My 'real' camera apparently hates the fact that I use a Mac and will not download to my computer. Additionally, my internet is painfully slow and I refuse to pay for bandwidth. My posts will be light on pictures as a result.
We braved the tube for the first time! All in all a really good experience. Clare loved the choo choo train and really wanted to go on one again today. By the end, Brooke was a pro at reading the subway map and letting me know where to we needed to get off. One time she actually saved us. I was talking to a lovely young couple from Louisiana who were backpacking across Europe and not paying attention. Luckily Brooke was! There is really only one problem with the tube. Many if not most of the stations are not handicap accessible. No lift or escalator. I brought a stroller with me. This meant one of three things. Either lift the stroller Clare and all and climb the stairs, take Clare out, have her hold Brooke's or Caleb's hand, and me carry the stroller, or take clare out, fold the stroller and carry both Clare and stroller up the stairs. Not only am I sore, but I look like I have been beaten. My legs have so many bruises on them. I am not sure how I will roll with the stroller tomorrow when we go out. It was so nice to have it with us when we were not in the subway. It meant that I didn't have Clare on my front or back. But it was such a pain getting on and off trains. We shall see.
We chose the Tower of London as our first outing. It is a straight shot on the district line from Richmond upon Thames. No train changes. There is a Starbucks right outside, so I was able to get coffee and use internet on my phone for the first time since being here! Then we had to go potty. Guess what? You have to pay to go potty! 50 pence a person to go potty! It's like this on the tube too. We had an awesome time at the Tower. Brooke loved it and kept asking us to wait because she hadn't read something. It was so awesome. I wished my mom was there because her and Brooke would have had such an amazing time reading everything. I, of course, didn't read much. I was either preventing Caleb from crossing a rope or touching something that he wasn't supposed to or tending with Clare. The kids got to pick up a real cross bow from the time and try on a helmet. We have to go back to see the dungeon and the crown jewels, but I bought the membership. It was only 10 pounds more and gets us in free to all the castles.
Then we had to find Whole Foods Market which is in Picadilly circus. Unfortunately, the one in Richmond doesn't open until October. Damn the luck!. That was an adventure. It was about 5 pm rush hour. We had to switch a million trains. People kept asking me if I needed help carrying the stroller up and down the stairs. I must have looked pathetic! I did let a few people once Clare fell asleep and I couldn't take her out of the stroller. One guy traded me his phone and nice head phones while he carried Clare up the stairs. At least that time, I knew she was safe.:)
All in all, a successful first outing. The kids were exhausted though. I had woken Caleb up at 8:30 am, but it was extremely difficult. He would have slept until 11 I think. They asked if we could just rest and stay close to the hotel today, so we did.
I still woke them up at 8:30 am and we went down to breakfast. Clare has charmed the breakfast waitstaff. She told one of the grandmotherly ones thank you after she had given her a napkin today and I thought the waitress might explode with joy at the cuteness of it.
Then we went swimming at the health club. I met some American Ex Pats who were very helpful. They let me join their group. They knew about better housing for us (we are currently in a hotel). They also knew good babysitters in case we want to leave Clare and take Brooke and Caleb to see Les Mis. I am not sure that I would do that anyway. I might just take them and have Will keep Clare, but it was so nice to meet a familiar face and helping hand.
Back to the hotel for sandwiches and some Minecraft time. I have been seriously depriving these children from their Minecraft time and they have been telling me about it. Brooke even told me that she dreamt of Minecraft last night. I do really wish that I could upload a picture right here. Brooke and Caleb on their computers and Clare laying head on Caleb, feet on Brooke watching my iPad. So cute.
Now to figure out the laundry and a cheaper method of eating with less risk of gluten exposure! We found a laundry mat and all in all it was a good experience. Laundry mats always piss me off because their dryers suck. It is no different in London. Luckily, we only took a small load because I wasn't sure of what I was doing. Still it was an hour in the heat (yes I know I am complaining about 85 when its a million degrees back home), but there was no a/c and dryers running all around me.
Off to a store to buy my very first George Forman grill! 25 pounds and worth every penny. I don't think we had gotten away for under 75 pounds any meal we had had since we had been here. Tonight, I bought a grill, steaks, bananas, apples, chips, grapes, plates, water, wine, and a few other things for less than $50. The kids said it was the best meal they had had (even though I overcooked the meat). So thankful that they like real food!
After dinner, they played a bit more Minecraft and I messed around on my computer. Then off to the park. I wore Clare on my back so that we could go down to the river Thames. There are a bunch of stares leading down to a Grotto and tunnel under the street that we hadn't done with the stroller. The stairs are super small and steep so it just didn't work with stroller. Anyway, it was a magical time. We loved the river. There was a tree we found that had to be 5-6 feet across on the trunk. There was another one that had been cut down. The kids had a blast jumping on it. Clare joined in the fun. She was so cute chasing them around while they played their fighting game. She even had her sword and attacked them.
Well that's our first two days in London. Gonna get to bed! We are either heading to Hyde park or Kings cross tomorrow depending on weather.
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