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I haven't written in a while cos we haven't really done that much to report! During the week, whilst Eric's training, I spend my time working- out in the gym, sunbathing by the pool, reading and messing around on the computer really so its like being on an extended holiday! Thanks to the government we get a reasonable daily food allowance and so every evening we eat out in the usual American restaurant haunts such as Chillies, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, TGI's and Ruby Tuesdays, to name but a few. I have to watch my waistline though as the wedding is just round the corner! I try to order from the healthy section but I can resist everything but temptation and, my goodness, there is a lot of temptation on those menus!
Anyhow, I digress, this weekend? Well we went out on friday evening and had a really great time. Just love getting dressed up and going out drinking with my Eric who is my favourite drinking buddy! We were going to go to Grand Central Station nightclub until Eric heard at work that, since he used to go 10 years ago when he was doing his initial flight training here in Alabama, it had become really rough. Apparently some gangs had started frequenting it and all who entered were to be searched down at the door for weapons. Gun crime is pretty big here, as i'm sure your aware, and there had been some shootings there so we obviously avoided that club. Instead we went to Plan B which was fun- full of college students!
After a few too many shots, meeting a few locals and falling over and grazing my knee, we went home.
Saturday I wasn't too well. I don't want to go into too much detail here but lets just say it wasn't as a result of drinking too much the night before! So we didn't really do much- just went shopping on-post and then I lay in bed most of the arvo. In the evening we went out to dinner and went to Michaels in search for inspiration for wedding decorations.
Sunday I felt much better after a bit of a poorly night though. I was persuaded by Eric that Cracker Barrell was a good idea for breakfast and so i relented. I love it usually for a traditional American breakfast but I wasn't sure if my stomach would be so keen!
Afterwards we went to Dotan Botanical Gardens which was pretty but completly deserted! The Alabmians are big church-goers and tend to go twice on sunday and once during the week too so this accounts for that, i'm told. Puts me to shame!
One thing i've noticed about Alabama, indeed Florida too, is that there doesn't seem to be a pedestrianised centre of town like Europe. The shops are all at the side of the roads which is really convenient and means you can park right outside the specific store you want to visit. But the disadvantage is you never feel 'in the hub' of it all. There sometimes seems to lack a heart of town. However, Eric and I drove through the closest thing to a town-centre in the old part of Dothan which was really interesting. The pictures I added at the end of the album are from this part of town.
Last night we went to see Becoming Jane at the movies which Eric reluctantly agreed to. I really loved it and thought Austen's own life was much more novel-worthy than most of her 6 books. You can definately see how she draws upon her own life experiences in the writing of, say, Pride and Prejudice. Mr Darcy must be based upon her own love-interest, Tom LeFroy. Not to disrespect her great literary works- only I didn't realise her own story was quite so poignant and remarkable.
Well, i'll stop waffling now! This isn't meant to be a movie- review!
Next week should be much more of an insight into the area as we're off to Panama Beach which is roughly 90 miles away for Labour day (equivalent of the Great British Bank Holiday).
Lets hope the hot weather continues although I have no reason to suspect it won't. I'm so much of an inherent Brit that I still marvel the sight of it for more than two or three consequtive days.
Love to y'all and I hope all is well in the UK. Miss you guys! ('Specially you, mum). xxxx
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