awkward.

So much of my time here I feel like has been one awkward experience after another. Not awkward in a bad way, just awkward in an awkward way.  For example, a bit ago I finally decided to get ready and I opened up all of the blinds in my room and let all the light in.  A second later, the window washers start washing my windows from the outside.  In case you've never been in this situation, it feels rude to just go up and shut the blinds on them...but they move quickly.  I move to the kitchen, then there he is again.  And the windows are big here, and multiple exist in every room.  So....

Last night wasn't any better.  While at the pub I noticed a girl with very closely cropped hair, which I love as a haircut.  It doesn't help that I have been recently wondering if I should cut mine off that short again.  So, usually I don't compliment random strangers, but I've been trying this new thing called being friendly, so I go up to her to tell her how much I like her haircut.  Turns out she had cancer, so it wasn't even a choice.  Uh. Was not expecting that, at all.  So of course I got all awkward about it, but I think it turned out alright.  Then, twenty minutes later I thought about it again and realized that I didn't even fucking congratulate her on beating cancer.  I mean, that deserves congratulations.  I think all I actually said was "Oh, my god. I'm so sorry. Well, you wear that hair very well."  So, I had to go back over of course, and tell her how happy I was for her. But still. How strange.

I need to blog on this more, even if only about all of my awkward experiences.  There are a lot, I know this. But am I invested in describing all of them right now?  No.  So here's just a small sampling.

hair.

Made an egg yolk + olive oil mixture today for my hairs. I think that they do look softer and shinier...hard to tell from this picture, I know.  I tried. But I think I'll start trying this a few times a week.  Egg whites are yummy and healthy too, so nothing even goes wasted.

It's about time to head out to a work party with my Dad...I'm forced to wear my combat boots with my nice dress because my black flats have been compromised...but I'm hoping nobody will feel inclined to notice...

the domestic life, sigh.

Was particularly domestic today.  Made these delicious peanut butter & chocolate brownies (half of which have coconut pecan icing on them...yum) and mended things - like buttons on coats, and pillows with holes in them - made dinner, and cross-stitched.  All whilst wearing my apron and listening to Patsy Cline, which I discovered is perfect baking music.  

busy busy

So its been a few days.....

Friday was (once again) another night of too many ales...but this time, it was in lovely Alston..not Derby, as per usual.  Turns out our wigwam tent place had experienced high wind volumes and had some wreckage on their farm...which is sad, because then we didn't get to wigwam it up.  Instead though, I scrambled to find a different place to stay last minute and we ended up in Alston...about 30 minutes from where we wanted to be but SO GORGEOUS of a place that it really wasn't even close to awful at all.  (I finally uploaded all of my pictures so those will be coming soon).


ANYWAY.  We headed up to Hadrian's Wall (about 3.5 hours north) area to meet up with John and Carol.  After getting lost a couple of times, we finally found them at Vindolanda, an old Roman fort that is currently in the process of being excavated (for the past 20 years is what i mean by current..turns out just about anybody can sign up to participate in the excavations when they are happening, which is pretty awesome).

But it was gorgeous up there, in the whole area.  I kept thinking about how wonderful it would be to hole up in a cottage or farmhouse out there and escape from the world...

Hadrian's Wall is a HUGE Roman wall built in 112 AD that spans across the northern half of the UK (almost right below Scotland)  and was built in only 6 years (WHOA) and a lot of it is still remaining. They have hiking trails and such that you can walk along the wall, and a bunch of little villages along the way that are all so cute and quaint.

(to be continued...I have to go get out laundry and go to bed soon)

normal.

Today was a pretty typical day....normal, anyway.  It involved a short bike ride, lots of coffee, and crafting! (and making dinner and hanging out).

But the accomplishments of the day are:

Europe trip ALL BOOKED!!
it is as follows:  paris-munich-prague-vienna-zurich-florence-nice-barcelona-paris

WOO!!

also, our pastry making class is booked - we will learn how to make quiches and tarts and pies!

and also,

We rode our bikes on the street today!  With the English traffic patterns, wahoo!

Tomorrow, we're off to Hadrian's Wall to meet up with John and Carol and do some hiking and sightseeing...I'm excited to see some things from as old as 112 AD (damn) and spend the night in a wigwam !!

Charity Shops = Death

Seriously.  These charity shops are going to kill me.  Financially, anyway.  They just have SO MANY wonderful things that its impossible for me to pass them up!!! Today, I got many a nice clothes (I know, last thing I need) and I'm very excited about all of them!!!

Oh, and then going to Ikea didn't help much....

Found some lovely fabric there, which I will use to attempt to follow my first pattern EVER and make a skirt (wish me luck!) and some really cute woodland creature fabric that I will use to make my dad a curtain for his bathroom out of...so exciting.

Lea and I also found aprons that are necessary for our kitchen activities (dinner and dishes...we can be messy)...

aaaaand now we know how to hem them properly, so they will be fabulous.

I need to start uploading all of the pictures that I take of these random things...and perhaps I will take pictures of my outfits with my new clothes (!). Maybe not.


Also, I was officially initiated into the vest club today when I bought myself a poofy vest.  Hurrah. Now we have to go camping!

yikes.

I can't let myself slip up on my blog posting here...

but anyway.  It's official, it seems, that I have to go back to the U.S.of.A. at the end of February. womp womp.

I suppose its good for a few reasons:
1.  I know for sure
2.  I don't have to worry about having all of the money i have now last for 2 years

So that means...

PARTAY
no just kidding.

It means I'm going to be less worried about all of that, which is a relief.  And it means I think I am going to add one more tattoo to myself....turns out they're about as close to dirt cheap as you can get over here..

but anyways.  There was lovely shopping again today...and I got a christmas present out of the way (though I have to put it together..which seems more complicated than originally thought).  AND I taught Lea how to cross-stitch today! yay!

Tomorrow, I think we're going to Ikea.  I'm going to find me some fabric!!

and other cute things, of course.