Finchingfield

Hi everyone,

This morning Jo had an appointment and Blake went to work so I had a bit of a chill out morning. I've been so run down recently so just trying to get on top of that but also get things done that I need to do. I'm setting aside Wednesday and Thursday as days where I'm going to relax a bit and do some reading for my upcoming trips. This morning though I organised to go and see Rachel (my roommate for the first five weeks of South America!) in Bath in a couple of weeks. She has to confirm it's ok but if she does I have found 5 pound bus fares from Victoria station to Bath - yay! I had also signed up the other day to a website to find a flat for May onwards, and this morning had received a message from a landlord about a room which I think I will go and check out on Saturday. It's located in Maida Vale/Westbourne Park (not too far from Notting Hill). I then spoke to Mum who was out to dinner for grandpa's birthday with dad, Adam, Nan, Pa, Emma, Grandma and Grandpa. It was great to talk to you all but strange to hear you all together and me still be over here!!

When Jo got home the two of us went out and headed to a little town called Finchingfield. Along the way we stopped in Saffron Waldon and bought some echinacea. I can't go to the doctor due to not having a nationals insurance number just yet, so I figured echinacea would boost my immune system in the meantime. It was a life saver when I had glandular fever a couple of years ago. 

Meant to say yesterday but then remembered again today, we drove past a road called Mount Pleasant Road! This is the same as the street I live near at home. Had a good laugh about that! So in contrast to finding something similar to home, here's a quick summary of what I'm starting to notice about England that's different to home...

1) They use miles and not kilometres. Why were we colonised by them but we use a different measurement?! It doesn't make sense!

2) Capsicum, eggplant and zucchini don't exist here. Instead I'm having to ask for peppers, aubergines and courgettes. What even?!

3) Instead of saying 'how are you?' Here everyone says 'you ok?' Or 'you alright?' Which leaves me going 'yeah....why wouldn't I be?' haha. At home if someone asked me that I would assume it's because they think something is wrong. 

4) More words that people stare at me blankly about - Gum boots = wellies, prams = buggies, arvo/ambo/bottle-o (pretty well anything we have abbreviated as Aussies!!!)

5) Peoples' moods severely fluctuate with the weather. Every day it's sunny and I've been walking people come up to me in the street with a ginormous smile on their face saying 'beautiful day, innit?!'. The minute that sunshine goes away everyone stares at the ground and looks like they hate life. 

6) Petrol here is equivalent to $2.50 Aussie per litre. Glad I'm not driving!

7) There is a whole aisle in the supermarket dedicated to alcohol. Not a separate little shop like at home - AN ENTIRE AISLE!

8) There is no such thing as one directional parking here. People park every which way and everyone is ok with that! At home we would be fined!

That's all I can think of for now but I'll keep these coming as I discover them! It's interesting being here for a while as opposed to a tourist rushing around. Doing such everyday things I am noticing differences each day that I probably didn't last time when I had just five days. 

So off we went to Finchingfield. It was a really cute little town! Unfortunately the weather was quite cloudy today, but no complaints here as I have been incredibly lucky so far! We went to a tea rooms and had what we call at home a Devonshire tea - scones with jam and cream and some tea. Here they call it cream tea! So there you go, another difference. It was delicious. The cream probably added 2kg to my hips but it was clotted and lovely, and the jam really fruity and nice. I'm fast becoming a tea addict, I think I've had four cups today so far! When in England though!

Afterwards we walked around the town. It's very small so that only took about ten minutes, but I took in my surroundings which were so lovely. Little coloured outages with thatched roofs, geese, a pond with a little bridge. 

Now we are just chilling out at Jo and Blake's and tonight having chicken for dinner. Tomorrow I am heading into Cambridge for the day where I am most likely meeting my friend James who went to university there and is going to show me around!

Love to all

Claire

Xoxox