Moving was put off because of going to the US but the minute we got home we started talking about where and when.

We did it the wrong way round. We started looking before we’d sold, which has put us in the awkward but v posh position of being a two house family!

When we started looking I had a list of requirements – some very serious and some not so…

Near a train station
Small town or village
Local pub / shop / takeways
Has a nice stairway
Has window sills

Started in Thatcham, looked in Newbury and then went for dinner at friends in Burghfield Common. Loved it! As we were driving home we saw there was a house for sale on their road. Didn’t like that one but turn up for the books – looks like we could afford the area.

Saw a few and then found “The One” (TO). Ben doesn’t believe in TO but doing the pro/con list of the three we’d seen in one day made him realise he loved it too.

So here we are – our little happy family in Burghfield Common and look! Holding out for the right window sills was worth it.

Set off for Pinewood Studios (where they also film James Bond!) straight after work and after a quick detour for KFC we got to the studios just after 18:00. Doors opened at 18:00 but our numbered wristbands suggested lots of people got there early.

After some very hairy moments where we didn’t think we’d get in we finally took our seats.

The warm up guy was very funny and did lots of musical dancing! Then it was time for the show.

The other people on the teams that night were Sanjeev Bhaskar, Richard E Grant, Fern Britton and Martin Clunes. The 30 minute show took 2 ½ hours to film. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much in my life. My cheeks and my stomach hurt for days afterwards. Obviously an awful lot won’t be broadcast, especially since a huge chunk of the show was horrendously libelous against a certain rotund restaurant critic.

Unfortunately we weren’t in the part of the audience that might be on the TV but Ben reckons my laugh certainly will!

We weren’t allowed to take pictures but spy minded Ben managed this one.

It just so happens that our local holiday destination (Canterbury) had such a fancy place – Michael Caines at Abobe

After a small amount of persuasion I convinced Ben that the tasting menu was worth it so we booked.
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When we arrived we had a cheeky cocktail while looking over the menu and got some canapés to prepare us for what was to follow (cheese straws and some kind of spring roll)

The first course was Raviolo of parmesan & spinach herb purée, poached quail eggs, rosemary and white truffle oil cream.

Ben was a little dubious about the quail’s egg and when it arrived the egg was no where to be seen. Worried that he was eating it without knowing he asked the maître d’ who, after a swift walk to the kitchen, informed us that the new chef had missed it off and he would of course make us a whole new plate. We declined (as Ben breathed a sigh of relief) but it meant that we were treated to free stuff all night!

It was delicious and I’m amazed that anyone can make anything THAT green!

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Second course was Roasted Hythe scallops with vanilla parsnip purée and chicken ginger jus.

The vanilla flavour was really interesting but it totally worked. Scallops done well are just the best.

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Fish course was Monkfish wrapped in Parma ham creamed leeks, tomato fondue, mussels, saffron velouté

As you can see we forgot to take a picture before diving into this one!

I got Ben’s mussels as he didn’t like them (he tried, bless him). The tomato fondue was excellent and was perfect with the monkfish. I am still however in the dark as to what saffron velouté is.

The first three courses were accompanied by an excellent Chardonnay from Uruguay of all places!

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Roast sirloin of Kentish beef, truffle potato purée, roasted shallots and Madeira jus was Ben’s favourite course.

The mash potato purée was like velvet and totally yum! It was served with a sangiovese from … (actually no idea – who cares) It has strengthened my belief that I love all sangioveses

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Then came cheese. I ate all of my smelly blue cheese and then started on Ben’s. I really came out the winner in this menu! It was served with a really pale port that was incredible.

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Pre Dessert, yes pre dessert. Posh folk can’t just have dessert doncha know, they have to have an appetiser before it to prepare them.

It was a glass of something with crumble on top. It was nice but a bit meh. Maybe I just didn’t have enough As you can see from the slight blurring of the picture the wine may have been taking effect at this point.

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Dessert was a hot lemon & blueberry soufflé with a compote of blueberries and lemon curd ice cream. Neither of us were really bothered by this. It was ok but I didn’t really mind that I left half of it.

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Just to finish off the meal we had bon bons! The passion fruit jelly was really nice but the Bailey’s balls weren’t my cup of tea.

