Wills and Kate

London did us a solid by throwing a royal wedding pretty quickly after we arrived. And then our little street all came together as one and threw a street party that proved to be the perfect introduction to the diversity that surrounds us - Brits to the left, a French family beside them, a New Zealand family down the block, an American family a few doors down, and it continues from there.

We thought it extremely quaint that upon arrival there was a note under our door announcing the intention of coordinating a street fair. The best part of the note was that the options for reply were as follows:

Yes, I think the street fair is a great idea and I'd like to participate and help coordinate.
Yes, I think the street fair I support the street fair but can't attend.
I won't be able to attend and have a few comments on the matter.

What I loved was that there wasn't an option not to support the event specifically. As though it wasn't really a request for permission, but more an RSVP of sorts.

Being a big-time joiner, I immediately emailed the coordinator with my intention to participate and was put on the email list of people helping with things that needed done. One of the items to volunteer for was to make "royal wedding cupcakes". Hmmm. The words I knew, but could that be something very specific that I just wouldn't know how to make? I wasn't sure, so I let the coordinator assign me something instead. And she asked that I bring "cheese, biscuits for cheese and grapes". Seems easy enough, right? Wrong. I overthought it big time. Do "biscuits for cheese" mean something besides just some random crackers? I know what cheese I'd bring in America, but in England? No clue. And grapes? Well, I actually knew what to do there.

In the end, I found a box of assorted crackers that actually said Biscuits for Cheese on the side and intended to buy a few of those. But, underestimating the number of street parties that must have been planned the number of people assigned this item, the stores were out. Mike saved the day by grabbing just a bunch of cracker packets, I just guessed on the cheese based on what the store had most of (cheddars, red liecester and double gloucester) and we thought we had it made. Until I realized I had no serving plates at all. I blamed the shipment having not arrived yet (but it has since arrived and it turns out I just didn't pack any serving dishes) and just used a few dinner plates.

By the time the party started, I was exhausted from thinking. And here's what ended up happening. We had a great time, met some fun people, ate a ton of amazing food, dressed CC up like a princess and then took off the dress and let her get so dirty she required scrubbing, and ultimately, we forgot we were in another country. Because it turns out, a street party is a street party in any country.