London Science Museum

On Saturday we spent the day at the London Science Museum with my Uncle Jon!

Right when we got off the tube station we spotted the new Hyde Park church building and visitor center, so we stopped in for a peak. 

Jude really loved Uncle Jon immediately! 

The science museum was a blast. The kids were in heaven with all of the fun exhibits.

Livvy loved looking (and talking) to the two Livvys. 

The favorite by far was the water table. Jude went crazy and might as well not have worn an apron. By the end he was drenched from head to toe!

I love Jude's little tongue sticking out.

Livvy's favorite new friend, Clarice the reindeer went everywhere with us. 

Keeping Jude occupied for the hour train ride back was tough. I told Lincoln imagine 11 hours of this in three weeks! Let the fun begin!

I really hope you love this stroller...

This is Lincoln doing this post:

We brought a double stroller with us to England that I thought was a really good stroller.  It was a sit and stand stroller, so Livvy could sit or stand in it, and Jude's car seat latched right on to it, which was nice.  It had overhead covers that protected the kids from rain and also a little storage basket on the bottom.  It was a little long since one kid sat in front of the other and at times could be a little difficult to maneuver.  But it was also sturdy and overall seemed like a great stroller to me.  However, London is not the most kid friendly place and many Tube stations do not have elevators which makes it very difficult to get around when pushing 2 kids in a stroller.  

However, once we got to England, we noticed that the double strollers here are quite a bit different.  Rather than having one kid in front of the other and being quite long, the kids sit side by side and so are quite wide.  They also have these plastic rain covers that protect the kids from the wind and rain better than the cover our stroller had.  Anyways, Vindie seemed to think that somehow having one of these strollers would make London more child friendly and change her life.

I had heard similar stroller talk before.  Probably a year or so ago, Vindie told me that she needed a double jogger stroller so that she could go running (she couldn't use the double we already had).  We paid $70 for one at a garage sale, Vindie used it like 3x, and then we sold it for like $30 when we moved to the UK.  Gotta love buying high and selling low.  I could envision something similar happening in the UK.

Anyways, even though I thought a Maclaren stroller (UK stroller Vindie wanted) was a little better than what we had, I didn't think it was that much better and definitely not worth the hassle of selling our stroller and buying a new one.  However, a guy randomly asked Vindie about buying our stroller at the grocery store and Vindie found a reasonably priced Maclaren on Gumtree.com (similar to Craigslist), so I finally gave in.

Vindie arranged with the woman selling the Maclaren for me to come pick it up one evening at 7:00 after work at her house.  Vindie sent me Google Maps instructions of how to get there and acted as if it should be no big deal.  I just had to take a bus and then walk about 3/4 of a mile or so.  

I hopped on a bus near where I work in Central London and rode it for about 30 minutes to the stop where I was supposed to get off.  I hopped off, took one look around me, and then immediately wanted to jump back on the bus, but by then the bus had taken off.  Let's just say that it was probably one of the worst neighborhoods I had ever seen in my life (yup Vince, even worse than Concord if you can imagine that).  I was the only white person around, which does not always indicate a bad neighborhood, but in this case it did.  It was already dark, there were a bunch of thugs loitering around, and here I was dressed in business casual and carrying my laptop bag.  Vindie had sent me to the London ghetto.

Well, I immediately started looking for a non-hooligan looking person to ask where I could get on a bus that would take me to the Tube, home, or anywhere else that wasn't there.  I finally found a woman who gave me directions.  After walking for a little while in the direction she pointed me, I realized that I was actually pretty close to the house I was looking for.  I decided that if it was this important to Vindie and if I was already so close, I might as well go buy the stroller.

I finally found the house and knocked.  A Pakistani woman with her head covered came and looked at me through the glass in the door before turning around and leaving without  saying anything.  I knocked again louder this time and she returned and told me through the door that her daughter (the person selling the stroller) was not home yet and that I would have to wait for her outside.  Well, I waited about 15 minutes and then a man approached the home.  He was the brother of the woman selling the stroller.  Anyways, he also left me outside for a while but then I guess felt bad leaving me out in the cold in the ghetto and so invited me in.  He talked to me about the exciting sport of Cricket for 30 minutes until his sister arrived and I could purchase the stroller.

Walking back the way I had come through the Compton of London pushing an empty double stroller (it was pretty heavy so I didn't want to carry it and I didn't know how to fold it up anyways) and carrying my work bag was a memory I would like to forget.  You should have seen the looks I got from these street punks.  They either looked at me like I was crazy or suspiciously as if I had just stolen a stroller from an innocent mother pushing her kids around.  Lucky for me, they didn't think a stroller was worth stealing.  

