What's Cooking?

When we first moved to London I posted about the ready to cook meals that are common at the grocery stores.  We've eaten some delicious chicken with prosciutto & asparagus, ham with honey glaze, and chicken roast wrapped in bacon.  We also love the stir fry kit that gets dinner on the table in less than 15 minutes.

Our favorite promotion is when Marks & Spencer has a Dine For 2 promotion that runs fortnightly (that's every two weeks).  We can get a main course meat, vegetable side, dessert, and a bottle of wine for £10 ($16).  It is meant to feed two people, but I can stretch it for all four of us.  It's quite a deal.

While that's a wonderful convenience, there are days when I actually feel like making a meal for the family from scratch.  I've made some new meals that we really like, and I bet you will like them too.  The two meals I linked below are from Mel's Kitchen Cafe.  I've made many things from this blog, but these are two of our favorites.  You should make them soon.  

Sweet & Sour Chicken - This dish is amazing.  I doubled the recipe the first time , but I did not double the sugar for the sauce; I used one and a half of the recommended sugar.  My kids inhaled it.  Oldest Kiddo said with a mouthful, "You know mom, this is really good."  I don't think I can ask for a better testament.  

Crispy Southwest Wraps - A superb dish to have on a Monday or Tuesday to use up the leftover roast or chicken from Sunday dinner.  It's a very flexible dish that for the most part accommodates what you have in the pantry.  The recipe as listed makes a lot of filling.  I bet you could freeze some if you have extras.  I gave our extras to the handyman that came to fix a few things to avoid another expat faux pas.  

Bon Appetit!

First Weeks In School

What do I think about school so far?

So far, everyone is happy!  There are some obvious differences between our new school and our old school.

Uniform - This is the biggest difference from our school in the US.  Just about every school in the UK has a uniform whether public or private.  Each week the newsletter reminds parents of the uniform components and how it's mandatory to wear it.  We had to purchase the polos & sweatshirts from the school and the pants from the department store.  I am happy to report that the department stores have a school uniform section with extremely affordable clothes.  They bottoms are all polyester and the tags suggest to keep away from flame.  Nail polish and dangle earrings are prohibited.  Girls can only wear stud earrings.  Oldest Kiddo added a barrette to her hair today, I do hope that is an approved accessory.  It is nice to know what the kids will wear each day, but I have to keep up with the laundry as they each only have two polos and sweatshirts.

 

Lessons - Oldest Kiddo has many enrichment lessons planned into her week.  Each week she has PE two times, a clarinet lesson, a chess lesson, and a French lesson.  Soon swimming will be added to the mix.  That's one busy week!

Transportation - We live over one mile from school, and getting to school takes some planning.  We have two options: walk all the way (30 minutes) or take a bus 2/3 of the way and walk the rest (15 minutes).  I plan for the bus to school as it gives the kids a relaxed morning.  I use my favorite app to see what time the bus will arrive.  Lately the bus schedule isn't as convenient so we've had to walk in a pinch or arrive at school earlier than I like.  The kids love the bus.  After school I have the kids take turns to decide if we should walk or take the bus.  It's been rain and windy for most of the afternoons so the bus has been our main mode.  

Dressing for PE - Both kids have to change their clothes for PE.  I can't imagine the scene in Youngest Kiddo's room.  I bet most of their PE time is spent changing their clothes.  The most awkward part is that both kids change in the classroom.  In front of each other.  Oldest Kiddo is getting to the age where the genders should really be separate, in my opinion.  Another expat mom on the playground agrees with me.  She shared her concern with the Head Teacher, and she was told her that this is just the way they do it in Britain.  End of story.  Now we plan for her to wear a tank top under her uniform on PE days.  

School lunch (also called school dinner) -  At our old school Oldest Kiddo could decide each day whether or not she wanted hot lunch.  Here the kids have to decide for half of the term (aka semester, trimester) if they want hot or packed lunch.  The school was gracious to let the kids try hot lunch for a week so they could decide if they liked it.  There are three choices per day plus a dessert.  As you can see below the menu is quite varied.  After a week of hot lunch both decided they want packed lunches until the half term.  Secretly I wanted them to take the hot lunch so I didn't have to pack lunches every morning.  Oh well.  

