark, especially when it's raining, so I drive like an old lady peering over my steering wheel trying to see the edge of the road. You need to see the edge of the road here because sometimes it's a sheer drop, I kid you not! Cat's eyes America, google them, and more importantly, put them on the bloody roads!<br />
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So that's all I've got for <strike>y'all</strike> you dudes this week. I'm off to swot up on Seattle and the surrounding area and do a wee bit of house hunting while I'm at it. All whilst listening to some Nirvana, Pearl Jam etc, trying to get a feel for the Pacific North West. Ha, stereotyping at its finest...! Till next time!<br />
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<br />LeBlanc LeBloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098961079133336288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497631870207197490.post-91039891308680181112014-12-15T03:38:00.001-08:002014-12-15T03:38:36.705-08:00Christmas In The UKI have always enjoyed Christmas no matter where we've been living at the time. Every country celebrates differently, but of course, because I'm from the UK, the traditions from there are the ones I hold dearest. I do enjoy how America does Christmas, but there are several things from home that I really miss. I do get asked this question often, so without further ado, here are a few differences between the UK and the US.<br />
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No build up to Christmas in the UK is complete without attending your local pantomime. If you live in or near a major city, then chances are there may be a celebrity (even some Americans) in the cast. In 2013, Henry Winkler and Pamela Anderson were just two US panto stars in the UK. It's basically a stage show of a Fairy Tale - Aladdin, Peter Pan etc with lots of laughs and innuendos. One of the main characters is always a dame who is a man dressed as a woman, plastered in make up. Pantomimes are supposed to be for children, but there are always smutty jokes aimed at the grown ups that a kid probably wouldn't and shouldn't understand. They are always cheesy, loud and slightly inappropriate, but usually hilarious. America should totally embrace the pantomime - it's a lot of fun and I really miss going to one before Christmas! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A typical pantomime dame</td></tr>
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In America, stockings are usually hung on the fireplace and the children come downstairs to find them filled on Christmas morning. Not so back home. On Christmas Eve, children put their stockings on the bottom of the bed so they can wake up and immediately get stuck in. All the big gifts are downstairs under the tree, but I remember how exciting it was to wake up and see a stocking full of gifts on your bed. It doesn't get better than that when you're a kiddo! American Santa gets cookies and milk left out for him, in the UK, it's more likely to be a mince pie and a glass of sherry. If I was Santa, I'd appreciate both offerings for sure.<br />
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Christmas Dinner in both countries is based around the turkey, but sides and desserts differ. A staple in the UK is the chipolata - a tasty wee pork sausage, usually wrapped in bacon. What's not to love about that! Sausages over here are pretty tasteless in comparison (sorry America)! In addition to the obligatory gravy, we also have bread sauce. I love bread sauce, even though it's appearance isn't overly inspiring. It's a thick, slightly lumpy, white sauce, seasoned and made with bread. It looks like the American gravy that is served with biscuits, but tastes so much better with the roast potatoes and brussel sprouts that us Brits also love with our Christmas Dinner! Yep, brussel sprouts - love them or hate them, we put them on our plate because our families have always done so over the years, so it's what we do too.<br />
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Which leads me onto Christmas dessert. In America, the pie is king. Pecan, pumpkin or sweet potato. Not so in the UK. We usually have trifle, Christmas pudding and mince pies. Luckily for me, I can buy proper custard at Publix so I can make a decent trifle. World Market also stocks mince pies and Christmas pudding for a ridiculous price, so I can thankfully obtain the goods, and my lovely Mum also brings over a pile of Mr Kipling's mince pies in her suitcase. You can never have enough mince pies! Christmas pudding is a dense, moist, dark, heavy cake full of fruit, nuts and booze. When smothered in warm brandy butter, it's beyond heavenly. When made properly, you start prepping the pudding months in advance, slowly adding the alcohol throughout the months until it's fully loaded. A proper British Christmas cake is made similarly, but it isn't boiled like the pudding. It's coated in marzipan and then iced to perfection. To be honest, most British kids hate the pudding and cake, but as we grow up, we seem to embrace it more. Possibly because of the high alcohol content?!<br />
