It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

The bad thing about winter at this latitude is the fact that it gets dark so early.

The good thing is that Christmas lights are on display from 4:30 in the afternoon.

Last weekend, we decided it was time to brave the holiday shopping madness up in central London. We didn't have much of a plan other than knowing we wanted to test out a new "Mexican" restaurant and get to this place in Hyde Park called the "Winter Wonderland." We didn't know much about either - just that the restaurant was cheap and the wonderland had an ice ring.

Wahaca is apparently owned and operated by a woman that won Masterchef on the BBC. Their blog is here (their website is some crappy Flash animation business that's not worth your time...in fact the blog may not be either). I was tired and hungry by the time we got into the city (early Saturday morning disc golf usually leaves me getting home at 1pm, ready for lunch asap - this was out of the ordinary and I'm a creature of habit). I wasn't sure was positive that any restaurant that called itself a Mexican restaurant here in London would be one I would have to scoff at. This wasn't going to be any different. I had made up my mind. But today was date day where I'm supposed to be sweet and hold hands and not complain. So when we got there and they told us it was going to be a twenty minute wait, I didn't suggest a different restaurant. This is where she wanted to go - this is where we'll go. I picked apart the restaurant, its menu, and its clientele as we waited. I was convinced this would be the worst dining experience of my adult life.

But we were seated on time, and it wasn't long before some food started making its way to our table. Turns out I was just being a bratty, hungry, hypoglycemic little complainer. As soon as I started to eat, everything changed.

The menu has about three different categories of dishes - what we would call appetizers and mains are on there, but there's a middle group as well - something between appetizers and mains. The suggest ordering 2-3 dishes from the middle ground per person. We took them at their word. The dishes came out as they were ready, so there was a steady stream of food coming to our table...

bottom to top: pork tacos (with onion and cilantro and some hot sauce), beans, guac, and kenz's Mexican fondue dish (which had cactus in it)

Get that.

Tostadas: beans, corn, crema, feta, lettuce

Kenz's taquitos

My quesadilla: chorizo and potato

Salted caramel ice cream with a bit of chocolate, cappuccino with a spicy dark chocolate square 

We left feeling rejuvenated - me from the food, Kenz from my sincere apology for being such a petulant little shit on the way there.

For the next two hours, we strolled through the crowded streets shopping for some affordable Christmas gifts. I've never seen so many people roaming the streets in the dark. Everyone was out doing the same thing we were doing and it wasn't that bad, either. We didn't have anywhere we were in a rush to get to - just strolling along, going into whatever store seemed inviting. That's the best way to shop for gifts, in my opinion.

As it turns out, the big shopping street in London - Oxford Street - was shut down for pedestrians:

This went on for almost a mile

Lots of the stores go all out for Xmas decorations

Like these guys on the left. The star above me is one of 50 in the middle of the street.

We finally made it to the Winter Wonderland. Now, what we expected was a prim and proper little holiday destination for city dwellers - some ice rink, overpriced merchandise for sale, maybe a band, etc. What we got was London's version of a state fair!

These pictures won't do the enormity of the "Wonderland" justice. 

Imagine the state fair, only without livestock but with a holiday theme...

We rode that. It went upside down and spun. I was terrified. 

Kenz: "Santa looks like he's farting."

So - yea, a state fair with a holiday theme. But no livestock or vegetables. However, what they lacked in cattle and pumpkins, they made up for in beer and mulled wine. The stalls repeated after about every four - ride/rollercoaster, holiday themed pub, win-a-prize-rigged-game, holiday themed merchandise/food table, repeat. And each of the pubs had their own gimmick.

behind some pub

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Literally. 

Kenz getting festive with some mulled wine. 

Confused?

"Really, David?"

This was the carousel pub. The bar was in the middle and it was spinning. You get the idea. 

We finally made it to the ice rink. 

ZAMBONI

No, we didn't skate. But it was fun to look at. 

