You Will Be Re-assimilated

If this day just would stop feeling surreal, that would help me in my re-assimilation back to Trampa time and Trampa things. I barely remember details just relevant things like talking to Yummy in the early morning and late afternoon. He's been up to his elbows in paint. His pet project has been painting a selection of walls in his home. I think he has another coat to apply tomorrow...

I couldn't wait to get the length of my nails to get cut in half! Typing was becoming a chore. I felt happier going from a French manicure to a more lively Italian Red.

Armed with newly manicured nails, Brighton-themed tourist mementos and Cadbury and Galaxy chocolate ingots, I drove to my aunt and uncle's home. They had missed me and had been worried for me traveling by myself to England and to visit, in their eyes, a stranger.

Through my pictures, I was able to show them how much fun I had exploring Yummy's section of England. They also saw him as a real person in candid shots scattered through the over 375+ pics I took. The English culture and terrain were very different and I wanted to capture as much as I could.

My aunt was preparing food and didn't get to see all of the photos. Surprisingly, my cousin Ida was dropped off by her husband so she could spend some time with us and to have my aunt alter a dress for her.

During my UK trip, my aunt had a special sit down bathtub installed in the second bathroom so Nan could have a private bath when she felt like it. It was a pretty penny but impressive with the jets installed where your back would be and your legs which will be great for Nan! Three of us were inspecting it and oohing and aahing over it.

Standing to my left was my aunt and standing to my right was my cousin Ida and we were facing the big mirror for some reason after our admiration of the new bathtub. Ida pulls up her shirt to adjust her bra. I get mischievous and pull up my shirt to flash them, but not to be outdone was my aunt who pulled her shirt up and flashed the rest of us! Oh my God -- what a bunch of cuckoos! We laughed so hard.

Ida told my aunt she had the smallest boobs in the battle of the big boob trio in the mirror. My aunt replied that we got our big boobs from her mother, my grandmother Angela.

Before I knew it, we were having a Filipino meal on one side of the table and American on the other. To add to my feeling of surrealism, my aunt had my uncle put on a cassette with folk songs in the Visaya dialect from her childhood. It was to be "fiesta" soon in Lawa-an and she decided we were to have an impromptu celebration of our own.

I left early so I could make my skype date with Yummy. My evening was made early again by my jet lag and I had to make sure I got up for work the next day. Not looking forward to it either.

You Will Be Re-assimilated

AGOL Takes UK: Long Day to Trampa

Has it really been two weeks already? I kept going over my adventures with Yummy as I packed. Sadness was a thin veil over me. Drawing upon inner strength, I repacked my suitcase to bursting. Yummy had to come in and help me close it. My carrying case which was filled on my way over with my stuff was now filled with chocolate. Both bags were heavier and so was my inner being. Time does fly when you're having fun.

Breakfast was strawberries and Greek yogurt. Trying to get a head start on healthier choices, I guess. We didn't really eat bad food these past two weeks. It was just richer than everyday fare, but we walked most of it off, I'm sure.

We hustled to the station to catch a specific train to Gatwick Airport. The train ride conversation is a dull memory, kind of like the other train ride from Gatwick only now I was not nervous riding next to Yummy.

I checked my luggage and had a panic moment when the announcer repeated that it was one bag per passenger and a lady's handbag was considered one bag. Yikes! The British Airways lady employee was very nice. She didn't charge me to check in my carrying case, the one with the precious chocolate! I was advised to stash my purse inside my shopping bag to count as one until after I got through security.

Yummy and I drank some coffee and reminisced until it was an hour before my flight. He accompanied me to just outside the security area. Hugs and kisses before life interrupted. Amazingly, both security checks were a breeze for me.

The flight back was indeed a long day, nine hours more to be exact. I got to watch Chronicles of Narnia, a nice diversion. I had an aisle seat which made the flight that much more interesting with my row mates' restroom visits and being able to watch the plight of the flight attendants. It is a tough job satisfying a big plane full of passengers.

So many thoughts ran through my head, but I tried to squelch them with sleep. I ended up getting chummy with my row mates who were a retired British couple on holiday in St. Petersburg. They had the cutest last name: Affection!

Before I knew it, the plane was landing (with Affection - Ha!). I turned my phone on again for the first time for actual usage. A text message from Tawny appeared letting me know they were in Starbucks and I texted back that the evil had landed.

The trip through the immigration maze was easier going back. Tawny kept texting me to find out where I was and I let her know I was in immigration. This didn't stop her from texting me some more. I told her I was getting my luggage. Minutes later more text messaging asking about my luggage.

