so east coast.

We spent the easter weekend exploring the east coast with our good friends Chris and Sheree Elston. For photos from Edinburgh, St.Andrews and Rosslyn, click here!

stuff the Regiers like: VISITORS!

I'm interrupting my scheduled program for a brief update. While I've been away from the blog, and facebook and even email to a large extent I've been immersing myself in my new job.

Two point five weeks in I can still say I thoroughly enjoy all aspects of it - inclusive of precarious left-side drives through narrow country roads and nerve-wracking high school presentations (though entertaining 65 15-year-olds for an hour is no easy task).

Something else that's been keeping me busy: preparing for an onslaught of Spring Break company. Last night we hosted my old Bible School buddy Julene and her hubby Steve and braved plummetting temperatures to see some Aberdeen sights.




On Friday we'll welcome two of our dearest friends Chris and Sheree Elston, for a long weekend of Edinburgh gallavanting (here's where we're staying) and a few more days of Northeast fun. Stay tuned for photos.

Stuff British People Like #2 - Pies

I'm increasingly certain that somewhere in every British wifey's kitchen is an heirloom cookbook containing the mantra: 'If you can eat it, you can turn it into a pie.'

In Aberdeen, at least, a popular interpretation of this rule is the macaroni pie. It's been much talked up by my coworkers, in spite of my protests that starch in starch much surely violate every dietary principle.

So the other day, after a long drive out to a wee town called Inverurie, I found myself feeling the part of a tourist again when I ventured into the local chipper and left with a salt & vinegar-doused puck of pastry filled with crusty mac'n'cheese. ew.

Some things are better left alone, but you can't tell that to the Brits - as evidenced by daily lineups outside local bakeries and pie shops.

Other variations: lasagna pies, bean mash pies, eel pies, and well, if you've seen Sweeney Todd, you know the worst of it ;)

stuff british people like

Seems every other blog I visit this week is directing me to the hilarious (and spot on) website Stuff White People Like.

I take almost as much pleasure in laughing at myself and the quirky things we 'white people' do, as I do in laughing at the British and the totally nonsensical things they do (apologies to my british friends).

So, riding on the coattails of this guy's success, it gives me great pleasure to bring you:

STUFF BRITISH PEOPLE LIKE

#1 Lucozade

What keeps all those spikey-haired youths so full of energy as they cruise their BMXes down the high street at all hours of the night? It's tempting to say they've merely been storing up by sitting in front of the 'telly' in their council flat all day, but look closer, and in the pocket of their baggy jeans/stripey hoody, you'll find the true source: the iconic red and yellow bottle.

There is no clear equivalent to Lucozade in North America - though it's natural to assume Gatorade would be similar, I have it on good authority, they differ vastly.

Having never tried it, the difference I can attest to is its ubiquity. Where Gatorade is typically confined the soccer field, Lucozade is the British teen's purse - it goes with him everywhere.

awesome new diet:

Interesting Work.

It's amazing what getting wrapped up in your job does to curb craving for sweets and snacks!

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My work week is coming to a close and I can fairly say I've enjoyed every minute - not just the parts where I went to the mall on my lunch break and shopped guilt-free.

One possible downside: I discovered a minefield of grey hair today, near my right temple. Hoping there is no corelation between new job and said discovery. I promptly plucked those nasty intruders.

But each time I pluck a grey hair I remember the stern words of my friend Nina who once told me (long ago) that for each grey hair you pull out, two will grow in.

So what's the best technique for grey hair management? Dying, plucking, or just going au naturelle? Feel free to weigh in.

good things: the new job edition

So I've been meaning to post a new edition of Good Things for some time now (mostly for you Verity!) but I've been distracted. Distracted by close inspection of the housing market in three different cities (that is to say, we are still no nearer to knowing our next destination). Distracted by my recent sense that I can never read enough (brief reviews of the 10 books so far forthcoming). Distracted by my need to conquer my kitchen fears (we made steak on Saturday, roast chicken today).

I haven't, however, been distracted by email (sorry for slow replies) or even blogs (just getting caught up tonight), and certainly not with writing, in spite of my best intentions.

Anyway, is it just me or does this post contain far too many asides? Here's the real point of it: I started my new job today. It contained many good things that will take less time to share than my lengthy list of home decor list. Here they are:

1. Being part of a team - one that really likes each other, and works together, and takes coffee breaks together... and coordinates to bringing of bananas on Mondays. The last point was odd, but as I had coincidentally brought a banana of my own, I fit right in.

2. Reading the the news - First half hour of my day is spent flipping through every paper in the North East, clipping education articles for the Principal (President) and summarizing my finds. I learned so much this morning!

3. Diversity - on day one alone I interviewed an alum, oversaw a photoshoot, attended a website launch. Wrote a press release, brainstormed strategies to get beauty therapy guinea pigs into the College AND got settled in my new office. whew!

4. My boss - I can learn from her, and she is brave enough to wear the navy nail varnish she got for mother's day (March 2 in the UK)

5. Space - I have a huge desk, and I no longer have to plead for office supplies :) Hurray for departments with big budgets!

Indeed, there's more but I still need to wish my mom a happy birthday before you all sign off of boredom: Happy Birthday mom!