Getting There

Today did not start off well as I had to clean the bathrooms--never a pleasant job to be sure, but we're back in the land of the hard water, and that makes it even worse. It's kind of a ridiculous job as you have to use the very water that leaves the calcium deposits in order to rinse off the cleaner that clears away the calcium deposits left by the water. Then you have to use a squeegee and a towel to dry everything down so you can have at least one spot-free day. Using a squeegee after each shower helps, but there are still areas that the gunk builds up badly.

Maddie and I are slowly mastering the bus lines. We figured out that the bus that runs in front of our house can take us to our favorite restaurant (Giraffe) and right to the front door of the large Sainsburys grocery store (the choice of chef Jamie Oliver) as well. I have to say I am LOVING the grocery store options here. Lots of fresh stuff and organic choices. Plus I can take the bus to buy fresh things and have heavy or bulky items like beverages, cleaning supplies and paper goods delivered to my house by ordering over the internet. Also, I realize it's best to buy frozen items via internet as well as it can take a good half-hour or more if you have to wait on the bus to get home! Unfortunately, the bus that runs right by our house is a short route and the buses only run every 15 minutes, and then, they're not always on time. As Maddie and I waited for the bus with our bags of groceries for more than 20 minutes, I began to more fully understand why public transport has a hard time gaining ground in the States.

Today, I also figured out how to register and automatically "top up" my Oyster card, which is the pass card for the Tube and buses in London. Those planning on visiting will want to get one. There's a monthly pass--which is what Skip has--that comes at a flat rate for those who take the train every day. And then there is the pay as you go plan which deducts the cost of each ride when you scan it going through a turnstile or hopping on a bus. But the deal is you pay a lot less per ride with the Oyster. It's about 70 percent cheaper than paying ticket by ticket. So take note those of you planning your London vacations. Oyster cards all the way. You can pick one up for as little as 10 or 20 pounds and just let it run out, or you can do what I did and have it linked to a credit card. Anytime my card gets below 5 pounds of credit, it will automatically top it up 40 pounds, so I never get stuck somewhere. Maddie rides free.

I will eventually get behind the wheel of our car. This weekend I'm planning some practice runs so I can take Maddie to her school orientation on Wednesday. The bus service comes for the first day of school, but I have to get her there the day before. Surely, it won't take too long before my brain clicks over to driving on the other side of the road. Even after I master driving, it still makes more sense, most of the time to just walk or take the train or bus. Parking is difficult and gas is even more expensive than it is in the States.

Maddie helped me pick out a bright pink cell phone today. I had to get a phone today as I need to get in a whole bunch of forms for Maddie's new school and many of them asked for home and cell phones. Didn't want to have to go back later to add that, so the forms will be another thing I can wrap up today.

Still have not found a place for everything here at the house, but am working on that, too. Should be in good shape by the time our first guests arrive in October!