Home (Away from Home) for the Holidays

First of all, happy new year everyone! We hope that you all have had a blessed holiday season surrounded by close friends and family. This year, we were ecstatic to be together for the holidays, but being so far from home was definitely something new for us. We have each been away from our respective "homes" during both Thanksgiving and Christmas, but we were always with one family or the other. This year, we were both thousands of miles away from anything familiar.

Luckily, Jordan's mother and step-father came to visit for the week of Thanksgiving! It was awesome to get to spend some one-on-one time with them. Jordan met them at the airport at the beginning of the week, and the three of them spent two days sight-seeing around London. I came down to meet them after work on Tuesday evening, and Deborah and Randy were kind enough to take us to see Billy Elliot! The next day, after touring the Tower of London, we rode the train back up to our neck of the woods.

Jordan and his mother in front of the Tower of London

Deborah and Randy :)

That night our friends Leslie and Phil came over to help prepare our Thanksgiving feast! (Leslie has been dubbed "English Mum", and Phil is our friend in town who is a wonderful chef. He develops menus for new pubs, and helps to get them off the ground and running.) Basically, we had a cross between an American Thanksgiving and traditional English roast. They made Yorkshire puddings, honey-roasted parsnips, broccoli, cauliflower, and pigs in a blanket, in addition to my stuffing, rolls, pecan and pumpkin pies, etc. Oh, and of course the herb-butter rubbed, and citrus infused turkey, along with the best gravy I've ever had, a-la-Phil. It was amazing to say the least. And I got to use my china for the very first time!

Phil and Leslie, hard at work!

The best picture I could get of our fabulous feast!

Sadly, Deborah and Randy were only here for a short week, but we made the most of our time with them. We took them to see the Abbey Gardens and outdoor market in Bury St. Edmunds, went for a nice walk through Cambridge, and even had afternoon tea at an award-winning tea house in Ely. We also made a couple of trips to Cooper's favorite place in the world--the heath in Newmarket.

Shortly after Deborah and Randy left, our friend AJ came to visit from Germany! AJ was in Jordan's squadron at the Academy. We had a great time while he was here, and we can't wait to visit him sometime soon!

On Christmas Eve, Jordan, Cooper and I had a nice, quiet evening at home. I made prime rib for dinner, and afterward we enjoyed a nice bottle of wine by the fireplace. We talked to family on the phone for a while, and were successful in staying up to go to midnight mass at Ely Cathedral. It was absolutely beautiful, and was such a memorable way to spend Christmas Eve.

Our yummy Christmas Eve dinner for two. (Cooper got some scraps too!)

In front of the Christmas tree in Ely Cathedral. It was huge!

We woke up early to open gifts on Christmas morning, then we ate breakfast and spent a good part of the day on the couch reading and just enjoying each other's company. Later in the day, we went to our friends Daniel and Kirstie's (Leslie's son and daughter in law) house for dinner. It was nice to be around their two daughters to see the magic in their eyes on Christmas, although it did remind me of how much I miss our four favorite girlies back home.

Our Christmas tree.

Cooper puting Mommy's loot of new clothes to good use!

Kirstie asked me to make "something chocolate". I found a fantastic recipe for the most chocolately chocolate cake I've ever had. It was so good!

For Jordan's birthday, I was excited to give him a gift that I secretly bought in Greece! He had his eyes on a couple of different chess sets, and while he was gone I found the perfect one! It's hand-made out of olive wood, and the pieces are made of bronze. It was really fun to give him such an unexpected gift! Unfortunately Jordan had to attend an all-day training session on his actual birthday. I had taken the day off, and ended up just preparing for the guests we had arriving that day. The Scholbrocks, (who are some long-time Quintana family friends) came to visit for a few days. We enjoyed showing them around town, and spending quality time with them. It was so wonderful to see so many familiar faces around the holidays.

And finally, for New Year's Eve we decided to throw a party at our house. We decorated the house with streamers, and even confetti-filled balloons. It was great to ring in the new year with all of the new friends we've made throughout the past year. We are looking forward to an exciting year ahead, during which we plan to do a lot of traveling!

Mary, Courtney, Me, Sara, and Andrea.

Confetti at midnight!

Happy New Year from the Kemps!

Trip to Greece

So I feel like I just finished posting about how quickly October seemed to pass, and now it's already December?! Holy cow!

