First impressions of the UK - RELOADED AND UPDATED ANNIVERSARY POST.

The post below was first published on the 9th December 2012 

I think it's worth looking at it again for a number of reasons.  First, to pat ourselves on the back for the immense courage, sense of adventure and chutzpah we all had in taking the first steps on our great adventure to Blightey.    We managed to move a family, a household, a business half way across the world - no mean feat that. 

We should be thankful for all the support and help we received in making this monumentous decision to come and live in the UK both from the family in SA and from our new family in Beccles, Knighton, Knucklas, Hungary and beyond.   

There have been so many highlights since we arrived on that cold and wet 7th December morning and most of them have been captured in this blog - one day I'll put it into book format.   I have kept handwritten diaries as well of most events since we landed here and my thoughts on the end of the first day are poignant to read now. 

'Wow, what a day.  I'm very tired, so is everyone.  This was a very long day and had some stresses - starting wih the run around at 7.30am trying to find the rental car!  Ewan had been sick on the plane as we arrived, it was cold and wet and the cases ... oh God, so much stuff to carry! Quite a nightmare and one I hope not to ever repeat.  Eventually found the right 'shuttle bus' to take us to Alamo, which is part of Europcar/Nationwide.  It was cold and raining, and no joke walking kilometres. Anyway we got a Ford Galaxy (Diesel) - very comfy. I paid for additional driver (Hayzel) and extra insurance.  Also we don't have to bother filling it up 'cos I've prepaid for that.  Got a UK SIM card at Heathrow with £1 on it (wow) and sent a couple of sms's to Andrew - Allyson replied, she went for an interview today and it went well.   

We drove up from Heathrow with no problem  using GPS that Kevin brought from SA. Hayzel drove - it took about 3 hours.  We stopped on the way at Starbucks for coffee and something to eat - bit expensive and not impressed with all this self-service lark.   We sms'd Nigel Best about an hour out from Long Stratton and he arrived about 5 minutes after us.  Took over an hour though to go through the inventory - house is immaculate, seems very warm and comfy.  Of course, we now need some furniture!  Tomorrow we are going to try and find Tesco superstore.  Hayzel and I took the kids to the local Co-op to get some food, plates/cups/bowls/side plates, a kettle, mop etc. etc.  We left Kevin behind trying to figure out how the front door locks!   He eventually sorted it out.  Supper was grilled cheese and ham with coleslaw - better than airline food!

We blew up the mattresses, put up curtains in Hayzel and Kevin's bedroom and kitchen (improvised).  We discovered a card from the landlords welcoming us to their house and a letter from St. Mary's accepting Faye into school.  Hayzel is exhausted and was saying she's nervous etc. and worried just now ('til she read the letter from the school).  I hope she's more positive tomorrow.  Oh, we bought Toni, Hugo Boss Nuit (perfume and body lotion gift set) from Heathrow duty free. Have to sort out internet in next couple of days, TV, chairs, table and a couple of chest of drawers, some pans/dishcloths, washing machine/dryer ... the usual shit you need in a house.    Good night. '

   Every day we continue to experience new things and adapt to living in Norfolk, which is one of the most beautiful parts of England. Even winter rain can't dampen our spirits.  There is so much for us to look forward to as we approach the beginning of our fourth year  - not least of which is Kevin starting his new, better paying job with greater opportunities at the beginning of January.   Allyson has also managed to find her feet, a new sugar daddy and a place of her own to move into (soon).   

Thank you again, to Tim and Toni, without your help we wouldn't have been able to find a house to settle into as easily as we did!  It was all your driving around that made the difference, you guys were our brick and anchor when we got here and having you there, just a short drive away, made all the difference.  

Anyway this is the post from the 9th December

 This is our third day in England - another day closer to getting sorted out!

Today (being Sunday) we only got up and out of the house at about 9am ... yesterday, Hayzel was ready to go shopping at 7am :)  We drove past Faye’s school and took a few photos.   Then drove to Diss, just down the road – there are more shops, car dealerships etc. in that little town and we might end up getting our car there – saw quite a few from about £800 ... new cars (or almost new cars) start at about £6000 – for example a Ford Fiesta (demo model) at the Ford dealership was £8965 .... 

We went to Tescos Express in Diss and bought a 32” LCD flat-screen TV (Tesco’s brand, which is  practically the same as LG), a chrome and glass tv stand, Blu-Ray decoder/dvd player, plus other  things for the kitchen – all came to just under £400.   We have the tv on now as I’m typing this ... the kiddies are watching CBeebies!      I bought groceries for just over £76 and got a load of stuff – meat, veggies, spices, biscuits, Christmas wreath, cleaning materials etc. etc. ... food is definitely cheaper than in SA.   So far we've bought:

iron, ironing board, buckets, mop, four slice toaster, camping chairs, coffee table, couches (they are being delivered on Monday or Tuesday), Christmas tree and decorations, crockery and cutlery, pans, camping fold up table and loads of other stuff ...

We are going to take it easy today, I think and stay at home watching the telly.   Although, you never know what Hayzel’s got planned in her head! - she's busy reading 'Hello!' magazine at the moment and catching up on the Royal pregnancy.    

Things that I find really interesting about life in the UK (first impressions):

•         Your postcode is the most important thing that you need to remember. 
•         You can buy SIM cards,  3G dongles and cell phones without having to provide any evidence of where you live, or your identification.  The only thing they ask for is your postcode.
•         All assistants in the shops (and everywhere) that we have been to so far are White – i’ve only seen two Black people since arriving at Heathrow.
•         All shopping trolleys have sensor tags on them – if they leave the shopping centre vicinity, the wheels automatically lock!
•         Most people are very courteous on the roads
•         There are no bags or packers at big supermarkets (like Tescos for instance) – you have to take your own bags along with you (something we keep forgetting to do!).  You pack your own trolley and offload it yourself – no car guards .... yay!
•         Nobody says “Plasteek” to you when you go to the tills ... all the assistants are civil, speak English that you can understand and chat about stuff without being irritating – it’s heaven shopping in the UK!
•         Tesco Extra is a huge shop – like a warehouse – you can buy anything online, which most people seem to do.  We see Tesco / Asda vans delivering things all the time to houses around here.
•         Royal Mail vans are often seen driving around (postman pat)
•         Very low police presence.   I’ve only seen two cops since we arrived at Heathrow and they were in Tescos Extra buying stuff.
•         The only crime related story in the local Diss newspaper was about some cars being vandalised in another town a few miles away from us and how this wouldn’t be tolerated and the perpetrators would be bought to book soon.

Anyway, here are some more photos.   In future, I am not sending emails to you guys, I will update information and photos here.


Following are of the house

Side of back garden

Cat flap in side door that leads from dining room into side of garden

crocodile garden figurine

Eucalyptus tree!

built in fridge/freezer in wooden cupboard unit

side of house

Hippo garden sculpture

Koala bear in bluegum tree

view from back

Pond

Recycling is big in England!

Now I can work

Bench in corner of garden

Spiders Web wrought iron work on stairs

Oil containers and refuse bins down side of house

garden view from pond

washline

kitchen sink

TV stand that Kevin assembled in a few minutes!

Unpacking the TV

Back view of house

don't think Hayzel will be using this loo (downstairs next to kitchen!) but Ewan now stands and pees just like a Big Daddy! - lifts the toilet seat up and everything ... :) 

Getting about

Faye outside school

Walking back to car after looking at school

Ewan has a crocodile chair

this is the new pose she uses now for most photos!

Playing with the leapfrog - before TV

Someone wasn't too impressed with Carling ... but he's getting used to it.