Me? Willy Wonka's taste tester?

So a few months ago, I answered an ad in the local newspaper about chocolate tasting at the local Nestle plant. Yes, actually tasting chocolate for money. After phone interview, I was called to the plant Thursday to take part in a sensory panel trial. We spent the day in a lab and went through lots of test attempting to determine bitterness and acidity levels in water, smelling vials trying to determine the flavor, and tasting chocolate to try to determine what the difference was between them.

So in fact, being a chocolate taster is actually a big job. They are only accepting five people from the three trials (and to get there 1 in 12 were selected). If I get selected I have to once a week for three hours trying milk/dark chocolate and chocolate liqueur. Not too bad, plus amazing, I get one month paid holiday! For one day a week work!

But it was a fun morning and I got a free lunch and box of chocolate and time away from writing papers for school. Nice.

Is that smoke?

So Tuesday night I had to stay up late to finish a paper (I know, I know). I had just finished and was heading off to bed around 3 when I smelled smoke. Not cooking smoke or fireplace smoke - but real fire smoke. So I started to wander around the house ... no smoke. Hmmm ... then I started to hear footsteps running up and down the sidewalk outside of my room. Hmmm ... so minutes later - sirens! Apparently there was a house fire four doors down from us. Nothing major, lots of smoke and everyone is ok. But the house smelt of smoke for a day, but a couple of Febreeze sprays and it was gone.

Interesting note about British firefighters ... after the fire was out, people actually offered them tea! At 3:45 in the morning! Hee hee! Now I've experienced the York public safety trifecta (did I mention ambulances came to??)!

After that craziness, I didn't get to bed until 4:30 and then had to get up at 7 to catch a train to school to pick up checks and turn in homework. Definitely made for the long day - but ended on a happy literary note - I pre-ordered Harry Potter 7 at Borders! Woo!

Holiday revealed ...

So where are Dad and I going on our holiday?? After cryptic hints for the last two weeks, I finally guessed (with thanks to Katie and prodding from Dad). Drum roll ..... Bahamas cruise for four days and Disney/Orlando for three days! Woo!

I am so excited to get there, because I know once I'm there I'm done with three papers for school. Tick tock - tick tock until next Wednesday when I fly home!

Ahoy Mateys!

Only Dad could come up this cryptic hint for our mystery holiday in May. Still not sure where it is, but I know it's not a cruise! And it sounds like fun!

"There are pirates to the east of us and pirates to the west of us (some are real) but only coco knows. Yellowbirds, seahorses that's the only horse ride at a speed of two knots and tour the lost city. Ye can do all at both these places."

Any guesses??

Q: What is Britain like?

A: For all of you who are wondering, here's a fantastic description from Bill Bailey!

Mr. John Q. Public - UK style

Ever realize the names listed on credit cards in advertisements? Sadly, I do, with most going with John Smith or recently J Webb. Anyway yesterday I spied the UK-styled John Q. Public on the Lothian bus service (Mr. Len Dahand - ha ha) and at Debenham's department store (Miss Deb N. Ham).

Side notes from the Scotland trip, I had to go up to school in Edinburgh to have a meeting with my dissertation supervisor - everything went fine and I am fully approved and set to complete in August. Also my Virgin Train ride home took over four hours, instead of the regular 2 1/2, thanks to a lorry striking a bridge and a train traffic jam before York. Made for the long day. Apparently not as though as the south traveling train in the morning who struck three cows on the rail at 100 mph. According to the train staff, one ended up being thrown from the track and landed in the tree and the farmer who owned the tree couldn't be found, so for three hours travellers enjoyed a bovine tree.

Finally, I was fully convinced my friend Kim was having a baby girl in August - Katie said I was totally wrong. Well I was proved completely wrong when she found out yesterday she's having a boy. Congrats!!

Best Doctor Who description ...

While we just enjoyed our third Doctor Who episode last night, we found this description of him on a myspace account (it's someone at the BBC posing as his assistant, Martha Jones):

"He's the most amazing, brilliant, annoying man I've ever met. He's like heaven and earth all rolled up in tight trousers." Can't argue with that.

Last week and the next couple of weeks I will be tied up in school work, as I attempt to submit a pr plan, a public affairs paper, and a job placement critique before departing for the other side of the pond May 2. Fingers crossed and all will be well, as tomorrow I take the train to Edinburgh to meet with my dissertation supervisor. Fun times ahead.

And now, your stereotypical British comment on the weather ... sunny and warm! Who knew!! But it is sunny and low-70s! Yesterday we lounged by the river and enjoyed the sun. Alas, not all good things last - I saw a forecast for 11 degrees C (that's 51 degree F) for Thursday. Oh well.

Easter, the UK Way

First off, I didn't end up at Whitby yesterday. Stupid buses are still running on winter times and for me to get there and back in a reasonable (emphasis) amount of time, I would have had 1 hour in Whitby. Oh well, I passed the time doing homework, shopping in town, and watching new Doctor Who - woo!

Today, while Katie was battling the masses at Jorvik (literally - tourists everywhere!), I went to the Easter service at York Minster to hear the Archbishop of York. It was a very nice service with choirs, orchestras, and organs - and while they were processing at the beginning, the Archbishop touched my hand (I was sitting on the sides). Pictures of him greeting people, in what I think is a Joseph-esque coat, afterwards are posted to Yahoo! Some interesting notes on the service, a family from the U.S. south (I couldn't tell from where) couldn't believe there weren't any flowers in the Minster, short of some large arranged pieces. I think they were expecting the typical U.S. family sponsored Easter lily decorations. Geez, we are in an amazing Minster! No flowers needed! Also, even though we are enjoying mid- to upper-60s weather, no one had new Easter dresses on and I only saw two hats out of 1,200 people! What is England coming to!?! Bring back the hats!

Easter dinner tonight ... Katie and I might be off tomorrow as it is Easter Monday holiday, but we haven't decided yet. Also, we bought a bunny pinata, but we haven't done anything with him yet ... he's too cute to smack! Hop ... Hop ...

Easter Fun

Katie and I have been holding down the fort while Leslie is visiting friends in Aberdeen. Since it's Easter weekend (and the weather has been amazing!), we've been doing spring/holiday activities. A couple of days ago we bought kites and have been flying in the park, and caused the envy of children and passerbys alike.

Yesterday I made a simnel cake, which is rather popular in the UK. For more information on the cake, visit Wikipedia. Also, we dyed eggs today with a new color of black. Pictures posted to Yahoo!

While Katie is at work tomorrow ... I'm off to the coast and Whitby!

Attack of the Monster Mushrooms!

During a recent trip to Tesco (our UK grocery) we nabbed these monster mushrooms. And that's not just a descriptor, it actually said "monster mushroom" on the label. They were very yummy and we filled one with tomato paste, yellow pepper, cheese and one with goat cheese and yellow peppers. Photos posted to the Misc. folder on Yahoo!

They definitely go along with the ghost squash (actually called a carnival squash) from earlier this season.