Happy Thanksgiving!

Can you believe it's Thanksgiving already? I can't. It kinda caught me by surprise this year. We were debating having people over, but I ended up working this week (despite being on annual leave - ha!) and, well, it all just ran away. So, I tried to do a small scale, funky version of Thanksgiving fixin's, but for 2 people with limited prep time. Here's what we had:

Turkey tacos
Cranberry salsa
Sweet potato chips
Harvest beer
Pear & pistachio cake

(here's a bad photo of our meal - I'm not kidding about needing a new camera)


We did, however, miss being with the Finchams. We've celebrated T-day with them for the last 3 years. Anyway, we're both really thankful for family & friends, of course, and for good, steady jobs in a time of instability in all sectors. What are you thankful for?

So Long, Stonehaven

It's been a few weeks since I left my office in Stonehaven and to be honest, I still miss the group (awww). Part of the reason I liked my job so much was down to having a great group of colleagues.

As is the custom, I had a "leaving do" on my last day in the office. We had some drinks in the office at 4:00, with Brian giving the presentation - kind words and thoughtful gifts. Then our small office went out to Molly Gunnings for a beautiful meal and walked along the boardwalk to the Marine, where we parked it until the wee hours of the morning.

Farewell, Finchams

Rosie's favourite friend Joni came to visit this past weekend. It was her last few days in the UK before moving back to the States and we're all quite sad about that, so we won't talk about it anymore.

We took Joni out to have English Afternoon Tea at the Jesmond Dene House. 3 words - cakes, cakes, cakes! It was sumptuous, although I could quite easily go another year before going back again. I'm still stuffed.

On Friday, Joni & I walked around the town, stopping by the Sage Gateshead (amazing building), Baltic arts centre (excellent gift shop & views) and getting some super yummy dark cherry mochas at Starbucks (not as sweet as you'd think!). We had the first snow of the season, so it was cold, but it was a gloriously sunny weekend.

Saturday Shopping

Much to Ole's dismay, we went into town today. I had been wanting to check out the market, which I understand is pretty good. Wow. Was it ever!

Grainger Market is in the heart of the city centre, in this jewel of a Victorian building. We cruised around, checked it out, and made a few purchased for our wine & cheese night tonight. The cheese shop alone is enough to win you over! They had EVERYTHING and then some, and it was dead cheap. We got 5 different cheeses for £8. Nice! There are several butchers, fishmongers, green grocers, tea & coffee shops, pet shop, fabric shops, people who fix various things, etc. Pretty much everything you need.

We've decided to support local business and produce, and do the bulk of our weekly shopping at the market. It'll be interesting to see how it impacts on our budget, because I think we'll actually get better quality items at cheaper prices, and that sounds like a winner to me.

Friday Night

Pre-dinner, post-drink nap:

Let sleeping dogs...

There's not been much happening lately to write about. We're both busy with work and with the dark winter evenings (and mornings) firmly set in, we don't get up to much in the evenings, save dinner invitations!

Rosie, however, got a furcut this week. I'll spare you the full body photos. She looks disgracefully like a large, white rat with bat ears. Here are some before & after photos. She usually likes sleeping in blankets, but now, being nearly naked, she seriously buries herself in the duvet.



Before

Weekend in Northumberland

When we announced we were moving to Newcastle, without fail, everyone here said, "Oh, you'll like it there. The people are so nice." Well, they really are. We're not even both permanently down there yet and already have had a weekend away with some of Ole's colleagues.

Joanna invited us for dinner on Saturday at her & Simon's place waaaaay out in the sticks. Because it was so far out, they said we should stay the night. As it turned out, those dinner guests (10 of us total) who didn't live local also stayed, so it was good fun. Simon cooked this amazing venison (killed the day before!) stew in the Aga. Melt in your mouth!

The next morning, we trailed Joanna to feed the lambs and cows. Rosie especially liked that part. She's decided she suits the country life. The scenery was stunning - sorta like the Highlands, but with more trees. And the colours - I'm telling you, New England has nothing on Olde England!