Three Things I've Learned about the English in week 1

They don't eat maple syrup.  If they did they wouldn't be importing it from Canada for 5 pounds 45 pence

They don't grocery shop on Sundays- damn- hope they carry out on Sundays

Cheers, in fact, is a multi-purpose word.  It can be used when one is embarrassed, angry, or rather satisfied.

What I've learned about myself- I am completely inept when it comes to packing shoes and jackets. Six pairs of heels, flip flops, and sneakers do not make a complete wardrobe. Nor does a single trench coat.

So much for starting little by little

S4 are one week in now to our London adventure. I had fully intended on starting this as we were packing out to document each step of our progress. That obviously didn't quite happen. Our pack out went smoothly enough, at least we think it did. I suppose the proof will be in the pudding when our things arrive (or don't). Jack wasn't quite so sanguine...
 
 Can you spot him safeguarding his bed?

It was hard to tell at the end of the day if we were well prepared or behind the eight ball when most of the house looked like this as the packers were going through...

 But we survived even with strep throat as it turned out. Note to anyone contemplating a move overseas: don't change your health insurance until the last possible moment. Our last week stateside was, to say the least, hectic. After packing out, we had two pizza parties, a graduation, pet health certificates, portfolio viewing, final soccer games, a birthday party, and some time with family and friends. Did you catch all of that? And that's not even counting the brownie end of the year swim party
celebration!








 Finally, Sunday arrived and we were ready to get on the plane. Sort of.
 
Relaxing in the hotel

  At the airport


Because S4 can do little without some drama, our arrival was not quite as smooth as we might have otherwise hoped. Izzy lost and then miraculously recovered her kindle on the plane, 3 of us have come down with the stomach flu, and we only recently discovered where in fact to buy a rubbish bin. But in between, we have each determined that we think we may just like it here. Some scenes from our neighborhood (at least our neighborhood through August)



  Our building

  Our Neighbor
  Another neighbor's "Alice in Wonderland" house
A patch of Hampstead green


The little S's patch of heaven, Hamley's

  

Yes, that is a lego Queen.

 
Straight out my my nightmares, a wall of those ugly large eyed dolls.


Some more scenes around London

And with this last thought, we bid you farewell on this post