Hoarders Paradise

This has been somewhat of a rolly coaster. Makes me a bit frazzled to even think about it. It has been 5 months since I have seen my "stuff" do I really need it? 

The truck arrived it had 2 containers on it, 1st nervous break down.  Good news I only had to fit one of them in the house. He maneuvered around, put one container out in street and then proceeded to bring other one via pruning the trees rather severely and dropped my container less than 5 feet from the back gate. Point to remember.

I am thinking great we can get started and have all day light, (gets dark at 4) to finish, Then he proceeded to get back in truck and go to sleep. These English have a different person to do every job. I think that is how they keep their unemployment so low. This happened around 9:00am.  

The movers showed up at 12, they looked and talked like tellie tubies without the bright colors, all dressed in dark blue. Could not understand a word they said. I just keep agreeing and saying upstairs. We all got along just fine. Boxes, furniture , more boxes came pouring into the house. The container at this point definitely bigger than house. More and more, the inside of the house looked like a hoarders paradise, boxes everywhere.

I had been a little worried  about a particular piece of furniture, it had not yet come off the truck. I had been warning them about the fact that they had not moved the one piece of furniture that I was afraid of. They kept moving things in dresser, hard but managed it up the stairs, buffet big but got into the living room, long boy dresser, up the stairs just had to take out drawers first. They came to me and said, all done, everything is out of the lorry. I looked at them with this funny stare, "are you sure" I asked them as I made my way to the lorry. Sure enough empty. Missing one rather large china hutch. They asked well how big is it, I said, "rather large, 8 feet by 5 feet," really can not miss it. They said, "lucky it did not come, it would not of fit in the house anyway." Love these guys! I had to laugh because if I didn't I would just cry.

It got pretty late and dark and only half the boxes unpacked. I told them they could leave, I was exhausted, but they kept plugging away. Built my last book shelf in the dark in the conservatory, missed a few pieces, it was pretty wobbly, but kirk now had to only ad pieces when we found them, not built whole thing. They were grumbling about light. I got a lamp out to plug it in and yea, went up like flames, something to do with the voltage, not good. So on they built in the dark.  Come to find out all we needed to do was change the light bulb to a UK light bulb and wa la it works, thanks to the brilliance of the Paul's  at work we do not have to trash all the lamps.  So now anyone want a mess of US light bulbs! 

Unpacking continued and we found the door bell to the old house. Now sure how that got packed, not sure if they still need it. 

We slowly over the next couple of weeks, unpacked, filed claim forms for minor damages and one large missing China hutch. In the mean time the shipping filed extra charges, £1,000, for demurrage, (learned a new word, do not like new word) terminal handling and long distance to house.  About the same cost of shipping lost china cabinet if they ever find it to UK.  I was livid. I will not go into it here but the long and short of it was they were all dismissed, being they did it over holiday, and it was only 30 feet from truck to house. As seen on picture below. Outrageous! Tellie tubbies did not have the last laugh. Wait.. should hold back on that, no china cabinet yet. 

Bus

Yes more on the bus. New bus driver, they all have a little different way of approaching a stop. This one did not put flashers on when I waved, so now what do I do, wave again, risk a wave off and no stop. Stand in front of bus and get hit. Likely option. So I decided to wave like a flag man at the train station, the windmill approach, failing arms and slight step to street. Bus stops, phew, I get on bus and driver says, "are you okay". Great now I really have a reputation as a crazy, idiot, stupid American that can not count.  Can not win.  I have decided to change outfits, instead of dark blue wool coat, I going to the beige mink with pink umbrella maybe this will work better in the dark. I will let you know how it works out. 

Word for the day

V it - a- min - you have to say all three syllables.   

Conn, I con't do it. UK english,   the colloquial Gale- ese (I emit goin do it) 

Brilliant!

Now here is a very interesting word, brilliant. Seems like every Brit uses this many times a day and it can have many meanings. To an American we might not catch the subtleties, "at the first go," (very English thing to say) but after awhile you learn to read between the lines. You are going along thinking wow they think I am smart. Though depending on the inflection brilliant  can mean many different things such as, smart, idiot, is he really serious, and just plan old fine.  When I first "cottoned on" (another English colloquialism)  was when Haley was catching the bus Christmas Day from Heathrow to Oxford. The bus was an hour late, Haley got on behind an American. The American woman was a head of her. This American proceeded to ask the bus driver why the last bus never came, in the loud demanding American voice I have come to know so well. The bus drivers response was, "Brilliant, you know it is Christmas"  with a smile. "And we may be a little off". Then the lady proceeded to say, " A little off! It did not even show up" . The bus driver said in his quite voice again, " brilliant, Merry Christmas"  with a smile. I love how these guys just "Carry On".

Aliumium, now this may be a tad difficult to say but the Brits make it twice as hard. I will try and write it out for you to say it.  Ah-lu-min-knee-um. Now try saying that three times fast.  This would not be too bad, but if you are working in a lab and the word comes up often every time you are talking about metallization , I have a very hard time taking the guy seriously. So now the first time this happened I smiled, and think,"they can not be serious." The second it was a chuckle, third I was almost LOL. Now trying to explain to them why you are laughing does not go over well, especially when you can not even say it to begin with. Brits just carry on and say polite things and pretend it never happened. But you know they are thinking those "pain in the *#>% Americans". But they keep a smile on their face and "Carry On".

