Spooky Pumpkins & Apples

Halloween came early to Sutherland St. when Aleks and Steve came over for dinner and pumpkin carving. After dinner treat was toffee-dipped apples and chocolate sprinkles from the kitchen. Photos are posted to the Halloween folder in Yahoo! photos.

In other news, it is still warm! Fifty degree temperature with no rain. And only a few trees have changed. I think the leaves from just decide one day to fall off and then it becomes winter. Strange to think that we are warmer than Ohio - ha ha ha!

To see how Britons actually feel about Halloween, check out this New York Times article (Trick or Treat? For Many Britons, the Reply Is Neither). I think we might have trick-or-treaters tonight - not sure what they will be saying/doing ...

From The Plum & Jello inbox ...

Question asked to me through email - "does the UK have daylight savings?"

Answer: Yes, although we don't "fall" back. The Brits have never heard of fall -- it's autumn and apparently you can't "autumn back." So the useful phrase of "spring forward, fall back" is completely pointless over here.

Interestingly thought, in the spring "spring forward" is one week after the U.S. - so for one week, the time difference is six hours, not five.

Send more questions ... I like answering for British quirkiness!

British Saturday

A review of yesterday's events. Katie, Leslie, and I made the trip down to IKEA in Leeds (ok, so they aren't British, but it happened here!) to buy a new couch and things for the house. I have never been to an IKEA - what an experience. Photos of the new couch and all the stuff we bought (including fitting all of it into our very tiny car) are posted to Yahoo!.

Also, we went to a fancy dress party (i.e. for Americans, costume) for Halloween. In the next week or so, we are having a historical fancy dress party at our house, for which I have brought over my Regency dress for. However, for this party, we got silly one night and came up with Lady Temperance Barnsworth (or Lady T.B. - har har har). Pictures are posted to Yahoo! of my Edwardian lady with comsumption (or TB!).

Next weekend - Guy Fawkes Day on Sunday. Bonfire and firework pictures to follow.

A Bit Bummed ....

Today I'm a little bummed. Although I just finished my first paper (1,500 word minimum - my total, 1,560) chalk full of communication theory and life is going pretty well over here ... I just found out that I cannot complete my job placement (required for my master's program) at my old job.

After I read the email confirming that, it made me re-realize how much I'm risking being here. Yes, in the long run it is the best thing I could have done and yes, getting my master's degree is something that I've wanted to do for a long time ... but I had to give up so much to get here: work, home, friends, and family.

I'm not sure what will happen in the future - all I can do is live day to day, complete my reading and homework, and enjoy England. But a little bit of me, still misses my other life.

Creepy Cuppa

I am the pround owner of my own mug (everyone in this house has their own mug). Mine was purchased at Tesco 24 (24 being 24 hours, which it is only two days of the week ... go figure) for 89 pence. On one side it has a "Creepy Bat" and on the other side it has this poem:

"Ghosts, witches, chills and spills,
Pumpkins glow where darkness fills.
Dare you go out on this spooky night,
And risk a groovy, ghoulish fright?!"

The best part: 1. There is a creepy bat on the inside lip so you see it every time you sip and 2. this is my year-round mug - creepy bats 365!

My Favorite Commercial

This is a recent commercial (Quaker's Windy Miller) being shown on Channel 4. I first saw it in Scotland and laughed and laughed. Enjoy!

Post!

Through the post slot this morning came my first piece of real mail! Horray! Thanks Stephanie - it made my morning!

BBC News

On tonight's BBC 6:00 p.m. news, the reporter did an interview on Stonehenge and the druids. The person they interviewed was called a "spokesdruid." Wow.

North Yorkshire Jaunt

Today we ventured to Thorp Perrow Arboretum and to Benningborough Hall in North Yorkshire. Photos have been posted to Flickr - here's a preview: Thorp Perrow has a falconry center and during the show I got to participate in the demonstration. Good times, plus it was 64 degrees (warmer than Ohio, I believe!).

Additional Note: Flickr is being horrid. I've put all the photos on Yahoo!. Sorry for the mix-up.

Plum & Jello Photos Available Online

I've upload some pictures to Flickr today. Hopefully in the next few weeks I'll have more photos (including the Halloween party, school, and Guy Fawkes Day).

The Other Side of the Train

Today I was able to load photos from my digital camera to my computer and thought I would post a photo I took from my GNER train ride from Edinburgh to York. The strange thing was that I spent the whole time in Scotland looking a shot to post here, but could never find anything that really conveyed "Scotland."

Turns out it took a train ride to find it. Right after the train leaves Edinburgh, it quickly turns to countryside. So naturally I looked out my window looking for the perfect shot to take, but couldn't find anything. Sadly I turned off my camera to rest, when I looked across the train to the other side and found these three shots. Isn't it always the case that when we are looking for something, the "perfect shot" is the opposite direction? Note to self: be sure to turn around when taking photos - the best shot may be behind you.

Some Stories You Just Can't Make Up

When I was working for the OSHP, there are these stories that you get on your desk that you just want to file under "no way." But since you have all the information - you know they actually did happen (the worst is then attempting to construct a media release that relates this strange information in a positive, understandable light).

Cue to this story in today's Toledo Blade "Dog gnawed on bra that led to crash, teen tells troopers." The best part is that some graphic artist at the Blade actually had to render a graphic of a red bra on I-75 ... classic.

Travelling Hip

Or at least TripAdvisor.com thinks so (World's 10'Hippest Hotels Named'). Last November mom and I travelled to Dublin, Ireland and thanks to Trip.Advisor.com found the Morrison Hotel - right on the River Liffey. Not only did it cost $105/night - the staff and the rooms were amazing, and apparently hip.

If you ever travel to Dublin - stay here! Also, check out TripAdvisor.com if you for travel information always. I found they have the best descriptions of hotels, plus they can connect you to all the Web site for pricing (I swear I am not a compensated endorser!).

Speedy Travel and Spiders

This exhibit (Tate Modern unveils giant slides) just opened at the Tate Modern in London. Katie and I are planning a trip to take a slide. Whee!

In row house news, we have a spider living in the house. We had another one last week, affectionately named Helmut, but after scaring me on the couch has since moved outside. The new spider, Phillip, is currently housed in the bathroom. As long as he says up on the ceiling - I'll be ok for now.

Currently on Tap ...

At the Three Tonns Pub in York - Wicked Witch Ale and Hobgoblin Ale! Both very appropriate for the season. The weather is certainly reflecting the autumn air, but I have yet to see a turned tree. It makes me miss the fall drives from Columbus to Coshocton for the Apple Butter Festival (if you haven't been - go! Apple butter and kettle corn, a can't miss!). For now I will have to be content with crisp air and the smell of fires roaring in nearby homes. My favorite season.

In other news, I have finally moved into my room. The Scottish squatter who was in my home and consquently left (to go to another home!) and I finally have my room. I am finally unpacked and somewhat in order - whew.

The Scottish Buckeye

After the Buckeye win on Saturday (which I found out about upon waking up on Sunday -- a happy way to wake up I'd say), I have been looking for my lucky buckeye.

My original lucky buckeye for this year (picked up at the Cincinnati game at the tree by St. John's, as Dad and I do every year) is still in Ohio, since I was unsure if the Department of Agriculture would seize it as a potential threat to the UK tree population.

As I was walking around Cupar on Sunday (it was gorgeous!), I discovered a small park with trees ... six of which were UK buckeye trees, or horse chestnut on conker trees as they are known here. Upon my circling of the part, low and behold underneath the fourth tree, was my lucky Scottish buckeye. Now I can begin writing ....