Let the Sunshine In

Today it has been SUNNY all day. woo hoo!!!! Didn't realize what a difference it makes when the sun is out. Wore my "must be an American sunglasses" today. It looks totally different with the light turned ON. The fields are vivid and lush green. Hard to describe. We see big, fat, wooly sheep, furry horses and silver squirrels each morning on drive to school. We have also seen 2 foxes. The first was sitting in a front yard in a residential neighborhood just watching the cars go by. A Local told me foxes come into town to go through the trash cans for food. maybe the raccoons in Dallas let it be known that no fox was going to interfere with their dinner. The other fox was looking for food beside the train tracks.
The kids are picking up on this urban life. Even though we are living in a small town, we are just off the high street and across from the train station. There is lots of activity all the time. People rushing to and fro all hours of the day. Oh yeah, forgot to mention the night club across the street. It closes at 2:00am and then the patrons all walk to the train station. Since our bedroom window faces that street, there are lots of interesting things to hear.
Today L and B were running across the crosswalks with the locals, leaving me behind to wait for the green walk sign. They wanted to walk home from the mall by themselves, but I just wasnt ready for that - made them walk with me and carry the groceries. First things first.
They are learning how to read the train map and finding the platform we need to board from. Finally, they have figured out the ticket machine. The locals are walking very fast and have no patience for 1st timers at the entrance stalls where you enter your ticket. If I can just get the kids to put the ticket in the right way, we will be good.

The Job (DA's contribution to the blog)

The primary reason we came to the U.K. was for the tremendous career opportunity I have been given with the bank. I have been on the job for one week and I absolutely love the job. I have around 90 people under me. Sixty are in the Management Information Group and 30 are on the Operations Finance Team. I have been extremely impressed with everyone I have met. They are very nice, knowledgeable, and seem eager for change. I have already identified numerous ways to improve the organization. I am still in the honeymoon phase, so I am spending my day getting to know the people, culture, issues, and opportunities.

It is an incredibly international organization. I sit beside an analyst from Sweden, my indirect Boss is German, my HR contact is Irish, and I have analysts from India, Spain, France, German, Switzerland, and Scotland. I can understand most of them. The French are the hardest to understand. They speak English with a French accent and talk very very fast. (I’m sure Francios loves the way DA says his name with a West Tennessee accent and a little Texan thrown in. Comes out more like “France wha?”)

I leave the apartment at 6:55 to catch the 7:04 train into Waterloo Station. At Waterloo, I catch the Jubilee line tube (subway) to the Canary Warf Station. I have about a 10 minute walk to the office. I am at my desk at 8:10. The Americans all arrive before 8:30. Everyone else gets there a little before nine. You take a thirty minute lunch. People start leaving at 5:00 and the Americans lock up around 6:30. Even though the Europeans don’t work as many hours, they work very hard while they are there and are dedicated. They will stay late if the need to; they just manage their time so they don’t. (See previous post, they have to leave early to go grocery shop before store closes at 5:30)

My team is spread across the U.K. I have a group on the southern coast in a town called Poole, a large group in Coventry (close to Birmingham), and group in Ireland, and a few other places. I went to Coventry last week by first class super train. It is a great way to travel. The train glides at about 100 mph, they served a full breakfast, and saw some beautiful countryside. Coventry looks like America. Since it was completely destroyed during WWII due to some tank plants in the area- Everything is new.

I can’t wait for our scale to get here. I am walking more than ever, climbing lots of stairs, and have cut my calorie intake in half (not all by choice). This is probably why you don’t see a lot of overweight people. They walk everywhere. It is true that many could use a visit to the dentist.

I will try to keep you posted as I get further settled in, and as I find out if everyone is just being nice to me because I am the boss.

