What a week!

We finally moved into our house this week. We took the day off so we could get it done. We had mostly suitcases (11 of them) and grocery bags to move. So, how do you do that without a car?

We actually hired a mini-cab. These are different than regular black taxis that you see in that you actually call to schedule the cab, and they tell you the fare for the trip BEFORE they pick you up. Black taxis have outrageous rates and run on a meter, so if you sit in traffic for an hour, you pay for it. We made one trip with the majority of the stuff, sending David and Grandma by taxi, and Shaunda and the boys took the tube. Then, David and Shaunda went back to the flat with two empty suitcases to get the rest of the stuff. We actually stuffed both of them full and had about 4 grocery bags in addition! Bedding, especially conforters are big! Even when you put them in a bag and suck all the air out. We took the tube to our area, and then hired a mini-cab for the half mile walk. Only one almost major mishap on an escalator in the tube station with all of the luggage and bags! People really are helpful and friendly around here-- several stepped in to help when David almost went backwards down the escalator with the suitcase...

After getting all of our stuff into the house, we headed to Ikea. It's actually quite a trip from our house. The nice thing, though, is that they have mini-cabs there (in the form of mini-vans, which they call "people carriers") to haul all of the people and their stuff home. Imagine, a full set of dishes, pots and pans, glasses, broom, small bathroom and kitchen rugs and miscellaneous household items-- on the tube and bus. IMPOSSIBLE! It would take us a dozen trips to get just the basics! It's not even expensive-- probably the same as it would cost us to take a dozen trips...

On Saturday, we went into full blown tourist mode. We went to see the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. The crowd was impressive, so we got to see mostly the backs of the band. We did see the actual Guard change, though, from the side. It's very "royal." We then had lunch at a pub called "Bag O' Nails," which originated in 1755 as "The Devil and Baccanal." The name changed in 1905. Then, we headed to South Bank to take a trip on the London Eye. It's this very large wheel, with glass capsules that hold about 25 people each. It takes 30 minutes for one rotation, and you get pretty much 360 view from the capsule. Unfortunately, it was raining, so while we did see quite a bit, the photos did not turn out very well. Gray really did NOT want to go. He doesn't like heights, and he insisted that he would not go. He changed his mind at the last minute because he didn't want one of his parents to miss out to stay with him. What a nice guy! He didn't enjoy it much, but he didn't have a panic attack or anything. After The Eye, we headed home. We were going to have dinner at a Mexican restaurant we had heard about, but they were booked. (Mexican restaurants are very rare in London.) We will have to try again-- and get a reservation!

Everyone was very exhausted at the end of the day. There is sooooooo much walking involved in getting anywhere. You have to walk to get to the tube station, and then you have to walk inside the tube station (often under the street, or under train lines!) to change to different tube lines. The tube is fast, it's getting there that takes time!

Sunday, we went to a local church. Much different than our church in the US, it is very small, just starting up. The people were very nice and welcoming, and before we left, we had invitations to tea and 2 Christmas parties! We will probably visit other churches, but this was a good church.

Life here is different. (In case that isn't obvious!) We ordered cable/internet/phone service 3 weeks before we got to our house, hoping that things would get hooked up quickly. We were told that once our cable was hooked up(it's actually sattelite, I guess), we would call to hook up phone and internet. Well, the cable guy did show up on the day we moved in, but he didn't have all the cable he needed to hook us up, and didn't have time to get it all done, so he came back on Sunday. He also said that we have to have phone service in order to switch on the cable. I made them talk with each other, and it is supposed to be figured out, but we still don't have more than the basic BBC channels.... Supposedly by tomorrow morning the man in the magic room will have pushed his button, or flipped his switch... Meanwhile, in a few days we will receive a letter telling us when they will hook up the phone. After that, we can call to schedule Internet..... Apparently, they are still using switchboards, or some such antiquated system! Meanwhile, we use mobile phones and a mobile broadband connection for internet. It is a poor connection and a pain in the but.

The boys still are not in school. We called 2 or three times this week, and were told various versions of "we're working on it." Because Zane is in primary school, and Gray in secondary, there are two admissions offices to contact. For Gray, they are working on proving residence, which they have to do by coming to see that they live at the stated address. The only proof of address they will take are a lease agreement (which we have) and two PAID utility bills (which, obviously, we do not have.) Apparently, they came by just before we actually moved in. They will try 2 more times and then I don't know what happens if we aren't home when they arrive. Oh yeah, they will not schedule the visit. It has to be a surprise visit. So, the boys get to sit at home all day, no cable, until the school dude shows up.

For Zane, they keep telling me that they are full in his grade in every primary school. They offer a spot at the Ilford Jewish School. Two major problems with that: We aren't Jewish, and it's 4 miles from home! They would be obligated to pay a taxi for him to attend that school! There are 3 or 4 schools less than a mile and a half from our house! They told me Friday that they have until the end of this academic year to offer him a spot in school. When I told him that in Child Protection, we are not allowed to have a child out of school for more than 25 days without making headlines, he said he'd print Zane's profile, and see if he could get admissions to assign him a school spot. They aren't as worried about my children attending school as I am! It is very frustrating.

Grandma leaves on Friday, so we have to have some solution by then! For plan B, C and D, we are looking into Child Minders. Those aren't plentiful in our area, either. Our employer will work with us, but this is ridiculous! It is apparently like this in most London schools... they are all full, so they have to get creative in placing new students.

So, that's our week! The adventure continues.....