Con-tra-ver-se, now you have to say every syllable, with the emphasis on tra and the "a" is short. Another LOL. Do not get me going on this one!

Filet- fill-let, yes you are having a fish fill-let for dinner. Now this one took me for a loop. Talking with the people I work with they were beginning to understanding the "Fact -or- Crap" game my family plays all the time. Say something with authority and they will believe you. Well our family can call "crap" on you anytime because we all are so full of BS. So I am thinking one of the Paul's, having now worked with me over the month was pulling my leg on this last one "filet". So I go and ask John, one always to give me a straight answer and sure enough we are having fill-lets for dinner. He said "only posh people say filet". I told him Americans also say that and I would not consider them posh. Loud, over bearing and obnoxious, but not posh.  

What a con-tra-ver-se as to whether to wrap the fill-let in a-lu-min-knee-um or not! Brillant! 

The Bus! OMG can not believe it, I still do not understand the standard bus catching etiquette. Get to the bus stop, right change in pocket,  in the dark and briar patch branching over my head. Look at phone only once, check OXONTime and see it is coming, 10 minutes. No problem. Put phone back in packet and stand between sign and briar patch in hope bus driver will have a better view. I see the bus coming, it gets a little closer, I wave, he puts his flashers on, I wave again thanking him, and he speeds right by me! Now I am running like a crazy women through the ditch and briar patch that is crowding the road and he finally stops. I look at him and he says " I thought you were waving me off!" Right ! Now I know, one wave, bus stop.... 2 waves bus does not stop. Will this ever end!

Take Your Daughter to Work Day

We did move to the UK to work, but these posts would never suggest this. So we thought that we should at least go to work one day when Haley was here and we would take her.

Off to work with Dad on Monday and they had a wonderful time. Science Museum and saw the astrolade, Bodleian Library, Harry Potter scenes, Sheldonian Theater,

Not sure this all counts as work but they had a lot of fun.

Tuesday we were off to RAL and Haley got to meet the Pauls. Took her to Diamond and Isis had lunch at the cafe. 

Inside the Diamond Collider Hall

Isis collider layout

After the tour the sun came out and we headed off to Abingdon. Took Haley to the Throwing Buns Cafe and discovered when we went to the Town Hall Museum what the name meant. Once a year they throw buns off the balcony of the town hall ergo "Throwing Buns" Cafe. If you have to ask why go back to start do not collect $200.

Had a beautiful view from the Bun Throwing platform on top of the Town Hall and then walked down to the Thames, and the sun was setting at about 4:00.

Top of Town Hall in Abingdon

Bridge over looking Thames in Abingdon

Haley still can not figure out what we do as it seems we are always on holiday. There is just too much to see to stay at work. 

London Bridges

This adventure is finally turning into adventures I like.  We got up at 0 dark thirty and caught the bus to Didcot, then the train to Caring Cross then the Red Tour Bus to tour London. Now that I think about it if our goal was to catch every form of transportation available in London we did it. We even got good at the metro.

The most stunning views were from the bridges, we crossed over many and walked across the millennium bridge at night, spectacular!

We toured the city in the Red Bus and saw all the major sites and ended up at The Tower, pretty grim stories.

Had a tour with the Beefeaters and got a lot of history, gruesome at best. Then it was off to cross the  millennium bridge to the Globe. 

The tour guide at the globe was great. Next summer we will get tickets for a play, can not wait.

Had a snack at the Pub next door and then went off to the Tate, which lucky for us was right next door. 

We then walked back over the Millennium bridge to St. Paul's Cathedral to catch a bus to Trafalgar Square. 

The National Art Gallery was open to 9 so we got to see some fabulous paintings,. My favorite as usual were the impressionist. They had three rooms full of them. I let Haley and Kirk see the rest of the museum and I stayed put with the impressionist. 

We strolled around Trafalgar Square and then headed off on the metro, what a successful day. 

Only one thing could make it better another stop at a pub. Right as we got off the train across the street was The Prince of Wales, burgers and french fries, what more could an American ask for!

Stone Henge and Salisbury Catherdral

'On this adventure we hired a car and driver instead of trying and figuring out the public transportation issues.This proved to be an excellent idea as a car is a lot easier to reach the venues and you can do more than one. One a bus it would take all day to see one and come home.  Renting a car would be out of the question as we would have to drive and that would create too much stress for all of us.

The frost had taken all the trees hostage and as the sun rose over the gently rolling Salisbury Plane we were surrounded by beautiful sparkling  trees. Salisbury plane is a high area that the wind blows over the landscape non stop. This area has a war installation for the English military and a lot of it is restricted.

