“I’ll offer a suggestion for you as you prepare for your adventure. Buy a good oven thermometer and take it with you. The Brits have a non-standard scale for regulating oven temperature – at least, they did when I lived there. It is ‘gas numbers’ or something like that. That made it very difficult to bake until I had made my share of mistakes and asked around a bit on how the locals used the system. Yes, I learned to cook as a teen. So as a missionary, my companions dined well. Dave”

“Congratulations–what an exciting adventure for your family! You and your extensive talents will be sorely missed. And I enjoy reading your blog, just another of your gifts! All my best, Lisa”

“Be prepared for differences in UK cooking. You will find that UK units of measure don’t exactly match US units. So keep that in mind, and keep some US measuring cups hidden but handy to match your recipes from home. In US homes, we use active dry yeast almost exclusively. England has several kinds of yeast, and they behave differently. So that’s something else you’ll have to learn. When I made pizza dough the first time there, I told the fellow at the shop how much flour I was going to leaven, and he gave me the amount of yeast to match. If you like home-made muffins, take along your muffin tin. They aren’t common in the UK. If you like Mexican food, learn to make tortillas by hand and take some taco spices along.

I will envy your ready access to Bird’s custard, custard tarts, canned curry sauces, trifle, fish & chips, Whole Orange drink, Quattro soda, haggis, chicken & mushroom pies (NOT steak pies), Yorkie bars, Yorkshire Pudding, Christmas Pudding, roast lamb with mint sauce, Doner kebabs, and hedgehog-flavoured crisps. I better stop there, before I wax REALLY nostalgic. Dave”

“Wow! What an opportunity for both of you! Remember that the gospel is an anchor in your life. And the church is certainly there in England and lots of other countries, as well. I don’t know much about the church in Estonia, I have to say. And just THINK of the great MUSIC you will be able to hear! My sister and her husband have traveled in Europe, stayed in London many times (they are going there this week to visit their new grandbaby) and they LOVE to attend plays and other productions in London! I’m sure you will make lots of new friends wherever you go. I was only in Europe for a few days, once, and recitals were everywhere. Many were free, too! I cried when I walked into cathedrals and heard the organ music. Just an everyday thing for them., I suppose. I was saying to myself, “Why did I have to grow up in northern Idaho?” Even now, I don’t check out the organ recitals in Portland often enough. Work, work! Gets in the way of what life could be. Oh well, ahead there is retirement, sometime. I guess the downer is that you will miss your grandchildren (and children), who, I assume, are going to stay in the states. Well, thanks to modern communication, you can stay in touch, do Skype, and planes DO fly back for visits. Carol”

“hi mona, I had two guesses. A grandchild on the way or a move out of state. Didn’t expect out of the country! How exciting for you!!! What a great adventure you are on. I am trying not to be jealous :-) carol”

“I’ll offer a suggestion for you as you prepare for your adventure. Buy a good oven thermometer and take it with you. The Brits have a non-standard scale for regulating oven temperature – at least, they did when I lived there. It is ‘gas numbers’ or something like that. That made it very difficult to bake until I had made my share of mistakes and asked around a bit on how the locals used the system. Yes, I learned to cook as a teen. So as a missionary, my companions dined well. Dave”

“Congratulations–what an exciting adventure for your family! You and your extensive talents will be sorely missed. And I enjoy reading your blog, just another of your gifts! All my best, Lisa”