Thunder bugs. No one warned me about Thunder bugs, a nasty insect, before I set off for England. They can pick up babies in their beaks (anyone get the reference?). Actually, they are the equivalent of the black flies that you would find in New Hampshire or Maine (also Vermont?) but one-tenth the size. Tiny, little pesky things. There’re a few on my screen right now. Sarah’s says that they were stirred up because they are haying the fields (or whatever the terminology is. (I’m not an English farmer). Something to know about Sarah, she will state a theory with confidence, passing it off as fact. Not something I would ever do.
Walking in the countryside. On Thursday, Sarah and I took a walk around the local roads, fields and through the church graveyard. We met up with some pigs in an old orchard. Sarah thought they were cute but she’s not Jewish. “Tref” (Yiddish for non-kosher), I said. Recounting our walk over dinner with some friends, I explained that in reformed Judaism, bacon is kosher but ham is not. A BLT with a chocolate milkshake is kosher but ham on white bread with mayo is not. They seemed confused, but with time, I’m convinced these folks will have a better understanding of Jewish culture, customs and practices.
Crisps (ideal for poker): For lunch, for the assembled boys for James’s birthday party, Sarah bought a World Cup mixed set of crisps. Get a load of this collection of international flavors: American Cheeseburger, French Garlic Baguette, and the piece de resistance, English Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding. I don’t know how they managed to squeeze the beef and pudding into one little bag of crisps.
Strange custom. Saturday was James’s true birthday party at the Woburn Safari Park. Man, the wild animals! (See the picture above.) Back at the house, at the end of the party, the birthday cake is brought out, some singing, the child blows out the candles, the cake is cut and then individual pieces are wrapped in napkins and put into the party bags to be brought home. Party over. Thanks for coming. Ta ta…Huh? Okay, it’s not the most unusual custom but it’s been slow here so the material is a little thin.
Backing up a bit, the adult supervision at the park for the birthday party was Louise (Sarah's friend visiting from Australia, Jonathan (Sarah’s ex.), Sarah and me. It all went well and most importantly, James seemed comfortable having us all there.
Sarah and I are getting along smashingly – I broke a vase of hers in an argument. Just kidding. Each day we are able to relax more and more into our life together. Of course, I'm not working yet so I'm pretty darn relaxed to start with.
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