Adelard’s disappointed. Again.

“What you lot been up to? Any trips? Any fab hols?” Adelard sucked on his drink between questions.
“Not really. What about you?” Frances asked.
“Well, I went off with some friends and we did Italy. Madly impressed that we were going to stay in a fourteenth century turret, until I discovered everyone stays in fourteenth century Tuscan turrets. So I didn’t feel quite as spesh as I thought I might. And now we’re all here.” He looked around. “In Tunbridge Wells. Hmm.”

Diamonds are a... well, anyone's best friend

“We always liked the West End. Going up to the theatre,” Jessie was saying.
“Come on, Mum, you don’t like the theatre,” I jumped in, gently teasing her. “When was the last time you went to the theatre?”
“The Palladium, the London Palladium! We saw Liberace!”
“Years ago, it was. She wanted to see him.” Lew pointed to Jessie.
“Well, of course I did, a wonderful man, he was. An entertainer, a real entertainer.”
“A showman, he was that alright,” Lew conceded.
“He had all these outfits, diamonds, furs. And then he was all lit up. Lovely!”
“Well, he appealed to old ducks like you, Mum.”
“What’d you mean?” She looked taken aback.
“Well, you tell me, who was in the audience apart from funny old things like you. I bet there weren’t any men there.”
“There was men, remember, Lew? There was men there. Up in the balcony, lots of young men, all dressed up! Just like Liberace!” said Mum innocently.
Lew pulled a face and raised his eyes to the ceiling. Diplomatically, he said nothing.

New Canterbury Tales

Surrounded by snow, we're definitely ready for a trip...at least mentally. To get in the mood, here's a lovely shot Prodigal Wife took in Canterbury on one of our annual visits.

Snow Special!

Aren't the folks at Amazon lovely? Just in time for Valentine's Day--or is it to cheer those of us who are still surrounded by mountains and mountains of the white stuff--they have reduced the price of A Yank Back to England to frumpence over $11! So if any of you were meaning to purchase my little tome but did not quite get around to it yet, this is the perfect time! You'll save money--and cheer Prodigal Wife up just in time for the big day (and thank you)!
And don't forget your friends--really, where can you get six trips to England for less than $12!!
Click here to check it out.

Freaking? Have a cuppa.

“I don’t want to know!” I babbled on, “Oh, Christ. We’re not equipped, I’m not good at this! And if there’s an emergency, the bloody phone doesn’t work! And there’s my parents in there, and the other lot. Oh, God!” I started laughing.
Frances told me to get a grip, but I continued laughing. With thoughtful eagerness, she offered to smack me. I declined her kindly offer and took deep breaths instead.
“Better?” asked Frances, sounding a little disappointed, then asked me to help put out the tea things. Good idea. So that’s what I did, and my hysteria gradually subsided.

New York Chippie Sighting

Know we usually post England photos, but we loved this photo our buddy Chris sent us of his chippie's 1975 Reliant Robin, which he keeps in New York to attract fish Brits and other fish lovers. And we're sure it does--love the color!
Chris has kindly donated three fish and chips dinners for two to be raffled off at the Yank Back to England New York event on Friday March 26, at the Lincoln Center Barnes & Noble.
So everyone in the tristate area: come on out! It's going to be fun, we're finalizing the actors now. In the meantime, if you pop into one of Chris' Chip Shops, tell him we sent you.