Ho, Ho, Ho!

I am sorry for being away from the blog for so many days, but there was just too many other distractions.

So lets start: we were out on Thursday night to meet up with Ann, from the UK, and Andy. We went to 'La Fiesta' a Mexican on Westheimer that had good reviews in b4-U-eat. I accosted the waiter to take a photo of us all, especially for the blog. We had a good meal, but far too much as always. It was quite amusing as two sittings of people must have come and gone in the time we were there and we were still last to leave. I like to take time while eating! We introduced Ann to frozen margarita's - which she thoroughly enjoyed although comment on feeling a little giddy after one!

On Friday, I managed to get up for spin class, although I could feel the cheese from the night before all through the hill climbing session! Note to self - don't go out for a heavy meal and do spin class at 0530. That evening we were out for the Fugro Christmas Party - Laura and Chris' company. Laura had invited four friends to her party so we had fun. It was a buffet dinner, with significantly better choice than the usual Grampian Chicken that we get at every party in Aberdeen! They then had a casino running all evening. We all had fake money, some $5000 each. I managed to lose mine very quickly on roulette, but I partly blame Stuart after telling me to gamble all the rest of my money on red, and it came in black! There was also dancing - some of it interesting tunes. Gangster music followed by line dancing to current pop music. To Stuart's delight there was a free bar! I opted to drive because I was going out on Saturday, and he enjoyed their red wine! I got to catch up with two guys from my undergraduate course who I haven't seen in at least 7 years. Amazingly none of us had changed much. Stuart and I went and got a professional photo taken, however, I think I should have done it earlier in the evening as by that point many glasses of red wine had been consumed. We have yet to get the proofs through on email - fortunately there is no obligation to buy! On the way home, a car travelling my way went straight through a red light, even with the rest of us stopped at the lights! I then because extremely careful at the lights.

I left Stuart in bed and went off to hot yoga on Saturday. It wasn't very busy by she gave us quite a work out (I felt it on Sunday!) We then met up with Ann and Andy at the overly packed Galleria shopping mall. Never again - it was horrible. Ann and I started talking to a man who had tiny puppies in a bag. He said he couldnt leave them at home so he took them shopping. I know you should never trust a man with puppies, but they we so sweet. Before we knew what happened with the day, Stuart had to drop me off at my hen party. We were meeting at someones house in the Heights, but what we didn't realise is it was also 'Lights in the Heights' and every man and his dog was heading that way too. Huge traffic jams and worst of all we ignored the SatNav lady who told us to take another route - that will teach us! Anyway, we gave the hen some funny presents, one of them was an enormous pair of clown pants! Apparently, they had been passed around a number of friends - we all managed to get inside them (unfortunately, I don't have that photo!). We then went out into the Heights (this is a reasonably posh or rather desirable place to live in Houston as it has trendy bars etc. Most of the houses are wooden bungalows), and we walked along the streets looking at all the houses decorated with their Christmas lights, hence Lights in the Heights. The six of us then descended on a couple of house parties, that the hen knew. Poor Stuart had to come and pick me up in the early hours.

Stuart was up and out by 7am on Sunday to cycle with the neighbours. That left me to inspect the inside of my eyelids! Very lazy. Apparently one of the guys had two punctures on their 27 mile cycle. Stuart had to mend the puncture as the guy had never had to do it himself, so he was filthy when he got home. All day was then spent cleaning the house for our fourth and final late night- we were having a BBQ. Seven of us in total and enough food to sink an army, but all very tasty. Stuart did a fine job - again! Because everyone had work today we all got off to bed at a reasonable hour.

There is no slow down at work before the Christmas hols and I can tell even when I get back it will hectic. Oh and just for Sam we have got the fog like Edinburgh!

Trees up

We now have a beautifully decorated Christmas tree. Stuart did all the hard work putting it up and bending out the branches - yes it is a fake! My job of hanging the decorations was easy:) We bought some candy sticks to hang on it, as I guess chocolate melts and so that is why you don't get it.