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On every British table on Christmas Day, you'll find crackers. Not cheese crackers, Christmas crackers. These are cardboard tubes, nicely decorated, containing a plastic toy, paper crown and a bad joke to be read out around the table. Two people pull the cracker - it cracks loudly and the contents fall out. If you don't immediately don your paper hat, you will be subjected to a barrage of abuse, so it really is in your best interest to suck it up and wear it, even though it will inevitably fall down around your eyes and make your head itch. Ah, tradition! <br />
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The day after Christmas in the UK is called Boxing Day. In the US, the day after Christmas is just a normal work day. Our Boxing day is loosely the equivalent of Black Friday minus the crowds fighting in stores. It's unknown exactly why the day is called Boxing Day, some people say it is because it's the day that presents are boxed back up to put away, others say it used to be a day when servants in big houses were given boxes by the families they worked for. Regardless, it's a day to mostly chill out, eat leftovers, watch more crap TV and maybe visit a sale or two.<br />
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So that's it for now, I'm off to have a warm mince pie and reminisce about Christmases past. I'll be taking a wee blogging break over the festive period, so Merry Christmas to you all and a Very Happy New Year! Ooh, New Year in Scotland - that's a whole other blog post...!<br />
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<br />LeBlanc LeBloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098961079133336288noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497631870207197490.post-42862467030679716932014-12-08T03:53:00.003-08:002014-12-08T03:53:53.853-08:00It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!I went to the Post Office the other day to mail some Christmas gifts to the UK. After waiting in line for a long time, which is normal for most Post Offices around the world, I handed over my packages along with the customs forms that I'd filled out in advance to save time. Imagine my surprise when I was told that even though it was indeed a Post Office, they couldn't actually mail my international packages. I thought the man was taking the piss, so I politely laughed, but then I realized he was being serious. Apparently his Post Office is too small to do international packages! C'mon America, even the smallest Post Office in the Highlands of Scotland can mail things overseas without blinking an eyelid. Anyway, after wasting a good half hour, I then had to get back in my car to drive across town to the big Post Office that could handle my mail. "Have a nice day" the man told me as I childishly stomped out of his too small Post Office!<br />
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I love, love, love the weeks leading up to Christmas, and because we have 3 smallish kiddos, it's an excuse to go all out. Yep, the 7 trees are up, the Christmas music playlists are on the computers and the Christmas CDs are in the van despite the protests of my poor husband. One of our traditions each year is to drive to the Chick Fil A drive thru, order peppermint chocolate shakes for us (so tasty but no doubt full of horrible chemicals) and then pay for the order of the car behind us. We did it at the weekend. The kids loved scoping out the people in the car as we drove away, watching them smile when they were told their food was already paid for. A small gesture, yes, but also a part of the spirit of the Christmas season for our family. <br />
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Speaking of Christmas, it's just over 2 weeks away! My parents arrive soon and we're all very excited to see them. We are so thankful that they are happy to travel halfway across the world to see us. No matter where we've lived, even in South Korea, they always visit at least twice a year, spending at least 3 weeks each trip, which really is quality time - making memories and just hanging out doing everyday things. My parents have an amazing relationship with the kids. It's always so hard for us all when they leave, but as soon as they get home, they are planning their next trip. The kids are always getting wee parcels in the mail from them and they talk on the phone regularly which is awesome. While I love our life and all the traveling that we've done, the hardest part is definitely being away from my family.<br />
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So on that sentimental note, I'm off to begin a busy week. It's time to bake some Christmas crack, make some Christmas cocktails, and no doubt gain a few pounds. I'll also be finding time to watch my favorite Christmas movie, Love Actually. I know, it's over the top cheesy, but it reminds me of all things British and I LOVE it. The tears start flowing as soon as Hugh Grant begins talking about the people at the airport, and it's funny seeing Rick from The Walking Dead all fresh faced and beardless. I'm sure there's a suitable medication out there to help me with that crying...! <br />