The Winter Wonderland Market, where you can get all your holiday themed knick knacks in one spot. 

My favorite of the marketplace stalls - the German meat and cheese makers. I'm not sure they spoke English. 

We went to visit the swans before leaving. Kenz was mesmerized by them! She had never been close to a swan before in her life, and these guys get real close to you. I mean, she stood there for fifteen minutes, just staring at them - not talking to me, not moving, nothing. Just staring at the swans.

Stop looking at me, Swan!

They're the Queen's, right?

One happy swan watcher. She made that scarf, BTW. 

We plan on revisiting Brick Lane tomorrow to do some last minute shopping before we head back across the pond for the holiday.

I assume that those who read this blog care about the London stuff, so I'm not planning on posting while we're in America. We will be back to London on January 9th. Lemme know if you care one way or the other - if I get enough emails telling me/us to update while we're in America, I/we may do so. Whatevs.

Much love to you and your family these next few weeks! Enjoy the company and the giving!

******

P.S. I figured I'd upload a few pictures of disc golf just because...

The regular Saturday morning crew...

18th Hole

Trying to warm my hands. That's Sam, my Hyzer Cup partner. 

Just some dudes throwin' plastic.

*****

And, for those of you who made it THIS far, I give you yet another treat:

Kenz made another pumpkin pie last weekend. It lasted three days, and she said she was pacing herself. I love it. Hilarious. She ate it for breakfast each morning...

Culture Vulture

In case you were wondering, but were too scared to ask:

Lisa wound up giving a talk on Monday at UCL. I got to go, which was a treat. It had been a long time since I'd been in an academic setting and I was pretty nervous. There were about 40 Neuroscience PhD candidates there. I was out of my league.

It's about what parts of words you actually pay attention to when someone is talking. 

I was too scared to take any other pictures. 

The talk went well. Some of it also went over my head. It was cool, though, to get to see another family member nerd out on something. Her research is impressive. 

I went straight from there to my first English football match. 

Yea, that's right a football match. And it was the Monday night match, which meant it was televised (a rip off of American Monday Night Football, but without the cheerleaders).

You'll remember my buddy Dom from the Thanksgiving post:

Yea, he's in a suit. That is a Charlton scarf, though.  

Dom's been supporting Charlton Athletic Football Club since he was about nine years old. He's seen them go from crap to awesome and back to crap. Over here, the professional soccer is divided up into four or so leagues. It's a hierarchy and Charlton used to be in the top league. Now they're in the 3rd, which is the lowest they've been since Dom has been going. But they're currently at the top of the league, which would mean an automatic rank up next year (if they keep their spot).

He goes with his dad and brother - the three of them have season tickets next to each other; they've had those seats for 10 years. They know most of the people in the section. The security guard knew Dom by name, razzed him when we came in, and introduced himself to me. 

It got me thinking and comparing this sporting event to the ones I'm used to in America. Going to see Charlton was a blend of high school, college, and pro American sporting events. 

High School: Everyone knew each other - at least well enough to give a head nod and "Y'allright?" to one another. Dom saw a guy outside the arena as we were eating our pregame fish & chips (love it), exchanged niceties, and explained to me that the guy sits two rows behind him - and has been for several years. Also, the security getting into the game is about as tight as a high school game. We had just purchased cups of tea (to help with the digestion, surely) right before going into the game - from an outside vendor. They let us bring those in, no problem. Sure, they checked our tickets (mine was 10 pounds), but they didn't mind us bringing in tea (and a water bottle). Instead of lots of lights and scoreboards all over the place, they have one big screen TV that takes up the only section where there aren't seats. I'm sure it's massive, but it looks small from the other side of the stadium. 

College: The facilities themselves resembled an American football stadium. There were no name brand concession stands, but food was available. The footpath along the perimeter of the arena was asphalt. The seats were about as comfortable as you'd expect - no arm rests. Capacity is just over 27,000, but there were 18,000 there Monday night. Like college games, there is a distinct home and away seating arrangement, rife with raucous fans. 

