Week 10: 21 - 24 June

We all know that travel broadens the mind, right? So people, here is what I have learned: 

• Never, EVER purchase in the UK a netbook with an inherent Mother of all Boards fault, which develops in the US. Trust me, you will end up slightly demented in trying to get a warranty claim honoured!
• Listen carefully and ask for a repeat of any words spoken in Uhmerican accent if not entirely sure. Saves a lot of time. Specifically my time in painstakingly sorting out the paper recycling (a lot, for ten people) every week to ensure nothing is in there which is "coded". You'd be surprised how MANY things are bar-coded and how well disguised on the packaging some of them are. Of course that's a much more complicated proposition than the actual instruction which is not to recycle anything which is "coated" ie orange juice (Tetra) packs. Doh! Reminds me of when first moved to Austin, the weeks I spent scouring newspapers and websites for a snazzy Miada as recommended by A. Which through lack of even a single model for sale, I eventually worked out was actually a MiaTa (MX5).
• All Vermont cats have not been waiting for me to land in their lives to give them love and attention - no matter how desperate I am to hug a furry, must restrain self from following cats into peoples' gardens in a vain attempt at cat-interaction. It's apparently not perceived by the homeowners as sane or credible behaviour in anyone over 5 years old (what's a zero between friends with such a "special" relationship, say I? :)
• Pizza is not zero calories just because you didn't cook it, buy it or eat it from a plate.

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More on pizza... big food. I have now actually seen the ultimate. The Cheeseburger Pizza. Yes, really.

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Your faithful reporter in the field has not been slacking on other BIG fronts - how do you like these for big vehicles?

There's just something about the size and shape of them - every time I see one (or more usually, nearly get wiped out by one - haven't quite adjusted my Green Cross Code yet, so I STILL look the wrong way when crossing), I feel like I'm in a film. Ironic really, I haven't yet seen an ambulance!  Did you know that the little mail van (top left) is the only legal right-hand drive vehicle in the USA?

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Had fun this week on a "fund-raiser" activity. 4800 letters to be folded, stuffed, sealed and stamped.

Local ladies who live in an "assisted living homestead" help with this effort every year - as long as they are fed on-tap coffee and doughnuts.

I think "the girls" enjoyed a breath of British air - and I enjoyed being "the youngster"!