It's either feast or famine with me. I don't write for periods, then double/triple up on entries. (Still have to do that Helsinki entry......)
We got inspected tonight. As part of our rental agreement, the real estate agent inspects our place quarterly, essentially to make sure we are being respectful. Helpful for the owner/landlord to know we are taking care of things properly, helpful to us in that if we need anything (even minor) tended to, we can bring it to the agent's attention. Also, the owner does not want to return to their home with things dis/nonfunctional. (Owner has temporarily moved to Sunderland, UK, who has a football team. The Mr Landlord is a former football player, who is now a physio-like a physical therapist-for the Sunderland football team. He'd been commuting for a few years, not sure of the commute time. Now that their daughter is in uni, Mr and Mrs moved to Sunderland temporarily, and rented out their house.) Our lease is up in June--we've asked the landlord to let us know if we're renewing our lease, and suggested to do a two year lease, which would carry us through to the end of our initial three year commitment. Really hoping we don't have to move.) Even though it is at a mutually agreed upon time, it is still a little nerve-wracking for me to have someone go through all of our rooms and closets. Good way to make sure the house is cleaned though, and a good way to get the kids to make their beds without grumbling!!
This evening there was a disco at W/N's school from 6-8pm. A little interesting in that they chose a "school night" to run the event. It was a good conclusion to the 1960s term focus. Some 1960s music and Beatles music were played, but today's pop was also included. The "Hokey Pokey" was also played. They played a different version--sung a little different, and the chorus is a little different-different words. Obviously not terribly different, but it is interesting to see those little twists on things pop up. There are a lot of things where you notice a British take on things--similar to the American. Like "touch wood" vs "knock on wood". I guess we (Americans) just have to do things our own way. It was nice to see the kids get together in a social setting. Of course, it's a fundraiser--as you paid 1 pound entry fee, and there was a snack counter to spend your money on, but I don't think any of it was out of line.
As the kids were getting ready for bed, W tells me he has two more loose teeth. He just lost one on Friday evening. After getting him tucked in, I went downstairs to see if J was thinking of heading up, or where he was in watching his football (soccer) game, and he was yanking a tooth out. So we are now up to three teeth out in one week. I am really hoping they are their baby teeth that need coming out, and not a result of the English dental habits!! (Joke.)
Thanks for reading! Don't eat too many jelly beans, or your teeth will fall out too!!!!
Tuesday, 26 March 2013
Saturday, 23 March 2013
Last week or so's events
Last Thursday, 14 March, was the Lent term's piano recital for W and N. They take lessons from a young gent (think he's 32, with a hair line of someone much older) who is quite a musician. He travels to various schools and people's homes to offer lessons. I was surprised the first time I met him. He'd just completed lessons at the kids' school, and was giving me a "report". I was surprised, as he was dressed in a full suit and tie. To teach music lessons? To kids? Stark contrast to our first piano teacher for the kids, who was a senior uni student, who taught out of his parents' home, and sometimes was shooting hoops outside when we rolled up the drive. Evidence of things being a bit more formal here. (Ask G--he wears a full suit here now more than he ever did in the US!) He is really great with the kids. And very talented musically, as well as technically. He writes a report on each kids lesson each week per computer on evernote that I can access. He also has the kids "compose" via noteflight. Sometimes he puts things on noteflight that the kids've done in their lesson. You can see a bit of the kids recital below. The kids and he did the underlying melody from Pachabel's Canon in D, but the kids all added components per noteflight, including the voices you can hear. You can add/subtract various instruments, etc. So that's the underlying song you hear, but then each duo rotated in to play a part "live". They had to make sure they switched quickly enough, so the next duo could make it to the piano bench in time to be "on" with the underlying music. You can see it here:
Pardon the camera-it was manned by some kids in year 5 or 6. The kids also did solo pieces also, but guess those weren't recorded.
Last Friday, besides being the Ides of March, was also Red Nose day in the UK. Jessie J (pop songstress) shaved her hair, and lots of other celebrities did crazy attention-seeking stunts as well, in the name of charity. There were red foam noses for sale at various places for 1 pound each. They were "decorated" differently-some were made to look like sheep, some had glasses, all had various crazy faces. Kids got to pay a pound to not dress in their uniforms, and there were other assorted fund-raising events throughout the day nationally. A national fundraising day-though I'm not sure for what benefactor. I believe it's for assorted charities, though don't quote me. The tag line is "Funny for Money", and all kinds of jokes and pranks are broadcast.