Friendly Parents - I am surprised and humbled by the number of parents that have introduced themselves on the playground.  A few continue to talk to me in the morning, which I really appreciate.  One funny thing is that it's gotten around that we are from Chicago.  When people introduce themselves they say, "I hear you're from Chicago.  That's the Windy City, right?"  or "Wow, they have a lot of snow there right now!"

As long as the kids are happy, so am I.  Wait until the month is over and I'll share how many miles I've walked this month.  You won't believe it.  

Finding A School In London - We Found One!

The kids survived their first week in British Public Schools.  Well, Oldest Kiddo survived.  Youngest Kiddo developed a fever on Thursday night.  I was really surprised that he got sick since.  In the last eight weeks they've been all over the city, been breathed & coughed on, and touched every railing and pole on transportation that they should have Superman immunity.  I guess nothing is immune to the germfest that is a five-year-old classroom.  By Saturday morning he was back to himself, eating everything he could to make up for the missed meals.

Starting school has not been without it's own set of frustration and annoyances along the way.  Back in October I shared my take on how you apply for schools.  Since we applied after the school year started, our process was a little different, but you get the idea that it's a pain in the arse.  Our house is on the border of another school council (for ease of understanding we will call it a district).  I applied for schools in our district and in the neighboring district.  We have a school that is approximately 20 houses away, and dreamed that it would be amazing to be offered a place for both kids.

I applied before Christmas, and I knew I would not hear anything until the first of the year.  In January I received an offer in the post for Youngest Kiddo at a school about a mile away.  An email to the district revealed that Oldest Kiddo would be offered a spot at the school by the house.  That was a bummer for us because we really wanted them at the same school.  A week ago Thursday, Matt received a call from the Head Teacher in the neighboring district for a school just over a mile away to offer both kids a spot.  Since the kids have been out of school since mid-November we jumped at the chance for them to start school together on Monday.

We met with the Head Teacher, and she took us on a tour of the school to meet the teachers.  Before we left we purchased the uniforms and did a little happy dance all the way home that they were going to school.

On Monday morning the kids were elated to go to school.  They got ready in record time, and they happily walked the distance to school.  I'll admit that I got a little teary when I walked away from the school; these two kids have been my shadow 24/7 for the last eight weeks.  The tears quickly dissipated when I reveled in the peace while I enjoyed a latte and pain au chocolat at the coffee shop.

When I arrived home the post man had just delivered the day's mail.  In the day's mail was an offer for both kids at the school by the house.  Are you kidding me?  What happened to the offer the district sent me last week for Youngest Kiddo to go to another school?  I was beyond angry at this moment.  Over the weekend I came to terms that the trip to school would be just over one mile each way.  We'd have to leave for school 30-40 minutes before the bell to make sure Mr. Short Legs could make the trip.  Now my district can change their mind and make a different offer?!

We could take the kids out of their current school and place them by the house.  I've already bought the uniform shirts, but the school by the house requires the same pants and shoes.  Ugh, but they could not stop talking about how much fun they had on their first day.  Oldest Kiddo even says she made a friend.  The pros & cons continued.

Ultimately we decided to keep them at the first school.  This school is rated higher than the school by the house.  To give the kids some additional sleep time, we can take the bus to and from if they so choose.  I look at the walk each day as a free gym membership.  Plus the location is super convenient to the shops I need to visit several times a week since my refrigerator is miniscule.

Lesson Learned - Expat Faux Pas

There is no How To manual for moving to a foreign country.  Sure, there is help to get the kids into school, find a place to live, etc.  However, the day-to-day tasks are a learn on the job type of situation.

I was lucky enough to experience two in the same day.

Quick back story:
If you want to watch television in Britain, you have to pay for a TV license.  For the annual cost of £145.50 for color TVs and £49 for black & white TVs (they still exist?), you have access to over fifty Freeview channels via an aerial antenna.  Funny that it's called Freeview, yet you still pay for a license.  Our aerial did not pick up the channels so we had an installer out to the house to replace the bum antenna that was left for us.

My first faux pas was upon opening the door.  He asked if I had a parking permit he could use.  We have not purchased a parking permit as we do not have a car.  Mr. Installer was not pleased with that answer.