Pro: Obviously the players are making money. Average for this league, Dom's brother told me, is about 40-50k GBP per year. The next league is around 6 digits, and the top league has players regularly making 7 to 8 digits per annum. Also, you can bet on the game while you're there! That's right, Mom, you can walk up to the betting booth and bet just before the game starts! Freaking amazing. Also, they sell alcohol at the game. And the cheers - the cheers would only be appropriate at a pro ball game. 

The only appropriate one I heard all night:

Top 'o the league, top 'o the league...Charlton Athletic, we're top 'o the league! 

The visiting team was riding a 46 game "no losing" streak (soccer accepts a tie as a "no loss"):

Stick your fucking record, stick your fucking record, stick your fucking record up your arse! 

There was an opposing player who is on the heavy side. Whenever he missed a play:

You fat bastard! You fat bastard! You fat bastard!

Whenever the opposing goalie kicked the ball across the field:

ooooOOOOO! Bullshit! Gaaaahhhh!

I got a kick out of hearing 18,000 people cheer in a British accent. I know they used to have a problem with violence and hooligans at soccer games, but I wasn't the least bit intimidated by those cheers - they just made me giggle inside my head. It's a funny complex we have about language variation, especially Americans and Brits. I constantly think people sound proper and well-mannered over here (even if it's cockney it still makes me kind of giggle), and everyone tells me they think I sound wise because of my accent. Talk about hilarious. I've been called lot's of things, but certainly not wise. Well, maybe wiseass...

At first I thought the fans were more knowledgable about the sport than American fans are about their sports. By the end of the game, I came to the assumption that everyone just claps when something obvious happens. Since possession changes so much in this sport, I think they just clap when one guy dribbles for longer than 2 seconds or when one pass is made without being deflected. I could be wrong. 

Left section: the visitor's section (we got there early - it wound up getting pretty full on all sides)

Our section (note the guards in orange jackets - they're the ones who know Dom).

This entire section was filled with fans in black jackets, yelling the entire time. 

We went into the halftime, up 2-0. Dom assures me, "the thing about Charlton - you can't trust 'em. Two to nothing is better than one nothing, but you can't trust 'em." He's had enough experience watching his team blow the lead. I was just happy to have seen two goals. I was always socialized into thinking soccer was really low scoring and not fun to watch. I've enjoyed a few games of World Cup soccer, but have never gotten into it. Well - this was quite the experience. I was having fun. And - lemme tell you - being inside the stadium when a European team scores a goal - that's something. Everyone was out of their seat way longer than if any American football team scored a touchdown. I was even jumping up and down with my hands in the air. I didn't even know I was doing it.

The halftime show was Andrew Henderson, the curent UK Freestyle Football champion. 

Then I started noticing that thing people say about Brits - I'm not sure there's a word for it - it's more a mindset than anything else. Here is this kid, out there on the field, trying his best to wow people with his football tricks, 18k people staring at him, lord knows how many more watching on the television, and Dom says to his brother, "Thing about it is you know he'd be awful on the pitch." (translated: the kid doing all these tricks with the ball wouldn't be a good player on the field)

About the same time, two different guys were saying the same thing independent of each other right behind me. 

I just rolled my eyes and enjoyed the show. 

One final observation:
There was a row of about 8 older men behind us. They were absolutely, 100% the stereotypical peanut gallery - you couldn't find anything better. They were all old, had classic cockney south London accents, shifting between haters and coaches, had all the answers, all the insults - it was great. And they were horrible - they were yelling some stuff I won't even post on this blog (I mean c'mon - it's a family blog!). I think they all buy season tickets to go out with their friends, get away from their wives, get drunk, and yell at the ref. I mean, that's what it seemed like to me. 

