We have internet!!

Abby is ready for ballet!

First day of school. I guess I should have faced her the other way.

Walking on the grounds of Chiswick House. Its under construction...

Sophie mowing the lawn.

Abby riding on the tube...

Cadbury Cream Egg on Easter.

Easter Girls.

Easter basket with Daddy.

The nature preserve near our house. Not meant for strollers!

Hi Everyone - once again it has been longer than I anticipated to get another post on here. However, almost exactly 2 months after we moved to Jolly Old England, we have broadband at home. The story is too boring and annoying to get in to, but we signed up for Sky Broadband while my mom was still here - back in March. Here we are, connected to you all again (though my lovely iPhone saved me daily from isolation!).

Lets see - some things that have happened over the last month...

1. Abby started at nursery and likes it, but hasn't made many friends yet. She only goes Mondays and Fridays - so this is a difficult schedule for her to settle in to, but it was the best available. She likes her teachers, who all seem very nice, and the building is very clean and niceley done. Unless I start working, she will only stay there until fall when the school year starts.

2. Abby has also started ballet classes at Chiswick Theatre Arts. She has only gone once so far but really liked it. She came away from the first class with ballet slippers, a leotard, ballet socks, a sticker book for her stickers she receives after each lesson and information about a recital in June where she has to wear a butterfly costume. Its a little more than we signed up for - especially Tim, but it will be another good place for Abby (and perhaps me) to meet friends.

3. We have made it around the city a bit more - both in the car and on the tube. Tim comes when he can (on weekends and bank holidays) but otherwise it is the girls and I hooving it or hopping on the Underground. I have to admit, I haven't driven the car by myself yet other than immediate places in the neighborhood like the grocery store... it is my goal to get better at this soon! Anyway, we have made it to Holland Park for a playdate where they have a giant playground and peacocks roaming around, we have gone to Hammersmith, new streets in Chiswick, Richmond (I liken this to Stillwater...), Westfield Mall a few times - which is the largest mall in Europe and just opened in December and Oxford Circus which is the main shopping area of central London to meet some other moms that have joined the American Womens Club.

4. I also am in the middle of applying for PUBLIC nurseries for Abby to attend in the fall. I am applying to five and not guaranteed to get into any of them. I am visiting the one (Southfield) that we are supposed to be able to get into because of where we live... but it has mixed reviews. Part of the problem is that Chiswick has two councils (counties) that exist within its boundries: Ealing (where we live and is not the preferred) and Hounslow. I am applying for four schools in Hounslow - one in particular because it is the closest and considered the best primary school, since we literally live on the border of the two councils. Even the school that we are supposed to attend (Southfield) because we live in the catchment area does not have to accept us. If there is no room, although we will get priority for living in the catchment areas, we may get sent somewhere else. The four schools that I have applied for in Hounslow council will only accept Abby if they have room after they have let in Hounslow kids and their siblings, etc... And this is all for public school! Maybe the process would be easier if we were paying for a private school. Hmmm...

Hope you enjoy some random pictures from the past few weeks. Look for a new post soon from my birthday. Tim took the day off and we had a great time!

National Health Care

It has been longer than I wanted since the last time I was able to post a blog. First, whoever the kind person from whom we have been innocently borrowing their wireless shut it off for about a week and the only access to the web we have had has been our phones. Second, we have had some illnesses running through the house... which brings me to my post: National Health Care in the United Kingdom.
Essentially it can be summed up by a new friend of ours who stated: "In the US, doctors seem to look for more work for themselves. You know, every little thing could be cancer. In the UK, the doctors want to make less work for themselves."
Sophie has caught a bug or two over that last two weeks as well as bopping her head pretty well, coincidentally followed by a little stomach bug and then a nasty cold. We have had a paramedic to our house, a visit to the A & E (ER), an after hours doctor phone call, visit to a Saturday clinic and a check up at our normal "surgery" with the GP. So, I feel like we have had a good feel for the range of medical care available to us in West London (in the US I have never brought our kids to the ER or, thank goodness, had an ambulance called to our home). With all this medical attention, you should know that Sophie has always been just fine through this all- just had some scary symptoms and deep sleeps that alarmed even the nurse line. The drama never ends with these girls.
So which is better: paying through the nose in premiums and medical bills or waiting a little longer than we'd like for an appointment or at the emergency room? Right now I'd take neither. I really want the comfort of a pediatrician looking after my babies instead of a general practioner but I feel sick about the amount of money we spent each month on health care in the US. I am used to much more intervention than what has happened here with Sophie so far. The three doctors have all just said "ahhh, she's fine - its just a virus". Keep in mind she has been vomiting, unable to be roused, woke up screaming, shaking and unable to catch her breath all in the span of a week and a half. While it is becoming clear that the doctors here are likely right in that she just has a nasty virus, it has been an unfortunate week to been in the hands of a brand new medical system. I have to remind myself that the life expectancy is higher here in the UK than in the US.
Hopefully this weekend will go a bit smoother than the last two and I will have some good stories and pictures to add soon! Tim, the girls and I all really appreciate all the support many of you have showed us. Thanks so much for the well wishes!