As I was passing my final security check, Tawnyia called me. She was confused about the luggage; she had seen on the monitor that my luggage was still in Gatwick. I cut the call short since the security guy was approaching me to move me along and I quickly explained that it was different in international flights and would see her momentarily. Sigh.

Tawny had missed me terribly and it was great to see her and Jeff. They whisked me home so I could drop off my luggage which had precious chocolate waiting to melt in the Florida heat. On the way, I called Yummy to let him know I was back safely in Trampa. It was well after 10pm his time. He was watching footie and had been wondering where I was in my homecoming process...

Tawnyia and Jeff were angels for staying over at my apartment to sit with Cabal. I was comforted that he was well-cared for and loved while I was gone for two weeks. He was happy to see me and couldn't quite believe my homecoming. Spent some time with him before we all made our way to Macaroni Grill for dinner to catch up.

They came back to my apartment for a bit, but Tawnyia was falling asleep and they had to get ready for their St. Augustine trip the next day so off they went. It was just Cabal and me. We reacquainted ourselves. I missed my Pretty Boy Dog. I didn't see any dog as pretty as he is while I was in England. He is just the best doggie ever!

I called my aunt and uncle and let them know I was back before I called their daughter, my cousin Angie, in LA. At some point, I ended the call because I fell asleep while talking to her! My time clock was in a frenzy -- I was longing for sleep. It found me as soon as I lay my head on my pillow...


25 Things I Learned in England:

1. YOU’RE the one who talks funny.


2. Pubs are cool. It’s not just a watering hole. It is a culture, a way of life and where beers taste good…and it is served cold.


3. Hookerella heels….bad idea. You must bring cute walking shoes next time so you can wear more outfits.


4. Appliances there have big scary plugs.


5. Everyone seems to have a garden or a lot of plants.


6. Football (don’t call it soccer) is serious business. Grown manly men cry if their team wins or loses as shown on the “telly”.


7. You don’t have to own or drive a car. They have a great transit system (bus/train).


8. Castles here make Disney’s look like a shack.


9. People do not say “bloody”, "cheerio", “tallyho” and “jolly good” in every conversation.


10. “To Let” signs are not missing the vowel “I”.


11. Not every guy is named Nigel.


12. Mexicans do not cross the pond. Bow out of Mexican restaurants.


13. Chinese peeps are everywhere but the restaurants are not the same in the US either.


14. Watching Asians speak with British accents is weird.


15. Long acrylic nails have no place here unless you can pass yourself off as an Eastern European hooker….You can try Russian or some kind of Asian, too.


16. Food portions are normal, more manageable and no refills on coffee, hot tea and colas. No iced tea on the menus -- eek!


17. It’s not the same English spoken.


18. Restrooms have floor to ceiling doors and you may have to think about what you’re doing since the gadgets are different. God help you if you’re claustrophobic.


19. Smiles are still smiles.


20. Things here are old, some bordering on ancient. Your 50-year old house is NOT “vintage”.


21. The “pretty clock” in London IS Big Ben.


22. Food here tastes great! (Exception: Vile Marmite)


23. Mind the Gap.


24. Chivalry is not dead. Gentlemen still exist. Yummy is a poster child.


25. If you’re American, don’t get drunk and try to negotiate the streets. You WILL be looking the wrong way. Splat will be your new name.

AGOL Takes UK: Long Day to Trampa

AGOL Takes UK: Chocolate & Champagne

My personal and major objective today was a chocolate run. There was no way in heck I was going to land tomorrow without buying some Cadbury and Galaxy chocolates. My ride home from the Trampa airport depended on it!

Waitrose was to be my source for trafficking chocolate to the US. Around a dozen chocolate ingots weighing 400 grams each and packages of other Cadbury and Galaxy varieties plus three oddball packages of McVitie's Digestive Biscuits came to £45 pounds or $90 worth. The AGOL doesn't play around with her chocolate. Friends and family were being gifted with chocolate.

Yes, there is a picture of the treasure, but you will have to go to Yummy's site to see it on the grocery checkout conveyor. Poor thing. He had never seen so much chocolate purchased at one time. Has he ever had an American Halloween? Didn't think so. Even I must admit it was bordering on obscene, but I didn't care. I just had to get it on the plane.

We dropped the chocolate treasures home before going out again to The Lanes to visit Riddle and Finns for lunch. Not risking any choco meltdown. Too much was riding on their safety. Ha!

