'I've made a huge mistake'

You're not going to believe this, but I came away for an 8-week trip to America and I forgot to bring any tea. What kind of an idiot forgets to take tea to America?? I couldn't believe it. I did actually find some PG tips in a shop the other day but it was only a small box and it cost $6! And who can afford to spend $6 on tea? Not me, that's who. So I'm not feeling completely like Scarlett, but I suppose I'll get used to it.

We're in Charleston now! It's very lovely, but I haven't seen any dancing people yet. I'm very good at the charleston, so I'll probably have to show them how it's done. We had a very looong overnight train journey to get here - I know Adam has said this already, but the trains are so slow! And wibbly wobbly. But quite nice, in a sort of old-fashioned, I-feel-like-I've-gone-back-in-time way. We arrived at 5am, and although that would have been fine in any of the cities we've already been to (because most of them hardly, like, sleep and that), Charleston was a rather different kettle of fish. It was basically just the one room, and it only opened when the trains came through, probably 3 times a day. So we had to get a taxi straight to our hotel, where luckily there was someone on reception so we sat and read our books in the lobby (well I did anyway - Adam chose that moment to eventually fall asleep!) Anyhoo, we were very fortunately given a room at 7 so we had a nice long nap, and then spent the rest of the day exploring the city. There's all sorts of history here, but I'll leave it to Ad to tell you all that (he loves history). But it's very pretty - the buildings are so typically southern with wooden boarding all down the front and vines and porches with rocking chairs on. It's like in To Kill A Mockingbird! Have you read that? You should. It's just like that.

Unfortunately, it is unseasonably cold here (the story of our LIVES at the moment) and we are on STORM WATCH because there are great big T-storms about, according to the telly. So we're going to go out exploring today, but just better hope we don't get too wet.

The funniest thing happened yesterday. We went to get some food from this deli place we had seen, and we both had a salad and sat down to eat it outside. After a few minutes, the waitress came over to us and said 'you guys aren't American are you? I can tell because you eat your salad with a fork and knife. That's so weird!' And walked away. We laughed politely and said we were english, and then mumbled incoherently (as you do to be polite) and it was only afterwards that we wondered how you eat a salad without a knife and fork?

Ooo, I must just tell you about Guys and Dolls!! This is waaay back in New York, but we went to see the show on Broadway (courtesy of father) and we couldn't believe it but we had front row seats! Right in the middle!! And I hadn't looked anything up but it turned out there were some famous people in it. You know the Gilmore Girls? Of course you do. Well, Lorelei Gilmore (aka Lauren Graham) was playing Adelaide, and Nathan was played by the guy who was Oliver Babish in the West Wing (remember? his name's actually Oliver Platt), and who has just been in Frost/Nixon. And a lady who's in Frost/Nixon and some other people who were in Sex and the City. So it was very exciting!! And it was SUCH a brilliant show - the dancing was amazing and just like Seven Brides in places with men jumping around. And the acting was so awesome, even from, like, 2 feet away.

Right we're off out to explore. I think we'd better try the special Charleston blend ice cream. Oh, the sweet shops are amazing! And there's a whole array of barks of chocolate! (if anyone knows what a bark of chocolate is, please let me know..?)

- Scarlett