Looking at the bill at the end was surprising. It was less than we expected and was certainly helped by free wine and free port. That must have been some expensive egg! I’ve now decided to change my list and eat at more than one Michelin starred restaurant…

10. Go somewhere at least every month for twelve months – March!

Saturday consisted of going to see the Basingstoke Bisons play the Slough Jets at Basinsgtoke Ice Arena. I got into Ice Hockey in America and since we actually have a local team it was a great opportunity.

Ben organised the tickets so I’m totally classing it as a date! (tick for number 64) It was a pretty decent game but they lost (and again no blood!). It was only dampened by the fact that they didn’t serve alkeehol!

Afterwards we visited the local eatery – Wolfies. It bills itself as an all American eatery, which I was a bit dubious about but it actually sells the stuff you would get in the States but not here (Po Boys, Buffalo Wings & Fish Tacos to name a few). Food was good – service not up to American standards unfortunately.

Sunday was a local Craft & Country fair, sounds boring but there was lots of food to try and even more drink! Bought a very nice strawberry liqueur and Toffoc, which is goooooood.

In Virginia anyone over the age of 18 can buy a firearm as long as you pass the background check. You don’t need a permit to buy or carry a gun but if you don’t get a permit you can only buy one handgun a month! Well thats all right then :-O

I wanted to take advantage of how easy it was, to take the opportunity to shoot an actual gun.

We went with the gang to a shooting range in Manassas (a god forsaken place – where Ben actually worked!) and spent a couple of hours shooting a 9mm Beretta (i think?!)

It was scary, loud, smelly but actually quite fun. Turns out i’m a great shot (when I keep my eyes open) so watch out…

What better time to go skiing we thought. Add to that it was just before Christmas and Ben had the day off.

We drove to Ski Liberty in Pennsylvania first thing and got there and togged up for the 12:00 class. We actually got there for the 11:00 class but turns out I have weird sized feet that weren’t happy in the ones that should go up to size 9. I got pins and needles, had very bad pains in my legs and was all ready to give up and go home because I thought it just wasn’t for me. A bigger pair of boots later all was hunky dorey.

Turns out i’m a natural The only time I fell down all day was getting off the lift (or trying to unclip my skis). I loved it! The feeling of racing down a  hill huge mountain, only slightly out of control, was amazing. I can’t wait to go again.

Ps. I had to attend the First Aid station due to a pretty nasty lump and bruise that was caused by my watch when I fell. I have therefore popped my skiing injury cherry!

Both of us on the lift.

Ben zooming down the hill!

Me in motion.

So we went to see the Washington Capitals play the Carolina Hurricanes. Unfortuntunately I read the tickets wrong and missed the first 20 minutes but we were in the pub so thats ok

When we got to the game the Caps were losing 0-1. The game was really exciting with the score at end of normal time 3-3.

In Ice Hockey extra time runs on the principle of sudden death so when the Caps scored, the game was over with them being the winners!

The only downside was there were NO FIGHTS! Whats the point of hockey without blood?!

The Zamboni – is it wrong that I love these things?

Celebrating the winning goal!

I haven’t ice skated since I was about 14. I used to go to Hamilton Ice Rink on a Sunday night for “Disco night”, I then discovered boys so started hanging about in parks and pubs! Twenty years of no skating… It showed! The first five laps were horrendous, really bumpy, shaky and my feet were killing me. I got into the stride after that and did another few laps but I must admit i’m kind of over it again

Ben had a great time though and would love to do it again.

The rink

Me (note the cute cat hat!)

with a corn cob pipe and a button nose

and two eyes made out of coal

IT SNOWED!

It started on Saturday morning, looking very sleety but by 11.00 it was full on blizzard. We got three inches easily and it had stopped by 15.00.

It was perfect packing snow so out we went! I don’t remember the last time I played in the snow and it was excellent. We made the body, then the head and then accessorised! Claude (Ben named him!) looked dapper indeed, as you can see.

We didn’t have corncobs or coal so a carrot and pine cones had to come to the rescue, along with fake berries and wine corks!

Since we were out and already cold and wet we made snow angels too.

I thought if I always have a notebook (and a pretty one at that!) i’d be more likely to write these things down and then find the list again. So, here is my notebook. Lets see if I actually use it!