And the ref was bald, so the first few times the one guy behind me yelled, "Cut your hair, baldie!" or "You're a twat, baldie!" I thought he was yelling at me. I was having visions of a violent altercation between me and five or so drunken retired men right there in the stands, embarrassing Dom and his family, embarrassing myself, getting kicked out, etc. When in Rome, am I right? Luckily that didn't happen. 

The visiting fans drove about five hours to get to the game. On a Monday night. That meant they had to take off work and wouldn't be back till at least 1am. 

And they lost. 

Yea, Charlton broke that 46 game no-loss streak and sent them packing back up to the north country. Everyone left, chanting, Stick your fucking record, stick your fucking record, stick your fucking record up your arse! Over and over and over again. 

Gobble Gobble!

Well, that happened.

This was our first Thanksgiving away from Knoxville, Tennessee. I had been falling in and out of daydreams about it for a few weeks running up to this week. I'd think about how it'll be when we're in Knoxville for Thanksgiving, then catch myself remembering that we were going to be doing it ourselves here in London. Then I'd have a pang of homesickness. Then I'd have an even bigger wash of panic through my belly.

Were we going to be able to replicate a true Thanksgiving dinner all the way over here? On our own? We'd both been a part of making the dinner with our respective families before, but had never been in charge or responsible for executing the meal on the whole.

In usual fashion, we decided to go overboard: we invited ten people.

I mean, we often fail at simply feeding ourselves, much less twelve people in total.

The week was equal parts cooking, shopping, and finishing all of our leftovers. Being that we have a mini-fridge, there isn't that much room for storing prepared food for Thanksgiving dinner and the ensuing leftovers.

Parents always say, "You'll learn when you have kids," to signify that no one ever really knows what goes into general life stuff until they have kids. We got a taste of that this week. Cooking this big important dinner, trying to combine traditions, make it all come out right, and balancing the rest of life was a real lesson into the world of the Thanksgiving food preparer. I thank both Melinda and Patti for previous Thanksgiving meals - I don't know, but I've had a strong intro to Thanksgiving 101.

The cooking started on Monday. Kenz did most of it, if I'm being honest. She started the week with cornbread for the stuffing and making this sweet pie crust:

Note that the rim is leaves.

I got busy making toast for the stuffing:

45 pieces of toast in all.

As noted in the previous post, almost no one does turkeys until Christmas here in London. I wound up getting a frozen turkey from a grocery store about 4 miles from the house. I threw it in my backpack to get it home.

Tom Turkey's little brother, Timmy.

I also had to buy a plastic bin to brine it. We quickly realized that the bin was too big. Paranoid that the turkey wouldn't brine properly, we set out to find things that would displace the liquid. Kenz had set glassware for recycling aside in the freezer filled with water. We threw those in there. About an hour later, Kenz realized that the labels would run and the glue could dissolve into the brine. We took 'em out:

Trash Brine

My step-sister, Lisa, had come in town to share the holiday with us. She is doing two thanksgivings while here in the UK, ours being the first. We had asked her for some canned pumpkin. Once she realized that she couldn't just bring pumpkin on the plane with her, she decided to check an extra bag of goodies for us. HOW FRIGGIN SWEET IS SHE?!

Pumpkin, Cranberries, REAL coffee, Chalula, Copenhagen, Salsa, and REAL tortilla chips!!!

She and I walked all around town on Wednesday, looking at all the Christmas decorations around town and catching up:

Rudolph in Covent Garden

When we got home, Kenz put us to work. Lisa and I made the stuffing as Kenz made more pies.

Now, about the stuffing - the recipe comes from Big Mom, Melinda's mother, who had been the matriarch of Thanksgiving as I grew up. Mel still uses her recipe to this day, as it is simply the only way to cook stuffing. In fact, I never had stuffing of any other type before I was about twenty four years old. You know - the kind that just kind of sprawls all over the plate and requires a strategic approach. I don't do that kind of stuffing. It's either too salty or doesn't stick together or comes out of the turkey (which doesn't work well for my juvenile mind).