A journey to Barnes - from March 21st (unfinished)

Hi all! It's Tim here, checking in with my first post. Today is Saturday, and we had a nice adventure today with some new friends that Sarah met earlier in the week. Shelley and Michael are from Texas, and now live here in Chiswick with their daughter Sarah (18 mos). Janna and Michael moved here from Brooklyn about a year ago, and live just down the street from us (next to the Bollo pub Sarah mentioned in a previous post) with their 9 month old son, Solomon. Janna and Bill had gone to a town called Barnes the previous weekend, and left their umbrella in a toy shop they visited. Today's visit was primarily to pick up the umbrella, visit a farmers market, and just browse around Barnes. We met up with the 6 of them after lunch (good old McDonald's today), and hopped on a bus. We got off the bus before we got to Barnes, so we could walk across the Barnes bridge - which was very cool. There were several long boats with rowers practicing in the river. Interesting side note on the River Thames - since it connects to the coast, the river has a pretty significant high and low tide. We walked down to the river one afternoon, and the water was up over the banks and up to the road. Carol and the girls went back the next morning, and the river had shrunk almost halfway into the channel (which was not a pretty site, according to Carol). Anyway - it looked nice today. We spent a couple hours in Barnes, then headed back home again. By the time we got back to our house, Sarah got a call from Shelly, asking if we'd like to come over for dinner tonight, so we're looking forward to that!

Work is going very well. It's very busy, as you'd probably imagine. Our workday is from 9 - 6, which I'm adjusting to. It's nice having more time in the morning with Sarah and the girls before I have to head out, but the afternoons can get quite long. At home, I usually ate lunch around 11:30, but here the cafe doesn't open for lunch.

Those Green Brits!

While I have always thought of Europeans (shhh... Brits don't admit to be European) as being more environmentally aware, I have truly been surprised by all the ways London is trying to be as green as possible. Here is a short list, and quite incomplete, as I have only been here for 3 weeks! I'll add more, for those who are interested, as I learn more.
1. The weekly waste collection is unbelievable. We have cans for regular waste. A box for metal, glass and paper, batteries, etc. A container for plastic, a container for yard waste and a separate bin for FOOD WASTE. I can only assume they are burning it for electricity or making bio-fuel. I will have to research.
2. Almost all food packaging is recyclable. Tim pointed out that the plastic containers are definitely single-use quality, but this is completely forgivable because so much stays out of the garbage. Every so often I find something that isn't recyclable... but not often. Even most of the film that you find on frozen foods once you take the tray out of the box is recyclable.
3. There is a huge amount of fairtrade items at the grocery store. In fact you can't buy anything but fairtrade bananas at the Sainsbury's down the street. I have noticed that most fairtrade items costs no more or just slightly more than their non-fairtrade counterparts. I even bought fairtrade sugar today and it cost exactly the same as regular sugar right next to it... not sure why there is a choice then??
4. There is a ginormous assortment of organic food for extremely reasonable prices. Sainsbury's is not even the grocery store that is known for having the best organic assortment... Waitrose is down the street as well as an totally organic store. In the US, I would have liked to buy exclusively organic, but costs proved prohibitive to all but the most important foods. In my short experience in the UK, I have found we are able to afford to buy nearly half organic and half regular because of prices. Usually there is a bit of a difference in cost, but not twice as much, not even 30 percent more - usually just a matter of a few pence in most cases. And with food prices cheap to begin with - I bought a bag of organic whole wheat flour today for 1.37!
5. As soon as a car is 3 years old, you are required to get an "annual exam" to make sure it is still fit for the road and emissions aren't excessive.
6. There are commercials (or "adverts") on the Disney Channel telling kids ways they can save water - including asking their parents to wash the car in the rain...
7. In every store that you buy something at you are asked if you want a bag - often people say no. Almost everyone brings their own bags to every type of store. In some stores you must pay for a bag or you may save money by bringing your own.

