Packing up

Food went down well last night!  Amazingly a lot of people already knew each other...but I suppose this is quite a small place.   There was just enough left over to provide us with sustenance today while we do our final packing and storage of acquired items...then it's down to Houston tomorrow morning to drop off the car and fly home.  I've already got a hair appointment fixed up (thanks to Nicky) and the papers are starting on Saturday.

Last night people were curious about how we shall feel being back for 3 months, as though life in Norwich is an interlude and not the real thing!

Leaving party

Preparations start today for a leaving party tomorrow.  We've invited people we have met, who've made our first three months here such a pleasure.   Off to the supermarket now for the ingredients for:

• Marinated vegetables with mozzarella (Jamie Oliver)
• Butter bean salad (Ottolenghi)
• Chicken and wild rice salad (Ottolenghi)
• Spring salad of asparagus, French beans, mangetout and spinach (Ottolenghi)
• Grilled steak
• Crushed new potato salad

• Fruit salad, ice cream and cookies (my imagination failed me at this point!) 

Paper plates and plastic glasses in true American style at the ready and the fridge stocked with wine and beer...Cheers Ottolenghi! 

Hunstville

Very quiet in Hunstville on a Sunday!  The streets practically deserted, only the antique shops open, but not doing much trade.  I did my best by purchasing a few second hand books.  Of course everyone is in church on a Sunday morning (the churches are many and the parking lots are full).  Just a few sinners in the Cafe Texan where we had lunch.  

See the little personal juke box by each table! 

Too hot and humid to be very energetic so we didn't walk very far and missed out a lot we planned to do.  The heat is enervating...it feels as though you are pushing your way through the hot air. However the auditorium in the Sam Houston Learning Centre, where we watched a video, was cool and then the path through to the various houses that Sam Houston lived in was shady and the Sam Houston Museum itself was an oasis of cool.   We are now ready to sit an exam on Sam Houston! 

Although the old downtown area is deserted, just down the road the drive-ins and supermarkets and
pharmacies occupy huge lots...the car has really taken the heart out of American towns, as it has elsewhere.

No comment!

A better pizza

In fairness, I should mention another restaurant outing this week which produced a really good pizza.

We started with Pacific Ahi tuna nachos...a modest number of bits of tortilla (2.5 each) considering this was a sharing plate for two...piled with an interesting mixture of ingredients...

Pacific Ahi Tuna Nachos 15.95
poppy seed seared tuna • mango guacamole • cilantro salad in
sambal honey • wasabi aioli • soy-lime syrup • mixed nuts

They tasted delicious.

Pizza to follow with fresh ingredients and a good bite from the jalapeños (Oh look!  I've found out how to type a tilde!) and then chocolate strawberry tart.  I know!  But it's my last week! 

Downside?  There's always something.  The restaurant was so dark we had to use a phone torch (no, I've not got a phone with a torch in it, but I know someone who has and it's proved useful on a couple of occasions...for reading the menu and for waving around in the dark to attract the waiter's attention!) and it took two attempts to get the bill right.  

An interesting banking anomalie is that here the debit card is viewed with more suspicion than the credit card. So I was charged an extra 69 cents to have my debit card verified.  

Last sessions of water fitness

I'm going to miss it!

Last day at the history centre...

...well, for a while.  Managed to finish transcribing a long interview with a very interesting local woman - Sunny Nash.  To my surprise the staff at the History Centre gave me a card with a voucher for a sandwich lunch at one of my favourite local cafés.  So kind of them!  I'm looking forward to resuming my labours there in September.

The worst pizza ever...

I have just been, with Wanda, to a pizza place that was highly recommended by an Italian lady in my water fitness group... "real Italian pizza"...

It was tasteless.  How can you make a tasteless pizza?  We had the 'Supreme' with 'everything' on it, but no item tasted of anything....even when showered with chilli flakes!

Wanda's theory, which may well be right, is that:

a) in order to avoid poisoning anyone, they had boiled all the ingredients in water before putting them on the pizza...

or
b) we had come to the wrong place!

Some research needed to find the right place, because now I am craving pizza - real pizza.

Come back Pizza Express, St. Benedict's...all is forgiven!

I'm so COOL!

A snake came to my air conditioning unit
On a hot, hot day, and I in pyjamas for the heat,
To drink there.

With apologies to DH Lawrence (who deserves better) but it was a snake!  Got into the unit and shorted something...poor snake, and poor me.  But all is well now and I am COOL!

I can't say, like DHL, that I felt

honoured still more
That he should seek my hospitality
From out the dark door of the secret earth.

A hot time in the old town tonight...

Because the air conditioning isn't working and with the outdoor temperature 93F and the indoor temperature 85F/30C and the humidity 87% there was nothing to do but type emails to my 'landlady', her brother and her mother (who seem to run this place we are renting as a team) and beg someone to come and take a look.  I actually went to the supermarket for the opportunity of enjoying the air conditioning in the car and a cool half hour wandering round the shelves...otherwise slumped in chair with red face and hands too sweaty to knit!

Repair man supposed to be coming today...

Sharing a lunch time joke...