Wednesday, J lost a tooth, his first tooth lost in the UK, and his first tooth lost for quite a while.
Yesterday, Friday 22 Mar, was the last day of J's Lent term. He was to report to the Cathedral @ 1030 for the school concert, to last until 1130. We received ~ 3 inches of snow during Thurs evening. At 0830, he was packing a bag with street clothes (he was gonna bum around Chester with some buddies after the concert). We were ready to run out the door (W/N have to be @ school @ 0900), when there was a tremendous screaming! Apparently the cathedral service was cancelled, as the school's drawing is from a pretty large circumference, and for a service for only 1 hour, no academics, someone made an accurate decision to call it off, and J was expressing his deep-rooted disappointment. He'd been checking the website since 0630, and made one final check at 0835.
Friday was also N's class's turn to run the assembly. Of course, it's seem was the 1960's, in keeping with the school's term focus. They compared life in the 1960s to life nowadays. The entire school was allowed to dress in 1960s-wear. The kids looked fabulous. Girls had the bouffant hair-dos, etc. I'd say 90% of the school was dressed up. And they did the twist. The comparison dance from today was Gang nam Style. Kids really had fun.
Today, W lost one of his front teeth. Still one more to lose. Keeping the tooth fairy in business in our house! His face is really changing. And the kids are all growing like mad.
N managed to make a snowman.
A second "big brother" snowman was added by big brother W during the day (sorry, no pic--too dark to take one now!). Snow hopefully is gone soon. We don't really get a lot of snow here--it's really a novelty when it does snow, and it's short-lived.
Not much else new here. Still doing itinerary for Netherlands/Amsterdam. We are taking a ferry on Thursday evening from Hull (eastern side of UK) to Rotterdam, Netherlands, arriving @ 0815 on Friday. Rotterdam and Amsterdam are about an hour's train ride apart. Ferry was cheaper than air travel for all of us, even if we would've taken the car, which we are not. Netherlands has fab public transport, and then we'd have to find a place to park the car, and pay for that as well. We could drive our car there, but I believe they drive on the right side of the road, which would be weird with a right-hand steering wheel car. (Caught J yesterday trying to get in on the right side/driver's side of the car yesterday!! I had to remind him that I'd be driving. Been awhile since anyone's done that.) There's also something with the headlights that needs to be changed-not sure what. G's car does it automatically, I believe. Not a big deal, but we don't need a car. We'll be staying in an apartment on one of the canals. One of the things we'll hopefully see is the place where Anne Frank and family hid during WWII. Been doing some reading with the kids on WWII, got to do some more with them on who Anne was. Not sure what'll all be open, as we're arriving on Good Friday, and Easter Monday is pretty much a holiday yet over here. We should at least get some bike rides in, provided there are some bikes left to rent.
A Happy Easter to all. Might be a bit until the next post. Planning for the Netherlands, and also working on another issue that needs attention (long story). When we return, the other issue will still be in progress (will be on-going for a long while), and on Friday the 5th (less than 2 weeks now!), we will be hosting some US visitors, which we are all looking forward to. Happy Easter to all!!!
Pardon the camera-it was manned by some kids in year 5 or 6. The kids also did solo pieces also, but guess those weren't recorded.
Last Friday, besides being the Ides of March, was also Red Nose day in the UK. Jessie J (pop songstress) shaved her hair, and lots of other celebrities did crazy attention-seeking stunts as well, in the name of charity. There were red foam noses for sale at various places for 1 pound each. They were "decorated" differently-some were made to look like sheep, some had glasses, all had various crazy faces. Kids got to pay a pound to not dress in their uniforms, and there were other assorted fund-raising events throughout the day nationally. A national fundraising day-though I'm not sure for what benefactor. I believe it's for assorted charities, though don't quote me. The tag line is "Funny for Money", and all kinds of jokes and pranks are broadcast.
Wednesday, J lost a tooth, his first tooth lost in the UK, and his first tooth lost for quite a while.
