Friday, Our First Full Day!

Friday, we headed back up to Bishop's Stortford.  We were looking for schools and homes.  So, we started out by visiting Bishop's Stortford College.  That was a total waste of time.  They are a big school and highly rated.  It has a beautiful campus and goes from nursery school all the way to age 18.  I was really hoping they could accommodate us.  But they only were able to accommodate 2 of the boys and then they were unwilling to because we would not be here for the duration.  Ok, fine fancy-pants school, we don't need you either!

Then we headed to the information center.  I headed to the train station again to try and park.  Well all the spaces are for permit holders.  Well, that is not going to be me!  Colin swore he remembered parking by the center, so I headed into the center of town, small, teeny, tiny roads and all to find it.  We made it and I parked behind another vehicle, all seemed good!  We headed in and got a map, a list of letting agents and other helpful things.  We had only been inside 5 mins tops.  I hurriedly remembered where I parked and asked if I was in an allowed area.  The lady looked out to where I was parking and said, "Oh, no, you can't park there!  Hurry now, they are there to give you a ticket!"  I instantly ran out and the Bobbie and cried, "no, please I will move the car right away!"   I kept profusely apologizing as she repeatedly told me how lucky I was as she could easily ticket and fine me.  That by not ticketing me she was saving me a lot of money.  Phew, I am so glad she did not ticket me!

So, I then headed to the catholic schools.  The receptionist politely gave me registration information at the desk of the school for the older boys as the registrar was on vacation.  The primary school also gave me forms and let me know they had a wait list.  Hmmm, this was obviously NOT going to be easy.  I went to one more school, another primary school.  The headmistress was wonderful!  Liam and Cian went in and she gave us a tour of the school.  Really it was not much different then Covington, the school that we just left.  The teachers all had Smart boards.  Instead of a computer lab, they had a cart and the laptops were brought to them.  They had a rather small library area but they had a very big playground and a small area with trees that they called the forest (a mislabel for sure, but cute sentiment).  Liam loved the school and really enjoyed the tour.  Cian held my hand and was not so happy to be there.  Poor guy grabbed my hand through most of the tour, which is kind of unusual for him.  He is definitely feeling some anxiety and he is enjoying his break from school immensely.  

What I ended up gathering from the very kind and helpful staff at the school was that I needed an address so then I could find the school.   They kindly suggested some letting agents for me, letting is what they refer to as renting in the UK.  So, I headed back into the town center and this time I was lucky enough to figure out where it was legal to park! (and I did not listen to Colin)  :P

I finally headed to the letting agent.  I visited as many offices as I could.  I managed to find out that Londoners are moving in large numbers to Hertforshire or Herts (a UK county) because the schools are so good.  So, currently there are not a whole lot of properties to rent.  Fabulous....  things can never be simple, can they?  Also, as you may have concluded, the best schools are all full.  No real surprise, is it?

So, I met Sean back at the hotel, armed with all this information and we headed to Hertford to grab dinner.  Well, because we did not have a booking (reservation) the two places that we tried did not have any space for us.  So, we ended up in a pub and enjoyed dinner there.  Sean and I were the only ones that ordered a traditional dish, he ordered the Steak Pie and I had fish and chips with smashed minted peas (which are very good BTW).  The boys all ordered things that they could get at home and we warned them that at the next restaurant the would need to choose something else!

When we arrived in Hertford we parked in a garage.  When we arrived we had actually missed the pay period so, our parking was free.  But we had to be mindful of the time because the garage closed at 9pm.  We arrived at the garage by 8:45 to find that in door was down, further investigation found that the stairwell and the elevator was locked.  We started to get a bit worried.  So, we looked around and asked questions and luckily saw the person who was locking up and he motioned to us to lift the door (where we entered).  We tried with no luck.  We headed to the exit and found it open (thankfully!).  We left quickly, no need to get locked in!

We made a quick stop at a super Tesco (similar to a Meijer or a Super-Walmart) to look at their mobile plans.  Then headed back to the hotel and called it a night.  We were still pretty tired and trying to recover from jet-lag.

Hitting the Ground, Driving!

We arrived in Heathrow and immediately went to pick up our cars. While at training we had determined that we probably needed two cars because of the amount of luggage that we would have. A car that would seat us all and our luggage was not something that Super Handsome was comfortable driving because of the size of the roads.

When we went to pick up our car we once again found out that our reservation was messed up (if this seems to be a reoccurring theme, you would be correct!) So, Super Handsome arranged for us to get two cars. The first car has been smoked in, so Super Handsome had to take a bigger car than he wanted. He let me take the little BMW 1 seris and he took the Puegot estate (station wagon). I have been very grateful to have the smaller car on many, many occasions.

Driving on the wrong side of the car and on the wrong side of the road has been very interesting, to say the least! There are times that I do not want a car at all and then there are times that I see that I can't do with out one... in the future I will do some posts devoted just to the driving. I have already had some very interesting incidents, to say the least!

Our first stop was at McDonalds to grab a drink and a bit of lunch. McDonald serves different food here, a lot more chicken and hardly any burgers.  It seems to be a bit more healthy.  They also have potato wedges!

