Merry Christmas from the UK

Merry Christmas from the UK!  It's been a whirlwind.  The Brits really keep Christmas well.  No shocker from the land of Dickens, in my opinion.  Things really ramp up after Halloween, since they don't celebrate Thanksgiving.  (Truth be told though, I think they're a little jealous of Thanksgiving.  Who wouldn't be though?)  The Christmas Markets start around Thanksgiving time.  We went to the Victoria Christmas Markets in Gloucester with our friends Clive and Jess one Friday in late November.  All the stall keepers are required to dress in Victorian garb.  Lots of crafts and such, but also good food, good drink.  I found the markets really good for buying gin, cheese, and cured meats (enjoying the duck and wild boar as I write this.)  The cheese here is unreal.

Unreal cheese

We also checked out the Christmas market in Bath when Victoria's brother Peter was in town visiting.  The largest of the Christmas markets in SW England, it surrounds the Cathedral and nearby environs.  Overall though, a Christmas market is a Christmas market.  Roasting chestnuts, mulled wine, arts, crafts, delicious food.  I think next year we may try and go to Poland or Germany for the Christmas markets.

Another staple is the workplace Christmas Do.  The restaurants started posting their Christmas menus about the time we arrived in August.  If you want to eat at a restaurant between today and the 27th, you'd better have made a reservation a couple months ago.  (I foolishly dragged my family into a pub after church this morning hoping to be able to catch a traditional Sunday roast only to be looked at like I had three heads.  The gets us into the bookings and queueing culture here, but that's for another post.)  All December if you walk into a pub or restaurant, you'll see tables filled with people wearing their Christmas cracker crowns, telling bad jokes, enjoying a tipple and some good food with friends and coworkers.  The Christmas menus are generally a three course affair.  A starter (soup, terrine, prawn cocktail, etc.), main (turkey, stuffing, "roasties", a "bit of veg", or perhaps some other roast, beef or gammon), and a dessert (Christmas Pudding (i.e. "pud") being the most traditional), and perhaps some mince pies afterwards.  There were a number of Christmas Do-s I got to attend.  The first was at the Pittville Pump Room.  Cheltenham is an old Victorian spa town where people would come to "take the waters" and cure what ailed them.  The Pump Room, as you can probably guess, pumped out one of the aquifers and still works.  I had some of the water myself.  This was the Americans hosting our British counterparts.  The American Christmas Do was held at the Queen's Hotel (one of the poshest hotels in town.)  Everyone gets seriously dolled up for this one.  Lots of eating, drinking, dancing (Victoria bullying husband onto the dance floor.)

My British Christmas Do (with my British coworkers) was the one I was most apprehensive about (unnecessarily as it turned out.)  I'd be told by loads of different people to be careful, take it easy, don't try and keep up, etc.  The day starts at work obviously.  Starting around 10, the mince pies and brandy come out (not for me though.)  Lunch started at 12 at a local wedding venue.  At 3 we head into town to the pubs and the crawl commences.  I peeled off four pubs later around 11pm and headed home.  Not the first, not the last, but a respectable showing, if I may.

As an aside, the absolute best Christmas drink EVER comes from our friends to the North, the Canadians.  It's called Moose Milk and you can find a recipe here.  Do exercise appropriate caution with this one.  You're not Canadian.  Unless you are, in which case, Thank You!

I finished up at work for the year Thursday.  Last night I got the presents wrapped while watching Christmas movies (Christmas Carol, Love Actually, Die Hard, It's A Wonderful Life) and enjoying a few fingers of Scotch.  We made it to Christmas mass this morning (which actually technically was the last mass of Advent and not Christmas mass, but we're counting it anyway.  Sorry, Jesus, but happy birthday!)

I was asked to help with the collection at mass.

