An American Starbucks order in England

My sister, Simóne, has been visiting me for the past week over Christmas. She has been living in California for 10 years now and has picked up many American habits - one of which is entering every Starbucks we pass to buy a coffee which never tastes like coffee.

On Thursday evening we were on our way to the train station when we passed yet another Starbucks. She had to go in. We had to choose between missing our train and buying Starbucks and of course Starbucks won.

Andre and I waited outside and had fun watching the young guy behind the counter trying to keep up with Simóne. Here's how the conversation they had inside went:
(Imagine her with her very American accent in a small British coffee shop.)


Simóne: I would like a tall-skinny-caramel-nut-brulée-extra-hot-latte. (Said very fast.)

English Starbucks guy: What is that?

Simóne: Oh, maybe you don't have it, it's a limited edition one we have in America.

English Starbucks guy: Well, if you tell me what's in it I can try and make it for you

Simóne: You need the Caramel nut brulée syrup.

English Starbucks guy: Maybe if you come back next year we will have it...
I like the way you just said that though, we're trained to take orders like that, but I've never heard anyone say it like you just did. (He means said in that order and really fast.)

Simóne, smiling: In that case I will just take a skinny peppermint mocha.

English Starbucks guy: Would you like whipped cream with that?

Simóne: No, because I want it skinny.

English Starbucks guy: Sometimes people here order a skinny with cream to balance out the calories.

Simóne: Oh. Ok, no cream thanks.

English Starbucks guy: Here you go then. I like your accent by the way!

I think he went home telling his friends he finally had a real American order at Starbucks!

Bath

In 2008 Andre and I spent a week in England and he also took me to Bath for a couple of nights. It was summer then and I loved this town. So it was special to go back there again, even though this time it was a freezing cold day.

Unfortunately the Roman Baths there were closed, but we had a walk around the town and a warm lunch in a pub.

Christmas 2010

My mom and stepdad came from Germany and my sister from California to spend Christmas at our new home in England. 

We made lots of delicious food,

Had lots of fun,

And lots of presents too!

Then on Christmas Day we did it all over again with friends!

Home made yoghurt

I tried making yoghurt last weekend and was surprised at how well it turned out. It's so easy and tastes great.

Here's the recipe:

Boil 1 1/2 litres of whole milk.

Cool the milk to 45 C.

Add 250 ml plain yoghurt.

Add 1 teaspoon vanilla essence.

Mix, pour into a container and keep warm for 10 - 12 hours.

I place my container on top of a radiator and drape a towel over it to keep more warmth in.

If you save the last 250 ml of your home made yoghurt each time to make your next batch you will never have to buy yoghurt again.


**UPDATE**
It takes exactly 45 minutes to cool the milk from boiling point down to 45C. So you don't have to go buy a thermometer if you don't have one!

1 Tablespoon of vanilla essence makes the yoghurt tastes even better than with one teaspoon. This was my sisters idea and it's good!

Full cream milk and a good thick full cream yoghurt to start with makes the absolute best thick creamy yoghurt! (That will of course give you a free fat version and not fat free.) I think as long as you don't eat the whole lot in one day it won't do too much damage.

Holiday Club Day 2

Today was a very busy day and I'm absolutely exhausted! It was a good day though. We had seven kids this morning and another two for the afternoon arts and crafts session.

What did we do? We did potato printing.

Maybe this one will give you a better idea of potato printing.

Then we made Christmas cards.

             

As well as Rudolf the red nosed reindeer.

 

Christmas holiday crafts

This is what we did today:

which led to this

and this.

We're doing a holiday club with kids, making Christmas crafts. These photos above here were "snow painting"- painting with shaving cream.

It looks as though the kids enjoyed this!

We also made angels for the Christmas tree.

If we can remember to take pictures again tomorrow, I'll show you what we do each day. It's not so easy to think of taking pictures when you've got five (seven tomorrow!) kids with hands covered in paint!

Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market

We went to Winchester last weekend.

We went to see the Christmas Market at the cathedral. It was pretty cold, but nice being at a Christmas Market again. They tried making it a bit German.

We had Bratwurst mit Sauerkraut for lunch.

And hot chocolate and mince pies and waffles and warm potato wedges with blue cheese sauce. Mmmm... We spent our money on food to keep warm!

No other shopping at the market, just a good day out with friends.