Quick Update

Oh it has been a crazy fun two weeks. I guess we are finally starting to feel more at home here. S had two play dates at our house. She had fun and I think it has helped her to feel more comfortable at school. I have been trying to set up one per week. Also, she is back at gymnastics and loving it. I have her on a waiting list for swimming lessons and a closer gymnastics school. Her reading is really starting to come on.

We have been entertaining. We had friends (a family of 5) over for dinner. It was a great night. It was nice to connect with another family. We had a co worker of VW’s for dinner as well. She is a real sweetheart and brought the most beautiful bouquet.

I attended the AGM (PTA) meeting and had drinks with several parents afterward. I joined the committee and will volunteer at the school disco in October. Grades 1-3 have a disco from 6-7 pm on a Friday night and grades 4-6 follow afterward. Apparently, the 4 discos are one of the main highlights for the kids during the year.

S had school pictures and I can’t wait to see them. We have had a couple of picnics and hikes trying to enjoy the past week without rain. Additionally, we attended a kid’s birthday party. They hired a jumpy castle, so the kids had lots of fun.

We are also excited because the K family is coming to visit in a few weeks. We can’t wait! When they leave it will be hard to say goodbye, but we are very lucky that their visit is followed by our trip to the Canary Islands. We plan to spend a week soaking up the sun on an island off the coast Spain.

X, then S and finally me all had the stomach flu this past week. I have spent all of today cleaning and washing. I only hope VW has been skipped. What a nightmare.

Always!

Spa Day

Sweet VW sent me to a spa day for my birthday. Complete heaven. I felt like a new woman by the end of my day.






















Meanwhile, VW took the kids to a pub and got them tattoos.

Phrases III

Of course, just as in the states, not everyone says all of these phrases. And we might use a few of them, but not commonly. I have noticed I have added a few of these to my own speech. VW and I made fun of Texas accents once, and the Brit laughed saying “How can you make fun of other Americans, you all sound exactly the same.” Hmmm.

Barking or Barking Mad = Crazy
Comfort break or make myself comfortable = bathroom break
Fancy, for example: “what time do you fancy driving over” or “I don’t right fancy coffee.”
Come along. “What time will you be coming along.” “Come along and join the disco swim.”
Whilst.
Gobsmacked - amazed!
Tinned food - canned food
Donkeys years - a long time
Give us a bell – give us a ring
Carrier bags-plastic bags (and they charge for them. I have bought reusable woven bags, which I love. I used to think it would be a pain to remember to bring them, but I do remember 99% of the time. I feel good not collecting so many bags and they are much easier to carry and hold in your hand.)
Fizzies - pop or soda
Holiday makers - vacationers
Hoovering - vacuuming
Sweeties -candy

Dates All Around and British Goldfish

Saturday was a fab day. VW and X went to the Space Center, while S and I went hunting for a goldfish and had lunch. We all had a blast spending a little one on one time together. In fact, I finally called VW and X at 3:00. I was getting worried.

S and I had a great, relaxing lunch, she filled me in on her school happenings. We were unsuccessful in our quest to buy a British goldfish. Apparently, it is cruel and inhumane to have a fish bowl, so they are no longer sold here. You must buy a rather large tank, with a water pump and chemicals, etc and $200 later you can buy a $3.00 goldfish. Hmmmm. S handled the situation with grace. My current plan is to find a large glass bowl at a store, add pebbles and go back for the fish. Call me a rebel.

Next, we had our first babysitter. We hired her from a service that was recommended by some friends. She was great. She is a certified child care worker and lives in our town. The kids never cried and said she was nice. X was only sad at bedtime and once she laid down by his crib he went right to sleep. VW and I saw Dark Knight. It was really good, but a bit long. I thought Heath Ledger made a great Joker, better the JN. We hope to use her every three weeks or so for a night out.

Cheers!

New Mall

Leicester just opened or rather extended their big shopping mall downtown. It seems people here are pretty excited about it. It has been in the planning for a long time. Friday afternoon we went as a family to check it out. It is beautiful and definitely adds to the shopping and entertainment options. We ate at a good Asian restaurant, although the kids weren’t impressed by the food. (Peasants, right Grandma Ethel!) There is even a people bridge (skyway) from the parking lot.

Just Boy

X loves to dress up in last years Halloween costume (a lion) and growl and say “I am a tiger.” Then when you pretend to be scared, he pulls the hood off and says “just boy!”

Truly a Brit

Everyday S is more of a Brit. Today when we were playing pet store, she charged me for my pet in pounds not dollars. She has also taken to calling me mum.

New Friends and Old Friends

New friends
We had a most enjoyable weekend. S had a birthday party at a fun place. There was a large soft play and slide area. Then after an hour the kids moved downstairs where there was an hour of disco dancing and eating. The DJ was so great with the kids. I wished I had brought the camera to take pictures of the kids dancing. They were so cute and so into it. (However, it reminded me how old I am getting. I had a headache from the loud music!) I was also able to spend some time chatting with other parents, the boys were home having male bonding over a movie and our new trampoline.

Old Friends
VW connected with an old friend from high school, that married a Brit and has been living here since ’97. They had us to their home outside of London for dinner. We had a great time. The kids played brilliantly. It was fun to connect with the past, home and a family here that is our age and in our place in life. They couldn’t have been more gracious. His wife is lovely and patiently listened to all the old gab. I hope they will join us here in Leicester some day soon.

Back at School

S had a great first week back at school (only two days.) I was worried. She kept talking about not wanting to go. During her third week of school last spring she cried terribly everyday when I left. I am really proud of how much she has been grown up.