October fun

My one goal for October was to find a Pumpkin Patch! It wasn't easy but I found one.

First let me say what I learned... just because public transportation will eventually get me there doesn't mean it's still a viable option! So after walking, taking a train, the tube and a bus ride we arrived at Willows Farm 2 1/2 hours later (this is one way)!!! It turned out to be a great place. The kids loved it! But wouldn't you know it, when it was time to walk back to the bus it starts to down pour. It's not easy to hustle with 2 kids and 2 pumpkins. However, after the 2 1/2 hour journey back home, at least I can say I accomplished my goal.

Halloween was interesting. It's not so big with the British so only the predominantly American neighbourhoods hand out candy. As you can imagine, all the Americans ( and some British who like the idea of free candy) converge on a few areas. It's total chaos!!! Police were on the scene for crowd control. Logan was almost crushed due to a stampede and I lost Isabelle several times!! Needless to say it wasn't nearly as fun as hanging on my front porch (or Emily's) handing out candy while the men, and their wagon full of adult treats, took the kids around the neighborhood.

I'm trying to meet people but it's not as easy as I remember it being in the past. Of course, the down side to making friends here is that everyone I meet is in transit. The 2 people I happened to click with are moving. One just found she is leaving in Dec and the other leaves in May. It kind of makes the effort tiring.

I had a Pretty Woman moment the other day. I walk by a little boutique everyday on my way to pick up Logan. Every window display has had something I really liked so I decided I would actually go in and check it out. It's a small store. As I'm browsing the sales ladies just buzz by as if I'm not there. One actually stepped in front of me and said "I need to get there" (pointing to the corner she just backed me into). I was planning to buy a few things but instead I heard Julia Roberts saying "I tried to go get a dress on Rodeo Drive today and the women wouldn't help me. And I have all this money now and no dress! "

For those of you who use iPhones, you know it spell checks for you. As you might expect, the spell checker is based on the country you are located. So every time I try to type in Favorite, Color or Specialize (or any other word with a z in it) it automatically changes it to the British spelling favourite, colour, and specialise. Not that this is surprising but I still find it annoying.

Digestive biscuits are a popular treat. They're cookies and they are quiet tasty. But I can't help but feel I'm eating ex-Lax in the form of a chocolate cookie. Hey, as I write this, I realize that maybe I am, hmmmm.

The word Gastronomy is often used when referring to what we call a restaurant. I decided to look up the definition because it seems like such an odd word. According to Wikipedia, Gastronomy is the study of the relationship between culture and food. I also see ads for a Gastronomic Experience.

I can't help but feel like I would be heading to a doctor's office... or maybe the Planetarium.

Venice

Ahhh, Venice! It's a uniquely beautiful place. I fell in love with it the minute we stepped off the boat (aka shuttle "bus" from airport). There is truly no place like it. The kids did great considering it's not an amusement park. Our saving grace... pigeons! Yes, as we were told by numerous people, letting them chase the pigeons around St. Mark's Square in between site seeing helped us get around without grumpy children (well, the pigeons and the Gelato!!!). Of course, we had to take a Gondola ride even if it is quite pricey. It was pleasant even though I worried the entire time that Logan was going to jump out of the boat. We also went to Murano to see how all the beautiful glass is made. Let's just say this was not the best decision for my state of mind. For those of you who know my son well, you know this really was like taking a bull in a china shop!!!

Just an FYI for anyone planning a trip to Venice, if you fly into the Venice airport you still have to get across water to the islands. I knew this but I didn't fully investigate to know that the Water Bus takes 1 hour 30 minutes to get to St. Mark's and a water taxi cost 100 Euros to get you there in 30 minutes. The water bus wouldn't have been so bad if it weren't late evening with kids. Overall, the trip was fabulous! I really hope to get back there.

Back to London...

Someone asked me recently what is the one thing I can't live without here. I thought about lots of things but to pinpoint one absolute must have for me would be my iPhone. It's not because I do a lot of talking on it but for the GPS. I use it daily to help me get from point A to point B. I recently posted on Facebook, "Where would I be without the little blue dot on my phone? Lost is London!". It is so true. When I come out of the underground it's not always easy to get my bearings. I generally walk a few blocks then check to see if my blue dot moved in the right direction. You know you use it a lot when you're not lost just reading a sign and your 4 year old asks "Mommy, can't you just look at the blue dot?". At least I'm teaching him how to read a GPS : )

What's the latest

Well, we (or maybe it's just me) are still trying to adjust to life in London.

I really enjoy not having a car but using public transportation is not always easy or reliable. The tube workers go on strike at least once every few weeks which really screws things up! I try to walk as much as possible. The only down side to walking is learning to dress properly. It's cold out so I bundle up. However, once I'm 10-15 minutes into a walk, I become very warm. By the time I get where I'm going I'm usually sweating like it's a 100 degrees outside. So I'm learning to dress in layers... I usually peel something off every 10 minutes.

I have started saying lovely, chat and top up (aka fill up my cup). Although, I still can't ask for the toilets. I know it's silly but it really embarrasses me to say toilets. They don't really use the word Loo much and I've gotten some strange looks and one sarcastic remark when asking for a restroom (are you going to take a rest?).

Contrary to popular belief, there are dentist "shops" on almost every corner. I call them shops because most have bright, fancy window displays. And almost all of them have signs out front listing the many things you can have done at the dentist, i.e. teeth cleaning, teeth whitening, facials, massages and Botox. Kind of a wide range for a dentist, don't you think?

I am now a proud member of the Hampstead Women's Club. I never really thought of myself as the Women Club type. I envision Emily Gilmore from the Gilmore Girls. I don't do Chanel suits! However, this seems like a very laid back group that can hopefully help me find a place to get the kids haircuts, sort thru the NHS and someone to talk to that understands my frustrations. Not to mention hook me up with a tennis instructor.

Tony wants to change careers. He wants to become a London police officier and no, it's not so he can wear the really cool police helmet and be called a bobby. It's because they drive BMWs for their police cars. So how cool is that, to be in a Beemer, as a police officer with no worries of being pulled over!!!!

One thing I have learned is to never order lemonade unless you want Sprite. No matter how many times I have tried, asking "Is this REAL lemonade?" to which the answer is always "Yes, real lemonade.", I get Sprite (or maybe 7Up). So apparently here if life gives you lemons you make a carbonated beverage.