delicious sweets from Marks and Spencer *

Here are a few impressions from our recent trip to the Old Country:

1. Marks and Spencer Simply Food stores at petrol garages: this is total genius. Marks and Spencer make delicious snacks of all kinds, and they have taken over various convenience stores for the general indulgence and joy of the British public. You simply lose all track of money and feel you must buy everything- pastries, marshmallow teacakes, exotic crisps, magazines, a few boxes of choc-chip butter shortbread…

2. Considering how far north Britain actually is, it’s really very warm indeed. At the same northerliness in Germany it was absolutely freezing, and even more wet. Brits need to be proud of their comparative warmth, instead of always wishing the weather could suddenly go Mediterranean! Iceland and Norway don’t have it so good!

3. London traffic. Great if you need a few hours for removing your own hair one handful at a time.

4. Obsession with safety is at an all-time national high. Notice in hotel bathroom: “This heated towel rail has been disconnected for your safety”. Uh, what about our warm towels?! And above the very same radiator, another notice from when it still worked: “Warning: this appliance may become very warm.” Very Warm! Seriously, we are not making this up- functioning heated towel rails can actually become VERY WARM! Would you believe it? Thank goodness they took charge of the situation and disconnected it for our safety.

Now, has anyone noticed that the mini-electric kettle in all British hotel rooms not only becomes very warm but also produces boiling water? Because when they realise and remove them for our safety, we will have to buy one of those things and bring it along ourselves, they are brilliant.

* photo by markhillary