Week -3

Have been downloading this week. Bottom series 1-3, Blackadder (obviously), Yes Prime Minister, Jeeves and Wooster, Skyfall and a few apps. One, a picture collage thingy, Instagram (still not entirely sure how this benefits me), something for my new camera which allows me to operate it remotely which is really cool (so I can take a selfie of the person who will inevitably nick it mainly) and my bank app. Most of these have proven remarkably good value for money I have to say. 

I've started to compile a list of the things I'll miss and been gathering together a small bag of those items where practical. 

Marmite (tick. mini pots of umami goodness)

HP sauce (tick. sachets, in case I find a bacon roll on my travels)

Jam (tick. mini pots)

Mustard (tick. sachets, if the rest of the world can't do toilets properly, you can be sure they won't have discovered this fiery gem either) (apart from in France, where they produce a passable range) (and America, where they have no idea what they're doing but have managed to come up with a substitute that tastes good anyway).*

Decent bread (not practical on any level. Will leave behind)

Pork scratchings (tempting but again, I'll give it a miss)

Bacon (practicality issues again)

Cream tea (I HAVE to make that work somehow)

Tea bags (tick. It's taking up a lot of room but there's no way I'm missing a morning cuppa)

Worcester sauce (umami again. Doesn't come in handy sachets though. Will miss you!)

Fish fingers (tricky)

Vienetta (I'll have to take a picture and make do with that)

Cheese (meaning proper cheese. The way the good lord intended. Strong cheddar. Will be forced to make do without)

Tuc biscuits (ideally Tuc sandwich biscuits. I'm sure I'll have room for a packet)

Chocolate digestives (not a healthy option but they do go well with a cuppa. Will have to dunk the local alternative and risk over saturation, leading to a 'soggy drop'. I'm sure most of us have suffered the shame and embarrassment of that at some point.)

*Apologies to any international readers. 

I've been doing quite a bit of catching up with people over the past couple of weeks. I'm not entirely sure I'm built for a hectic social life. It's exhausting! I feel like I need a holiday before I go on holiday. Afternoon tea at Dukes was a particular treat this week. I will be actively seeking out similar establishments on the road. The occasional reminder of the finer things in life will prove most sustaining I suspect. 

I'm not talking about visas this week. It depresses me too much to think about it.