A Catholic, two Jews and a Muslim were sitting one day in an Indian restaurant...

Soon will see my garden

My kind neighbour Sally sent me a photo of my front garden.  So the squirrels didn't get all the bulbs!   I hope the tulips stay around long enough for me to enjoy them in a couple of weeks time.

Curry and chips...

Well, not quite, but lunch today at TAZ, an Indian buffet and dinner tonight at Fish Daddy's.  I had two large frozen margaritas, followed by wine to wash down my spicy calamari and blackened mahi mahi... please point me in the direction of my bed!

A better class of lunch

Maddens in Bryan for lunch.  I had crab and avocado salad with julienne greens, sun- dried tomato pico de gallo, chile oil and fried tortilla chips (but I only ate half the tortilla chips).  The dish was classed as a salad and was arranged in a tasteful tower.  Very tasty, very light.   

Afterwards we toured the antique emporiums and downtown shops and both purchased tops.  In my case, this little number...without the nasty necklace of course...in black!

We set off at noon and got home at 5.0pm...a relaxed way to spend a good part of the day! 

Some fools never learn!

Café Capri was very pleasant inside and the waiter, with tattoos, was from Glasgow originally and had an interesting hybrid accent.
Had the pasta...surprise, surprise!  Cajun Fettuccine.  It was mediocre.  No, it was edible but totally without merit and some of the fettuccine strands were stuck together. Basically it was fettuccine in a cream sauce with cayenne sprinkled over.   On the other hand, the chicken Caesar salad looked delicious!  Oh well...Let's see how tomorrow goes!

Oh dear....

Monday I took a modest lunch with me to the Carnegie Library and ate at my 'desk'
Tuesday I went to La Riviera and had lunch with the Oceanography wives (vegetarian enchiladas)
Today I'm going to Café Capri with Phyllis (must ignore pasta and order a salad)
Thursday I'm out to lunch with Wanda (probably Maddens...Wanda likes food) (must order a salad...)
Friday I'm going to Taz (Indian) for lunch with Mary, Nawal and Wanda...lunch time buffet...what are the chances of having a salad?

Oh dear...

Lake Somerville walk

It was hot today and the sun came in and out on our walk along the southern short of Lake Somerville.   We have previously walked along the north shore.  Different wild flowers were out this time and we kept the walk to 5 miles in view of the heat.

We came across an old cowboy taking his horse for a stroll around the area he came from...western saddle, spurs, lasso, stetson...the whole deal.   He stopped to talk to us twice and I forgot to get the camera out!

Do not adjust your sets...yes, I am wearing shorts! The first time my knees have been seen in public for about 40 years!

Don't bother with the glasses

Went to see my first 3D film last night, 'Gatsby', at the huge multiplex near here.  Peter had seen 3D before and wasn't very excited about the prospect.  I'd heard from a friend that it made her feel sea sick, so I was interested to see what it was like.

Well, the 3D added absolutely nothing to the film.  The effect created unsubtle lurching of characters into the foreground and it made the wild party and car chase scenes unpleasantly chaotic to watch.   The film is a mixture of realism and fantasy but the fantasy elements are Disney-fied and strangely coloured and at times I was reminded of those old films where characters are flattened in the foreground and behind them a rather obvious flat cardboard set.   Everything was exaggerated and amplified...except the actual characters themselves and we couldn't really focus on them and the times for all the razzamatazz.   I'd rather have seen more of the story and less of the cinematographic box of tricks.

The cinema was full of girls in shorts clutching large boxes of popcorn...but no one sitting near us, fortunately.

The woman with not enough to do...

 ...has just about mastered the 6 braid challah! 

Good morning!

My early morning cup of health - spinach, banana, mango, ginger and lime juice smoothie!

Yum!

The weekend starts here...

A quiet day at home making bread...what a shame I'm going to give it to our hostess at a party tonight.  I can hardly bear to part with it!

Been checking the weather forecast for the weekend...in the 80s...and maybe the odd shower tomorrow morning.  Perhaps a walk on Sunday...

Where's the Ark when you need it?

Certainly won't have to water anything for several days!  We have a torrent pouring through our garden on its way down hill.  It's sweeping all the debris from the next door garden through ours and threatening to take plants with it!   Great flashes of lightening followed immediately by claps of thunder.  We are indoors with our heads down!

Slowing down!

I decided against doing water fitness for the 4th day running.  I'm actually feeling quite stretched enough!  Three days in a row is probably about right!  

Today it's just been the library and food shopping.  Now I'm watching the dark clouds and hoping that we'll get enough of the forecast 'occasional' thunderstorms so that I won't have to water the garden.  

The local authorities have the power to interrupt radio and television programmes to broadcast warnings. Today in the car the music was interrupted by warnings about severe storms and advice on taking refuge in strong buildings. The other day the television programme was halted to broadcast an appeal for a girl who had disappeared - possible child abduction.  I suppose if you were the parents you'd be pleased that such instant and wide reaching action was being taken...so I don't quite know why I feel there's something a bit big-brotherish about it. 

