End of Week One in the UK!

Well we made it through one whole week!   The kiddies are sitting with me at the moment, watching the Smurf dvd (cartoon that we brought with us from SA) - Mum and Dad have gone into Diss to get another 3G dongle, cos the one I bought has just disappeared into thin air*. 

We had no heating this morning, so got hold of the landlords per email when my internet dongle was still dangling and they phoned us back almost immediately.  They sent a chap out a bit later on to give us the run through and help us figure it all out.  In the meantime, Kevin had managed to fiddle about with the boiler and got it working.   Anyway, the chap they sent was very nice and showed us all how this new alien technology (for us) works.   So now we have a nice cosy, warm house ... and good thing, cos it’s raining and quite chilly today.   

Hiding from the camera - new cupboard on right

How's my new larnie bed and linen!

There are many things to adjust to in the UK but up to now, the weather has been very kind to us. Yes, it’s frosty in the morning – going down to minus 3 in some parts – but it’s liveable and lovely to see all the hoar frost on the hedgerows, trees and buildings.    It’s icy underfoot, so you have to be careful walking about in some places.

Kiddies and schools

Faye and her mum went to  St. Mary’s Church of England Primary School this morning, for the appointment with the head teacher –  Kevin and I stayed behind waiting for the central heating chap to pitch up.    By all accounts, Faye is very taken with the school and it looks like this is going to be a great learning environment for her.   Hayzel came back with two golf style shirts and a school jersey – that she bought from the school shop situated in the main building, they come pre-embroidered with the school badge on.   All Faye needs now are some more trousers (black) and a warm coat, shoes (which she’s got already); as well as PT uniform, which we can get anywhere, really.   The school curriculum book that they gave to Hayzel explains in detail how each subject is taught and she will be learning Spanish in Year 3 (which is the class she is going into), next year they learn German and then French the following year!   Awesome.     I will send pictures of Faye when she is dressed up in her new uniform at the start of her new year.   School is from 0845am in the morning to 3.15pm each day – so that’s really good.  She gets a cooked meal during the day.  

We are going back to Ewan’s nursery school this afternoon with his enrolment forms – I want to go with and hope that they let me take some photos of the place. In the UK, governing bodies for schools are very sensitive about people taking pictures outside, in or around schools and you have to get permission to photograph or film school concerts or any such public events.  

Christmas shopping

Yesterday, Hayzel and I went through to Norwich (we now know our way in and out quite well) to get Christmas presents for the kiddies, some boots and slippers and more groceries.  The prices of toys is much lower than in South Africa and there seems to be much more choice.   I spent just over twenty-eight pounds and bought –

(for Ewan):

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle figure that speaks when you flick his arm or leg back and forth.

Batman lunch box (for his nursery school lunches)

A funny motorised game – will take pictures of that when they are playing with it.

Three large packs of sweets (chocolate buttons, miniature santa clauses, gold coins)

(for Faye):

Large Barbie fashion shopping game – she’s going to have a lot of fun with that, I hope

Leapfrog earphones

Packs of sweets same as what I got for Ewan.

I bought a Winx doll in South Africa for Faye – and wish I’d waited and got it in the UK because they have a much larger selection and way cheaper!

I got her a pair of pink sparkly shoes from the shoe shop next to Toys R Us when we were in Norwich to go with her presents – so I think they both have enough thingies from me!

We got some really nice things on behalf of Kevin’s family and I will take pictures of the kids with their toys on Christmas morning.   In the meantime, here's a couple taken on Wednesday night:

Note the precious torch under his pillow!

Sparkles is never far away

Spoilt for choice

One thing Hayzel and I can’t get used to at all, is the amazing variety and wide choice available of foods in shops like Tescos, for example.  It’s actually mind-boggling and bewildering – and we always considered ourselves professional shoppers! 

 For instance, I just wanted to get some flour (one of the things on my list yesterday) or Maizena to thicken gravies and sauces with – so I walk down the baking section and it’s just incredible how many different types of flour they sell.  I ended up buying a flour specifically packaged for thickening sauces!   The bakery section is to die for – you can even get French brioche breads (with chocolate chips baked into the rolls).  

Don’t get me started on the exotic foods that cost a fortune in South Africa – like prawns, Norwegian Salmon, pre-packed Sushi, Indian food, Chinese food, Italian food, Mexican food ... there is such a vast assortment of things to choose from, it’s incredible and not particularly expensive at all.   I picked up a huge vacuum pack of Smoked Salmon and it was five pound.  

I bought freshly prepared Italian ravioli yesterday (each little parcel filled with chicken and bacon) –  when we got home, i boiled the ravioli parcels for a couple of minutes, drained them and served in an original, authentic Italian Bolognaise sauce accompanied with fresh salad, crispy French bread ... yum it was divine and so filling – everyone enjoyed it – and it was so cheap!   The ravioli was packaged to serve 2 but it was enough for five of us!

When we go into Tescos, on average it takes us an hour just to buy a few things on our list because we end up looking at things that we’ve never seen in South African shops.  And I always thought that we had quite a big selection of things in our supermarkets.     You can also get spirits (not just wine and beer) in Tescos. 

Another example, I wanted to get some garlic ... ha!   There is an entire section devoted to herbs (even plants you can take home, like coriander, parsley, rosemary), pre-packed fresh herbs, every conceivable type of chilli (and from Mexico), herbs for Italian food, spices for Indian and Chinese food, Thai food spices and special ingredients ... and on and on it goes.  Garlic in a tube ...

I don’t know if you are allowed to take pictures in Tesco but next time I go, I will ask permission and take a few photos to show you what I’m talking about. 

Update on the Dongle*

Found ... duh ... Hayzel discovered it in the pocket of my dressing gown.  Whoops.  Oh well now we have TWO dongles, so Internet access shouldn’t be a problem for a while. 

Some more pics of the kiddies from this morning: 

Isn't she pretty!

Two naughties