This Past Week

I have not posted in nearly a week.  It's not that I haven't been doing anything--au contraire-I've been most busy.

We desperately need to find a babysitter(s), not only for G and I's sanity, but also for various functions that we will need to attend.  I have been trying to find some to bring in to interview.  I have been in touch with 4--one we actually interviewed last evening, and seems decent.  She is going to school, and has a boyfriend, and works, so she does not have a whole lot of availability, so we are looking at some others.  My goal is to have a pool of perhaps 5 to pick from, so we are never left up a creek without a paddle.  So, I guess we're 20% of the way there-hopefully at least one of the others works out, and we'll keep looking......

Of course, I have also been out driving.  Seems to be going ok.  Had another lesson this evening.  Feeling much more at ease with the situation.

On Monday (yesterday), I called the Authority (again!) regarding N's lack of school.  They were "having an unusual amount of call volume," so I kept  trying, to no avail.  I called today (Tuesday)---they know nothing, and advised I check in again next week.  School starts 2 weeks from tomorrow-the boy needs supplies, and uniforms, people!!

G had his work picnic at the Chester Zoo-probably 5 minutes from our house-this past weekend.  There were no kangaroos or koalas.  They did have these bush dogs (that's what they are called).  We were observing them, when a zookeeper came with a bucket of white rats (dead), that she threw over the fence one by one.  You should have seen these creatures run!!  There were probably 10-15 of these in the exhibit, and they would run off with the "treat", and gobble it up.  When there were no more new treats being thrown over the fence, they would play tug-of-war with a rat.  There'd be 4-5 of these bush dogs, each with a jaw on the rat, and they would all pull.......  The zoo also had the dinosaur exhibit going on-same one that's been at the Milwaukee Zoo, and is currently at the Milwaukee Zoo.

We also were able to meet with G's co-workers-many of them new to me, as well as G I suppose.  There were probably 5-6 from our trip in February, that I knew, as we'd spent 2 evenings with them in Feb.  Also, met up with the the American fellow who is returning to the US, and G is taking his position.  He and his wife had a baby the day we left for the UK, so she's ~4 weeks old now.  They went to London this week to apply for the baby's passport, and they will be returning to the States in about 2 1/2 weeks.  (I am eagerly anticipating receiving their condensing dryer, as well as some other electronics.)  Also met with another fellow and his family, also from the States, who will be in the UK for another year before they return.  (They originally signed on for 3 years, but extended it another year.)  It was nice to see some familiar people, besides the neighbors.

I've also been working on the bugs of this new blog.  Please email me if you are still unable to comment.  I need you all to comment, and let me know what's going on State-side.

Finally, I've been working on one other thing.  This coming Monday 27 August, is a bank holiday here.  We wanted to take advantage of it, and do something with the kids--so that's what I've been trying to plan.  I won't reveal now what we're doing--you can all place your bets, and I'll share with you after the weekend.

Stay tuned, and don't forget to comment!
Love to everyone in the US!!