Yummy had heard good reviews about Riddle and Finns and we had put it on our mental list of places to try a week before. Here was our chance to sample it since dinner at The Saint was still hours away. Seafood here we come.

The entrance was quite nice and the inside simple with white subway tiles on the walls. The dark wood tables were set quite high. Lunch was almost over so we were the only ones inside. Our order was taken right away and the waiter extremely pleasant and personable. He served us slices of bread with little ramekins of smoked mackerel pate, garlic mayonnaise, horseradish, and onion in vinegar with a side scallop shell filled with butter. What a great way to start.

We had ordered the specials scribbled in chalk on the outside sign. Our starters were the same: crab and feta salad. For the main course, Yummy had Haddock and Chips and I tried Poached Brill with Fennel. Downed with wine, everything was delicious!

Walked around a bit before heading home for an energy nap. Tonight required alertness for all the fun to be had...

Anna, Anton and everyone's friend, Brian came to pick us up. Brian was specially invited into town earlier in the week and we were lucky to have him on a Friday. I found out he was flying to Raleigh, North Carolina the next day about 15 minutes after my plane's flight to Trampa.

We visited two pubs before heading for The Saint where our reservations were secured by Yummy. This Party of Five was definitely starting to get really fun. Did I hear sirens? Just kidding.

I won't enumerate the menu, but suffice it to say everything was great. We all had starters, main course and sinful dessert. A bottle of champagne was popped open for our celebration, liquid gold was poured into our glasses garnished with raspberries. It was indeed heavenly. My time here started with champagne and Yummy felt it fitting to end with some more. What a sweetie! Wine came, too.

Smiley friends: Anna & Brian


Yummy & Anton: Best friends doing their impression of The Clash: Fashion Calling.


Getting happy: Anna, Brian and party crasher, Sean.


Sprinkles & Yummy having had too much sun and now getting striped with wine.


Drinking heaven garnished with a raspberry.


There was a surprise -- a party crasher named Sean. His partner had gone off to get drunk pre-celebrating his 40th birthday. We invited him over and gladly he was fun. Another surprise was Anton remembering him from his school days. Sean didn't remember him, but they had mutual friends he recognized. It was a small world. The evening was wearing and we invited Sean along to our next and my last boozer on this trip.

We took cab rides to The Eddy to complete our beer sandwich. This pub and others will have to deal with the smoking ban taking effect July 1, but for tonight it was smokin' in more ways than one. Loud, but recognizable music played when we came in. Beer-thirty was enjoyed by this (now) Party of Six!

Midnight crept in. It was time to walk home for most of us. Hugs all around. These were good people to meet and a blast to hang with...Too much to drink to think seriously about organizing my things. Of course, I can start packing in the morning before I leave. (Gulp!)

AGOL Takes UK: Chocolate & Champagne

AGOL Takes UK: London Day 2

Our second foray into London began with a walk in Trafalgar Square where Nelson's Column and The National Gallery are a hotspot for tourists. I expected more pigeons but I think the city has found a way to keep them from menacing the crowds. A couple of the ones there swooped like pterodactyls near us.

Nelson's Column


Base of the column with "England Expects Every Man Will Do His Duty".


The National Gallery behind Nelson's column on the opposite side of the square.


Mermaid on one of the two fountains in the square.


She has such an arresting face especially with the water spraying on her.


Another view of the pretty clock.


Corner building across the way. The windows atop remind me of portholes.


Yummy took me around Covent Garden, Soho and Chinatown. I loved walking around, enjoying the street performers and shops. We stopped and bought packages of tea from The Tea House. It was a beautiful store with an impressive selections of teas. My chai tea smelled heavenly through the package...

Smart cars are so cute! I told Yummy that he and I would look like grasshoppers driving it with our long legs.


We still had some time before we were to meet Yummy's mum, Margaret and his stepdad, Mason. They were meeting us in the city for drinks and dinner. It was beer-thirty again and I was led to a popular London pub called Salisbury. It was more opulent than any of the other pubs we have visited. I liked the frosted glass window around the front.

Next stop for us was Cafe Apogee for wine with everyone. Mind you, I was very nervous, but I am generally effervescent so I didn't give into shyness. Wine here and the 1/2 pint at the pub didn't hurt either.

My American audience will know what I mean when I describe the following. In Virginia, speaking with a Southern accent is described as genteel, a more refined way. Margaret, Yummy's mum, speaks British English in a very genteel way. She could read stories for hours and I would just be as interested as the first. She's beautiful with alert blue eyes and very soft-spoken, but I can tell there is an impish side.