School thoughts

The school the kids are attending feels more like a college campus. There is a beautiful, lush soccer field out front and a track in the next field. The sports center is nicer than our new LA Fitness back home. Olympic size pool, double gym, aerobics room, equipment room. Now I know where our tuition is going. The kids walk down to the sports center for swimming or to another building for regular PE. They have to wear a school PE uniform and required to have indoor trainers and outdoor trainers (tennis shoes). Not to be confused with the shoes you wore to school which are not allowed in PE since they might track dirt into the gym or mud into the school. The parents are allowed to join the center and work out. I am joining this week - we'll see if joining translates to working out.
The middle school is hard. L is trying to adjust. He is so excited about the extra reading we are doing at night to catch up - just what every 11 year old wants to do. B has a great environment and once she gets over being sad about leaving home, I think she will really like it. I asked if kids were from other countries in her class. One little girl is from France, and B said another "is Jewish". Didnt know that was a country! She said he tells them all the time, "I am the only Jewish boy in class". B doesnt even know what that means. We tried to explain. Who said we weren't homeschooling.
The drive to school is very long. No wonder half the kids ride the bus. It was a 2 hr. round trip to get there and back today. (on time, thank you!) and it is only 8 miles away. We must move closer. Overall, I like the school. We'll see if it grows on the kids.
Having just left home where it is tough to get someone to publish a weekly newsletter for the school, I laugh at this school's monthly, 100+ page bound "connection". They publish this book monthly! In addition to all the school news, it carries all the ads for businesses and products geared towards the American "expats" - which WE technically arent, but thats another topic. Also the American families who are moving publish entire listings of all their possessions for sale as they get transferred away. They cant take the UK electronics with them, so they sell them. We are hoping to score a few deals from that. We are waiting for the next "connection". L really wants a TV in his room. DA and I just want a TV period. Maybe I'll find a replacement hair dryer.

The Driving situation

Friday night our rental car was delivered - a (1/4) mini van. I was so intimidated about driving, I had the delivery guy drive it into the car park (parking garage) because it was during Friday night rush hour and I didnt want to learn right then. I'm sure he thought I was a spoiled brat American, but that's ok, at least the car wasnt wrecked.
Driving on the opposite side of the car and opposite side of the road is ok on some roads, without traffic, in the daylight, without the sunshine, .... I just keep repeating "wide right, tight left" to remind me how to turn. You know that scene with Cameron Diaz in "The Holiday" movie where she is driving - yes that is exactly how it is...I cringe and hope I keep both my rear view mirrors as I pass each car. The roads are about 6 ft wide (well, maybe 12 ft) but they are 2 way and you're both going 40 or 50 mph. It is nerve racking, but I hear most people pick it up easily after they knock off a mirror or two. I dont know what these folks were thinking when they built these roads, but they are tiny, curvy and they have a curb right on the edge of the road. I have wiped all the letters off my left tires in one weekend.

We tried to drive to church on Sunday in a town about 30 miles away. We gave ourselves 1 hr travel time and still arrived 40 minutes late. Considered it a bonus just to have found the building. we will try making it to the service next week. The problem is reading the signs when traveling around the roundabouts - the signs are unfamiliar and we have no idea which towns are in which direction. How do I know if I want to to to Leatherhead or Dorking when I'm trying to get to Reading?
We had to travel on the M25 (aka Freeway) and when we figured out we were going the wrong way, we had to travel to the next exit - 10 miles away- in order to turn around.
Reading was a happenin' place. We dont understand any of the parking rules, but we know they are very strict. They have tried to make the signs very simple, no words, just symbols but we couldnt "read" a blue cirle with a red line, come on - "no parking 6 to noon" is much easier to translate. We ended up eating Sunday lunch at ---McDonalds. The kids had a fit when they saw it. I dont even let them eat there in Dallas, but we made an exception. The place was packed! DA cleared off tables for us 3 separate times and each time he turned around from the trash can, a family had already sat down. The line was almost out the door. B decided she didnt want McDonalds after all and said "I think I need some healthy food" That a girl. Yes, they have grapes and apple slices at McDonalds in Reading. In the town we are living, the McD's is so busy there is a security guard at the door letting kids in and out. We made it back from Reading with only 1 or 2 wrong turns. Hopefully spending all day in Sunday clothes with cranky kids in the backseat will account for something.
Monday morning I drove the kids to school for first time. Allowed 45 min to go 8 miles and they were still 20 min tardy - some things never change. When L walked into his class, they asked why he was tardy, he said "my mom tried to drive us to school today" They all started laughting. B's teacher actually cheered! Thankfully it is a common thing for first time drivers to have some problems. And yes, I made 1 wrong turn, but mainly it is the traffic. I kept hearing about traffic during the "school runs"but I couldnt picture it out in the country. Since the roads are only 2 lane roads there is a HUGE long line of cars going down the road. I think I will plan another route with more left hand turns. Time to study the map AGAIN.

New discoveries!!