Both of us went to spin classes today. Mine was at 0530, and it was called power endurance - I thought I was gong to die! However, I felt pretty good all day so I am going back for more on Friday! Stuart went at lunch time and his class was far more eventful. A fight nearly broke out between the instructor and one of the class members. The harsh words and puffing of chests continued into the changing rooms. Apparently, things like 'do you want to be sacked, I am going to see the manager' were said!

This evening we went to Mall at Memorial for a quick shop. The building next door, that normally has a blue light on the top of it, is now lit up like a present (its blurred because Stu was trying to take a snap of it while I was driving). Poor Stuart still has nothing for his Christmas yet, I am hoping he hasn't got me anything either. The stockings are hanging from the mantle piece, but they will remain empty at this rate:(

Stuart is excelling at bread making, tonight he made pull apart bread topped with pickled jalapenos and cheese. We are going through so many pickled jalapenos that Stuart bought a huge jar for $3! Yummy!

Christmas madness begins

Sunday night was our street party, last night the wine dinner and then it is going to be Friday, Saturday, Sunday on the trot!!

The street party was lots of fun in spite of the rain. We all congregated at one of the neighbours house and then we went outside to sing a couple of Christmas tunes - including jingle bells, frosty the snowman and joy to the world (which was the hardest to stay in tune). The lights are constructed at the end of the cul de sac and it is a tree-like arrangement made from strings of light with a star on top that is a family heirloom and apparently is about 60 years old. We all went back in the house for drinks and eats. It is bring a plate just like the summer BBQ. This time I made mini toad in the holes. They went down a treat, so worth the effort trying to buy pork sausages! Stuart's bottle of Macallan also went down a treat, more with the women than the men!

We decorated the front of the house with our homemade wreath and icicle lights - now we fit in with the street, although we refuse to but the blow up Santa arrangement on the front lawn! Stuart is very clever as he has used the timer so the lights go on and off automatically!

Monday morning was a bit of a struggle after too much red wine. However, I had to recover as we had the wine dinner last night with lots more wine. My poor diet is really being tested in it first week.

Today, I took Misty to the car doctor. She has been making a strange noise. The garage today confirmed it was wheel bearings but at the moment they cant work out which wheel is is so they have told me to come back when it starts to roar!! It is perfectly safe to drive, I just need the radio a little louder.

The weather is crazy here. Last week we had the snow on Friday and it went down to minus 3 degC but today the temperature has risen back up to the mid twenties, even this evening it is about 19degC! Mind you, it is very hot and sticky, all the windows were steamed up and the clouds have been really low, I could see out of the office window today because the cloud was down like the Aberdeen haar!

At the races

It is a first for us both. We are at the horse races this evening trying our luck! The Sam Houston race track is only up the road and tonight is the Texas Champions Day with half a million dollars in purses - the biggest race day of the year.

For the first race we watched the riders get up on their horses and mine was the last one to mount - he must have been in the toilet! It was certainly not a good sign for the favourite and my two dollar bet! 'Cat Bells' was the last to get to the starting gate and it is safe to say I lost, and so did Stu with 'Buds little edge'.

The second race was not without its problems. Once again we chose the horse with the best name, this is a highly technical betting strategy, however, Stu managed to put money on two totally different horses than what we picked. The race began and the horse I wanted was in the lead all the way, the horse I had was nowhere to be seen. In the end the winning horse was what Stu had wanted in the beginning, second was my bet (but we had to 'win'), and third was the one I had wanted. Losing money again!!

Our third and final bet, this time we picked best names and placed the beats on the correct horses! They all started where they were suppose to, but in the end mine came in 5th and Stuart's last! We were not lucky this evening. Must have been the cold weather.

Since I have never been to the races back in the UK I don't know if it is the same but it was quite cool because you could get close to the horses before and after the race, seeing them mounting the horse in the paddock and then watch them race, then at the end, the winning horse would be just there in the winners enclosure. Most people watched the race from inside the building, there were TV's everywhere so you didn't have to go outside to see the action. However, Stu and I not realising this brought all our woollies, blanket and bino's. We were the only ones with woolen hats on it has to be said - bloody foreigners!

The racing was continuing until 11pm, but we had seen 5 races and lost all of 12 bucks so it was time to go home.

I am just typing this while waiting for the house to heat up.

It's snowing!

Snow was forecast and snow came.

