red spanish grapes

from sainsbury's - #1.49 -so fresh, so sweet, so devoid of any pesticides and my kids devoured them like they were candy.

wilkins cider farm

in north somerset.

the location of wilkins cider farm initially scared the american in me because something that out of the way, usually leads to no good here in the states. it usually involves sadistic rednecks who don't just kill you but keep you in their hovels of horror. but i digress.

where was i?

oh, yes. wilkins cider farm. how i wish i could pop down for some fresh cider (sweet was my personal fav) and a pound or so of that awesomely sharp farm made fresh cheddar whilst watching the geese and cows.

primark

i miss your retail offerings: 1# legwarmers, resin rings for 2#, hair goodies for 1#, your range of girls clothing fit me well although i am an adult (i must admit that i am about the size of your average 6th grader), fantastic graphic tees from the guys department for 3#, 6 pack of sock for 2#, cute sequin clutches for 4.89# - i could go on and on and on.

but i am missing you so, primark bristol.

and there is no one like you here. not old navy. not target. not american eagle outfitters, although i love their jeans because they fit shorties like me. not even h & m.

oh, primark - will you ever come stateside?

you can stay at my place.

cola rola balls

were not my particular candy of choice but the hubster really liked their silvery metal balls of cola goodness. i just liked going to cabot circus 3rd floor to score him a bagful.

the clifton

had the best burger, in clifton. yum yum yummer.

oxfam

i miss perfusing your donated offerings and hoping to come upon some lost treasure - like a book, a sea salt scrub, a square squat vase or a smash hits annual from 1983 that my husband loves so much that i got him for christmas.

sniff, sniff.

missing elderberry presses. cannot even describe how deliciously luscious this fizzy drink is.

and i miss you

fairy dish soap.

the pink grapefruit-mint flava.

why do we not have the selection of scents that the UK has? are we not a leading world power? apparently not when it comes to dish soap, my friends.

family parking

to show that family is really a bigger consideration in the UK, most UK retail stores offer "family parking". spots designated for families that are right smack dab in front of the store entrances.

sheer bliss for a mother of twins.

nectar points from sainsburys

i am missing my local sainsbury's. the one on whiteladies road in clifton.

got an email informing me that my earned nectar points were now valid for use at several restaurants. i think i had almost 1200 when we left in january.

what will happen to those unused nectar rewards points? wonder if tim the till guy wonders what happened to me?

i still use my tesco extra bags here with a wistful sigh.

tesco extra

made this amazing baguette that had a sprinkling of sea salt and black pepper. never had anything like it and i am totally jonesing for one right now.

and it was really really good with a splash of olive oil.

movies adverts in b'tol

did not scream at you from the side of the road or from the sides of buildings. in fact, for the entire time we lived in bristol, i had no idea what movies were currently shilling at the cabot circus theatre.

driving was my time and my brain could rest and just focus on the task at hand: not killing any bristolians with my american driving skillz.

the day after we returned from b'tol, i discovered 6 movies that were coming out in the next 2 weeks' time. and each one had it's own giant, behemoth billboard screaming watch me! no, me! watch me NOW!

sensory overload.

missing

the civility of driving in the UK.

i quite liked driving on the left. and roundabouts are my absolute fav. poo-poo stop signs - you make traffic.

half

miss hearing folks say "half six" for six thirty. i've taken to saying it here but los angelenos just don't get that i am talking about time.

open your minds people, open your minds!

ummmmmmmmmmmmmm, jelly doughnut

missing the raspberry jelly filled sugar doughnut from sainsbury's 34p or roughly 60 US cents. buy 2 get 3rd free. made fresh every morning and sold out by lunch.

flash bathroom cleaner

have never ever encountered a bathroom cleaner like the one from flash. simply amazing. spray it on shower mold and mildrew and hours later, return to a nice clean shower. rinse it away and voila! clean clean clean.
plus it smells of clean laundry, not some franken-created industrial cleaning smell.

yorkshire puddings

i am missing your buttery flakiness, yorkshire pudding. a delectable accompaniment to gravy and sunday roasts. and no, a croissant will not suffice.

missing sunday roasts

again. why do we not have this illustrious tradition here in the US? everyone's tummies would be all the happier