"You should really have a permit for the contractors that come to your house.  If I get a ticket it's on you to pay for it," says Mr. Installer.

I don't think I responded to his declarative statement, yet my mouth opened as if my brain had a response to share.  Truthfully I have not seen a traffic officer on our street, but that's not to say today wouldn't be the day they decide to check permits.  He did bring up a valid point.  If you have someone out to the house and live in a parking-restricted area, what are you to do?

The next one took me by surprise when Mr. Installer requested a "cuppa tea."  First of all, that is quite forward when I'm used to the host offering the beverages instead of the guest.  Secondly, I'm paying Mr. Installer to do work and not drink a cuppa.  To dissapoint Mr. Installer once again, I had to break it to him that I had no tea in the house.

His response was much the same as I had when he told me I'd pay for his ticket.  He shook his head and said something about how I should have tea for my contractors as well.  I shared that we had just moved into the house and I did not have a fully stocked pantry as of yet.  He did not need to know we've been here for a month.

Mind you this whole situation is taking place in about three minutes.

Over the course of his one-hour installation, he brought up wanting/needing/how I should provide tea at least three times.   By the last time he brought it up, I sternly told him that if I had tea I would gladly make it for him.  Since I don't have any tea I can't.  He sensed the annoyance in my voice and surprisingly became really nice for the last bit of time he was here.  Possibly because he knew he could leave and get tea somewhere else?

Lessons learned:
Our local council sells temporary parking permits on a perforated sheet of 10 cards.  When needed I am to scratch off the date and time and the contractor places it on his dash.

I did a search to see if it is really necessary to provide tea for the contractors that come to your house.  The overwhelming answer was yes.  Some go as far as making meals & snacks, but mostly just tea.  I'm still not on board with this.  Having a cuppa keeps them from doing the job I'm paying them to do, but I guess it's part of the culture.  Now I have a box of tea in the pantry so I don't disappoint again.

You can be most assured that there will be more faux pas to come.

A Tale of Two Cities

Our friends and family back in Chicago are dealing with some outrageous weather today.  The windchill is predicted near 50 below zero fahrenheit, and the wind chill warning lasts until noon on Tuesday.  Schools are closed today for fear of the little cheeks & noses that might freeze on their way to school, no matter how short the walk.  I also think about my colleagues that drive from some more rural areas that would have to deal with drifting snow on the roads.  Good choice by the school districts to be safe.  Chicago Public Schools are even closed today, and that rarely happens.

In addition to the significant wind chills, the midwest has experienced quite a bit of snow in the last week.  Over New Years Eve & New Years Day our former hometown received 12 inches of snow.  Since then a few more inches have fallen to put the total amount of snow on the ground to almost 20 inches.

The kids would love to have a little bit of snow in London, but we can certainly do without the extreme wind chill.  Stay warm my friends!

A4 Update - December 2013

Incase you missed it, here's a December recap

Tower of London & Tower Bridge

• We moved into our house in a great borough in London
• Oldest Kiddo has lost 3 teeth (5 in all since moving to London!)
• Our container from The 407 arrived just before Christmas.  The kids were so happy to have their toys!
• Santa found us with no problems, whew.
• While getting used to grocery shopping in England, I think we bought milk almost everyday
• We submitted the kids' school applications; not sure when we will hear back about placements.  Fingers crossed that it's very soon.  
• We hosted our first overnight visitor.

Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood?

We have no idea who lives in our neighborhood.  No one makes eye contact on the street.  When you take the chance and say, "Hello," they look shocked that someone is speaking to them.  

However, the people in our neighborhood live in some pretty impressive houses.  Much of the area near our house and the Underground station is a long-standing conservation area (CA) comprised of many Queen Anne-style homes.  The CA has stringent rules about changes to outside and even the inside of some houses.  Their careful consideration is our gain.  I feel like each time we head outside, we see something new and always beautiful.

The half mile to the Underground station may seem far, but it is a lovely walk in our neighborhood.  The houses have similarities, but they all have a different twist that makes them unique.  We've come across different stained glass front windows, ornately tiled front garden paths, and well-kept hedges on our exploratory walks.

If people won't talk to us, their houses sure tell nice stories.