update on driving situation

well, after couple of months I have gotten much more comfortable driving on the opposite side of the road. I almost always remember to drive on the left, unless I am turning onto a road that is empty - I have a few times caught myself driving on the right in those instances - oops. One road here by the library is as wide as a one lane road, but it has a line painted down the middle indicating 2 way. One mom commented, "just because you paint a line doesnt mean there is room for 2 cars". The road is about 8 feet wide - come on! It's a one way road - which ever way I need it to be going - thank you very much - but a one way road!
One thing I just can't get used to is getting in on the right side to drive. I have walked to the left side so many times. Even after all this time, I actually got in on the wrong side again yesterday. When will I learn? Then when I do get in on the correct side, I always reach over the wrong shoulder to fasten my seatbelt. The kids just laugh and laugh as my hand is flapping around in the air looking for the ghost seatbelt.
I havent taken driving lessons yet because I have to take the driving test and it is something you have to study for and I didnt want to take time for that yet. My US license is good for a year. Also, a major deterent is that you have to put this obnoxious "L" sticker on the front and back of your car (read L for loser) and drive around for a few days (or weeks). Most US moms try to time it so their Loser time is when they are on holiday or visiting the States and they wont be seen driving around that way. I have to decide when is the best time to be humiliated. I'll let you know.
I have hit the left side of my tires so many times that if they had been white wall tires, they would now be black and blue tires, but I proudly have kept my hubcaps on. I was sitting at a red light a couple weeks back and I felt my car tilt. A huge construction truck scraped the side of the car and I didnt realize what was happening until I heard the side mirror get bent all the way forward and snap back - it didnt come off, but I was left with lovely yellow and blue paint marks, scratches and dents all down the left side. They drove off so quickly in the other lane that I didnt get their license number, but at least it is a lease car. Maybe all those things will happen before we get our car in May (things take a long time here!). On second thought, maybe this would be a good time to have the L sticker on my car. The combo of L sticker and paint marks and scratches may allow me a wide berth as I drive through town, something to consider.

The trains

Public transportation in the UK is a wonderful thing. It is fairly convenient and takes you most places you need to go. One thing that cracks me up is that the locals basically RUN off the train. I pick DA up at the station every afternoon and within 45 seconds (i timed it) the platform is cleared, the cyclists have ridden off and the people who parked their cars have left - all of this BEFORE DA even walks off the platform. I mean deserted within 45 seconds. I get a kick watching everyone in such a rush. of course, DA in his slow, meandering way, follows up behind them all. I bet they curse him as he stands on the escalators in the tube instead of running down the stairs. you just wait - when you come visit you will be amazed at how fast people walk in and out of the stations. and beware, you need your ticket to exit the tube stations, so dont get in their way looking for yours.
DA has had other train issues too. there are 3 trains stations in our area that he can use to ride home. Depending on which train is leaving next, he decides which to take and then calls to let me know which station to pick him up. well, last week I am on my way to station X, he calls to say he missed getting off! he was standing at the train door, waiting for the door to open automatically like it does on his tube line and low and behold, you have to press the "open" button to open the doors. the train rolls away with him still standing at the door looking at the platform. fortunately, I had my map in the car and was able to find the next station on the line in the next town.
A few days later, he calls to let me know his destination, and then calls back to let me know got off at the wrong station. he was concentrating on a difficult Suduko puzzle (yeah, right), the people around him got up and off the train, so he just followed them off - looked up and he had exited at the wrong station. I was lucky to have my phone with me and knew where he was or else I would have been patiently waiting at the other station. ( Dont tell anyone I wasnt using a hands free device - mobile phone use while driving is a huge penalty)!
But all this will be his problem starting next week - we bought a scooter(yes a scooter, not motorcycle - cheaper to buy, own and park) for him to drive himself to the station so he will have to remember which station he left from and get back to at night. I hope he has a camera phone to take picture to remind himself. He can check it when his alarm goes off to wake him up when it's time to get off. It will be a sight to see, briefcase, suit and shiny work shoes under his helmet and rain suit riding down the road on a scooter. I'll post a picture soon.

I'm Back! well, sort of

Hello, all. Yep, been exactly a month since my last post and we still dont have internet service at our new home. I am at the public library on one of 5 computers that you can use for 1 hour, and believe me, it is hard to get one available - and that is after you have to pay to park to come in.
We moved into our house and are getting settled in. the unpacking didnt go quite as planned. the movers are more interested in unloading the truck, setting up the beds (incorrectly I might add) and filling the beds, countertops and dresser tops with unloaded boxes and then telling you they cant put items in any cupboards, so they are done since there are no more surfaces on which to set things. None the less, we are in the house and life is much easier. We are close to school so that the kids and I can walk. takes me 15 min., takes the kids 20 minutes while kicking rocks, throwing sticks, chasing rabbits and all other good kid activities. we walk through a heath and over a tiny bridge to get to school. very picturesque. the house has a wonderful back yard (garden as they say here) and a heath out front. it is a private road, so there is very little traffic and the kids can run around outside.
some things i have learned (or havent learned as the case may be):
- life is different without a garbage disposal - and a 6" deep kitchen sink without a sprayer. hmm. may even invest in one of those myself and install it.
- got a larger hob (cooktop) than most houses, except that the largest burner is about 6" wide so cooking meat or fish has to be done one at a time. Not really what the US pot makers had in mind when they made my 15" skillet!
- STILL dont understand the oven! i have burned every single thing i have baked and I even have the manual. i heard you needed cooking lessons to use an aga oven, i dont have one of those, but i still need cooking lessons!
- 2 weeks without any tv is brutal. fortunately we got satallite tv now with Lost, Prison Break, Disney channel, and a movie channel plus many other British shows we have yet to discover. now if DA can figure out how get American sports, we will be set.
- thought they would set up internet service, phone and tv all at once since using the same company, and ordered it all at once - no such luck. have to call and que again for each additional service. no mind, we are going with a different company and hope it will work out better.
- since we've been in - garage door opener broken, back door handle broken, master bath leaks to lower floor, movers destroyed part of yard unloading items and on and on. very nice thing is, I just call someone and they come and fix it - one of the great benefits of leasing.
- Best news of all - daughter B decided to ride her bike again without training wheels. first time in over 2 years since broken leg. we are very proud of her and now go for 2 hour bike rides after school.
- time changed here, didnt know it cause I dont get the newspaper (to those who know me - that is killer!) so we were 1 hour late to church! but days are longer and so nice to have sunlight until 7:30 pm
gotta run. computer time is up!