As a result, I'm a bit particular about the preparation of this dish. It's a living memorial, it's the best way to cook it, the best way to eat it, the tastiest, etc. It is tradition. And what is this holiday for if not tradition.

Why am I saying this? Because I was obnoxious when teaching Lisa how to mold the stuffing loaves. We set out to make 5 batches.

That was a lot of chopping. No, bananas are not a part of the recipe.

Per batch: 2 cups stale cornbread, 9 slices of day old toast, 3/4 cups of diced celery, 1 diced onion, chicken broth/stock

Master Molder 

Padewan Molder

Uncooked loaves 

OH, the smells!

The turkey had thawed and was ready for the brine, but somebody had to take out the nasty stuff:

This is how we treat our guests...

Yuck!

Kenz telling her story...

At this point, Kenz was losing it. She couldn't stand the sight or smell of the uncooked turkey. She told us that one time her sweet sister, Whitney, had slapped her in the face with the turkey neck. No wonder she's a vegetarian.

At about 11pm, we called it quits. I mean, Lisa had been travelling since 3pm the previous day, walked around london for 4 hours, and spent another 2 hours preparing food with us. We thought she could use the rest.

Turkey day started with Lisa and I going to get some more supplies from the center of London. I had to get a roaster and some real knives. She then went walking around town for the afternoon. Kenz was in class.

I spent the afternoon cooking by myself! Can you imagine? This guy didn't even know the difference between chopped and diced two months ago. Yet there I was, jamming out to tunes, finishing the stuffing, peeling potatoes, and cleaning the house! Boom!

Of course I went crazy with the camera out of surprise/pride:

STUFFING LOAVES

STUUUUUFFFING LOAAAAAVES

The perfect one. Yes, I ate it right then and there.

This was half the potatoes. 

Timmy ready for the oven.

I broke the knives in properly.

When Kenz got home from class, she set in on the green beans, peas, finishing the potatoes, and gravy.

Rookie mistake: look how big that pot of mashed potatoes is. Now - look to the left. Yup, that's a whole 'nother bowl of potatoes. Woops. She told me to peel them all!

Lisa and I watched a few YouTube videos on how to carve a turkey. 

We found a stream of some football:

It was all turning out to be a pretty fantastic Thanksgiving. Despite having a few people back out last minute, the house soon filled up with friends ready to eat. I waffled between enjoying myself and trying to remember to take pictures:

The spread

Not a food channel presentation, but good enough to get your grub...

The potatoes and gravy were on the stove.

From left to right: Alejandra (Kenz's school friend), Celia and Owen (see: Cornwall!), Lisa, Dom (my disc golf bud). Two not pictured: Ty and Pique (arrived later). 

My plate. Representing. The bits are hard boiled egg from the gravy. I like to keep my plate as colorless as possible on Thanksgiving. I didn't touch those cranberries. Sorry, Lisa.

Pie! And cream!

Kenz made all three of those. And they were delish. 

Kenz maintained a calm cool the whole day. 

Remains of the day

Enjoying pie. (Ty is on the left)

Pique gets some pie (center). 

Owen was impressed. His expectations were low, though. 

We wound up getting to video call a few family members during the day as well:

We woke up Kara

MOMA and Tom were in Florida with friends

All in all, it was a fantastic day. We honored old traditions and made some new ones. Friendsgiving is pretty cool.

Much love to everyone - we're thankful for your continued interest in our lives and are grateful for your support!

And thanks, Lisa, for the special visit, goodies, cooking help, and laughter!

Hope you're recovering well from the carbohydrate hangovers.

OH! I almost forgot! Kenz had pumpkin pie for breakfast:

"You always take pictures of me eating!"

B'fast of champions.

PS: Shoutout to the Ruckers - looks like they had a nice turkey day, too:

Nancy and Anna

Will and Tina