Jordan was scheduled to go on a TDY to the Greek island of Crete during the second week of November. At the very last minute, I decided to ask for the week off so I could go with him. And I am so glad that I did! (I'm pretty sure I've mentioned this before, but under USAFE command, spouses are allowed to tag along on certain TDY's.) Jordan and his crew were scheduled to go from Mildenhall to Crete, then they had a day off before flying to the desert. Another wife was along for the ride as well, so the two of us had no other choice but to lounge in Greece for the week while the boys refueled some planes on their way to the desert. Rough life, I know.

Fortunately, lodging was full on the Navy base, so we were able to stay in Chania (pronounced "Hania"), a beautiful town on the North coast of Crete. Just a little tidbit--Archaeological artifacts have proven that Chania has been inhabited since 3000 BC without intermission! Crazy, huh?! The tourist season ends in October, so it was rather quiet when we were there. But it was really nice to walk around freely and not have to worry so much about big crowds.

Kitty (the other wife) and I spent a lot of time wandering in and out of shops and art galleries, while exploring all of the tiny little streets in Old Town Chania. We enjoyed breakfast at our hotel every morning, leisurely lunches, and dinner at new and different restaurants each night. The traditional after-dinner drink in Greece is a shot of Ouzo, an anise-flavored spirit. We hated the taste of it, but as they say...when in Rome, do as the Romans do. One particular evening, our waiter decided to give us a second complimentary round of Ouzo, which quickly turned into about seven. We felt bad not accepting something that he clearly cherished, so down the hatch went the ouzo!

On another note--The feta cheese was AMAZING!! I have never had a Greek salad that tasted so good! And the olive oil... sooo flavorful! I gave the kalamata olives a fair shot, but I guess olives just aren't for me.

And now, for the pictures!

This is on our first night there, enjoying our first Mythos with dinner. The guys had the next day off, so we went out with the crew afterward and had a great time.

Good form of transportation if you ask me...

Looking out into the harbor at the lighthouse.More Harbor. The sun was going down, so it's a little dark.

Exploring some of the old town streets.
Me :)

That small little shrine to the left of the doorway had a candle in it, and when most Greek people walk past, they stop and make the sign of the cross. We saw these all over the place.

Kitty and me on one of our girls nights out.

One day, Kitty and I decided to be bold and take a cab to a nearby town called Kolymbari. It was beautiful there, but after lunch it began to rain really hard, and because the tourist season was over, we had a bit of a rough time finding a cab back to Chania...not to mention finding someone who spoke English! But we lived to tell about it and saw some beautiful sights!

Also in Kolymbari

This picture was taken on an early-morning walk around Chania.

Jordan came back in time for dinner, so we walked around until we found the perfect spot.

Soooo pretty.
Enjoying some Cretan wine on our last night.

Crete from the air... we have decided that our long-awaited honeymoon is going to be a Greek-island hopping trip! :)

Switzerland...A ski trip is definitely in order!

On the flight back, as we were about to arrive in Mildenhall we were informed that the winds were out of limits (40 mph cross winds!), and we were unable to land. Sitting in the cockpit and listening in as the pilot, copilot (Jordan), and boom operator figured out where we were going to divert to was intense! It was a great display of teamwork, but I must admit that at times I was a little nervous. We ended up diverting to Ramstein Air Base in Germany. So we had some schnitzel and a hefeweizen, and called it a night. The next morning (Sunday), we flew back to Mildenhall, and I was able to make it back to work on Monday!

October in Pictures

Is it just me, or did October just FLY by?! I thought I should post some pictures from the last month to let everyone know what we've been up to...

First and foremost, JORDAN CAME HOME!!

The following weekend was Halloween, and we brought Cooper to the "Strut your Mutt" competition on base. He wore his ladybug costume, as you can see below. He even won the award for best trick! (Jordan taught him how to balance a treat on his nose, and then flip it up and catch it in his mouth on command.)

We dressed up for a Halloween party as well. I was dressed as a jockey, and Jordan as William Wallace. He had wanted to be a horse to go along with my costume, but we decided it was a little too last-minute to try to make a horse costume from scratch.

It's lacrosse season again!
Jordan is playing with the Cambridge University team. The picture below is after they played against the Slovenian national team.
Our old roommate Scotty came to Mildenhall! Scott lived with us when Jordan was casual at Travis AFB in California.

I suppose a couple of pictures from early November couldn't hurt either...

Our friends Daniel and Kirstie (and their girls Frances and Kassidy) invited us to watch fireworks in Lakenheath in celebration of Guy Fawkes day. Guy Fawkes was a conspirator who attempted to blow up the houses of parliament in London on 5 Nov 1605. Bonfires and fireworks are lit all around the country on and around 5 November in commemoration. It is said that some people celebrate that Guy Fawkes was captured, and others celebrate his attempt.

