Days 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149. What a week.

Days 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149. What a week. I keep telling myself i need to write more often, but alas another week has passed and here I am. Sunday. Day 143. The usual. Honestly, when it comes to current events happening back in the states, I am not up on much of them. I didnt even know about the Super Bowl without the exception of facebook and instagram pictures. I thought it was funny that they were actually broadcasting it live over here....it said at 1030, but that was pregame. I heard the songs, Adele Nazime did great. :) At commercial breaks, it would cut back to the UK 'team of experts' (one Brit, two former NFL never-heard-of-them) for analysis of the plays. I like the commercials. That is the only reason to watch the game. Anyhow, I did not make it to half time as I had fallen asleep. Luckily, there is youtube to show me the half time show and the best commercials...come wake up time Monday....

 Monday. Day 144. Happy Birthday Lucy!! I had a list of things to do, places to go. I accomplished most of them, in a round about way. I was going to go get day tickets for a play, but by the time I got out of the house, it would be too late to get day tickets. So I went to the local library. I didnt even know it was a library all these months, as it is covered in scaffolding. I found the cookbook section, and there was a lot to choose from. I couldn't find the history section, but doubted they had a book on the history of chocolate. As I was reading, I noticed a lot of moms with prams (strollers) coming in and parking their things near where I was 'researching.' Turns out it was a toddler sing along class, where they all sang loud happy universal songs (the wheels on the bus, itsy bitsy, etc). I looked up some info on chocolate, took some pictures of interesting recipes, and headed out to school. On the way there I decided to stop for a treat at a place that got pretty good reviews on yelp for a snack. The place was so tiny, I grabbed a muffin and carried on, checking in to to theaters for day tickets, of which they were out. I went to school to look at the books in the library, only to find out that the library book cupboards were only open from 230-330pm, and it was 130. I looked at the bookstore across the square for info, and got some good history of chocolate there. The books in our library come to find out, were either recipies or in french. So much for that help. I ventured by North End Road for some fruit on the way home to make cobbler. Which I turned into my dinner.

 Tuesday. 145. Woke up, got dressed and headed out to school at 650 am only to discover snow on the ground!! I did not have time to turn around and put the snow shoes on for good use, so I made due in my trainers. The snow was gone by 10am.) Tuesday was Day one of prep for the Afternoon Tea event at school. I was a mini team leader (for myself and two others) and had the time plan down to a tee. By the end of the seven hours, we were ahead in some areas, and behind in others. Each team of three had to make 3-4 dishes. Our team made Financiers (Almond Cake with Sour Cherry Cream on top), Modern Lemon Tarts (the lemon is piped like a log onto a crust, which then has marshmallow piped on top), Tangy Yoghurt Mousse with Apricot Jelly, and Raspberry Jam. They were all tedious to do. As much as I was tired, I was up all night worried that we would not be able to complete everything the next day.

 Wednesday. 146. When I finally did wake up, it was barely enough time to get ready & be there on time, let alone early. We finished the items. I was so tired I laid low threw the actual afternoon tea event. My main role was to pass out the takeaway boxed to people as they left the building. That was a nice gig to have. After the last customer left, and clean up was all done, we were able to take as much of the leftovers home with us. And there were leftovers alright. As there were four teams in three groups, making twelve teams each making 3-4 items there was roughly somewhere between 1080-1350 pieces were made. The forty nine customers (aka friends/family of us) could eat as much as they could consume during the afternoon tea event. We still had a trolley full of things not taken home. My friend Tamara (from Charlie and the Chocolate fame) was my guest at the tea. It was institute that night, and so in my tired state, I met up with her and 2/3 boxes (one was still in my bag) to share the treats that I had yet to taste myself. Pretty good. Favorite was a praline tart.

 Thursday. 147. It was a much needed day of rest. They probably do that on purpose, and only scheduled us a 630pm cheese class. Oh man. Tom the Cheese Man. Loves. I. Mean. Loves. Cheese. He has passion like no one else....and it is for cheese. He knows the history, and origin of every cheese, and his storytelling & humor are most captivating. We ate cheeses that go for 40 pounds a kilo. So some fancy cheese. So good. Go artisan cheese! Not grocery store cheese. Its worth it in so many ways. I also went to the american supermarket for a "Chocolate Tasting Day" on the way to class. So many good treats, cookies, chocolate fountain, almond chocolate milk, candies, ice cream, and a goodie bag! My favorite was a "chewie" it looked like a flat chocolate macaroon, but had a gooey peanut butter center. I need to find out how to make them.

 Friday. Day 148. Started off with an 8am class with Chef Arizona showing us the start of a Croquembouche tower, making/piping cream puff balls, and making nougat. Not Big Hunk nougat, more like brittle. Chef kept me entertained with his stories of the recent Coupe de Monde Patisserie competition. Its the Olympics of the pastry world. Look it up. They did amazing things. His team came in sixth. The first place team (Italy), trained for three months straight, and had no other job/income to support them as they prepared for the event. Chef said that for their ice cream cake, they piped out stripes of ice cream & parfait and then put it into a machine that turned it into a log wrapping itself around the cake center. 'Chef you have a life, those guys obviously dont.' Was one student's reaction to his info on the winning team. UK team all worked regular jobs, and still upped their place by three since the last competition. After class, a few of us headed to lunch at Scandinavian Kitchen. Essex sure knows great places to eat. It was yummy and healthy. Winner. I headed home after that. I was so tired, I fell asleep at 5, got up at 7, got take out soup & sticky toffee pudding from Barossa, watched TV, and talked to mom before calling it a night.

 Saturday. 149. Got up and got a ticket to see War Horse. I was hoping for the evening show, so I could get some school work done, but they only had day tickets left for the matinee. Oh well, I walked around Covent Garden for a bit, seeing what I thought was trucks setting up for a movie/film [only to later discover they are setting up for the UK equivalent of the Oscars], and people watched before heading home for a bit. I tidied up a bit before heading out again for the play. I barely made it on time. Lame metro delays. The play was amazing. How the puppeteers do their work on being a horse is fantastic. I've yet to see the movie that came about after this play, but it was great. I decided I would get a salted caramel hot chocolate from Shake Shack on the way home. That turned into me getting a mushroom burger and fries as well. Burger was great (a panko crusted portobello mushroom, dripping with cheese and the usual fixings. Fries were good....it was so cold outside they cooled off pretty quick. And the hot chocolate. Dang. Talked to Mel for a bit as I walked more around Covent Garden before heading home. I actually got one of the 456 things I have left for my portfolio to complete. And now this entry is complete too. Good afternoon. Good evening.....and Goodnight.