Thanks CS,

The recipes are important...I'll be staying in various villas and perhaps mixing my own ;-) !

I'll be taking notes and then toasting to each of you while in Jamaica.

I would imagine that my trip report will have a *life* of its' own :-)!

Did I mention that it is cold here and it is only October.

Thoughts of warmth, external and internal, seem appropriate.

Marion

Christie,

Damn!!!! I'm just sorry I missed it! We drove passed it every year on our vacation.

One year we drove past early in the morning, the sun was just rising, the sky was overcast and the moors had a low lying mist - amazingly spooky!

I was waiting for the 'Hounds of the Baskervilles' or 'The American Werewolf in London' to run in front of our car :-)

An hour later the sun was up and it was so warm -I must have been 12 (not that long ago, then :-D ) but I still remember that morning!

Hi Marion,

Well at least the wind has died down here - How is it with you?

Snow in MA, in October - well who'd 'a thought :-)

Hi Alya,

Wind has abated here too...although yesterday I expected death by falling tree and wondered if my body would ever be found.

Now, before anyone says we are just *chatting* ;-), I read your Thanksgiving post on the US board.

As you said, it's really not your holiday, and with those visiting Brits, why not go to Boston ? There's some connection there to history and holiday, and some wonderful restaurant choices.

Holiday lights will be up everywhere. If weather is good, you can do some walking. If weather is nasty, you can easily find a pub with a fireplace and a toddy :-)

I'll be happy to make some restaurant recommendations.

Marion

Marion,

You are such a sweetie,

We have booked Plimoth, partially because I know my FIL especially will love the history and partially because I realized it is our holiday! We just don't celebrate it in the UK!

Without the Pilgrims the US might not be the US it is today! good or bad? Who can guess!

I'm looking forward to the reaction of the re-enactors since my in-laws have the quintessential British accent and would feel comfortable talking to the Queen :-) Me, well I'm from Yorkshire so I say path (with a flat vowel) - they say parth, I say bath - they say barth, I say cah they say car . We have friends here who find me easier to understand than my DH. In England my accent is classed as lower class, theirs is definitely upper class.

I love them dearly, we have always accepted that we don't pronounce words the same way, it has never been uncomfortable. I'm really looking forward to Thanksgiving, mainly because I think we'll all enjoy it - Charlotte is coming home for the weekend :-)

Keep a look out for the Trip report

Alyson x x

alya,
Now would be the perfect time to go to "The Jamaica Inn"..Halloween is just around the corner.I guess that I can wait to go when the kids are older and my husband and I can do a trip to England and Ireland.;)

I guess that I should not complain about the cold here..when you guys up North have the cooler temps.But its hard when we went from 50-60 at night to 30-40 at night..just like that!On Saturday the temp here is expected to be back at around 78 during the day.I guess that mother nature is just teasing us down South!;)

Christie

Well, time for another hijacker......but the thread just reminded me of another good classic story......"Jamaica Inn" by Daphne Dumaurier (sp?). I recommend it. It might confirm the hauntings.....although it's fiction.

Alya,

I'm happy to hear about your Thanksgiving plans. I'm sure all will enjoy.

I hope you'll think about coming to Boston for a proper tea :-). Charlotte would love it and the in-laws will impress with their accent. If you say "cah", you'll fit right in...but you know that :-)

Boston and tea...who could ask for anything else :-) !

Marion

I'll bet that good ole "sweet iced tea" is never found in New England.;)Although..hot tea with milk and sugar is always good!

Christie

Christie,

Although I have never lived in the South, I have visited often and absolutely love "sweet tea" :-) ! I don't remember who first coined the phrase, "sweet tea is the house wine of the South", but I agree. And try as I may, I can't ever get it right.

I've made the simple syrup ( on advice from my Atlanta SIL ) and it still isn't the same. Maybe it has something to do with climate and the fragrance in the Southern air :-) Let's see now, I've mentioned Atlanta, does that make this travel-related ?

Marion

Marion,
I always make my sweet tea in my coffee maker.I use 3 family size Lipton tea bags (7 single serve bags) brew about 8 cups of water through and have the tea bags in the water for about 15 to 20 minutes.I then pour it in a gallon size pitcher and add 1 cup of sugar and water until full.My friends and family always tell me that I make good sweet tea!;)

Christie

lizzie518,

If you want to be classed as a real hijacker you have to nominate a cocktail for Marion :-D

Christie

They do t-bags in family size???? - well I never! Only in the US, bigger and better :-D

alya,
yes..down South tea bags for iced tea come in family size.:)

Christie

Well, okay.....hunker down on your favorite island beach with a copy of Jamaica Inn and a nice frozen mudslide.....but not too sweet, hold the chocolate syrup for me.

Lizzie,
Your plan sounds good ;)Mudslides are yummy!

Christie

I'll be having one myself in about a week or so while in Anguilla. Alas, I won't be reading Jamaica Inn (have already read it twice).....but I have plenty of books lined up and waiting. The DH will surely enjoy a pina colada with some dark rum floated on top. Can't wait.

Have fun Lizzie...I have heard that the beaches of Anguilla are beautiful!:) I will not be traveling for a while being that we recently went to St John (in June and Sept.05)but hope to early next year!;)

Christie