Brian's new BBQ Grill

The American in us just can't stand it any longer - we had to find a BBQ grill! Charcoal grills are the preferred version here in the UK (it's the "proper" way to grill we've heard) but we still like the easy 'ol gas grill. So we found one at a decent price - mainly because it's a self assembly. But Brian liked facing a new manly project and put it together last weekend. We've already had grilled chicken almost every night since! We'll plan to have grill outs with the Swedish neighbors and some new neighbors in our building. Talk about a small world, they are American and Brian already knows the husband! He was a grad student at Oregon and had the same advisor as Brian. Graduated a few years before Brian, so they didn't cross paths then, but have met at conferences and such. And here we are all living in Oxford in the same building! So will be fun to have some American neighbors to hang out with too.

I think what I'm missing the most right now during the summer (well other than the sun since it hasn't been warm or sunny lately) is having a bit of grass or a deck or something of our own to enjoy the evenings outside. The closest park is about a 20 minute walk from here and we only have a gravel parking lot outside our flat. There is plenty of room in the parking lot to grill and set up a chair, but it's just not a nice green sunny place to hang out for grilling dinner and having a beer, or lounging outside in the sun during the day. I guess we've been spoiled by living in the midwest and in Oregon where there is plenty of green grass and trees to go around!