English Muffins

During my placement at New City of David in Leeds I had the chance to stay with my friend, Fiona and her housemate Heather (and Heather's cat, Ralph).

There are many benefits to staying with Fi and Heather and aside from their great hospitality there were the following perks: plenty of bathroom products, baking together, lots of tea, painting nails, delicious vegetarian food, impromptu meals out, watching Benedict Cumberbatch act as Sherlock Holmes, and long conversations about the difference between American and British words. In the states I have always enjoyed a fork-split English muffin, turns out there is no such thing and that the branding was simply a marketing tool used against anglophiles like myself. It is like the banoffee pie scandal in reverse. My fellow Americans, English people eat many bread products, but what we have come to know as the English muffin is not one of them. I submit the following evidence:

Here is what Tesco sells as a "muffin" looks similar to the English muffins we have come to know and love and nothing like the muffins which we Americans eat for breakfast (you know the ones: cupcakes without frosting)

But then when you open it up there are no crumpet like caverns, there is the density, but no place for the butter to seep in, one of my favorite parts of English muffins.

For emphasis, here is an English person holding a muffin. This is the closest one shall get to what we, in America, brand as "English muffins."

and this is what Fiona would look like if she were a dinosaur. Also what happens when both of us are laughing and I am trying to take a photo. Another benefit of time with friends, laughter... and lots of it.

Lake District 2012- Happy New Year!

2012 is off to a great start! Beginning in this little village near Appleby in the Lake District we stayed in a holiday let called Harry's Barn. My2012, thus far, is filled with friends, laughter, board games, and delicious food.... not too shabby!

Though there were great plans to go hill walking and exploring the countryside, the short daylight hours, rain and wind storms (not to mention the jet-lag) made for a much more relaxed in-door and less outdoorsy trip. Which was fine with me because I enjoy curling up with a good book next to a wood-burning stove as much as the next person. I was given a stove top coffee maker for Christmas and put it to full use in this little converted barn made into a snuggly cottage.

Did manage a little walk to the neighboring town where we saw loads of ducks! Of course, I thought of my niece who loves ducks very much. The picture of teeny tiny ducks is for you Bea! xx

Everything in this little village was quaint and cozy. It is an ideal place to raise kids (little kids.) Mostly because I would put them in waterproofs and wellies and send them running around through the forest until dinner time. Let's be honest, I would probably put on my wellies and run with them. :)

1953 is not old for English standards, but I liked it anyway.

On our last day in the lake district we had incredible sunshine! It was a glorious day, So we took the long way around Lake Windermere and explored Coniston Water.

Coniston is surrounded by these fells that are any outdoor enthusiast's dream. Definitely put Coniston on your must visit list next you are in the Lake District. :)

Coniston is surrounded by these fells that are any outdoor enthusiast's dream. Definitely put Coniston on your must visit list next you are in the Lake District. :) Caught some beautiful views and sunshine as my last memory on the way home. All in all, a pretty nice way to start out the New Year. Happy 2012 everyone!