Supplies have been procured (some as late as this morning when Lincoln announced he wanted a turkey dinner on Christmas Eve instead of the traditional Robb Hamburger-On-Toast) and it's on to making as Merry as we can and keeping Christmas as well as we can, trying new traditions, celebrating with new friends, while desperately missing traditions, friends, and family back home.  From the Robb's here in the UK, we wish you and yours a truly Merry Christmas, Peace, and Love!

Remember remember...

the Fifth of November.  This weekend is bonfire weekend here in the UK.  Today, November 5th is Guy Fawkes Night.  Guy Fawkes is the best known member of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605.  Fawkes, along with some other co-conspirators, leased an undercroft under the House of Lords and loaded it up with gunpowder.  The plan was to assassinate King James I and restore a Catholic monarch to the throne.  The Brits commemorate the foiled plot.  I say Brits, but if I recall correctly from my time in Scotland, the Scots celebrated the attempt even though it failed.  It's celebrated with large bonfires, burning effigies, and fireworks.  Our friendly local banker told the boys that the large bonfires are because they burned Guy Fawkes alive at the stake (thanks for tonight's nightmare, Ian) though I believe he was actually tortured and hanged.  We tell Dempsey that the fireworks and celebrations are for his birthday, which he gets a kick out of.

Fireworks for Dempsey's 5th birthday!

Victoria spent Thursday and Friday in London visiting with a friend in country for work.  Friday, I took the boys to the local Cricket Club just up the street from our house for fireworks.    We went with friends from work.  All proceeds went to charity.  The pints actually taste better when they're for charity and since everyone enjoys being charitable, you feel better having more than one.  There were two shows, one at 5:45 (yes it's plenty dark at 5:45 nowadays, and getting darker still) for the kiddies and another at 7:30 for the adults.  We stayed for both. 

Saturday, we picked Victoria up from the train and then Lincoln and I went with some of the same friends we attended the previous night's festivities to the Cheltenham Football Club match.  It was round one of the FA Cup and the Robins were playing Maidstone United.  Maidstone had more fire in the belly and outmatched Cheltenham 4-2, though there was plenty of excitement (6 goals, 2 red cards.)  Afterwards, we walked back to our friends house to meet up with the women and walk to the Cheltenham Racetrack for more fireworks and carnival rides.  The fireworks show was really good and the spectacle of bonfires dotting the hills around town was medieval. 

Today was Dempsey's (golden) birthday.  We spent the morning at another friend's birthday party and then took Dempsey to his favorite restaurant for lunch, which is also where we'll be having his party next week.  My little guy turned 5.  He opened his presents.  He got Mousetrap the board game.  I always wanted that when I was little and now it's mine!  Seriously though, I had nothing to do with it.  It's intricate enough that once you get the game together once, you never want to take it apart.  We'll see how long it all lasts, but it is a pretty neat contraption.  We actually don't even play.  We just trigger the mouse trap and watch it do its thing. 

Happy birthday, D!  Stop getting bigger now.  We love you mucho!

First day of school

The boys started school on Tuesday this week.  They looked the epitome of British school boys in their jumpers with their crests and grey shorts.

We bundled them into the car with their little school briefcases and gym bags, labels affixed to every little thing.  They were excited and nervous of course, which we explained was ok and totally normal.  There would be other new kids at school as well.  Dempsey charged into his classroom with nary a glance over his shoulder and dove head first into day 1 of Reception.  Lincoln's nerves got the best of him and the eyes welled up, lip trembled.  Dr. Shelley, the Headmistress came by and we got Lincoln up to the 2nd floor.  He wouldn't go into his classroom though and now his tears were a source of great embarrassment, which only compounded the problem.  All the cajoling and words of encouragement from Victoria and I were not having an effect and so we left him to the care of the staff, his cries and pleas for Victoria chasing us down the hall.  It was hard, but we got word from the school that he recovered quickly and was doing just fine.  He already had a friend in class.  The eldest son of our sponsor family who was excited to welcome Lincoln to school and introduce him to new kids.  He was really great.