It was POURING rain that night, but we still managed to have a great time watching the fireworks.
The following night, we went to our friend Phil's restaurant in Bury St. Edmunds for a real ale tasting party/bonfire.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Just wanted to write about and show a few pictures from my trip up to Scotland with my mom. Edinburgh is often described as one of the most picturesque cities in Europe, and from what I've seen, I would definitely have to agree. We had an awesome time there, and took sooo many pictures. Oh, and of course I've got to tell one of the most embarrassing stories of my entire life. (If I don't do it now, Jordan will be sure to tell every one of you when he has the chance)

The ride up was interesting, to say the least. We decided to take the train so we could relax the entire weekend. To be honest, I was a little nervous. I've taken the train down to London a few times with Jordan, which is really simple. However, on the way up to Scotland, we were to stop and change trains in Ely and in Peterborough. No big deal, right? Ugh.

So we boarded the train in Cambridge, and were just fine changing trains in Ely. Then we got to Peterborough. We had about 20 minutes until our next train arrived, so we decided to find an ATM, and walk around a bit. We got back to the platform with plenty of time to spare. Then the train arrived. I realized we were standing near the first class coaches, so we walked a little further down to board a "normal" car. Well, I got on the train, and then some people started pushing past. My mom, being polite, allowed them to go in front of her. The doors started closing, and I figured that like an elevator, if I just waived my hand in between it would open. Not the case. So I gripped the door with one hand, the door jamb with the other, and tried to pry it apart with all of my might. Haha. (Can you picture this?!) It wasn't working, so I started to freak out. To make matters worse, the train started pulling away.

I watched through the window as my mom passed, and officially began to panic. The train from Peterborough to Edinburgh is about 3 hours and 45 minutes, and I hadn't gone over the journey with her in depth. This was a new experience for both of us, and I had no way of contacting her. (In a situation like this, it's amazing how many thoughts can run through your head in a matter of seconds!) So I did what I thought I had to do... I punched out the glass covering the emergency stop handle, and pulled. (So embarrassing in hindsight...)

Immediately, an alarm started blowing ("ALERT-the emergency handle has been pulled in train car H"), lights started flashing, and the train came to a stop. "Hallelujah", I thought. A train employee came to the car, and started yelling at me. I told her the situation, and by this time my mom was standing on the platform outside my window again. Speaking to me like I'm the dumbest person on the face of the earth, the operator said, "She's not getting on this train!" So I responded, "Well then, can you let me OFF?!" After she pushed a bunch of buttons, she finally decided to be civil to me. She said, "I understand you panicked, but you can't just pull the alarm." She communicated (through the glass) with an employee on the platform, instructing my mom to get on the next train to York. I was to meet her there (about an hour away), and then we would get on the next train to Scotland.

The lady told me to go sit down. Soon after we started moving again, the conductor came over the intercom, saying, "I'm sorry to inform you that this train is delayed, due to an emergency handle being pulled." I was mortified. I was wearing my bright pink jacket and my hand was bleeding from breaking the glass, so it was impossible to blend in. About half way through the ride to York, the same lady came to me with a pen and piece of paper. She asked me for my name and address, saying that they will be keeping my information on file. Great. As we were arriving in York, the conductor announced once more that the train was delayed, due to an emergency handle being pulled. I was so happy to finally get off of that train.

Meanwhile, my mom was keeping herself entertained by taking comical pictures like this, showing her luggage alone on the bench in Peterborough...

I waited nervously in York until my mom arrived. She told me that the man on the platform informed her that they can charge up to 1,500 GBP (roughly $2,350) for this offence. What a great way to start our vacation. We decided to go to the information desk to ask if we were allowed to board another train up to Scotland that we weren't originally scheduled on. My mom urged me to ask about my "situation". I sheepishly told the man about what had happened, and I could tell he was holding back from laughing in my face. I mean, do I really look like the type of person who would do such a thing?? He said that if they were going to do anything, I wouldn't be standing there talking to him because they would have taken me away in handcuffs. He explained that they just took down my information for future reference--i.e. if I do it again, it's more likely that they'll come after me. I was so glad I asked, because it gave me enough peace of mind to enjoy the remainder of the weekend.

