That was weird. I have not been able to sign onto this blog since Sunday. It's SO frustrating when technology doesn't work the way you want it to.

Anyway, I had to share this notepad that my friend, Helen, bought for me on Monday when we were shopping at the Hatton Shopping Village. Just when I think I've got UK English licked, they throw another one at me. "Twiggin'" means just catching on. I like that. I think I could use that one. I still don't know the proper way to use "take the Mickey", which I think means "take the fun out of it."

With Christmas coming, I feel even more like a woman of leisure. I go out to eat more and go shopping with friends a lot more. The American ladies had lunch to celebrate Thanksgiving at Toby Carvery, the nearest thing they have to turkey and dressing. They specialize in Sunday Roast every day of the week. You can get roast beef, ham and/or turkey, yorkshire pudding, balls of sage stuffing, mashed or roasted potatoes and lots of veg, including brussel sprouts and parsnips, all smothered in brown gravy.

My gravy was the most talked about item at our house on the day I fixed Thanksgiving dinner for our British neighbors. They couldn't understand why mine was so light. They use beef bisto in ALL their gravy, including turkey.

I went shopping on Monday, and tomorrow, I get to have minced pies with my bible study friends and then go to a pantomime with the school. I'm going as a chapperone, but the pantos are a hoot! This year we're seeing the Princess and the Pea, a live stage production with lots of audience participation for children. It's a great introduction to theatre. Usually there's a man dressed as as women and a sing-along at intermission. We get to boo the villain and cheer for the hero.

Oops, the cuckoos singing. Time to go to bed. I'll tell you more after I've seen it.