When I was driving to work there were a couple of wet flakes landing on the window screen however, by 10am it was coming down quite heavy. The snow eventually started to lie on the roofs but it was too wet to lie on the roads. Although I wouldn't call it snowman making snow, it was just as good, because the office got closed at 2pm!!

I got home and we went straight out shopping - why pay to heat the house when you can go out and about :) The snow stopped about 4pm and now the temperature is beginning to drop, so I should think the wet roads this evening will be fun.

The first shop we went to was the cowboy boot shop and wow are there a lot of styles of cowboy boots.

This morning, our Friday breakfast day (someone brings in breakie),we had a true Texan traditional of biscuits and gravy. The biscuits are a bit like scones and the gravy was white sauce with sausages. I was very tasty as all homemade by his wife :)

We went to try and buy a Christmas pudding this evening. Hmmm when I asked where are your Christmas puddings, the reply I got was - 'Christmas what?' We didn't have any luck, however a quick search on the Internet confirmed they are called plum puddings (but don't contain any plums!). But plum puddings are not sold in regular shops, only in the ethnic sections. So we cant make Nigella's mini Christmas puddings for our street 'turning on the lights' celebration on Sunday.

We are staying in this evening eating seasonal tortilla chips - plenty of red and green food colouring in these crisps!!

The duvet is now on the bed in preparation for the cold, cold night!

Ball Busters

Stu and I went to watch Danny and his kick ball team - called the 'Ball Busters'! It was quite chilly out there so we were well dressed up. I even had my hand warmer, which Stuart spent all night relighting because it kept going out. We need Dad's touch!

So tonight was the Houston kick ball playoffs and Danny's team had to play a semi finals before getting into the final. However, after a well matched semi final game they were pipped at the post - 2:1. The game went on for about 40 minutes until they went into extra time and sudden death. There is regular changes between those kicking and those fielding because you only get three fouls (and outs) before having to change over - and that seemed to be happening an awful lot! There were no home runs unfortunately, but we had an exciting run from Robert when he did a very impressive slide stop at third base.

We are now back home testing out the heating. It is a little smelly - we think it is burning the dust in the air vents but it is warming up nicely :) Snow still forecast tomorrow, so watch this space, will I see a white Houston?!

Oh I had mentioned Stuart's facial hair last night - well tonight it had gone again! I didnt even notice when I came in the door this evening. I will see if I can get his photo of his mostache for you :)

Trainer no more!

It was a big day today - I had my last session with my trainer. I have decided not to continue right now as I have been losing enthusiasm. I have a very short attention span, I am ready for a change again. The main benefit is that I will save myself nearly $800 a month! and probably more as I used to have pay with my UK credit card, because I still have not got enough credit limit to pay for something so expensive!! I don't know why, but I felt kind of guilty giving him up - I think they don't like losing clients!

I can tell you, I feel like we are back in Aberdeen just now. The temperature has plummeted and it is even meant to snow this Friday! Apparently, no Texans (I should clarify with flat bed trucks) can drive in the snow and so I will have to watch out on the way to work. It has been quite amusing as the Europeans have been dressed up in more woollies than the locals - you can tell we are acclimatising well:) Tomorrow night we are off out to watch Danny play his 'kick ball' (essentially the same rules and objectives as Rounders, but you kick the ball), I will have to dress up with hat and gloves. Stuart hasn't let me put the heating on yet although I am going to have to change over the bedding and use the duvet for the first time since arriving (in addition to my hottie!).

Stuart has been noticing lots of cars with these black leather-like covers over the nose of the bonnet. I have seen them on a number of cars at the gym and just thought they were so you don't have to clean the front of lots of dead flies! Well Stuart has just searched on the Internet and discovered their proper name is 'car bras'! oh and the reason for them - it isn't just the flies, it is to prevent stone chippings! I think I would rather live with the chippings and flies :)

As some of the more observant ones will have notice Stuart had been growing some facial hair - a beard. He started for 'movember', a cause promote awareness of prostate cancer. Anyway, he managed to get quite a significant full set going, and just as I was getting used to it, he has now changed the style to a Mexican moustache with little goatee! No photos yet I have been told - not until it has grown some more :)