Now, on to Edinburgh. Whew! The first day, we checked in to our hotel, and then ventured out to have dinner at a pub along the Royal Mile (a mile-long stretch between the Edinburgh Castle and Palace of Holyrood, where the queen often stays). The castle towers over the entire city, atop a gigantic rock. In the 17th-century, a defensive city wall defined the boundaries of the Edinburgh. Due to the restricted land area available for development, the buildings began to increase in height, making Edinburgh one of the first European cities to build "high-rise" buildings.

My mom and me enjoying our first full-Scottish breakfast at our hotel!

Me, outside of the Clan Campbell Hotel where we stayed. (pink coat and all)

On Saturday, we stumbled upon an outdoor market, toured the castle, walked along the Royal Mile, and had dinner at an amazing Thai restaurant. We were both really tired from all the walking we did, but it was well worth it. Here are a few of the many pictures we took:

This is looking up at the castle from the market below. Absolutely breathtaking.

We may have chosen the most difficult route up to the castle, but it was beautiful!
What would a trip to Scotland be without a picture of a bagpipe player? :) This picture is inside the castle grounds, overlooking the city and body of water known by locals as the Nor Loch.

Also inside castle grounds. Isn't this so sweet?
Another beautiful view from the castle.

Cannon below, city beyond.I just can't get over how pretty this place is!!

The cotton thistle is a national emblem of Scotland. Legend has it that during the reign of Alexander III (1249-1286) an invading Norse army was attempting to sneak up at night on a Scots army encampment. During this operation one barefoot Norsemen had the misfortune to step on a thistle, causing him to cry out in pain, thus alerting Scots to the presence of the Norse invaders. The thistle is praised by Scots for this reason. After all, if they hadn't been alerted to their invaders, Scotland might not be Scotland today!Along the Royal Mile, there are lots of little alleyways like this one curving in every which direction.

We looked around at a woollen mill, where they make all of the traditional scottish knitwear. I bought a heavy wool blanket as my souvenir. :)

He's Coming Home EARLY!!!

Let me start at the beginning...Jordan was originally supposed to come home on the 24th, and then a few weeks ago, the date got pushed back to the 31st. We were both really disappointed, but knew that we just had to make the best of it. Then, out of the blue I got a phone call from Jordan while at work on Wednesday. He told me that there was a possibility that he might be coming home early. I figured maybe a day or two, but then he told me that if all goes as planned, he'll be home THIS SUNDAY!!!!

It's hard to find the words to describe how excited I am. I've had this big, goofy grin on my face ever since he told me the news! I've got a long list of things to do before he gets home tomorrow... most of it involving cleaning. Suddenly two weekends of house work have been smooshed into one day...today. (I'm not complaining, I promise!!) We'll see how much I get done. I'm sure he won't mind if everything isn't absolutely perfect, but I'm going to do my best! haha

Mom's Visit

Well, it's hard to believe that an entire month flew by so quickly! It's funny to tell some people that my mom came to visit for a month. They often look at me like I'm crazy and say things like, "an entire month?!" But I truly enjoyed every minute of her company. It was just nice to come home from work and relax, cook and eat dinner with someone, and just have someone (other than the Cooper dog) to talk to. We payed several visits to Cooper's favorite place in the world-the heath, went to our first English wedding, went for a day out to Orford Castle, and even made it on a long-weekend trip up to Edinburgh!

I don't know why we don't bring along a camera more often when we go to the heath. I always love the pictures we take there, and it's one of our favorite places to unwind. Not to mention, Cooper smiles from ear to ear each time he gets to run around there and play with other doggie friends.

It was a little windy.

The first weekend my mom was here, we were invited to a wedding! Michael, Leslie's son and the chef at the bell, and his fiance Claire (who works the day shift) were getting married. It was a beautiful wedding, taking place in an beautiful 12th century church in a nearby town called Moulton. We had a wonderful time at both the wedding and the reception later that night.

Here is a picture of the church that I downloaded off the internet:
The entire Berry clan

<3

The following weekend, my mom and I went for a drive to the coastal town of Orford. We stopped for lunch at a pub on the way, and then went to Orford Castle-one of the more impressive castles I've seen in East Anglia. It was constructed by Henry II between 1165 and 1173. After touring the castle, we went for tea at a little cafe right on the water. It was a perfect day out.

Me climbing the stairs to get in.Looking out over the town below

Such a relaxing little town.

Seeing as how this post is already quite long, I think I will wait to write about Edinburgh. We had an amazing time, but it was a bit of a fiasco getting there. I will tell all about it and post lots of pictures when I have a chance.