Mid-morning there was an assembly and the Headmistress asked for a volunteer.  Lincoln told us later that he said to himself "I really need to get over these fears that I have" or some such sentiment (I wish I could remember the exact phrase he used) and raised his hand.  The Headmistress fully aware of how the morning went, called on Lincoln to help her and he got up in front of the whole of the Pre-Prep school.  We told Lincoln that it was normal to be afraid and that it's how we handle it that is important and that we were so proud of him.  Apart from the first day jitters, the rest of the week went off without a hitch.  Except for lunch of course.

Lunches are still their worst nightmare, Lincoln says.  Lunch is served by the school and the classes and teachers all eat together.  There is no bringing lunch from home.  Jacket (baked) potatoes with different fillings (baked beans, cheese, broccoli), fish and chips, minced beef and onion pie, lamb Dhansak with pilau rice & poppadums, veggie tangine with lemon couscous are but a few of the dishes on the menu...you know...just like the cafeterias served up when we were in school.  Needless to say, Lincoln has been eating lots of cucumbers and peas.  Dempsey has been eating lots of chicken and broccoli.  They have to try something new every day and they have been great about it.  Even if they don't like it.  One bite rule prevails, and manners are enforced (no elbows on tables, fork in left hand, knife in right hand, etc.)  Our hope is they'll eventually eat more but we're happy that they're eating anything at all.  Other than lunch everything has been great.

Victoria and the boys are interviewed by the BBC.  D didn't want to get in the picture.

On Wednesday, Victoria and the boys were interviewed for BBC Radio.  It starts around minute 50.  Here is a link to a tweet on the school twitter feed about it.  I think these next three years are going to be really great for the boys when it comes to schooling.

K.I.T

{Dan} There are a number of ways to keep in touch with us while we're away.

1. Facebook
2. Facetime (remember we're 5 hours ahead of EST)
3. WhatsApp
4. Google Hangouts
5. A million other ways to stay in touch.

We've ported our cell phone numbers to Google Voice (the Great AT&T Battle is drawing to a close.)  While we're on wifi we can take calls, texts, etc. using either WhatsApp or Google Hangouts.  It should work just like regular cell phones....fingers crossed.

Also, I'm going a little old school while I'm here.  While I was at the Eastport Post Office shipping stuff to my APO and permanently changing out address (anything longer than 6 mo is a permanent change), a nice guy named Donny helped me out.  After our business was concluded, he slipped me a paper with the address of the post office on it.  He told me that he collects post cards and asked if I would send him post cards once in a while while I'm away.  I've sent two and I intend to send more.  (I leave it blank though if I were more artistic I would doodle something on it.)  If you would like us to occasionally send you a post card during our adventures, let us know.  I would ask you to leave your mailing address in the comments section but that would be horrendously irresponsible of me.  If you're interested, get us a mailing address using another method (perhaps one of the ones outlined above.)  Meanwhile, if you wouldn't mind, please send Donny a postcard if you find yourself in an interesting place.  Or a boring place.  Just send Donny a postcard.  The man's hobby is postcards.  Imagine that.  On the surface it seems like a fairly mundane hobby but what an opportunity to connect with unreachable places and with completely unknown people.  It's actually pretty cool.  I'll bet his house is wallpapered in postcards.  Thats what I would do if I had a postcard thing.  Though actually I don't know that I could reconcile which side of the postcard should face out.  Here is the address:

Attn: Donny

Eastport Station

821 Chesapeake Ave

Annapolis, MD 21403-3249

Victoria tries driving in England for the first time...

Poor Martin...

Weekly Recap, August 12-19

(Victoria)
Dan scored a vehicle.  His name Martin.  He is a 1999 Mazda 323. He is a Silver Fox and just the right size.  He is an automatic.  For now, he is our sole vehicle.
Martin, the Beast, as I call him.

Dan is the only family member who has been driving Martin.  I did pass my (written-only) drivers exam and that awarded me a license.  (insert hyena laugh here)  I am scared.  Terrified.  Intimidated.
WHEN I drag my bum into the right-hand driver's seat, I will take charge like I am owning the S Curve on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, because really, that is the ONLY way I see fit to drive "this" way.

