Wednesday, April 30, 2008

And She's Off (With Pics 1)

I'm gonna brag, make it quick an just get it out of the way. This is all I brought to England. Six days in a carry-on. Plus my big black bag (only purse I brought). This from the girl who almost broke weigh-in on her way to England last summer. This from the girl who bought this exact back on the Euro-adventure before that because she simply ran out of space.

She's getting good. And she's over the third person crap. I may never check a bag again. That's how much easier my life was with less. Now onto the fun! I'll pick up where I left off...

L to R: Steph's boyfriend Mark, Steph (Nick's sister), Mols, Moi, Adam and then Nick at centerstage. We're all a little looped at this point. I love Page parties.

After a fabulous pub lunch at The Bear in Oxshott and, gasp, MORE cricket and a new fox sighting...we had ourselves a little party! Which is to say Mark & Adam came over and David fed me an open thread of Pimm's cocktails when I refused to eat anything but the lettuce Mel used to garnish the sandwiches (vegetables or anything with raw fiber is seemingly lost on the English). I'd had a delicious steak, mushroom and Guiness pie for lunch with mashed potatoes and honey braised parsnips. Realllllly good but not exactly the picture of health after the previous night's equally delicious, equally stomach stumping fish n chips.

The party was a harmlessly rowdy group of very old friends sitting in the living room drinking and just generally being ridiculous. We talked travel, romance, music and even sports (a very good way to shut me up if you need an easy out). I love house parties on both sides of the pond.

Our divine host and hostess/ Nick's parents David & Mel. These are also the people who entrusted me with their beloved fuzz when they moved home to England. That is how HoneyCat came to be in my lap shedding and purring all over me at the moment. Nick and I were buddies first but I got an amazing second family out of it in the end. We've been friends for just about ten years now which is damn hard to believe.

A parting shot from beautiful Saturday morning. The house looks out onto all these fields and it's pretty breathtaking in the morning. Molly snapped this while I had my 4th tea of the morning. It tastes better at their house.

Alas, after 3 days of beaucolic countryside fun, Molly and I had a date(s) with the second city of England. And all manner of mischief as it turns out...

Hugs and a very "Daaaad" moment at the train station with David later, Molly and I were on our first of five trains to Birmingham.

7 comments:

So@24 said...

Damn Cook! You're so damn photogenic.

I know your blog is "To Kiss The Cook" and not "To Kiss Your Ass", but seriously... it's good

Susie said...

Awww yay. I love that last pic of you at the window. Happy you had such a good time and I'm glad I got allll the details :)

The Charming Hedonist said...

Wow. The bag -- that's all? But what about shoes?

Nilsa S. said...

Honestly, some of the best times are sitting in someone's living room with drinks and good stories and lots of laughter. And I totally agree - tea in England does just taste better.

L Sass said...

One of the things I miss the most about my college / NYC friends is that I don't know their parents as well as I'd like. Cool friends' parents plain old ROCK!

TKTC said...

So@24: I think your jaded by the lack of photos on many, probably brighter, ladyblogs. Doesn't mean I won't take it:)

Sues: Yeah...uncensored is the way to go:)

CH: Very observant. I had 1 pair black flats, one pair brown flats, one pair sporty flats, one pair Pumas and one pair of black peep-toes packed into that carry on. 5 pairs of shoes for 6 days of travel. I haven't gotten THAT good:)

Nilsa: I love love love a good house party. Maybe i'll crash your open house. WIll there be wine?

L Sass: I heart parents. All of them. Mine in particular but also as a general rule.

Laurie Stark said...

Now I don't want to brag (translation: I do want to brag), but I went to Europe for two whole months without checking a bag.

Although, to be fair, I had to check two bags on the way back (oops).