Anyways, I finally got to the right bus stop in ghettoville.  I had to wait there for about 20 min for my bus to come.  Another bus stopped even though nobody was getting on or off and the bus driver opened the door and asked me where my kids were as if I had decided to take them for a stroll through Richmond and had not realized that I had forgotten them.  Anyways, my bus finally pulled up and to my dismay it was one of the small single story buses and it was packed with culturally diverse people.  I still didn't know how to fold up the stroller, and so the only place wide enough for me to fit my stroller was at the front.  That meant that every time anyone got on or off the bus during my 30 min ride they had to literally climb over my stroller.  I still got some judging looks but nobody said anything.  I was so tired and frazzled at that point that I probably would have screamed at the slightest provocation.  Anyways, I finally made it to the tube, rode it to our stop, and then walked home.  I walked in the door and told Vindie that I really hoped she loved this stroller.

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This husband is glad that he didn't die.

What we learned in London.

We learned how to maneuver a stroller through tight situations and in between masses of people on the tube.

We learned how to be creative to keep kids happy in a high rise.

We learned where each train station's "lifts" were located.

We learned that if there are no lifts, carrying both kids up the stairs in the stroller makes you strong (and sore).

We learned that groceries are not something to take for granted. We drank the milk that we lugged in the bag hanging on the stroller through the streets and up to our flat, much slower and in rations.

We learned that cities aren't really meant for kids.

We learned that taking the "TRAIN!" sounds fun to Livvy...but not so much to her tired parents.

We learned that we were ready  to move to Tunbridge Wells, with or without furniture!

And lastly we learned to mind the gap! (if you've ever been to London then you know what I'm talking about...if not come and find out!)

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These suburbianites are glad that we can visit the city and not live in it! 

Ikea.

In preparation to us moving to our new place (without our shipment of beds, chairs and toys) we decided a trip to Ikea would be necessary. Neither of us had ever been to an Ikea in the US, so we were a bit overwhelmed at the idea...but a few spreadsheets later (I'm not kidding) we were off.

So after a subway, train and tramlink ride we made it to Ikea Croyden.

Please note the NEW pram complete with a rain cover and foot muff! I'm no longer the American with the oversized stroller! Don't worry I almost got Lincoln killed trying to get it for me...but that is his story and he has promised to make his blogging debut telling it.

We walked through the store (I swear it's a town) and stopped for a bit of lunch before continuing on to the self-pick up area.  (LOVE the food...it really is all that it is cracked up to be!)

The self-picking area was pretty crazy. Lincoln tried to maneuver a boxed table/chairs, wardrobes, and bedside tables through a sea of Saturday-Ikea shoppers....while I pushed my new stroller (and kids) to the check out area.

We arrived at Ikea around 1 pm and headed for the Tramlink at about 5:45 pm. Overall I don't think it was has crazy as we had expected. They delivered all of the furniture (and other random things I bought) to our new house the day we moved in. It was so nice to have at least some furniture right away!

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This Ikea first-timer is glad we bought the Sweedish meetballs (and furniture). 

Natural History Museum and Changing of the Guard

Before we left the big city we decided to check out Buckingham Palace and the changing of the guard, followed by the Natural History Museum that is located next door to where we went to church. 

We didn't see much of the guards, because it was swarmed with tourists, but we did hear their band and caught a glimpse of the tall black funny hats. 

After seeing the palace, we booked it to the museum to see some dinos!

Livvy loved seeing the fossils and looking at the gems that the museum houses.

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These tourists are glad that their museums are free!

The honeymoon is over.

I'm behind in a million blog posts for journal purposes...but we are moving to our new house in Tunbridge Wells tomorrow. I just completed a gargantuan online grocery shopping order to be delivered to our new house. We will be without Internet at our new house for while, but don't you worry I'll be back posting about our new place and how we managed there soon.

Cheers,
Vindie

Someone Heard Me

The morning after the "WHY AM I HERE?" night that ended with tears to a certain Lady in Spain, I woke up to sunshine.

Sunshine is a rare thing here in the grey London winter and I have to say it made me realize that even though I miss my family and a bunch of little things that have made me happy.

First, we have been discovering the sweets here and by golly, they have amazing little boxed cakes at every grocery store that you go to and they are delicious.

Secondly, let me introduce you to a genius combination of sugar and chocolate.

This my dears tastes like Cap'n Crunch cereal with an amazing Nutella center. I couldn't imagine a better combo. I do believe Krave is in parts of the U.S. already, so be on the look out people.

And just so you know that chocolate is NOT the answer to all sadness...my little miss and mr. brightened my day times infinity.

Livvy spotted the tea pot that the temporary housing provided and invited me to a "tea" party. And it was a lovely occasion despite the "I spilled water everywhere so I must be mmmmmaked!" look.

And the mr. Oh the mr. Jude dude. He took THREE naps and only fussed for a minute each time. Love that little guy who giggles if I just talk to him.