We arrived at the hotel to find yet again that out reservations were messed up. They only had Super Handsome booked for one room. Later, the staff figured out that I had been booked a room as well. The rooms though were not connecting or a family room.

The staff was very sympathetic and worked very hard to put us in rooms that were across the hall from each other with roll a way beds. They promised us a room change on Saturday. They got us into a room as fast as they could and we went in and rested for a bit. Super Handsome headed into work. Before he went he showed me the map of where we were and suggested where I should go. We had to use a map because Super Handsome had not had time to get the GPS updated with the UK maps! So, I headed up to Bishop's Stortford with the boys to have a look around.

We headed up to Bishop's Sotrtford and thankfully found a place to park at the train station. It was late enough that I was able to find a free parking spot. It seems that most parking spots you have to pay for, not many are free.   Parking is a pain, thankfully I have a small car to squeeze in small spaces, and as Kellie Wallace-Kalnajs and my other drivers ed partner (was it Kathy Hauge-Struecker?) might remember I have a gift for parallel parking in small places!  

 Then we got out and wandered around looking for the information station. They would have maps and other useful information for us. Unfortunately, they were closed. We were suppose to meet Super Handsome around 5:30 at the information station, since I did not have a cell phone the plan was to keep checking back every half hour if he was not there. After dark I decided to take the kids back to the hotel. They were exhausted. As we walked into the room, Super Handsome called. He met us back at the hotel. Everyone but Kid 2 went to grab a bite to eat at McDonalds, for the second time today.   As many of you may know McDonalds is one of my least favorite places to eat, in the world.  At least they seem to have some healthier choices here though.

One things that the kids and I discovered that they hate riding with me. They have some understandable reasons!  I have not driven a manual in a few years. It has not been a complete relearning process, but it has been definitely painful. It is a bit unnerving to driving on the wrong side of the road and on the wrong side of the car. There are a lot of things to adjust to and then I have to remember to shift.  I have killed the engine too many times to count, mostly because, I end up sticking the gear shift in the wrong gear because I am panicking. The hills were a bit stressful at first, as well. I also tend to jerk the car a bit when I shift because I take the clutch out to fast! :) I like to drive my car like a race car!  Sadly, it makes the kids feel a bit woozy, especially when they have not had much to eat!  My older two remind me often as we are getting in the car that I go to the OTHER SIDE now.   I have had at least one person tell me to drive on the "right" side of the road.  Once when I was following Super Handsome when we were late for a viewing appointment, I pulled out in front of a man in a delivery van and he SCREAMED idiot at me.  Sadly, I just laughed.... and honestly, it still makes me laugh.  Maybe because he sounded a bit like Yosemite Sam when he is screaming at Bugs Bunny?  :P

On the plane with Thor, god of Thunder

I would recommend to you, if you have the ability to fly business class, do it!  Drink the free champagne, and drink up, because you did already pay for it!  We sat in coach and the champagne was NOT free!  (darn it!) Sadly, it was not as comfortable as my last trip to Italy when I was able to sit in business class.  Our flight was a bit over 7 hours. During this flight I sat with Kid 3. The movie selection was not  exciting for either of us. The rest of my family enjoyed watching Captain America, The Green Lantern, and the X-Men. Kid 3 and I are just not action type movie people. We will watch them with the others, but if given the choice we would prefer something else. So, Kid 3 watched the Disney channel and I watched parts of Midnight in Paris and a bit Downtown Abby, from last season. After dinner, Kid 3 broke his headphones into the arm rest. So, he was not able to listen to his show which worked fine as the lights were turned down and we tried to get some sleep.  It was very hard to get comfortable and I did not sleep much.

The funny part of the flight came as the steward was serving breakfast. To give you perspective, he looked like the foreign exchange student in the movie “Sixteen Candles". (You know, the one in the tree calling out "Ohhhh, Sexy American Girlfriend!"  bahahahahaha) As he is serving me breakfast, he points to the three rows of two that we have by the windows and asks if they all belong to me. I, of course, tell him yes. He then says that they are all so well behaved, especially the last two (my oldest sons). He proceeds to tell me how impressed he is and how polite they were because they called him “sir”! He then told me he wanted them to call him something more exciting and less formal, like “Thor, god of Thunder”!   

When Something Can Go Wrong It Will...

One thing that I have learned as a general rule is, when something can go wrong, it will.  Don't question it, expect it.  It is a rule in my life and so when things do go right I am very, very appreciative.  I also have learned to take the "screw ups" generally with laughter and gratefulness as the staff that I am dealing with is trying hard to compensate for the mistake they did not make!  Thankfully this trip was filled with little things, not big problems!

We said good-bye to my parents and sister and headed into the airport.  Our first problem was when Super Handsome's backpack was pulled out of security with his Leatherman in it!  He quickly ran it to our checked luggage.

When he rejoined us after we had made it through security, he told me our seats on the first flight out of Fort Wayne weren't together.  That was a simple, painless fix as the Stewardess advised us where to sit.  Super Handsome proceeded to direct the misplaced passengers to our old seats, problem solved!

