It Just Keeps Getting Better...

The public library is just around the corner from our house!

Weekly Report

Brent started work on Monday. Things are swinging into high gear quickly. He scheduled a trip to Brussels for this week. He was told working 35 hours per week was plenty. Not much of a chance that will happen. Work does not start until 9 or 9:30. His phone was quickly delivered

I had my first doctor appointment with Mr. Leitch. Very odd calling the doctor Mister. He is very nice and I think we will work well together. He claims to be on call 24 hours a day. I called his cell phone after hours and he answered! Shocking! I will have an ultrasound or scan at every appointment. The baby was moving all around. The tech tried for several minutes to take measurements because the baby would not stay still. It was a great relief to see an active baby with a strong heartbeat is really in there.

The girls are doing well in school. At home it can be touch and go at times. This is all a big adjustment with more to come. Fighting and general disagreeableness is constant. At least they are well behaved at school.

Mary Kate went to her first London birthday party. It was not very different from US parties. However, the disco theme was a new one for us. The entertainer Ali Baba had a mixing board and disco ball. He did a few magic tricks and held dance contests. The girls had a grand time dancing! They were all sweet and well mannered.

Things are set to move in to the terraced house this weekend. We are looking forward to being a 10 minute walk to school compared to the 45 minute subway/walk now. Eating dinners in will be a welcome return to normal. As will the girls sleeping in separate beds.

All in all the weather has been better than expected. Once I needed an umbrella. Naturally I did not have one with me. We’ve had a couple of days of sun. Sunday it was sunny all day. We prepared for the colder weather with the proper gear – coats, gloves, etc. So it has not been that bad.

It is funny how just saying one word reveals I am American. Or maybe it is my teeth? At times I do not feel I am even speaking English. No major miscommunications this far.

First Day of Work

Today is Brent's first day at work. Sorry to say I missed the photo opp. I will miss him and his doing the laundry.

Where the Queen Lives

Stop two on the tourist route...

Buckingham Palace

St. James Park & ducks - Caroline's favorite spot in all of London.

Eye Flight

Our first tourist outing was to the London Eye. We booked tickets at opening to avoid the long line. The view was amazing. I get a bit anxious with heights. So I will watch from the ground if you want to fly when you visit.

St. Paul's Cathedral

Buckingham Palace



Big Ben and Parliament

This is great!

Sound it out

We bought a box of pretzels from the Netherlands with only Dutch writing on the box. Caroline asked me to read the box to her. I said I can not read it. She suggested I sound out the words and then I could read it.

Basic Needs

Upon arrival we realized I failed to pack a basic need for Brent. My current state has caused me to be lax in this area. Luckily the corner food store helped us out of a real crisis. Under the "BASIC NEEDS" sign next to the aspirin and sewing kits we found this:




Certainly this is a basic need.

Found: housing

We found a period townhouse on a very English sounding street three doors from the pub and two blocks from the High Street. It is set over four floors and has a garden.

The study is through the doors and forward is the reception or living room.

We will have to do all the cooking on this wood burning cookstove.

There is a regular one too.

The en-suite bathroom might be larger than the attached bedroom.

First Day of School

LOVE the hats!

Scootering to school.

The girls are off to a great start at school. They were both very excited and were brave on the first day. Mary Kate says she likes it a little better than Texas. Caroline likes the no nap policy.

For any of you dreading leaving your little one on their first day of school, I highly recommend a stomach bug to take your mind off the sad day. Focusing on staying upright was very distracting and I only shed a few tears.

Silence

I am breaking my puking disease forced blog silence. I hope by tomorrow I will be operating at 100%. Thankfully I was the only person hit. I'm so glad to be healthy again.

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Kitchen

Caroline: I'm so excited we get to wash our clothes in the kitchen now.

We've Landed Across the Pond

We arrived safe and tired. The flight was about an hour late but otherwise went smoothly. Except for the three barf bag puke from Mary Kate at the end. She almost took me down with her but I'm a fighter!

Our temporary quarters are in Central London. Here is the view from the terrace.

Tonight Caroline fell asleep while talking...

We watched the most fantastic fireworks display in the UK from the terrace (according the the BBC Dick Clark's Rockin' New Years Eve). Happy New Year!

Jazz

This blog is extremely boring. I will jazz it up as soon as I have free time.

Countdown

We leave in two weeks from today! Here are the FAQs:

Do we have a place to live?

No. We go into temporary housing until we find a permanent place. But we do know the area where we will live. The girls are enrolled in a wonderful school and we will live within walking distance of the school.

What do the girls think?

They are sad and happy. Sad to leave Henry and their friends. Happy to go on trips and meet new friends.

Are we packed?

No. Thankfully the movers pack for us.

Are we selling our house?

No. Brent's good friend is renting it.

Is this for Brent's job?

Yes. This is a lateral move within the same firm.

How long will you be away? Are you coming back to Dallas?

2-5 years. Yes - we better!

What do you think about the move?

I've wanted to live in Europe since this first time I visited when I was 11. I never thought the opportunity would happen. I'm realistic in there will be culture shock and the first six months will be challenging. We are moving during the coldest and darkest time of year. Sure the English speak the same language but I have trouble with accents. I have a sense of urgency with everything I do. The locals will not feel the same passion about setting up my Internet access as I will feel. On the other hand the travel, the history and Indian take-away will far outweigh the negatives!