Diamonds, Rough Patches, and Cutting Things Close

Yes, I know it's hard to believe but I'm actually posting something.  I know it has been a very long time since I did, but every time I got online to post, I had a massive writers block so I decided to get away for a while. 

I'm back now and feeling excited and nostalgic about being here again!  I'm going to add random pictures in here for you to 'ooh' and 'aah' over while I tell a few stories!

My final practical exam is this Friday....I'm nervous, excited, worried, and mostly just ready to get in there and get it done!  6 hours of making things like this sugar sculpture ^, and truffles, and brioche....I can't think too much about it just yet or I'll freak out!  I will do great, I know, I just wanna get it over with! 

I officially have 3 more classes I have to wear my uniform for, then a debriefing of my exams and then graduation before I get to come home!!!!  And yes, it's officially 21 days till I will be back in the US of A!  I can't wait and the days are passing so slowly not that I've not much more to do and even fewer pounds to do it with!

So from my last post way back in-oh my god January!!-I've completed Intermediate and most of Superior successfully!  I've moved into a new house with different friends, because it's way easier to take a train into London than a coach.  I've lost some friends, but made new ones to make up for it.  I've been sunburned and sweaty, then cold and shivering the next week.  I've walked more miles than I can count and my feet are taking the brunt of that pain.  I've cut my own hair, well bangs, so that they were out of my eyes...but they've since grown and are at the annoying stage of the tips being in my eyes. :(  I've been happier in the sun shine, but more depressed when it's cloudy. 

I've seen the beauty of yellow fields of some plant (no one will ever give me a straight answer as to what they are), and I've seen the same fields turn to a pale green when the flowers fell.  I've officially seen every season in England, and realized I've been here longer this year than a fellow English gal!  I've changed; I've grown stronger.  I know who I am at this point in my life.

This is what I'm capable of-and as of last week I didn't think it was possible!  I call this my Pear and White Chocolate Symphony.  It's an almond sponge with poppy seed, white chocolate mousse, pear, cinnamon and clove jelly, dark chocolate glaze, raspberry coulis, white chocolate tendril, coconut creme anglaise, and a tuile (cookie) on top.  All made by yours truly and painstakingly put together!  It's another exam piece and we have to make 2 identical ones!

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee is this year, and more specifically this weekend.  It's a bank holiday, and is supposed to mark the anniversary of her coronation with the boats on the river a couple days ago.  All the celebrations got me to thinking about what it would be like to have been the Royal of a country through so many years of changes.  I mean, think about the fact that she's seen countless wars, the age of technology take off, the world becoming 'smaller' as a by product.  She's been the Queen through all these events, and been alive through much more!  Can you imagine looking back on your life to see the world change so drastically and know you were a ruling monarch through a vast majority of those changes?!?!  I envy having that knowledge and the kind of memories she does!  To be 'patriotic' for the country I'm living in atm, here's a Union Jack pic!

Ah, this is an Entremet I did in class several weeks ago.  It's a peanut butter fudge brownie, caramel mousse, vanilla brulee center, dark chocolate glacage, honey and black tea 'macarons' and some sugar decoration.  It was the first time we had to come up with a recipe all on our lonesome, and was quite a frustrating week to be sure!

One of my favorite pictures to date!  I walk to the train station every day, taking a different route when I have time by the river, and there's this gorgeous tree!  I took this at 5:15am on my way to get the train for class...can you believe the sun's already that high?!?!

I'm feeling quite drained now, catching you all up on my life.  I realized the other day, when I thought about writing on here again, that originally I thought this blog was for the people back home to keep up with my life in the UK.  I now know it's more of a way for me to remember the way this journey started, and where the past 9 months have taken me; it's to help me think back on the laughter and tears that changed me.  I know I'll come back one day, hopefully not so broke, and see the things I couldn't afford now...but I know the experience won't change me the same way.  It will move me, as all new experiences should, but they won't drastically change my life the way this one has. 

Until next time!