random things

This may be my last post for a while, because on Saturday we leave for 3 weeks in England and my internet access may be somewhat limited. I've managed for two months without my husband, so now comes the real test - can I live without email for more than a couple of days?

Our time in Ontario is coming to an end now. We do have a few days after we get back from England in which to overcome our jet lag and celebrate Megan's birthday, and then we head back to the west coast for more jet lag and then the start of school. I expect life to resume its rapid pace at that time, particularly if by some miracle I manage to get into the precalculus course that I need but don't want to take this fall. The class meets three times a week for less than an hour. I'll be spending more time commuting and trying to juggle child care with my husband - who is giving up his lunch hours to help me take this course - than actually sitting in that lecture hall.

I've concluded through trial and error over the past few weeks that I would feel much better if I gave up dairy products in addition to wheat. I am just not sure if I'm going to try and do that while I'm in Britain. I'm picturing myself becoming obsessed with food while I'm there, nervously wondering what my next meal is going to consist of and whether there's any hidden gluten or whey powder or some such thing in what I'm eating. Even the English breakfast will be suspect -- "Did you fry the bread in the same oil as this fried tomato I'm about to eat?" I'm not sure I want to go there.

(For all you Americans who are gagging over the thought of a fried tomato right now, all I can say is JUST TRY IT. Fry a sliced tomato in the same pan as your bacon. You will be hooked.)

(Notice how I didn't say anything about the fried bread.)

We're doing quite a tour of Britain, courtesy of my dad who loves to pack his holidays full of interesting activities. My goal is to collect tea towels on this trip, because of all the things I bought last time I was in England, my Hadrian's Wall tea towel has held up the best. (I've kept the "Year of the Four Emperors" mug I purchased at the same Hadrian's Wall gift shop, although it's become badly chipped). Aside from being practical, tea towels are also wonderfully portable on a long trip - you can cram them into just about any leftover bit of space in a suitcase.

If I can, I'll post some highlights of our trip, and perhaps even some photos of the best tea towels I collect, after my return to the world of perpetual wireless internet.