I arrived here

On October 25. Well, not on heron-back, although I did fly. I usually take the train, which I love. It's not that I don't like flying, which I do. It's the getting to the airport, and all the fuss there which I don't like.

This time, flying meant I could bring frozen Cornish pasties, which are a specialty of the old mining town I live in, where my mother was born. We enjoyed them for dinner that night. (Although I suspect Spinach-mushroom-cheese, my favorite, is not a traditional flavor... My mother was surprised by it. She said, "Who would guess spinach could be so good".) She sometimes made pasties when we were kids.

If I flew back, I could take yakisoba. The refrigerated kind, which are the only ones I know with the real seasoning packets, are not currently available where I live.

I got out for a walk for the first time today - but she came back early from her meeting; she collapsed after lunch and asked to be brought home. She doesn't remember it, but I don't think she's going out again.

Dear Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream

A couple of summers ago, after reluctantly going completely decaf during the spring, I bought a carton of my favorite coffee ice cream, and had some for dessert. That night I found myself sitting up in bed, wide awake at 3:00 AM, saying "Coffee ice cream!?!"

I'm sure there are many more of us who still love the flavor of coffee ice cream, but would like to sleep at night. So please, where you lead, others will follow; let there be decaf coffee ice cream.

You are so good at names, I'm sure you'll come up with something great - but Decaf Café comes to mind.

Hopefully yours,
Mina