Yesterday, Friday 22 Mar, was the last day of J's Lent term. He was to report to the Cathedral @ 1030 for the school concert, to last until 1130. We received ~ 3 inches of snow during Thurs evening. At 0830, he was packing a bag with street clothes (he was gonna bum around Chester with some buddies after the concert). We were ready to run out the door (W/N have to be @ school @ 0900), when there was a tremendous screaming! Apparently the cathedral service was cancelled, as the school's drawing is from a pretty large circumference, and for a service for only 1 hour, no academics, someone made an accurate decision to call it off, and J was expressing his deep-rooted disappointment. He'd been checking the website since 0630, and made one final check at 0835.
Friday was also N's class's turn to run the assembly. Of course, it's seem was the 1960's, in keeping with the school's term focus. They compared life in the 1960s to life nowadays. The entire school was allowed to dress in 1960s-wear. The kids looked fabulous. Girls had the bouffant hair-dos, etc. I'd say 90% of the school was dressed up. And they did the twist. The comparison dance from today was Gang nam Style. Kids really had fun.
Today, W lost one of his front teeth. Still one more to lose. Keeping the tooth fairy in business in our house! His face is really changing. And the kids are all growing like mad.
N managed to make a snowman.
 |
| N's March snowman |
Not much else new here. Still doing itinerary for Netherlands/Amsterdam. We are taking a ferry on Thursday evening from Hull (eastern side of UK) to Rotterdam, Netherlands, arriving @ 0815 on Friday. Rotterdam and Amsterdam are about an hour's train ride apart. Ferry was cheaper than air travel for all of us, even if we would've taken the car, which we are not. Netherlands has fab public transport, and then we'd have to find a place to park the car, and pay for that as well. We could drive our car there, but I believe they drive on the right side of the road, which would be weird with a right-hand steering wheel car. (Caught J yesterday trying to get in on the right side/driver's side of the car yesterday!! I had to remind him that I'd be driving. Been awhile since anyone's done that.) There's also something with the headlights that needs to be changed-not sure what. G's car does it automatically, I believe. Not a big deal, but we don't need a car. We'll be staying in an apartment on one of the canals. One of the things we'll hopefully see is the place where Anne Frank and family hid during WWII. Been doing some reading with the kids on WWII, got to do some more with them on who Anne was. Not sure what'll all be open, as we're arriving on Good Friday, and Easter Monday is pretty much a holiday yet over here. We should at least get some bike rides in, provided there are some bikes left to rent.
A Happy Easter to all. Might be a bit until the next post. Planning for the Netherlands, and also working on another issue that needs attention (long story). When we return, the other issue will still be in progress (will be on-going for a long while), and on Friday the 5th (less than 2 weeks now!), we will be hosting some US visitors, which we are all looking forward to. Happy Easter to all!!!
Tuesday, 12 March 2013
Been Busy!!
I know I've not posted here in a bit.... and that I've yet to blog on the last leg of our xmas trip. I/We've been busy. I just haven't been very busy on the blog.
Just a few quick items of interest. This past Sunday was Mothering Sunday in the UK, AKA Mother's Day. I believe I receive two Mother's Days--one UK, and one American! Not sure how that'll go over with the kids, although its a novelty to them to serve Mom breakfast in bed, which is the ideal they think they need to uphold, for some reason. Not sure why.
Yesterday, I was a chaperone for a school field trip. Please recall that the kids school year is divided into 3 terms, and each of these terms are separated into half-terms. At W/N's school, the first term was concentrated on studying robots. The entire school studied robots in various aspects. In English, they wrote about what robots do, created a robot, etc. In art they designed a robot, decorated, etc, in science they worked on electricity and circuits, etc. So the topic encompassed all subject areas. This term, they've been studying the 60s, particularly the Beatles. We had dances, they designed some 60s clothing, wrote some songs, studied the history of the Beatles, etc. Yesterday, the entire school went on a Beatles tour. Two coach buses (remember, no school buses!) were loaded up, and we travelled to Liverpool, where we toured the Beatles Story Museum at Albert Dock, went to the Fab 4D Movie, did some special hands-on kids' things related to the Beatles (dress up, dancing, music-playing, etc). Then we hopped back on our bus, and a professional tour guide was on board to direct our driver through Liverpool and give us commentary on various Beatles and Liverpool sites, including childhood homes of the Beatles and their manager, Brian Epstein, Strawberry Fields, Penny Lane, Matthew Street, schools they attended, parks they went to, where different references in their songs came from, and finally ending at the Cavern Club. (A little interesting, a field trip that goes to a pub! We didn't stay long here though--it was essentially a potty break.) Although I was chaperoning, I was able to take in quite a bit of the lore as well. I've been to Liverpool a few times, and along Albert Dock, but have never toured the Beatles Museum, or had a bus tour of Liverpool. Very glad I was able to attend.