That's all for now! I am off to bed - the girls and I are starting a new class at the Town Hall tomorrow: "Rhyme Time" and then going to tour a day nursery for the girls to attend a couple days per week. They need friends too!

Driving to Oxford

Looking down the street from Radcliffe Square.

Radcliffe Square

University Church of Mary the Virgin. Had a beautiful garden in the back for tea...

1000 year old tower - the oldest in Oxford. Just sitting there, right off of High Street.

Sophie LOVES to color! Those hands go, go, go! We love Giraffe (the restaurant). Abby stayed awake this time - she fell asleep at the Chiswick location... see previous post.

Looking at the forecast for today we planned to get a little bit out of London today as well as practice driving. Though we now have permanent car insurance, Tim isn't on it until Tuesday so it was up to me to drive to Oxford. It was a quick and easy drive despite the annoying and confusing roundabouts with 28 exits, as long as we listened to our GPS/"Sat Nav". We have yet to name the mysterious and knowledgeable women who tells me where to turn, so we'll take suggestions! I digress... it was nearly 60 and sunny. Many locals were wearing shorts and I even saw some sandals. What? This place is worse than MN as far as jumping the gun on summer wear. All four of us enjoyed Oxford. There were beautiful buildings some as old as 1000 years old. The university is the oldest English-speaking school still in existence. As well as being a university town, there is a lot of shopping and restaurants. It is a town that we will be visiting again!

When we arrived home, the girls thought it was too late in the day to nap and protested any form of rest so I took them to the park around the corner and down the street. It was packed with others with the same idea. Dozens of families were taking advantage of the last hour or two of sunlight and opportunities to socialize with other adults. Everytime I have been at the playground I have heard American or Canadian parents and I have been to shy to chit chat with them. Today a women came up to me and asked me about Sophie's velvet coat from Target... she knew we were American because her daughter had the same coat at home. Perfect! A fellow American, a mom with young girls and, best of all, a Target lover! Did I try to chat it up with her? NO! I came home and told Tim about the encounter and I quickly realized that the woman was trying to meet me and had found a good topic to start a conversation with and I simply answered the question and quickly chased after my kids. Hopefully I will see her again...

First Week Pictures

1. Abby and Sophie in front of our house and flowering tree. 2. The car. 3. Abby pushing Sophie on the swing at the park, I mean, Acton Green. 4. Abby and Sophie at our gate. 5. Mary Poppins having dinner with the kids. 6. Abby the first day here out for dinner. She refused to take a nap (surprise!) and subsequently collapsed during our meal.

Mom went home early this morning and the skies are gloomy today. However, the girls are being good today and we have been able to get out to the park for a little exercise. I am still waiting to stumble on a new good friend... but I know that may take a few months. I want to talk to everyone I hear with an American accent, but also don't want to appear desperate. :) Of course, I don't need to only talk to Americans, but it seems less intimidating and I know they all have been in my spot at some point.

By the way, it has been a little cloudy and chilly (high 40s) but I am looking forward to Sunday (if the forecast is correct) when it will be 57 and sunny! 40s aren't so bad when all the spring bulbs are up and we have a flowering tree out front.

We Arrived - Mass email (photos coming!)

Many of you have sent us emails to check in and send use warm wishes, so I wanted to send out an email to resond to you all and also to say hi! Eventually we will be better at keeping in touch than we have over the past week, but haven't been able to recently due to two reasons: 1. Everything takes 150 times longer here to set up at home with all sorts of formalities... ie we don't get broadband at home until mid April, it took 6 hours or 3 days (depending) on how you look at it to buy a used car.. 2. We have had so much to do!