Saturday we lunched with another American family.  Kids older than ours, sadly not old enough to babysit, but they were sweet and inclusive of Lincoln and Dempsey as the food was being prepared.
After lunch, we strolled around and checked out a spot called The Beehive.  Super quaint and welcoming.

Then we stumbled upon some graffiti which read, "Beastie."  The boys went nuts.  For, we united as a family, LOVE the Beastie Boys.  (it is music if ANYONE reading this does not know...)

Hit the park for playtime, ordered in Indian food and chilled on the couch.

Sunday we were invited by another very sweet, welcoming family to go swimming at the public indoor pool.  Pools were heated and VERY fun!  Dempsey swam with NO FLOATY, because he is a big boy about to start full-day school!  We crushed the pool for 2 solid hours, (no Adult Swim here!) and then dipped out to go get a late lunch.  Italian was dialed up as we dined in the sunny spacioud spot near our flat.  It was fresh and super yummy.

Monday the boys started morning multi-active sports camp.  They were excited to go and although we walked the long-way-round to get there in the rain with no umbrellas, (Mommy FAIL) no tears flowed as I registered them and dipped out.

My new friend Laura graciously gave me a ride as her kids were attending camp as well.  We hit the grocery here then went to an American Coffee Morning, which is held once a month for Americans who live here in Cheltenham.

Super inviting and a bunch of mums and their lads hanging out.
Scooped the boys from camp and came to find that Lincoln was crying for the first hour of camp.  He exclaimed that he was NOT going back to camp.  He was done.  He had missed me so much and was mad to have been trapped inside the gym due to the rain.  The afternoon was greased over with french fries (chips) and a banana milkshake to try and steer him back to camp.

Up until bedtime, Lincoln was committed to not returning to camp.  Tuesday morning at 3:00am, Lincoln woke me up to remind me of his decision.  Tuesday's 7:00am alarm brought the same threat from Lincoln.  I pleaded with him to just get dressed and we would walk Dempsey to camp.  I promised nothing else.  As we walked in the sunshine to camp, early drop-off's were running outside on the turf playing football (soccer) and throwing up parachutes.  Laughter and bubbly smiles, not rain, welcomed the boys.  Lincoln looked at me and said, "you can go, Mom," and I kissed those boys swiftly and ducked out.  Did a 2 hour power walk and explored the town.  Made it home and started searching for some more homes to hopefully consider.

Wednesday Dan did not have to work as we had 3 more showings lined up for possible lodging.
A supposedly haunted farm home that was about 25 minutes outside of Cheltenham was first up.
It was amazing, but the garden would require MUCH maintenance, the commute to and from school and Dan's office would stink, and being out there solo sometimes with ghosts, no thank you.   It was hard to say no to the details in the home, the club-footed tubs, the nostalgic mini doors, the hardware, the exposed wooden beams, the ladder up to a secret play spot the boys would have gone ga-ga over...but it was not our house. 

 We saw 2 more homes about 2 blocks of each other and the last one we saw was IT.
SO much light, fully renovated and an attached apartment with full kitchen, full bath and separate entry to the home.  Perfect for guests! (HINT HINT!)
The intersection does not stink either:

Old school vintage door bell that you pull a lever down and fruit trees in the garden.  SOLD.

We scooped the boys together after camp and immediately took them to see the house.  They approved and sealed the deal.  We move in mid September!

Thursday I took myself for a capuccino and avocado toast with poached eggs then did my walk.  Boys had a great day again at camp then we got a lift to a playdate of Lincoln's grade.  There are 2 classes and Rachel, the host, put out the red carpet for the gathering.. Bouncy castle, hot dogs, (sausages) lemonades, and ice cream sundaes.  Met many sweet mums again and so many British-accent-clad, rosy-cheeked kids.  I hung with the hostess' mum mostly.  Hanging with a local Grandma was enlightening and informative.  She filled me in on what lays ahead for me being new to Cheltenham.  Superbly sweet and made me feel cozy to be among an extra generation of women.

