Heidi Chronicles

Well, I managed to get to the post office and back early this afternoon. A ordered a wall mount for the TV and although the PO threatened to send it back on Saturday, it was still there when I went to get it today. They were on strike Friday and Saturday, so we figured it would still be there. Not that it would have mattered anyway…everyone works in time ranges around here. Sending it back on Saturday is like saying they’ll send it back between Saturday and Wednesday. It’s as though I’m dealing with the cable company every day.

One exception to the rule…the grocery delivery services are usually early. Tonight we were scheduled for sometime between 9 and 11…but they were here by 8.

However, we were none to impressed. We used a different service this time because A wanted something specific from them, but they substituted a bunch of stuff so it was pointless anyway. However, I am interested in giving the Mediterranean Tomato Soup a try with a grilled cheese. Ya never know.

Anyway, Waitrose is the other service we’ve used and A had previously made fun of them because they were always so pleased not to have substituted anything…and they always showed up with everything. After tonight, I think he’ll give them the props they deserve.

That brings me to my new Life In London section. It’ll just be tidbits about how things are different here. You may already know these things, but I didn’t and this is my blog, damnit, so I can write about whatever I want.

Life In London

• They drive on the left side of the road. Everyone knows this, correct? Not really a big deal except when walking I have to silently say, “look to the right…THEN the left” every. single. time. I approach an intersection. Driving will be interesting, to say the least
• Everything is just a little smaller. I was going to make chocolate chip cookies so A ordered some chips for me. 100 grams isn’t going to get me very far.
• We miss Murphy and Macey. I have to sweep the floor three times a day in order to keep it crumb-free.
• There is Mould Remover underneath the sink that the owners left us. No one in the US would leave something that gave the impression that they might have mold for the next tenants to see.
• We don’t have a doorbell. People just jiggle the mail flap in the door to use it as a knocker.
• Greenwich Mean Time is actually relevant for once.
• I have a tiny (by US standards) washer and dryer in my kitchen disguised as kitchen cabinets…I’d do this in my next house if I could. It’s handy.
• My cookie sheets barely fit in the oven.

End Life In London

Let’s see…what else do you want to know?

E is really enjoying books now and she will chase me down yelling, “GUHK, GUHK!” She also loves the mini chairs.

A is busy at work and he’s constantly trying to figure out some random thing that we think should be easy, but isn’t. The language difference really does matter.

Me? Well, I’m really doing well. I’ve been keeping busy trying to get the house in order…and there’s still SO much to be done. I’m also trying to venture out a little bit. I need to practice my British English. Every time I try to talk to someone I prepare the conversation ahead of time. It’s the same thing I do when I’m going to try to rustle up some old Spanish. (By the way, I was SO proud of myself for not screwing up at the post office when I went to pick up the package. I ROCKED the Royal Mail Service – even though it took me a minute to figure out whether or not they were really open with their 24-hour clock posted hours.)

So, life is pretty good. I have no idea where we’re at in terms of our finances or how I’m supposed to pay the bills, or how I go about getting my mobile (mow-biiile) phone service, but I’m just trying to kick back and take it easy a little bit.

Last night was the first night E wasn’t up for a couple of hours, so I’m hoping that things will normalize here pretty soon.

L has been taking advantage of Aaron’s new tactic for getting him to calm himself and go to sleep. L is supposed to count to 10 very slowly and breathe deeply. Then, if he really needs something, he’s supposed to say it over the monitor and we’ll come see what he needs. It worked the first couple of times, but now he “needs sun-keen” every other minute. There have been a couple of nights that he was hungry – one night he asked for salad – but tonight I made sure all of his needs were met.

So, we talked to him through our walkie-talkie monitors (coolest thing every) the first couple of times, but when he started in for about the 80,000th time saying MY name, I went up and asked if he needed me to check on him again in a few minutes. He wanted A to do it, so I told him that Daddy would probably be able to do that and that he’d be up a little bit later.
L shot up in bed, gave me a stern look, and said, “Mommy…you don’t call Daddy Aunt Betty! He’s not Aunt Betty!”

Seriously? OK…the kid was SO tired. I didn’t know what to say, so I really didn’t say anything. I had to try to hard to keep from laughing.

At any rate, I’m rambling again this evening and I really should be in bed. Today was exhausting and I have another day of the same tomorrow. I HAVE to have this place cleaned up before the delivery of all kinds of random things – from toothbrushes to floor coverings – in the afternoon. For a delivery charge of only 2 pounds, 50 pence, I might add.

So, adios until I have rugs….

PS – I’m not rereading or spell checking this. Enjoy.