L - "There is NO ICE here." Freezer is iceless.
B - "riding the bus makes me car sick!"
MOM - "the stores here close too early." What's with the mall and every other store closing at 5:30 and the grocery store at 6:00. that must be why everyone walks SO fast. They have to get off at 5:00 to catch the 5:05 train for 30 minute ride and then get to the store to buy dinner since they have no room in there dorm size refrigerator to store anything. "Prepared frozen dinners, Nice." Oh to go to Target.
DA - "why does snow stop the trains. It's my 3rd day of work people, I have to get into the city!"
MOM - part 2 - I know they are trying to simplify by putting pictures for all the control selections on the appliances, but I have no idea what they mean. "How should I know if I wash whites on A, B, C...M. " then you have to set another dial with numbers on it. Is it 110 degrees celcius water temp? surely not, I dont need to boil them, or 110 revolutions of the spin cycle.(I know now, it's dryer time, but trust me, sometimes 110 minutes doesnt even get 5 shirts dry. The washer and dryer are the same machine which makes it even more confusing). Then setting the temp on the oven doesnt turn it on. I have to make some other fan selection and there are about 10 to choose from. whats up with that. At home it's conventional or convection and tempature. not 20 choices.
I have lots to learn, fortunately the user manuals are posted on the internet somewhere, now if I only had a printer to print them out.... but wait, what store sells paper....

Surprise - Winter wonderland

We woke up this morning to the dark, as usual for this time of year so we didnt notice the beautiful snow outside. It caught even the locals by surprise. It is so peaceful. I think there is at least 2" outside. Snow is even falling in central London. These quaint little roofs look even more so covered in snow. We left during the first cold snap of year in Dallas and brought it with us. I think it is the first snow of the year in this area. The kids had to throw a few snowballs before they went off to school. We didnt pack any gloves for L, so he left with frozen hands. The snow is perfect for snowballs. It is supposed to fall all day.
Today is the kids second day at school and they rode the bus this morning. After 50 pound ride to pick them up yesterday in a taxi, we signed them up for the bus right away. If you know my kids you will appreciate their shock at having to be ready to leave at 7:15!!!!! A definite change from running to school at 7:58.
B was very happy with school. Her teacher and classmates were very friendly and welcoming. They are used to new students. They have had 19 new kids in the lower school since Christmas break.
L isnt quite sure yet. They have a complicated schedule that will take some adjusting to. Fortunately he had changed classes at WRE for the last 1.5 years. He now has several classes and teachers each day and they rotate schedules every 8 days- do they have different weeks here or what - I've never heard of an 8 day schedule. I dont know how they keep up with things. Just reading his schedule makes my head spin. He did meet some nice kids though. William (pronounced Willam) is his buddy. L isnt the tallest anymore. I asked him about the boys and he said they are all tall and skinny, he'll fit right in.
The food at the school is good. B told me I dont have to make her lunch anymore. They have a baked potato bar every day and that is heaven for her. L didnt like his pizza, said it tasted like cardboard. When I read they use only whole wheat flour, I understood. Hopefully they will adjust because they cant take ANY peanut butter to school so out with the PB &J's. It's ok, I havent found baggies yet at any store, but I've heard they exist here.
DA is supposed to get our banking stuff set up today. I hope so. It is difficult to explore the area without access to money, ATM card, credit card, etc.
I'm so used to being busy that this new pace is weird. The laundry takes a few hours a load, the suitcases are unpacked, we get 4 channels on the TV and I have no access to money. No wonder I'm on the computer. I will get more involved when we get a car and an ATM card. I did meet several moms after school yesterday. oh, the network formed by moms waiting for the kids after school. Some things never change. They have lived all over the world and were shocked that this was my first move. Their husbands work for the oil industry, apparently they move frequently. One Mom was from Dallas and had been here 2 weeks. Her husband works for a bank too, I will look for her again. The moms were very friendly.

The snow continues to fall. Wish you could see it.