The flight over went great. The girls and I were eagerly waiting to see smiling Tim. He, meanwhile, got a kick out of the sherpa (me) pulling two luggage trolleys with random bags falling every which way. The flight was only hampered at the end by poor Abby getting airsick. I will remember to put a bag by her on the next flight as well as scout out childrens Dramamine!

We spent a few days in a great hotel room in Chiswick (the area of London where we live). My mom (now in line to be sainted...) was able to have her own room and bathroom and so was Abby. Sophie was pedaled back and forth between rooms to whomever needed the least sleep. However, after the first night Abby was doing pretty well and Sophie had a cold - so took a few more nights.

Last Monday Tim and I arrived at our new house to meet the movers and started unpacking along side them. The house looked great and now that we are 97% moved in we couldn't be more pleased! I will take a few pictures soon and put them on the blog. While Tim and I were working with the movers last Monday and Tuesday, my mom had the girls and did a great job caring for them and keeping them occupied. It is abosolutely true that we couldn't have moved here as successfully without all of her (and my dad's) help!
Wednesday Tim had to go back to work and that left the girls to do some more unpacking and exploring. Thursday the four girls took the Tube to Buckingham Palace and Hamley's... first time with a stroller. A little stressful - but better by the return trip. Of course Sophie slept through Victoria Station at lunch rush and being carried up and down stairs (no lifts!) and Abby already seems to be a pro - counting the stops until we get off, minding the gap, etc!

Saturday Tim and I went to the largest car dealership in the universe: Car Giant to buy a car. This process was against every bone in Tim's body (normally might research cars for 3, 4, 5 or 6 months before looking at multiple options and finally choosing to buy one). I test drove 2 (though it took 6 hours) and we chose a 2006 Honda CRV. Not what we had planned on, but I think a good choice. And no, the new American family on the block is not the only one with an SUV. :) In fact, I saw a Hummer yesterday (as I was driving home from the dealership) and am still unsure as to how it fits down ANY street in London.

Sunday we decided that it would be a great day to venture to Westminster Abbey for and 11:15 serivce. None of us had actually been inside before since it is expensive to see as a tourist and free for a service (and it is across the street from Parliament and Big Ben). The service was wonderful with the loudest organ you can imagine and a beautiful choir. Tim thinks the Queen of Scots was there, but the rest of us think he's delusional. Maybe the Church of England's communion wine was stronger than I thought. Anyway, the real story is the transportation trauma. On weekends the tube has construction projects that shut down parts of lines, etc and we are just learning the bus... over an hour to get there and who knows how long to get home. Involving tubes, buses, cab rides, a crazy McDonalds in a shady part of town, screaming Sophie, Tim finding friends everywhere he goes and sideways rain that was capable of turning our ONE umbrella inside out.

Other stories we have include me driving home from the dealership! HA! (Though I only got honked at one time - which I count as a success) and going to the Council House (like a county/municiple/townhall) to get a parking permit and talk to them about Abby starting school in the fall.

Overall, we really like it. The move has been stressful on everyone, and yet we are enjoying ourselves. Tim likes who he works with, I have already been to a fellow American's house for lunch and the girls LOVE having a playroom and a park down the street. Abby is extending her walking endurance by leaps and bounds (literally!) and can walk more than a half a mile before she really wines. Sophie's cold is getting better and NEEDS to start sleeping through the night (only 2 times since we have been here). She has also been a little particular about the subtle differences in British food (no, we aren't feeding her blood sausage!). Of course, the true test will begin tomorrow when my mom goes home and I still need to do quite a few administrative tasks... but most of the big things are done!

The house is all set for you to come see us. The Pound is weak, flights aren't bad. AND, Tim and I discovered a great pub on the corner of our street that you'll all need to eat at!

I will add to the blog as "borrowing" the internet allows (until the Queen gets over here with our broadband after Easter), and, of course, emailing you all as much as possible. After weighing our options, we did NOT stick with Vonage so it won't be local for many of you to call us. Sorry! BUT, your options include Skype, emailing us - telling us to call you (we will have unlimited calling - after our phone gets installed the first week of April) or getting an international calling card and we can call you right back.