Finally, although I've yet to finish blogging on our xmas break, we are looking to our next holiday. The kids 2nd term is out Mar 22 for J, and Mar 28 for W/N (just before Easter). J will have 19 days off of school, returning Apr 11, and the younger 2 only have off 17 days. Quite the Easter break!! So doing a bit of tour planning. G needs to work, but he does have off on Good Friday and Easter Monday, so we'll be able to take a long weekend. Currently weighing the options of air travel, vs taking an overnight ferry. Ferry is a little cheaper (even with the car), but you gotta drive 3 hours to get to the ferry. Unless we change our destination, (still in the planning stage, remember?), we are looking at going to the Netherlands, particularly Amsterdam, Lisse and Keukenhof, and perhaps going into Brugges, Belgium. I've heard there are some 40 chocolatiers, and many beers here too. I'll take the chocolate, G can have the Heineken. When we return, we will be having some visitors later in the week, which we are also looking forward to.
Thanks for stopping by!
Just a few quick items of interest. This past Sunday was Mothering Sunday in the UK, AKA Mother's Day. I believe I receive two Mother's Days--one UK, and one American! Not sure how that'll go over with the kids, although its a novelty to them to serve Mom breakfast in bed, which is the ideal they think they need to uphold, for some reason. Not sure why.
Yesterday, I was a chaperone for a school field trip. Please recall that the kids school year is divided into 3 terms, and each of these terms are separated into half-terms. At W/N's school, the first term was concentrated on studying robots. The entire school studied robots in various aspects. In English, they wrote about what robots do, created a robot, etc. In art they designed a robot, decorated, etc, in science they worked on electricity and circuits, etc. So the topic encompassed all subject areas. This term, they've been studying the 60s, particularly the Beatles. We had dances, they designed some 60s clothing, wrote some songs, studied the history of the Beatles, etc. Yesterday, the entire school went on a Beatles tour. Two coach buses (remember, no school buses!) were loaded up, and we travelled to Liverpool, where we toured the Beatles Story Museum at Albert Dock, went to the Fab 4D Movie, did some special hands-on kids' things related to the Beatles (dress up, dancing, music-playing, etc). Then we hopped back on our bus, and a professional tour guide was on board to direct our driver through Liverpool and give us commentary on various Beatles and Liverpool sites, including childhood homes of the Beatles and their manager, Brian Epstein, Strawberry Fields, Penny Lane, Matthew Street, schools they attended, parks they went to, where different references in their songs came from, and finally ending at the Cavern Club. (A little interesting, a field trip that goes to a pub! We didn't stay long here though--it was essentially a potty break.) Although I was chaperoning, I was able to take in quite a bit of the lore as well. I've been to Liverpool a few times, and along Albert Dock, but have never toured the Beatles Museum, or had a bus tour of Liverpool. Very glad I was able to attend.
Finally, although I've yet to finish blogging on our xmas break, we are looking to our next holiday. The kids 2nd term is out Mar 22 for J, and Mar 28 for W/N (just before Easter). J will have 19 days off of school, returning Apr 11, and the younger 2 only have off 17 days. Quite the Easter break!! So doing a bit of tour planning. G needs to work, but he does have off on Good Friday and Easter Monday, so we'll be able to take a long weekend. Currently weighing the options of air travel, vs taking an overnight ferry. Ferry is a little cheaper (even with the car), but you gotta drive 3 hours to get to the ferry. Unless we change our destination, (still in the planning stage, remember?), we are looking at going to the Netherlands, particularly Amsterdam, Lisse and Keukenhof, and perhaps going into Brugges, Belgium. I've heard there are some 40 chocolatiers, and many beers here too. I'll take the chocolate, G can have the Heineken. When we return, we will be having some visitors later in the week, which we are also looking forward to.
Thanks for stopping by!
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