As we left Fort Wayne we were lucky enough to see a rainbow!   Thank you Fort Wayne!  I like to think that the rainbow as good omen for our trip and oncoming year.  I was sitting with my youngest son and he said to me, “Look at the rainbow!  Is that where the pot of gold is?” as he pointed to the spot in the woods where the rainbow ended. “Sure is.” I replied! “Would be nice to have that pot, wouldn't it?” he nodded his head in agreement, dreaming of the toys he wants, I'm sure! :)  

They all enjoyed their short flight to Chicago. We landed and headed to our next gate. They were looking forward to the longer flight because they knew that they would be able to watch movies and eat dinner. We were all hungry and did not have any time to grab anything to eat!

Can you leave at 5:00 tonight?

That was the text and then phone call that I got from Super Handsome on Wednesday at noon!

Well, I guess..... unfortunately, is was necessary to leave Wednesday at the last minute for several reasons. Super Handsome needed to be at work in the UK two weeks ago, which in itself was a good enough reason. The other reasons had to do with our flights. If we left on Thursday not all of us could be on the same flights or even seated together and some of us would be flying stand by! Not a great situation with 4 kids. We could have left on Friday all together, but Super Husband really needed to be at work earlier.

My house was a mess and we were not completely packed. My fridges needed cleaning and purging. I had numerous errands that I needed to do as well. Thankfully, my mom and my sister came to help me with the cleaning part.  Also, I was fairly close to be done with the packing, there were just a few things that I needed to throw in, so that was finished rather quickly as well.  I prioritized the errands and did as much as I could, what did not get done, was just going to have to be undone!

I had planned a last little get together at a park for the kids, which I quickly called everyone and asked them to just drop by the house between 4 and 5. So, that worked out. We even found a home for our pleco fish at the last minute. Thank you to the Pastericks for taking him!

The whole situation was very stressful and then it was made more so by My two oldest sons disappearing as we were trying leave to go to the airport. We managed to find them quickly and then took them back to the house to grab what they needed and then we headed to the airport.

So, we still have a ton of loose ends left at home and I won't really be able to take care of them until we have regular internet access. We forgot quite a few things as well, like pajamas for our littlest two, our debit cards, swimsuits, and various cords to plug in different electronics, to name a few.  We will either manage with out them or we will buy it (not sure how yet!) or have them sent, depending on the situation!

Ah! The craziness has just begun, and that is an understatement!

Heading Out...

Well, it is finally reality.  As things have been rolling along, there have been days that I have wanted to pinch myself and ask  "Is really happening?".

My kids have felt the same way, Youngest Son has been asking to leave tomorrow.  All the kids were excited when I took them out of school September 12th.  I think they are going to be disappointed to go to school after we arrive!

Last week we went to visit Super Handsome's family.  While we were in Maryland, we also had to get a copy of our marriage certificate to include with our visa applications.  Super Handsome sent the application out of Wednesday.  We then flew to Boston Wednesday evening to attend a training that was mostly about taxes and finances.

Yesterday was a big day!  The packers came and packed our things.  We also found out that our Visas were approved.  So, if all goes as planned we will leave this week and begin our new adventure!

Now for me it is a race against time.  I have a long list of things that I want to accomplish before I leave. If it does not get done, then it just doesn't get done.  We will manage and we will cope.  All in all my kids will appreciate that I took the time to let them see their friends instead of pushing on the list, the list. Because really the rest is gravy, the hard things are done and it is time to enjoy time with our friends!  We will miss them over the year!

Sweating the Big and Small Stuff

The past few weeks have been turbulent for us, well at least for me... not to say that others in my house have not been stressed, but I sure have had my share of it.  But things happen in threes, right?  Not really, they just keep happening.

After stressing over and over about the schools.  I talked to Oldest Son and he put things into perspective for me (leading me to think I should have talked to him sooner, or at least maybe he should have said it to me sooner).  He told me that with his current schedule he would only have to take 2 required classes as a senior to graduate.  So, our move to the UK would only change that he would maybe have to take more required classes as a senior.  The counselor at his high school also assured me that the would work with him.  Over, done and out.

We have had ongoing health issues here at the Beary house.  Thankfully the all seem to be under control again, except for the 2 kidney stones Super Handsome has to pass.  Oh, and the cold that seems to be getting passed back and forth.

Housing, well, we will figure it out when we get there.  Super Handsome likes Bishops Stortford, so we are planning to look for a home in that area.  It is apparently a nice little town that we could do a lot of biking in and the trains are very convenient.

Everyone has most of their clothing packed.  I may have to help my older two repack some so that they will have warm enough clothing for now and then when we get there.

Our house and animals?  I still have some loose ends to tie up, but I am confident that the right answer will come along.   We still have to get the furnace fixed and the pool cover put back on and the pool closed.

Sometimes you just have to roll along with the waves that life sends you and that is what I am trying to do.  I just want to keep upright in this adventure and focused on moving forward the best that we can!

Now, back to connecting with friends and saying good-bye.  Oh, and celebrating my second son becoming a teenager on Monday!