The grocery situation

The grocery situation is interesting. There are 2 stores within walking distance, one has little baskets for you to carry and the other one has normal (small) grocery carts, but you have to pay 1 pound to use them. I went for the free hand held basket. Paying a store to use the cart is just something I'll have to get used to. I didnt understand how to unlock them anyway. Most things cost about the same as at home, except it is in pounds (which means twice as much) and the package is smaller, which means ...... I go to the store more often? No, really I found milk in a quart size and laundry detergent that is enough for 12 loads and a full size of pringles chips. L actually found Pop tarts too. I think I spent the equivalent of $60 and got 4 bags of grocery basics. You have to bag them yourselves and carry them while you walk home (and up 4 flights). The store I was in actually had a few mexican food items. No tortilla chips though. I took advantage of the kids being with me and had them help carry the bags. Otherwise I will have to do a smaller trip...tomorrow. It's true, no grape jelly here. Good thing we shipped a few bottles in our crate. that will be like Christmas. I havent come across Peanut butter yet, but I hear it's around. Since I burned a grilled cheese sandwich today in addition to the hair dryer and transformer, I didnt feel like cooking. DA and I had cheese, crackers, salami slices and water (no ice) for dinner. He thought we looked very European. I thought "no cookean".

Just getting started

Hey friends and family, just letting you know we are here and settling in. I had to get a Surrey library card to get on the internet (I needed to see if the new school had sent more information - they didnt so I am playing now- i am alloted 1 hour). We cant seem to log on the internet in our new temporary digs. The keyboard is different so i keep having to retype stuff. no more capital letters. the shift key is in a different place so lower case it is!!!
our apt is so little. my bathroom at home is the size of our entire living, eating, cooking area. the kids are sharing a room and it is as wide as 2 single beds with one tiny night stand. you can almost open the door the whole way. - its too funny. it has a new kitchen though.
we are on the 4th floor and carrying 20 bags up all those stairs was a site to see. this morning is the first time i was going to dry my hair - yep you guessed it - burned out my nice hairdryer already. hair is flat and looking good. no mind, its raining outside and i cant find my umbrella. i also burned our our only transformer with the hair dryer (too many watts) so i need to replace that so we can charge our computer, ds, and such.
da laughs because you have to sit sideways on the toilet, no room for the knees.
needless to say, i am going out with the realtor on friday to look for permanent place. our boxes we shipped air wont fit in the apt. so need to find something soon.
the town we are in is a quaint place in surrey. cute high street (main street). we are right across the street from the train station, so da had an easy commute his first morning in. the kids start school tomorrow.
b was dying to see london so yesterday we rode the train to the city and rode the london eye and took photos of big ben and westminster abbey. the kids had to eat with us at a pub. their first. no kid meals and the only children in there. i guess kids in the city dont eat at pubs, but it was the only restuarant we could find open. they seem to think 4:30 is a good time to close everything.
today i am trying to figure out how to get the kids to school in the morning. i think i will take them in a taxi. we dont have our car yet and i dont know if i want to take out across the countryside driving a rental car for the first time - on the wrong side of the car, wrong side of the road and not knowing where i am going in the morning rush - too much stress. i have decided to take driving lessons. they are recommended and they say you need about 2 lessons to understand everything. lets hope i am a good student.
i got a new mobile phone - mobile pronounced with a long i. I have messed up several times already using it. You'd think I had never had a cell phone before. After I hung up on the realtor 3 times, she said "did you get a new phone?"
also messed up telling the librarian my birthday. they put the day first then the month. I wondered why she thought I was crazy being born the 23 month of the year.

gotta go. my phone is ringing and that is a no no in the library. signs posted everywhere. getting lots of looks.

The journey begins

Because of the delay getting our Visa paperwork, we began our journey with a week at the beautiful Gaylord Texan. It was enhanced by the rain and ice that fell on our luggage in the back of the truck as we drove all the way across town. Note, the Gaylord has never promoted themselves as the "vacation" spot for families, which is a big clue that there is NOTHING for kids to do there except walk in the atrium. My kids got repremanded for climbing on the rocks, but come on, after 6 days in the hotel with ice on the streets outside wouldn't you be climbing the walls???
The driver laughed as we walked out with our 20 bags of luggage, but amazingly he got them all inside the suburban.
We spent a lovely 4 hours at the airport because the hotel driver insisted on taking us that early for an international flight. It made for a smooth and patient wait for the 9 hour plane ride (ha). I think my kids had one of every snack sold in terminal D.
My kids loved traveling in business class, and I must add, it was pretty nice. The seat in front of you is so far away that you have to get up and take a couple of steps just to have access to the bag you placed under there. I have to give it to American Airlines on that one. Comfy pillows and comforters too. L said " i love this plane". I thought, "I love someone else paying for us on this plane" otherwise we would be in the back. They made the flight great although I dont know how much sleep they got. It was afterall, about 7:00pm when I told them to go to sleep. Dramamine didnt seem to help.