Mason, Yummy's stepdad, is from California and he didn't speak at all with a trace of a British accent even after being in the country over 20 years. He's very outgoing and very sweet. I enjoyed his company, too. You knew he worshipped his English rose.

I brought them some goodies from Florida, mostly Key Lime Cookies and a box of saltwater taffy that brought a story of Mason's mom when she was still alive.

When Margaret and Mason visited California, they wheeled his mother around in her chair. She was in her 90s, I believe. They bought saltwater taffy, but Mason's mom didn't want to share with her roommates so she proceeded to eat the loot piece by piece leaving a paper trail behind her. When she sat in back of their vehicle, she ate some more and left her candy wrappers around.

By the time they got back, there were only several pieces left which they offered for her to take in, but she declined because she was full of the candy. That was a scream. She was one determined woman!

The weather dictated where we would dine. I had asked Yummy to check the weather online before we left Brighton and it said it would continue to be warm. When we stood in Trafalgar Square, I prayed for the sun to shine through the clouds for warmth. The online forecast was incorrect so the evening became much cooler and breezy.

Yummy and I found ourselves at another Mexican odyssey at Chiquito's around the corner from Cafe Apogee. It had more selections than Los Amigos in Hove. We ordered fajita combos while M&M ordered chicken and beef tacos. Amazingly, it was beer-thirty all around. Good with the food, too. A great time was had by all.

M&M were smart and brought their coats and even offered them to us, but we declined to brave the elements. The cooler temps had us walking a lot faster through the streets to catch the tube and then the train back to Brighton.

At London Victoria station, you have to deposit 20p (pence) to use the restrooms. I have never in my life have had to pay for the necessity. Good thing I wasn't already doing the pee-pee dance because there were some stairs down to navigate . Never a dull moment with my restroom visits.

The train took us to a warmer climes in Brighton...Thank God!

AGOL Takes UK: London Day 2

AGOL Takes UK: Brighton Clear

It was a potpourri of activity today. Fortified with a light breakfast, we set about to look at paint and mill about (still magically sunny) Brighton.

Red Roaster's won Anton and Anna's recommendation for a cup of lava-thick hot chocolate. Yummy cringed when I paired it with a brownie while he had coffee and UK version of flapjacks. In the US, flapjack is slang for pancakes. These were more like a cookie bar or granola bar with the oatmeal on top.

Hot chocolate next to brownie, flapjack and coffee.


There was an emergency glass of water near the hot chocolate in case something went awry...like sugar shock.


Now to work off the chocolate...

On a clear day, you can really see beautiful Brighton!


This is the burnt skeletal remains of what was once called the West Pier. No one has dismantled it and I find that utterly charming. You can even see the remains of the bridge near the the beach, too.


Yummy was jonesing for fish and chips so we stopped by the seaside at lunch. His order had mushy peas. Uh-huh.


Part of our adventures was trying to find a Filipino deli that Anton had seen. I don't know that Filipinos actually have delis, but what do I know? Our first trip up a hill onto Montepelier Road yielded nothing so we went back down the hill near Waitrose. Yummy called Anton again and received better directions. Up the hill we go again where I saw the flag I would recognize anywhere painted on the Filipino Market store sign. I felt great considering how many Chinese stores were around Brighton. My peeps were represented.

Yummy asked me if I would speak Tagalog and I said no. We walked inside the tiny store and was greeted by a friendly (yet highly inquisitive) Filipina named Sheryl. And, yes, I spoke Tagalog -- well, more like Ta-garbage (Tagalog-English). Bought some stinky goodies and headed back down the hill for vegetables that looked like they were grown in Chernobyl from The Taj. This place was another wonder. We spent some quality time here before rounding out the shopping list at Waitrose...

Back home again and it was time to have everything mise en place by the stove. I decided to make lumpia (Filipino eggroll) with homemade sweet and sour sauce, chicken adobo with potatoes (chicken and potatoes in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic and bay leaf) and pinakbet (veggies in stinky stuff and ginger). All these required a lot of slicing and dicing which Yummy happily watched me do.

I've taught many how to roll lumpia in Filipino cooking classes I have given in the past. I can roll about 50 in one hour. The filling was cooked, drained and cooled enough to assemble. Teaching Yummy how to roll these gave me great pleasure. It felt like a rite of passage. He did very well and I was proud of him. There were too many for tonight's meal so we bundled them in fours so he could have an emergency supply in his freezer.