Talking of television, I've stopped wearing out the remote trying to find something remotely interesting!   We stick to PBS (public broadcasting) which runs an assortment of old BBC programmes and documentaries.  At the moment we're watching a very good series on the dust bowl and the great depression.   A programme about the American constitution has just started, hosted by Peter Sagal who fronts a satirical news programme "Wait, wait...don't tell me.." He has a touch of the Louis Therouxs...asking dead pan questions that expose his subject's folly and he has rich pickings!   

(Hooray....sheets of rain pouring down!)

Also on offer - Call the Midwife, Antiques Roadshow (US and UK), Mr. Selfridge, and something about a doctor with Martin Clunes starring.   Did I say previously that they are running East Enders in which most of the characters died years ago!   I haven't met anyone who's following it, so I haven't had the fun of spoiling it for them! 

A quiet day at the office...

Water fitness again this morning.  The sun was out and the water was almost warm.  Tomorrow I must remember to go on the other side of the group, facing the sun, or I will get a brown back and a pale front!   Time to turn the carcass on the spit! 

Then off to the Carnegie History Centre, typing up another interesting interview about schooldays, breaking off to have lunch with Wanda, who managed to do a little retail before and after our lunch date.  

Two cultural icons from this part of the world

Seen on our journey back from Brenham...

A varied weekend!

On Friday we went with Wanda and Alan to Madden's Casual Gourmet in Bryan.  The lighting is so discreet that they offer you a torch to read the menu!  Peter was in a particularly dark spot and couldn't actually see the food on his plate so had some difficulty identifying steak from fat!    However, it was a good meal and somewhere we will go back to (with a flashlight!).

On Saturday we spent a confusing amount of time at the VW dealers where they were trying to convince us to buy a second hand car...well, one man was telling us that both the cars we looked at were excellent prospects and the other guy was trying to convince us that one was rubbish.  We came away to mull it over and decided that there was something fishy going on.     Surprise! No decisions made at the moment.  We may just rent again in September. 

In the evening we went to the home of a Chinese colleague of Peter's where we met his family, a research student of his and his girlfriend (all Chinese).   Song, the wife, had made a table full of interesting food which went a bit cold while photos were taken, but was very tasty.  

We had interesting conversations about China, and its economic development, the wealth of the leaders and the one child policy.  The family have been in the States for about 15 years and the children are bi-lingual.  The house is full of Chinese artefacts so they are definitely hanging on to their culture.  

Today we drove to the 'German' town of Brenham where we looked around the downtown area and had a coffee.  We were so taken with the restaurant that we went back there a little later for lunch.    Then on to the Firemen's Park where they were holding the annual Maifest. 
Lots of food...some stalls selling this and that...large men in lederhosen slapping themselves...other dancers and a band.  

Downtown shop front

Old man in rocking chair...

All the fun of the fair! 

Peter meeting the locals...

Downtown storefront

Play the video...Sadly it stops just as you start tapping your foot!
P.S. Apparently you can't see the video if you are using an i-pad.  Don't blame me, it's visible on proper computers...

Swim, shop, eat and book group

A busy day of enjoyable activities.

1. Water aerobics again.  Dark clouds looming and and gusts of wind and a smattering of rain did not deter the intrepid troupe as we hopped and bounced from one end of the pool to the other and thrashed our limbs about - this time to music!   I discovered why there was no one in the changing rooms at the end of the session....they all put on wraps and lay the towel on the car seat and drive home in their wet costumes.  I did the same today, but got rid of the wet costume and wrapped the towel round me.  Half way up the freeway I wondered how it would be if I was involved in an accident and had to leap from car!   May adopt a different strategy next time! 

2. Collected at 11.15 am by Wanda who drove us south to Navasota to Martha's Bloomers (ha! ha!), a garden centre she had heard about.  The perfect venue for ladies who lunch...flowers, plants, garden knick-knacks, boutique, soaps and tea-room.   We had a browse round the shop and the garden centre bit and decided we were underwhelmed.  Lunch was fine...I had a slice of quiche and spinach salad...but the chat was excellent.

3. Book Group at Barnes and Noble...just Austin and me to talk about 'The Yiddish Policemen's Union'.  Apparently there was a flyer, but it wasn't to be seen on the front desk and the notice in the general 'what's on' leaflet advertised us badly.  But Austin and I were philosophical.  We had a good discussion about the book, it's extraordinary characters, the comedy and the tragedy.  Austin is going to keep working at getting more members and I'm looking forward to our next meeting in October. 

Goodbye 'sit and fit'...

Hello water aerobics! 

Several ladies from the book club go and told me about it.   Every weekday morning from 9.00 am to 10.00 am in an open air pool.  

I went this morning and am still feeling the effects!  It wouldn't be too much of an exaggeration (which, as you know, I don't go in for...) to say that I ache all over.  Must have been doing me a power of good.

Ladies of all shapes and sizes and three men as well all bobbing about and chatting away at the same time as following the instructions.  Some were wearing hats (!), some were wearing  sunglasses (!!) and some were wearing shoes (!!!) and I mean in the water.  

I had an two acquaintances from the book group to show me the ropes and ladies kept bobbing over to shake hands and introduce themselves.   It's just such a nice thing to do. 

I shall be there again tomorrow...