My eyes were brightened by the exercise

CQH and Nan are twins.

Yesterday was a lazy day. I needed it to recover emotionally from the night before. Although everyone else got up and seemed unfazed by our near-death experience in the forest, I just... needed some time. So I slept in -- way in. Then we sat around all day with a fire and hot chocolate and watched Pride and Prejudice. Mr. Darcy is so recuperative to the soul, you know. LBH fetched me some British shelter mags from the store (he knows how to spoil me) and made chicken artichoke soup with rolls.

By late afternoon, hours after everyone else, I was back to myself again. LBH and I took a long walk through the village and bought some caffeinated beverages and mandarins (I fell for mandarins in a big, embarrassing way when we were here while I was expecting CQH. I stood over the kitchen sink and ate them ten at a time).

We strolled through the market in awe of how expensive food is here (Coke products are $1/8oz!). A loaf of foamy bread that makes Wonder look artisan is $6.50. But there are some foods here that Americans haven't even heard of, and I love them. Cabanossi is just one of them. Cordial is another -- it's like a liquid version of frozen juice concentrate, and you mix it with water to drink it. Love the Ski brand of yogurt, especially the honey flavor. It goes without saying that LBH dreams of the meat pies all his life and stuffs himself with them whenever he's here. Sausage rolls, milk shakes from a milk bar, lots of Indian food and curries. I had the best lamington ever at the Robertson Pie Shop the other day. Will have to repeat that.

Jane Austen, fresh air & exercise, homemade soup, window shopping and caffeine can solve anything. This is my testimony. Amen.