This week I had a lovely call from my landlady, Harline, making sure I was all settled in and had everything I needed. In our chat I mentioned that a kettle might be a nice idea along with a few other bits and bobs for the apartment. When Harline dropped off the microwave she enquired more about this “kettle”. Apparently the kettle is not very popular over here although I did find people at work that knew what I was talking about. Now I ask you try and describe a kettle to someone that doesn’t cook and uses a coffee machine. Oh and add an accent they don’t quite get.  Harline in a confused state asked if she had heard me correctly leading to the question a kestle? Or casserole? Concluding with me telling her I was send her an email with a picture and kettle description  in it and her teaching me how you use the microwave to make tea and coffee.  

In other news last week I decided my bank card needed a wee work out and me a mini road trip. To satisfy both needs I took a trip across the state line to Lee Massachusetts Outlet shopping. It was like a mini shopping village with a cute road the bent round and shops on both sides. I treated myself to a few nice things all with a practical reason, of course: a cute top – for work; sports shorts – I will start some form of exercise at some point; a nice dress – my friend wedding is next summer; smart shorts – well I don’t have a pair at present and they are a bargain and finally perfume – that one I did need I dropped and smashed mine the week before.  So all in all, a very good trip with lots of practical purchases.

On the Sunday I gave my card a little flex again at the local farmer’s markets but nothing as mammoth as the day before. The farmer’s market was cute and friendly with everyone giving you a sample of everything to try. As it’s all local people selling their local produce everyone is keen to talk to you about it; whether it be the bread baked that morning, the pesto with the basel picked that morning, the cool spiced ice tea. Everyone is more than happy to talk to you; well really you can’t stop them they were that friendly. There was also a band playing and a cook form a local restaurant doing a demo with produce from the market. I didn’t think I was a big fan of gespatcho having had it once before but this was amazing whether it was the fact this one was puréed and strand or just the fact it was all local fresh pick produce. I was so gutted you could buy the gespatcho however I did get my dinner at the market. I got my dinner from a lovely Moroccan stand ran by a family that severed plated of chicken and veg in Moroccan spices. It was take away with a difference you could taste it first and saw it going straight from the pot to you take away plate.

This week at work I had a mini kind of treasure hunt problem solving challenge. My manager, Mike, was out of the office when he received an email of a wee problem he thought would be a good problem for me to look into however I would require a few things explained first. The treasure hunt starts: I was given instructions on people I should speak to in a certain order and ask about an aspect of the problem. This started off rather vague and not with the best of luck with the first two people I spoke to just saying “I don’t know why Mike has sent you to me”.  It was ok though and we struggled through – thank you Tim, Zeeky and Tom – and I learned a lot although the problem didn’t get finish that week; there is always next week.

Or so I thought, this problem (now I knew what it was) was to be put on hold with all other projects for a large deliverable we would be starting on Monday. I have now learnt that when your boss takes you out for lunch saying it’s on him cause next week’s doing to be busy – it’s going to mean long hours and very very busy, the reason for my very late blogs. Thanks for great lunch, though. And it was a good lunch. I think I am starting to fully appreciate American food and the quantity of it.  

Here’s to next week and the fun that I’m sure is in store.

Flora xxx