The Flat on Regent Court, Sheet Street, Windsor, UK

The courtyard

We're in Number 27

Welcome! We'll move in a clockwise direction, mind your head...

First up, the second bedroom

Yes, it's small.  Yes, that's a single bed. No, there isn't a closet.  Yes, we'll spruce it up before we actually have guests!

Next, the first bedroom.  Two windows, north and east. Also a closet, unusual here.

Main room, dining area.  I like the table and chairs quite a bit.

Main room, sitting area.  This furniture? Not so much.

But, windows here too, east and south as well as a door to the patio

The wee patio.  I've since done some containers, I'll save that for another day.

On every door handle hang the shopping bags.  You don't ever leave without one!

The kitchen, south facing.  I chose this flat largely based on location and light. 

The bathroom, believe it or not spacious by UK standards.

So there we have it.  Home away from home!  Now I'm off to pack.  We leave for Valencia in the morning.  I hear Easter in Spain is not to be missed! 

In The WIndow

I was sitting out on our wee (by "wee" I mean minuscule beyond compare but I digress...) patio when one of my neighbors walked by with a friend.  She introduced herself and her friend who was visiting from California.  She told me which flat she was in and I chatted briefly with her friend about the lovely weather she'd brought to England from Pasadena.  (We've had a week of sunny, dry weather with cool mornings and warm afternoons.  Very unusual for England in March!)


She asked how we were settling in, where we were from, what brought us here and so on. Then my neighbor said "I TOLD my husband there was a lady living here now, I could just tell!"

Evidently the bachelor living in the flat previously did not avail himself of a south-facing kitchen window!

Borough Market

We went in to London on Saturday.  The plan was to tour the Tower of London in the morning and the walk over the Tower Bridge to find some lunch.  Murph's boss told him we should stop by the Borough Market just on the other side of the Thames.  I can't begin to describe the most fabulous market I've ever seen!  There were dozens of stalls...

Fish of all varieties

Lamb, Beef, Pork, Mutton

You would not believe the cheese!

We've not been impressed with the bread here, but this was wonderful

I went away with a hunk of marvelous parmigiano reggiano, some wild boar sausage and a bottle of white truffle oil.  I was only sorry that we were staying in the city and I wasn't able to buy any of the wonderful things that needed immediate refrigeration. 


We had lunch at a small cafe with a stellar wine list.  Then I managed the perfect dessert:

A savory mini "ice cream" cone of fresh mozzarella with a dollop of pesto.

And We're Back

This? Is the most beautiful sight in the world:

This is me working from the comfort of home! Yes, we have INTERNET! We flew back on March 11th, moved flats on March 12th and were without Internet service until last night. Sweet baby Jesus let me tell you things were getting ugly.  Wireless service in the UK is not quite the same as what we're used to in the States. Even our cell phones weren't getting service in the flat.


I've been skulking about in the one and only Starbucks in Windsor.  (I can honestly say I've spent more time in Starbucks in the last week than in the rest of life combined.) Yesterday afternoon when I left to head home the weather had turned beautifully warm so I popped into the garden of the pub next door to soak up some sun.  On a whim I decided to see if I could still pick up Starbucks WiFi and...YES!  So now I have a back-up plan should the unthinkable occur again.  And it involves Guinness.  What could be better?  

We Interupt

We interupt the silence of this blog to say the following: I HAVE NOT HAD INTERNET FOR TEN DAYS. I went back to the States for a work event, came back to Jolly Olde England, moved house and have NO INTERNET since the move.  Not sure how much longer I can skulk around in Starbucks drinking lattes. At any rate I have on good authority that I will be up and running at the end of the week and not a moment too soon!  Cheers!

Making My Day

I was briskly walking down the street and a gentleman stopped me to ask directions.  And I knew what to tell him!  It makes me happy to think I've acclimated to my surroundings.


The other night I was making risotto. I was rummaging for a measuring cup with no luck.  I was wondering if I could just use a highball glass when I noticed the packaging on the rice.

Lord I hope you can see this.  There is a clear strip running down the side and marked off every 75 gram serving.  Brilliant!

I am a Kashi Good Friends cereal gal.  My family refers to it as sticks and twigs which is fine by me...no one else ever steals my cereal.  I'm trying to find a substitute over here.  So far I've come up with Whole Wheat Biscuits.

Basically giant shredded wheat squares.  Not wholly convinced this is going to remain the top choice, but with a little fruit on top it''s not all that bad.

Tomorrow we plan a run to Stonehenge and Bath.  Cheers!

Rhythm

My days have always had a rhythm. Up at a certain time. Exercise. Shower. Start the laundry. Dress. Drive to the office. Work. Come home. Get the mail. Start dinner. Finish the laundry.


Certainly things changed over time. The rhythm I had raising small children was very different from the cadence of my life now. But it soothes me, my schedule. It builds a framework for my days that keeps me on track and allows me to get things accomplished.


Here, I am struggling to find that rhythm. I don't think it's the temporary housing situation. In the hotel for those ten or so days I was fine. I am very much a nester. A sorter. An organizer. Even if I am away for a few days I will unpack my bag. I'll hang clothes in the closet and put t-shirts in the drawer.


I've set up house here on High Street and will settle again at Regents Court. So no, something else has interfered with my rhythm. And I’d like it back please.


So while I wait for my life’s tempo to return? I’m open to suggestions. Oh, and a cup of tea? Didn’t help.