I asked Yummy to make rice his way which cracks me up, however, it does yield perfectly cooked grains. Won't go into it. I am just spoiled by my rice cooker. It's all good.

When everything was cooked and plated, I held my breath while he tasted everything. I have gone through this many a time with friends. The first bite, I mean. It is either a hit or miss. Yummy had second helpings. He might become more of a "flip" than me at this rate!

AGOL Takes UK: Brighton Clear

AGOL Takes UK: London Day 1

Phenomenal day in London! The weather was sunny and the sights were incredible -- better than any movie.

Rode the train from Brighton Station to London Victoria for almost an hour. Starting to get the hang of inserting the tickets into the slits so I can safely pass through the gates and remember that it gives you the ticket back if you're on a return.

(Train ticket side note: One time Yummy forgot to tell me that when you're ticket is done, it doesn't come back to you which is why it wouldn't come out again. Guess who was panicking? Little details..)

The Victoria and Albert Museum became first on our agenda in London. What sections we were able to mill around in were great. Would've seen more, but portions of the museum were closed because of a worker strike? Something like that. I haven't been to a proper museum in a while so this was exciting. Yummy made sure I got to see the Fashion section which I loved.

Snapshots in front of the building and a plaque commemorating it.



This was in the lobby and I immediately recognized it as Dale Chihuly's work. He is famous for his ceiling work at The Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. He's also done numerous installations around the world. Some of his work were just shown in a gallery in St. Petersburg, Florida.


The following are plaster casts of the original.





You can't say you were not warned in the ladies' room.


We decided to skip the Kylie Minogue exhibit (yes, that's right) and peruse the gift shop before lunching at Cafe Daquise. This place served Eastern European food and Yummy made a remark upon entering that I will not repeat. He enjoyed Polish beer and bigo (hunter's stew) and I ate the stuffed cabbage.

AGOL had a rare yet complete blond roots moment... We had just gotten out of the tube and went up the stairs and outside to London proper. I saw this building IMMEDIATELY in front of us and thought -- what a pretty building...pretty clock. Then Yummy reminds me that it is Big Ben. Oh.


Tube sign. Just before you "alight" off the tube, you hear an authoritative male voice intoning "Mind the Gap" (between the train and platform) so much so that you find yourself reciting it repeatedly in your head.


Westminster Abbey. If you do not know this place, you might as well have the aliens pick you up now and agree to have your Earth citizenship revoked. I didn't know it would be so close to the House of Parliament. Pictures inside are prohibited so I have outdoor shots which are just as nice. Inside were place markers in history for royalty, the titled, the decorated and the talent of different eras. It was like a mausoleum surrounding the church portion. You see names like Queen Elizabeth I, Chaucer and Byron. It was a strange feeling to be in the same place that the current queen had her coronation.






We veered towards Downing Street so we could peek at Number 10. Was Blair in? Did he know the AGOL was in the city? The guard box was strategically placed so you don't get a "clear shot" of the door. More accessible than the White House that's for sure. Look what we're guarding. I am not saying anything -- I am just saying.


No, the giant carnival was not in London. This is a permanent installation celebrating the millennium. This is called the Millennium Wheel or British Airways London Eye which has one full revolution of about 30 minutes and is so smooth that you feel no butterflies in your tummy at all riding in the capsule and you get a 360-degree view of London. Passengers can walk around or sit at their leisure.





Sprinkles & Yummy. Some guys just take you to a dinner and a movie. This guy takes you on top of London.




We did the Queen's Walk along the Thames. When we strolled under a bridge, we encountered a man with an accordion playing "Besame Mucho" (Kiss me a lot) and we stopped and kissed. Very romantic moment. It was very Parisian like.


Yummy's Favorite Pub. It is painted black inside, has a fireplace and tiny! You can almost imagine yourself bundled, crunching into snow and ducking in off the side street to get warm by the fire. By this time I was very thirsty and ordered a matching pint with Yummy. Yup, it was cold and delicious. I downed it like a sailor on shore leave. Someone was surprised that a girl was outdrinking him...only on this pint though! I was disappointed; no cheese as advertised on the sign.


Last pic of the day. After a hearty a pint and a half on an empty stomach, it made walking around to catch the tube and train back innaressin let's just say. I forgot about the stairs.


Playing footie (not soccer, ya bloo'y yanks!) tonight was Chelsea v Liverpool. We got to watch some of the game while waiting for Chinese take away in Brighton and then hustled home for overtime. This stuff is serious business. Unfortunately, Yummy's team Chelsea didn't make it further in the finals.

