June Friends and Happenings

What a wonderful whirlwind of a month so far.  We are reminded by how wonderful Minnesota summers are and blessed to have spent it with some amazing friends.

Hope your summer is just a good!  Enjoy!

My Work Family:)

General Mills is a special place, and I continue to feel more fortunate every day for the brilliant people that I get to work with.
Here's part of my "work family" that I get the opportunity to do amazing things with every day.

Happy Birthday Outing!

Happy Birthday to the most amazing partner, wife(y), mother, best friend, and woman that I have ever met!  Thank you for the chance to be part of your life for the last almost 20 years!  You are loved!

Check out this picture that Jeryn took of us while Up North in Baxter for the holiday weekend.  Looks like we have a budding photographer in the works:)

Happy Memorial Day everyone!

8 Charts that Describe our First Three Weeks in America

It has been great to be back "home" and around family.  It is incredible what you see when your perspective changes though.  These 8 charts are a quick comparison on the last 3 years in England and our first 3 weeks in America:

1. It seems that Americans aren't quite as good of drivers as Brits.  Or perhaps there are just a lot more drivers here?

2. That might be because of some different driving behaviours:

3. Or perhaps Minnesotans are just distracted:

4. In brighter news, the sun shines more here...surprise:)  Take that England!

5. And people appear to be more social (at least Minnesota nice):

6. Although American's aren't quite as polite as Brits:

7. Americans give a lot more hugs:

8. And of course, it wouldn't be America without tennis shoes:

It is absolutely wonderful to be "home", although we miss the excitement and surprise of England.

Hope to see you soon.

Wow, a whirlwind

The last month has been a blur.  Closing bank accounts, getting rid of cars, moving into a temporary apartment, moving out of a temporary apartment, traveling for work to Spain, buying a house, moving house, a 40th birthday party (for a friend:)), a final road trip to Bath, various sleepovers for the girls, four or five goodbye events of sorts, and a fantastic dance performance.

Mara's first dance performance was a huge hit, and a tremendous success from the Sophie Gallie Dance Academy.  She was brilliant on stage, and was glowing afterwards.

On to America!

24 Days of British Culture: Day 24 - WC, Toilet, and Loo

Brits have lots of funny names for bathrooms - Water closets, toilets, the loo.

The thing is, they all are super small, usually cold, and they stink.  During our trip home last week, it was interesting to look at public American bathrooms that were 2-3x the size of what you would see in England.

In this bathroom, I think I could pee into all three urinals without moving my feet.  It makes it easier to play swords, but not great if you get stage fright...

"I'm going to pop to the loo to have a wee"

24 Days of British Culture: Day 23 - Greetings and Goodbyes

We found it quite unusual when we were first asked, "you alright there?"

This translates to lots of different meanings:

• How are you?
• Can I help you?
• What's new?
• Hi.

Similarly, "cheers" has lots of meanings as well.

• Thanks
• Goodbye
• Cheers!

Some of these will take a little while to break once we get back in America.  I've found myself saying "Cheers" and "you already there?" all the time.

Finally, I've always find greetings with women a little awkward.  How well do I know them? - do I give a kiss on two cheeks?  In Switzerland, it is three kisses.  Or is it more formal and a handshake?  Does the person prefer no touching at all?  Whatever the answer, I always seem to come up on the awkward end of this one.

24 Days of British Culture: Day 22 - I Need a Toothbrush

After our American house-finding hiatus, we're back to finish off the last 8 days...here you go...

This is the toothbrush section at Boots.  Boots is a kind of a pharmacy/Walgreens/Target-without clothes and food.

The toothbrush section is 3 feet wide:

This is the toothbrush section at Target in Minneapolis.  The toothbrush section is 6 feet wide and twice as tall (insert your British teeth joke here):

24 Days of British Culture: Day 21 - Royalty

You can't discuss English culture without mentioning the Royal Family.  We have yet to run into royalty...this was our closest encounter over the last three years...

24 Days of British Culture: Day 20 - Radiators

Most English homes have boilers and radiators...

They are great for drying clothes, but not the best for even heating in the house.