As we drove through the rolling country side high on the plane not 100 yards to the right of the freeway are the standing stones. They popped up as we rolled over the hill and they were right there alongside the road. It really takes you by surprise. You drive on by and come to the visitor center. You do all the obligatory lines, fees and listening devices and then you are allowed on the bus.  The bus takes you up over the hill and you walk the rest of the way and over the crest to see the stones.  The wind can be pretty brisk at times. The horizon is dotted with people walking around the stones more or less depending on the number of buses that have arrived with you.

As you approach the stones the actual size continues to amaze you. The are so immense it takes your breath away. Sort of like seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time, you just can not believe the beauty of them.

As you stroll around the stones the path takes you closer and closer to the stones, where you end up about 10 feet from the closet one. The sound of the freeway is incongruent with what you are seeing and seems to bring you back and forth from awe to ...dam cars.

After circling the henge we got pretty hungry. So I tried a tasty morsel....

Very hard biscuits!

Next stop was the Salisbury Cathedral, pretty breath taking structure.

We viewed the Magna Carta and had lunch in the atrium.  Kirk doing what Kirk does best wanted to finish Haleys coleslaw, now she had fish and chips for lunch, nope was not coleslaw it was tartar sauce.  

Absolutely beautiful. 

Now if that was not enough for one day we went to Avebury on the way home. It has the largest henge which encircles the town. We were about to  walk up close to these stones and touch them.  I was hoping that maybe this could be a chance to meet the Outlanders,  then Whosh! I was taken out of the US and deposited in the middle of somewhere where they talk funny, drive on the wrong side of the road and I am working with three Pauls and a John, nice guys but not quite the Jamie I was looking for. 

What a grand day! Headed home to go to the pub for New Years and turn in early.

Finished the year off at The Cherry Tree Pub in Steventon,  Cheers!

Steventon

"Right between the middle of nowhere and ‘where are we exactly?”

We moved to Steventon after Christmas to warm up. Never could figure out how to make the Jerricho house warm, being that it is on a corner, and made of brick with no insulation and I think original windows the place was not meant to be warm. With all us being somewhat under the weather it was time for some warmth. So off to Steventon. This is a very small, quite village, I think population 1500, now 1502. 

We are located on the north side of the village in an area called Field Gardens. The neighborhood surprisingly looks a lot like Privot Dr, but is not. I think all houses look a lot alike. We are currently under camping conditions, but do have a bed and do not have to sleep on the ground. And the house is well heated and has insulated walls and new windows. So all in all is nice and cozy. 

We are making due with the stairs as the office.

And you will notice the sox do not match. I have lived out of a suitcase for the past 6 months so you would think it would be hard to have mis matched soxes, but I managed. I think it has something to do with not knowing which suit case has which thing in it. Can not wait for drawers! There are no closets in this house either. 

Update! Just heard the ocean going house hold goods just arrived at South Hampton off the Houston Express. Now all we have to do is wait for customs, and the holidays. 

Beakfast is served hot!  Very hot! 

True love, eggs Benedict on a hot plate! 

The dogs love the place, the smells are sooo interesting. Hard to walk any distance without them stopping to check everything out.  Right across the street is a green space that is also a soccer pitch, the dogs love running loose, going around and around at high speed, nothing like a lot of room to go crazy in. 

We were making plans for where all the furniture would go and saw out the back window a panel van. Yes t was raining, I ran out in my rob and meet Andrew. Awesome find, had a truck full of fresh veggies, fruit and an assortment of other items. 

We would not have to spend the day shopping and now could take dogs for walk to bakery and buy goodies and relax for the afternoon. Instead of jumping on the bus and spending most of the day getting to some where to shop.

Had a nice day, walking dogs and eating good stuff.

Oxford

I gave Haley the tour of Oxford, hitting all the highlights as to what we would see in the coming days. Being Christmas, everything was closed but the sun was out and the downtown was beautiful. Dad snuggled in bed back at Jecicho not feeling so well. Unfortunately this Christmas will be the one to remember when we would tour one day and sleep the next to recover. Then feel almost good enough and go out the next day just to get sick again. And like all good parents shared it with Haley. 

Oxford is just amazing with old architecture from all ages around every corner. 

Bridge of Sighs, Oxford

Now what they do not tell you that right next to the bridge on the left is the entrance to the oldest tavern in Oxford, The Turf. You enter in a narrow, 3 ft wide dark alley and snake around and end up in the middle of many buildings that is the Turf, some of it is out doors and some indoors. Later that week we enjoyed dinner there. 

Cheers! 

I ordered a Caesar salad and got a sunny side up egg in the middle of it. 

Go figure!  I got one in Paris when I ordered a Corque Monsieur which I thought was a ceasar salad. Delicious whatever they call it. 

We toured more of the city and ended up at Ian's for Christmas dinner. 

Beautiful home in Jericho. The dinner was stupendous. 

We had Christmas musical crackers to top off the night. We did no justice to Francesca's voice but Jingle Bells did sound ok. Merry Christmas to all.  Took dinner home to Dad, and all was well. Jecicho house we are in is a little bachorlie and cold but very convenient to everything when buses are not running on holidays from Steventon.