This is where we went today.

Camden-Market.org: Tourist Guide for the Markets in and around Camden Lock

London Walks "London Walks is the best, hands down" Frommers

London Walks "London Walks is the best, hands down" Frommers

This is what I did on Friday morning.

Loving London!

I love this city. I am sure that this phase is like the early stages of a relationship when you are willing to overlook anything for the sake of the relationship, but right now I am infatuated with London. Everything is new and exciting and interesting. I could see how the city could wear on you after a time, but right now I am enjoying all aspects of urban living. I love the energy and am endlessly fascinated with the people. I am sure it helps that the sun has been shining every single day since we arrived. Today I went to the Camden markets. Tomorrow I am going to do a London Walk.

Bokor and Bolino Kids

Jacob at Madam Taussad's

Sunny Day in London

Today we decided to have a fun day with the kids and not run any errands. We went to Covent Gardens for lunch and sat on the sidewalk and watched street performers. There was not a cloud in the sky and it was warm. Yesterday we went out without jackets and we froze. Today we made everyone take jackets. Jackets were on, jackets were off, we were too hot, we were too cold, we were hot and then cold again........ I guess that summarizes the weather here. We have been here for one week and have not seen a drop of rain. It has been an amazing start to our time here and a nice week to see the city without umbrellas. I am sure it will not last. It has been surreal because every time we go out, we see that the airports are closed and that there are no flights in or out of the UK. We have no t.v. yet and our internet has been down today, so we feel like we are in the twilight zone. Volcano? What Volcano?

After Covent Gardens, we headed to Madam Taussaud's Wax Museum - per request of the kids. On the way, we walked through Trafalgar Square where we ran into a very crowded live concert. The kids had a short lesson on Zimbabwe and Mugabe after seeing a small, but vocal protest near Trafalgar Square. ("Whey don't they just impeach him," asked Jacob.)

The Bolino's came over for an early dinner. We polished off 3 bottles of wine and took the kids swimming. A good time was had by all.

More pics to follow when I can figure out how to post them!!!

School starts on Monday.

Day 4

The whole room is shaking as Jacob plays his drums behind me in the "study". I don't think this is going to go over so well with the neighbors downstairs. The flat we are staying in is on the third floor. We are getting settled. The shipment arrived on Monday and we are unpacked. Yesterday the kids needed a day of play, not unpacking, so I met Deb (who is from Chicago and just moved here too for those who don't know that story) and her kids at a tube stop. We walked toward the London Zoo, went the wrong way, ended up at Primrose Hill Park. The kids were so happy just running and playing in the park. We went to the top of the hill which overlooks London and just sat on a bench while the kids ran around. I don't think my kids have ever seen such a big park and we haven't even been to Regents Park or Hyde Park yet!!! They had a great time. Deb took the kids swimming here at the indoor pool in our complex and I took the bus and my grocery cart to stock up on some groceries. I was so proud of myself! I felt like I was on a reality t.v. show that was somewhere between the Great Race and Survivor. I navigated the bus, got all my groceries and made it back home in about 1 hour and 20 minutes (started off at the wrong bus stop and then got off one stop too late on the way home.) Today, Paula, my old neighbor from South Africa, picked us up and took us to IKEA. I got everything we needed, but the whole trip took far too long and the IKEA experience is no fun with 3 kids. We had lunch at the cafeteria there and all in all the kids were fairly patient.
Tomorrow we are taking the kids to visit ACS-Hillingdon, their new school.
I have to get the hang of blogging. Every day is a new adventure and it is hard to figure out how to capture and report on it adequately. I will do my best. Working on getting some pics downloaded.

Leaving in 48 hours!!!!

I don't really have time to do this because I have to finish packing, but I want to take a minute to document this part of our ex-pat experience. We got back from Florida yesterday, after a very relaxing week at the beach. I have been packing and doing laundry non-stop. Tonight we had a pizza party with good friends. Someone I love and have known for a long time looked around and said, "Look, these are all the people who would be at your funeral." OK, some may find that comment morbid, but I think it sums up how unbelievably grateful I am for our friends and family and I loved being surrounded by the people who would be at my funeral to celebrate an exciting life experience together. I am so excited to get to London at this point. I cannot wait to get on the plane. We have been working on this relocation for 5 months and the sustained combination and stress, anxiety and energy required to make this happen need to end!!! And the adventure needs to begin...............My next post will be from London. It might be a week or so before we have internet access at home. Must pack now.