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<br />LeBlanc LeBloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098961079133336288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497631870207197490.post-69862960144586874462014-12-01T05:12:00.000-08:002014-12-01T05:12:09.016-08:00Chives And ThingsAt the same time every year, the grass in our yard is suddenly full of patches of chives that grow ferociously throughout the winter. It must be a Tennessee thing because I never noticed any in our yards anywhere else we've lived in the States. The only chives in Scotland are in your herb garden (pronounced HERB in the UK, not URB), and every now and then you go snip some off to use in your soup or such. I don't think I'd want to snip some from my yard here - dog pee and all that, but I do find it strange that chives are so rampant at this time of year. Not even weedkiller seems to work. The smell in the air after you cut your grass just now definitely isn't the most pleasant of aromas.<br />
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St Patricks Day is celebrated here in the States with much gusto. But did you know that St Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland and that we celebrate St Andrews Day on the 30th of November each year as our official national day? St Andrew is also the patron saint of Poland, Greece, Romania and Ukraine. The saltire (St Andrews cross), the flag of Scotland is hung from all Scottish flagpoles on this day - the exception being Edinburgh Castle where the Union Jack is flown because of the presence of the British Army. While we don't normally do too much to celebrate St Andrews Day, there are usually parades and ceilidhs, and Scottish food is eaten just to celebrate being Scottish - which is, of course, the best nationality in the world ;) <br />
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I was surprised to see that the UK seems to have adopted the American Black Friday sales shopping frenzy. I do embrace most things American, but have never EVER gone Black Friday shopping. I'm not a fan of shopping on a normal day, never mind having to fight my way into a store and then fight with someone over some deal on something I don't need. I did, however, get some good deals online whilst sipping on a mimosa, which was rather more enjoyable, although mimosas do make most things enjoyable :) <br />
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Going to the doctor here in the States is so different from back home. When I was in recently for my annual physical, I joked that the change of season was making me permanently hungry for junk food. While I do like my doctor, I was shocked that she immediately asked me if I wanted medication for that! What??!! I was just kidding, and anyway who knew there was medication for plain old lack of willpower? <br />
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So, today is the 1st of December, and it's actually nice and warm here in Tennessee. Long may this last, although I know the chances are pretty minimal. Wishing you all a good week with temperatures as pleasant as they are here. Perhaps there's a medication for that...!<br />
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<br />LeBlanc LeBloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098961079133336288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497631870207197490.post-41507517647731725682014-11-24T05:46:00.001-08:002014-11-24T05:46:40.288-08:00Toast, Roundabouts & Red FacesWhat food item do we eat in the UK for breakfast, lunch, snack, or dinner? We each have our preferences as to how we consume this staple of the British diet, and sometimes we even have it as a treat. If you have it hot or cold, it totally alters the experience - I'm talking about the humble piece of TOAST people! My favorite way to eat toast is to let it go completely cold and then spread it with butter so that the butter doesn't melt. Mmmm. A close second is to prepare it the same way, but then top it off with hot baked beans (UK style beans, not American style). It is perfectly acceptable to have beans on toast for any meal back home and it's not unhealthy either, which is good. The bread over here doesn't really lend itself to be eaten so often though, it's just too sweet. I'd do anything for a nice loaf of Hovis granary bread, and I probably wouldn't even share with my family. I'm nice like that!<br />
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When visiting Arizona a couple of weeks ago, I noticed that there were a lot of roundabouts (traffic circles), which isn't very common over here in the US. Americans just don't do roundabouts and they don't enjoy negotiating them when in the UK. Anyway, it brought back memories of learning to drive in Swindon, when I was a youngster based at RAF Lyneham. We got to take our driving lessons around this beauty:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Actual traffic sign</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As seen from above</td></tr>
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I still can't believe they took us there - the driving instructor must have had nerves of steel. I remember feeling car sick in the back as my fellow students negotiated their way around this so called Magic Roundabout. I myself stalled the car on one occasion, right in the middle of it, so I'm sure I wasn't the only one who felt sick. I'd like to say that driving round this monstrosity made me a great driver, but I'm pretty sure my husband would disagree...! <br />