I quickly remembered why I no longer watch sports: I get too involved even as tired as I was from London. I stick to watching golf which Yummy says is a good walk spoiled. Double-bogey. Still an outstanding day!

AGOL Takes UK: London Day 1

AGOL Takes UK: Liking Lewes

Anton made a hearty recommendation for breakfast at Bill's Produce Store, kind of a produce farmy place with a killer deli and food action. Yummy took us there so we could "strap on the nosebag". How vivid.

We had breakfast there...big breakfast. While Yummy had a solid protein English breakfast of sausages, eggs, etc., I had pancakes with ice cream on top and lots of lovely fresh fruit! As much as I love ice cream, I didn't like it on the pancakes. The pancakes were also heavy not light and fluffy. Not bad, just different. Jeezus the coffee was strong too! Would try it again because I am enthralled with the atmosphere.

Their glass cases had the most beautiful arrangement of food. I was able to snap a picture before a lady behind the counter told me that pictures were not allowed. How the heck do you expect people to share the experience if you don't take a dadblurmed picture? Besides, I could buy one of each and rip off the design if that was my nefarious plan... Oh, a plate of brownies was below all the flowers and such.



Our excursion today took us via train to the charming town of Lewes. Yummy was very excited to explore this town near him. We set off walking in the town, but realized later it may be the wrong way to visit Anne of Cleves's House. A high school age boy was able to point us in the proper direction.

I am not used to sidewalks and I was busy gawking when I took a trip of my own. Unfortunately, I landed on my (bad) right knee and developed a bruise later on my right hand. I just brushed it off and kept going. Time to investigate later. Too many more things to see!

The following are some of the streets in Lewes.





Funny sign. Yummy read it, chuckled, shook his head and moved on while this ghoulish girl took the photo.


St. John the Baptist was yet another church that beckoned us in and this one had a rectory dating back to 1255!




Ancient church with modern technology creeping in the ceiling on the right beam.


I love church organs and these pipes just looked old!


Who is this gorgeous angel guarding the door?


Finally made it to Anne of Cleves House. Anne was the fourth wife of Henry VIII. She accepted the annulment offer and received a yearly stipend of at least £4,000 in the 16th century. Yes, she was a smart cookie...didn't have to lose her head.




I was able to grab a map of Lewes before we left Anne's, but nothing prepared us for stumbling into what seemed like a secret garden. Disney grass was everywhere! The colors on flowers and trees were just breathtaking.

We sat on a bench further in just happily enjoying people watching. There were moms and prams, various ages of school children in uniform running amok, adults sitting on other benches or on chairs they brought themselves.







We stopped at an antique bookstore called Bow Windows Bookshop. I was able to see a mini two-volume Lord Byron collection that cost £105! They were beautiful though. The whole place was just eye candy.

Yummy saw one of his favorite clothing shops and found out there was one in Brighton he could go to when he wanted. My personal shopper skills kicked in and Yummy came away with a nice striped long-sleeved shirt and a thin navy pull-over sweater. Both were on sale, too!

The day was wearing and we decided to just head for a pub and eat dinner later at home. It wasn't 5pm yet so no rush at the pub. I had my customary 1/2 pint while Yummy had his full pint. It was nice to let our dogs rest even in good walking gear.

Made it to the train station and got home where I could smell the bean jar that he had simmering in the oven for hours while we were gone. Yummy used a traditional ceramic bean jar from his beloved island of Guernsey in the Channel Islands.

When he was a lad, the homes nearby would assemble their bean jars and carry them to the local bakery where they would all cook for hours in the residual heat from the stone ovens, usually on a Saturday night. On Sunday, someone would be sent to fetch the cooled bean jar to have with breakfast. Yummy's granddad Dave made these trips for the family.

Nowadays, Yummy has altered the recipe for "herby goodness". He uses two different kinds of white beans that he soaks for hours and boils for one hour before adding chopped onion and garlic. In addition, he tosses in small pieces of pork and herbs like sage, thyme, parsley and whatever herbs are at hand plus pearl barley and a few lentils. The key is to slow cook it in the oven to meld the flavors together.

Yummy served us piping hot bowls of it with pieces of brown bread and white pepper to add ourselves. He loves it with a ton of white pepper. I was a little reticent at first, but he was right on the extra white pepper. We both had second bowls. I've been looking forward to this beany goodness for months! He made my mouth water every time he mentioned it.

AGOL Takes UK: Liking Lewes