We move into our new apartment on Monday and despite the fact that our things aren't going to be there for another week or two, life will be good.  And I will keep saying that until it gets to the good-routine-friend-found place of happiness.

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This girl is glad that London knows how to make chocolate goodness. 

Hard.

Life is a little tough for me right now. I hate being a downer, but right now I want to rewind and go back to California and stay there.

I want to have a car again.
I want to have my kids on a normal schedule again.
I want to not be living out of suit cases.
I want to have my family around to love my kids when I don't have anymore patience.
I want to be able to call my bffs and rant about 2.5 year old tantrums.
I want to be able to go to a grocery store and recognize the brands.
I want people to stop looking at me funny when I talk.
I want to have our belongings here and not in the middle of the ocean on a boat.
I want to not worry about buying a car.
I want to not worry about money.
I want Jude to stop screaming and start sleeping.
I want to take Livvy to see her friends that she asks for everyday.
I want to wake up and look forward to something more than walking to the grocery store.

Ok. Pity party done. I'll get over it. I know this is probably the hardest time,and I'm sure it'll get easier once we're settled in. I just wish that was now.

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This homesickie is glad that I have Skype to talk to my family and friends. 

My favourite day in London

The kids were well slept, the groceries were bought and we set off to see the Westminster evensong service.

We got off at Greenpark and walked through the beautiful park and chased birds to stay warm.

We passed by Buckingham Palace and then booked it to Westminster Abbey. 

Westminster Abbey (and most churches) hold services that you can attend for free. As we walked into the evensong we were greeted by the most beautiful all male choir singing Latin hymns. The sight and the sounds of this sacred place were amazing.

I had a moment. A I-can't-believe-I'm-here moment. Regardless of the stress we've had over the past few weeks and the inevitable stress over the next month, we get to live here and experience England for the next two years. And I think in the end it will be worth it for days like these. 

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This music-lover is glad she got to hear the angelic sound of the Westminster Abbey choir. 

New stomping grounds

The past week and a half we've been living in temporary housing. With our limited duffel bag of toys and no parks in sight (we live near the financial district part of town), we've become a little creative to stay happy and busy.

Every morning we have "school time" and Livvy rushes to our glass uber-modern table and we talk about letters and smash playdough into shapes. Every time we have school she keeps asking me if I'm her teacher. She is the cutest.

In every drawer in the apartment her "babies" are sleeping including Minnie, Barbie, Pooh Bear, and the occasional car.

Sadly, the house has not been all fun and games. She has had two dressers fall on her (no lasting damage thankfully) and her hand caught in a door hinge.

The first day Lincoln left us alone (I think this was day 3 in London) she got two fingers caught in the door hinge of one of the many heavy doors in the apartment. I freaked out because I was alone and Lincoln was gone with no cell phone and there was blood and I am in a new country. Thankfully though, he came back within 20 minutes of it happening and we talked to a nurse and were told everything would heal on its own.

Phew.

Liv has also become Jude's favorite playmate! Since there is a general lack in aunts, uncles, grandmas, grandpas, and best friends here she has resorted to playing with the ever so cute Jude dude. She practically sits on the giant 5 month old and talks to him...all the while he smiles and squeals at her in delight.

It's nice that we are settling into a routine that will last us at least another week until we get moved to our new house. I love my kids, they remind me that kitchen cupboards and playdough can make any day a good one.

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This mom is glad that I have my kids to make any house a home. 

First day of work

V: Hope you like your new work!

L: Yeah, I guess, why? 

V: We moved across the country for it. 

L: True. I hope so too. 

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This wife is glad that he liked it. 

First Impressions

London is every bit as Jane Austen described....plus a few cars, buses and trains.

Everyone dresses so well here. I only saw jeans on Saturday and it was a rare siting even then.

Also, I need a new pea coat stat. Everywhere I turn someone is wearing the cutest pleated, bowed, buttoned pea coat that I've ever seen.

Everything here is BIGGER than I imagined. Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and the parks are all so grand and so beautiful. 

Asda (their Walmart) is weird. Their eggs are not refrigerated, their measurements are so confusing, and everywhere I turn there is a word that makes no sense to me. Also their cheddar cheese is white.

I walk into the stores and look like a deer in headlights (with a giant stroller), but I'm sure I"ll get the hang of things soon.

London is cold. Like wear a hat, scarf and winter jacket cold. Livvy refuses to wear all of the previously stated, so we have a tackling match every time we leave the house. So far we don't leave the house that often.

Their laundry system is a mess. Their washing machines are tiny and they usually don't have a dryer. Oh yeah, and they are in their kitchens. 

London is very Americanized in a lot of ways, but in a million tiny ways so different. Thankfully I have two years to figure out the quirks.

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This first-time Londoner is glad that Jane Austen didn't lie.