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Had a bit of a misunderstanding in Publix the other day. The customer in front of me on this particular day was being rather grumpy and rude. After they left, I told the checkout lady "She really was getting the hump, wasn't she?" Judging by the poor lady's face, I really should be more careful about using British slang phrases in public. Red faces all round!<br />
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So that's it for this week folks, I'm off to have a nice cup of tea and a slice of toast. The perfect start to any day, even though it is made with second rate American bread ;) <br />
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<br />LeBlanc LeBloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098961079133336288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3497631870207197490.post-62666273949376277602014-11-19T17:22:00.000-08:002014-11-19T17:25:45.009-08:00Holidays<br />
Every year on the 5th of November, we celebrate Guy Fawkes Night or Bonfire Night in the UK. This would probably be called a holiday in the US. It's kinda similar to the 4th of July, in that we have fireworks and bonfires, but there the similarity ends. Part of our 'celebrations' involve the burning of a guy on a bonfire, which would probably seem quite shocking/barbaric to my American friends! When I was a kid, guys were made by stuffing old clothes with paper or straw - it would look like a scarecrow of sorts. Said guy would then be wheeled round the neighborhood by us kids, asking people for a penny for the guy. The money would either be donated to a charity or to buy fireworks to set off round the bonfire and the poor guy would be perched on top of the fire before being set alight! Most bonfires were and still are organized by charitable groups, neighborhoods or councils and are usually accompanied by a huge firework display. <br />
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But why, I hear you say? Well, back in 1605, a young man called Guy Fawkes was arrested whilst guarding some explosives placed under the House of Lords by a group planning to blow up King James I. People round London lit bonfires to celebrate the failure of the Gunpowder Plot as it was called, and every year after that, the tradition continued, although only in England at that time. The stuffed guy I spoke of earlier, of course, symbolizes the man himself, Guy Fawkes. Poor Mr Fawkes was tortured after his arrest and jumped to his death before he could be executed - quite a grisly ending. <br />
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Over the years, the traditional bonfire has gradually changed into an annual party all over the UK. On the 5th of November, there are bonfires and fireworks everywhere, usually followed by a trip to the pub for the over 18's. It's mostly cold, sometimes damp and always dark, but it's always a fun night for kids and grown ups alike - albeit a strange thing to 'celebrate'! <br />
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Here in America, we have many holidays throughout the year, two of which are for honoring the military. While I do think it's a bit strange to call Memorial Day and Veterans Day holidays, it's certainly not a bad thing to honor the military at any time. Memorial Day is at the end of May and is a time to remember military personnel who died serving their country. It's often also seen as the official start to the summer. The thing that I find strange is that there are huge Memorial Day sales in stores - how does that honor people in the military? Then we have Veterans Day in November - this is a day to thank all military personnel who serve or have served honorably in the military during peace or war. It's mostly intended for living veterans, whilst still acknowledging those who died serving their country. Many restaurants serve free meals to military members which is fantastic! But again, there are sales associated with this day too, which to me, just doesn't seem right. In its defense, America does honor the military every day which is a wonderful thing, but I just can't help comparing these holidays to Remembrance Sunday in the UK, with our poppies, somber parades, placing of wreaths on memorials and church services to honor the dead. We would never call this day a holiday and it took me some time to get used to Veterans and Memorial Days being described as holidays. <br />
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Anyhow, Thanksgiving is fast approaching and that is the official start to the main holiday season over here. I can't wait! I fully intend to decorate for Christmas in the next couple of weeks - something that isn't very common in the UK this early. I love the holiday season here and everything that comes with it. America really embraces all things festive and I do too - probably a little too much when it comes to the amazing baked holiday treats... Bring it! <br />
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<br />LeBlanc LeBloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098961079133336288noreply@blogger.com0