Friday was the last day of camp and to celebrate, I walked the boys to a steak and chips lunch followed by milkshakes, vanilla for Lincoln and strawberry for Dempsey.

I got invited out for pints with the Georgia blonde who leads a group of women who work out in the park across from our flat.  We walked together to an amazing spot that was filled with all sorts of beers and it is not far from our new digs.  I walked home in the rain, as it was my goal to make it home before the kids went to bed.  Dan had taken the boys out for dinner and grabbed us Take Away so we settled in to the flick A Fish Called Wanda and dinner.

Saturday we woke up, fixed breakfast then drove to Sudeley Castle.  It was crisp out and we wandered around and took it all in.  I am now fascinated with Katherine Parr, King Henry VIII's 6th wife.  They had a superb play area that the boys dominated until the ole rain came down to gently send us on our way.

My U.K. life does not suck.

Mon. Aug 7-week recap

(Victoria)
Dan started his new position here on Monday, bright eyed-and-bushy-tailed.  Josh, our sponsor picked him up and he was on his merry way.  The boys and I had a lazy morning, clouds overtook the sky.  I gave the boys full reign on the cupboard for breakfast, had a long hot shower, still trying to overcome jet lag, then let them pick the lunch spot to dine out.  They chose the same brunch spot we had been to for Lincoln's birthday, and this time, with drizzling occurring, the overhead sliding roof was closed.  Whah-Whah....

We crushed our lunch, Lincoln and I had tea, Dempsey had water.  The sunlight peaked through the clouds and our attitudes about the day, like the retractable ceiling to the dining room, shown lively with smiles.

Boys and I walked downtown, got pictures inside bold red old phone booths, (which are mainly now stocked with defibrillators instead of working phones,) bronzed statues of naked animal genitals, and anything that said the word, " Suffolk."  An entire little neighborhood is Suffolk Village, Suffolk being the street my Dad, Bill, and his 10 siblings grew up on in Westchester, IL.

Tuesday while Dan was at work, we did the park, played on the rock wall, watched skateboarders at the skate park, had a late lunch and then hung out at the flat.  Dined out for dinner, but the silly waitress never fired our order so we sat for an hour waiting and waiting and waiting.  Luckily, the one time I packed the iPads and the headphones for the kids was that night.  #survival  #discountedcheck

Wednesday it rained. It rained. And rained some more.  Lazy day at the flat, as Dempsey had the beginning of a cold and passed out on the couch for a monstrous 3 hour nap.  Lincoln and I made tea-time of our own in the petite kitchen and sipped away.  
Thursday, Dan went off to work, and Smalls and I walked to and from the boys' new school to meet the Headmistress and get a formal tour of the classrooms and playground that lie ahead for Lincoln and Dempsey.  They were stoked mainly to see their names already on jacket hooks, cubbies, and teachers' lists.  

Friday brought a trip to the Pound Store to explore the foreign stuff and
gather proper snacks for the boys' upcoming week of camp and also preliminary house-hunting where we saw 3 properties, totally in Goldilocks fashion.  One that was a No-Way, one that was Just-Right, and one (in my opinion) that was Desirable.

We made no formal moves, shelved the 3 properties, and waited for wine at dinner hour to discuss the addresses.  I had one word for the showings: Vanilla.

 Dinner was conveyor belt sushi and the boys were never happier to be in front of all-you-can-drink tap water, flat and bubbly.  Think of a diner where the table-side jukebox would be...this spot was equipped with table-side water spouts.  Genius.  Each Lincoln and Dempsey only ate edamame and fruit bowls, but still, the thrill lay in plucking assorted colored bowls with plastic domes atop to procure nourishment for their parents.  It was awesome.

Bring on the weekend.  Cheers!