Willie's Cacao Peruvian Gold

This one tastes similar to the first bar I tasted.  This is again very 'Fruity', aka acidic.  I am going to pass the chocolate off to someone else.

Jumping Car

The battery pack is absolutely useless when it comes to jumping a car.  It jumps a bike easy enough, but it doesn't have the juice to jump a car.

I don't have home start in my recovery, so I have to resolve it myself.  At the end, I flagged down my neighbour to help, and his van jumped it easy, success at one go.  It is always good to jump off a live car.

When I said Little Rome can be the donor should this happens again, Sarah thought I would kill Little Rome by doing so.  I am confident it would not happen, I will just make sure the bike is revving while I jump.

Common Car Faults

When I got my car, I have noticed there is no tick-tock sound on indicator, which isn't a problem.  Then there isn't a left light on warning either, which is very annoying.

Lo and behold, I left my light on overnight, and it is all havoc!  I finally am bothered enough to google about it, and it is a common fault, and not easy to fix.  Very annoying.  If my bike had been ready, then at least I have a choice!

Post Holiday Shopping and Chores

I deliberately ran down my fridge supplies and took the opportunity to defrost my freezer.  As a by-product, I might have saved £5 electricity.  I had no food when we got home, so I had to stock it up!


I looked through the post, and nothing was too important.


Then I also have to prepare little Rome for MOT, include changing her oil, which took longer than expected to empty.  I hope she likes the new oil.


Lastly, I finally got the wheel bearing sorted.


I aim to resume my after work gym routine.

Post American-trip effects

- I drove on the wrong side of the road for 300 yard before I realise, I am sure the other driver was scared and thought I was crazy.

- I used 'dollar' in conversation a few times

- I am more appreciative about the European coffee and pastries.

- I am more appreciative about the discounted goods (courtesy to UK being in the EU).

- I am more appreciative about the UK public transports.

- I love the English clouds and operating temperature.

- Sun really does help photography.

USA Grand Tour 2016 - Day 16 England

We landed into a cold England.  In preparation, I put on my sweater once again.  We went through immigration, got the car, everything went smoothly.  I managed to drive on the correct side of the road without much problems.


I took the opportunity to catch up with Angela while we were in Manchester, and Sarah thought I was insane.  We sat down and chatted a bit.  I got Angela some Dove chocolate covered cherries, and it went down well.


We went home for a nap before sending Sarah to the train station.  I got on with my gardening, it took hours to sort out my lawn.


I hope we have done enough to sort our bodily clock.

USA Grand Tour 2016 - Day 15 Nashville

On the final day of our tour, we woke up early, perhaps due to excitement/stress of the departure.  We got away early to go to The Pancake Pantry, as advertised on the airline magazine.  We were there about 8am, and there was already a queue outside!!  We queued for 30 minutes before we got seated, and waited another 30 minutes for food.


Sarah had their buttermilk pancakes, and I had their hash brown.  We wondered why it would take them 30 minutes for their standard/basic pancakes, except they were exceptionally busy.  Sarah is not used to buttermilk pancakes, and does not understand the idea of butter with pancakes.  The hash brown was chunky and buttery.  They must have parboiled the potatoes, I will have to try them at home.


When we still have a little time left before having to go to the airport, so we swung by Percy Lake.  Their camping season has not started, otherwise we could have camped there.  I am not sure I could cope with being away from civilisation for so many days and having to drive to get supplies.


We checked in and went through security.  The Nashville security was much quicker.  And surprise surprise, Sarah got stopped again!  'Routine/random checks' is always on her, what a coincidence?


We boarded the plane into chaos, much unlike Southwest, a family has sat on the wrong seats and causing a big chaos.  Luckily the delay did not bother us, as we had 2 hours layover in IAD.  When we got into IAD, we were down to the last $10, and we were careful to what to spend on.  We decided on some coffee, donut from Dunkin and cookies from Au Bon Pain.  This time Sarah chose a 'traditional donut', and I finally had a try, I absolutely hated it.  Who said I could not tell what I don't like when I had never tried before!!  I wish I never had that small bite either.  I chose a simple chocolate cookie, which was more like a flattened brownie.  I wanted a which chocolate macadamia and I should have got it.


We were finally on the trans-Atlantic flight.  Sarah was still not impressed by the UA food.