At the end of June, I was supposed to fly to England in time for my college’s 700th birthday party, but alas. My visa wasn’t back from the UKBA in time, prolonging my stay in the USA.

Deciding to make the most of it, I flagged a recipe in my favourite cookbook to try for dinner the night I was supposed to fly. “Um, actually, let’s make veggie burgers instead”, my mom suggested. Fine.

I came back from a run the same time Dad and Sister got back from Boston and Mama from the grocery store. “Do you need any help unloading the car?” I asked. “Um, go take a shower.” Fine.

When I came downstairs, Mama told me to pick out toppings from the menu. ?? There was a handmade Atomic Burger menu on the kitchen table.

Oh. my gosh. My favourite restaurant is the nerdy and wonderful Atomic Burger, as you may know.

Looking up, the mantle was decked out in appropriately nerdy paraphernalia.

“Those are your postcards,” Sister explains. “How did you know where they were?” I ask. “Oh, since I’ve been watching crime shows I’ve become way more observant.”

There was even an alethiometer for Lyra!

I happen to be wearing my Captain Planet shirt, and Sister runs upstairs to change into her Joker shirt, because if I’m supporting the superhero, she’s supporting the super villain. Same goes for the World Cup.

Logan got dressed up too:

There were milkshakes and root beer floats:

Sci-fries, and Frito Bandito burgers [which I have replicated before]:

And just when I thought the surprises were over, out came Sweet birthday cupcakes for Exeter College!

And a pupcake for Logan, too!

Thank you, family, for bringing England to me!