Friday, 13 December 2013 - Winding Down from the First Full Week In Wales

This is going to be an ongoing day.  First let me share what I discovered:  Guess the item:

Not Slack - Just Busy!

Hi y'all!  Seriously, been terribly busy.  Today was a rather hectic but productive and busy day!  Took Cameron to his new school, Bryn Elian, to see the school and get his courses sorted.  I will be honest and tell you that his mentors, Iain and Alex were ever so helpful.  What nice young men.  As it turns out, they will be in his form with him.  The PE teachers were all excited to a)have an American in their school b)an athlete c)they have him pegged already for various sports!  (Rugby being the top one).  One teacher, even suggested that Cam maybe even start an American Football coaching group and teach the others about the sport.  Time will tell.  I know that Cam was happy when he took a picture of the school upon leaving.  I didn't take pictures, YET!  Those will come on Monday.

This weekend will be spent going to some beautiful mountains.  Betwys-y-Coed and Snowdonia.  Here we will take on the world of little twee villages.  I am exhausted today.  Tomorrow is Quiz Night at St. Joseph's, Declan's school.  This should be fun.  More tomorrow.  I still have Christmas shopping to do. 

Take care all,
Leanne

And so the British Education Begins.... First Day for Declan....

Today was Declan's first day of school.  He is in Year 4 (that is 3rd grade to the US)!  Drop off was purely uneventful.  He went off with a happy face with the lovely Mr. Roberts, chatting away, saying goodbye (sort of) and discussing his desire to learn the drums (convenient seeing that today is drum instrction day).  So yes, we will have to get him drum sticks.  No drum kit.  Here is Declan in uniform:

He looks like a proper little British school boy!  Didn't do any Welsh today, but he came home with 14 words for spelling and sentences.  OK, this is going to be a challenge I thought.  Oh wait, that is one of the words.  All words in cursive, and then 10 sentences.  Their cursive is different than ours in the US, but we survived.

We went to register with the local doctors surgery (Doctors office), only to discover there is more paper work to do.

Visited Joyce and Dave today.  And, we booked Ollie's flight here for Christmas holiday.  Honestly today was a bit of a low key day.  Oh, did I mention we drove by the school 2 times to "spy" on Declan?  He seemed happy and running around playing Dr. Who episodes.  Today was the one with the wooden dollies that turn you into wood.  I don't know Dr. Who, but I guess I better get with the programme, I suppose.  We are chilling for the night and hopefully Cameron will be registered this week for his new school, Bryn Elian and this is where the real challenge is going to be.  Oh and we looked into the local gym, aLeisure Centre,it's going to be good.

Signing off today, tired and well it's one of those days...  yep, feeling homesick.  Peace and love to you all.

New Territory to Explore

Cam and Declan at the Littlest House, Conwy, North Wales

Goat on the Road on the Way to the Great Orme, Llandudno, North Wales.

The summit of the Great Orme, Sun breaking through

The Great Orme, sun shine through!

Today we ventured out to Conwy Castle to explore.  What a magnificent castle.  The views breathtaking and the history amazing.  I will let the pictures speak for themselves. These are just a few of what we took today!  More tomorrow.  We also visited the Great Orme.  Need to get those pictures downloaded.  Tomorrow is another day...  Declan will begin his day at his new school.  I will post some pictures of him in his uniform.  For now..  enjoy the pictures!

Bird looking at human!  Conwy Castle, Conwy North Wales

Bridge down below!

Cam in a "window" of the Castle at Conwy!

Conwy Castle Tower

Conwy Castle.

Beautiful view of the castle, how huge and magnificient it is!

Just another part of Conwy Castle

A mask shield Cam wants from the Knight Shoppe!

Looking up into the part of the castle.

Is this a boat that isn't moored right?  HMMM!  View from the castle.

Declan at Conwy with a beautiful carving.

Rhos on Sea 5 minutes from home!

The Tide is High by Cameron Bell

Tide is High Rhos on Sea by Cameron Bell

Night view at the Sea - Colwyn Bay by Cameron Bell

Tide is out....  Colwyn Bay

English to Welsh!  LOL!

Grocery Shopping 101 US vs UK You Determine the Winner

The Grocery Store, well, no, in the UK it is the Supermarket...  interesting and a learning experience.  Let's do this British style!  There are a variety of supermarkets in the UK...  they range in sizes - from the convenience store to the superstore size.  I have been to 3 of varying types. Day 1 - The Cooperative Store - small, conveneient, and actually really good and they support local farmers and the such!  They actually have an amazing Cheese and Jalapeno freshly baked bread!  YES, it is freshly bakes, but of course, they were out when I went in.  Day 3, Friday, went to Lidl's.  Just okay, nothing exciting and honestly not impressive.  Today, Day 4...  Morrison's.  I love this store, it is medium sized, and actually pretty amazing and not chaotic....More supermarket stores to be explored soon....

Rule 1:  One must always bring their own bags (reusuable) to the store.  Yes, yes, yes...  you can get a plastic bag for your own groceries, but...  it is seriously expensive:  at 5 pence/little plastic bag about 10 cents to the American community.  This is a way of typical recycling and saving the earth, a huge initiative in the UK!  Kudo's to them!  I am embracing this.

Rule 2:  Shopping Trolly (Shopping Cart US version) - pay for this too, £1 but when you return the cart you get your £1 back.  Now, something I learned today at Morrison's, from a very kind/local lady - wait for it...  you can go to most of the little charity stores here (British Heart Foundation, Cancer, Hospice...  Oxfam - so many, I can't begin to name them..  more on living in the Charity shop capital of the UK) another time...  you can get little trolley tokens there at no expense..  Very interesting fact.  I will explore that one time soon, no doubt. 

Signing off to cook supper for the lads.  Love to all!

While taking Cooper for a walk, Declan decided to climb up the ivy-laden hill.  I was worried, he went sliding down almost headfirst into the tree.  I then said, "I am going to have to call 911 at this rate Declan!"  Then I remembered, or should I say, prompted to remember...  that it's 999 here.  Another note to self.  We went out to visit Chris' mum and dad.  Picked up Dave to go to see Joyce.  So sad.  Everytime, everytime...  Dave weeps!  It is heartbreaking.  Today Joyce seemed rather tired, and was sleeping the whole visit.  I got a chance to meet the nurses.  They are really attentive and very kind.  We are now on first name basis.  About to venture out to a large grocery store.  Be back soon.  As they say here:  Tootlepip!  Missing America, and I know that new adventures will unfold. 

Day 3 In the World of Wales.....

Saturday - 3 days in the world of Wales.  The first two days are a blur to be perfectly honest.  We did manage to get Declan to visit his new school.  St. Joseph's RC School.  His uniform is set and he is ready to start on Monday.  Interesting points from here to America:  all kids wear uniforms in all schools, the children seem to be very well spoken and very polite.  Declan's teacher is a man, Mr. Roberts.  He seems ever so inviting to help Declan with words and such.  He said it will be a great experience to learn how he speaks and for Declan to understand what they say.  When Declan said he was from New Jersey, the whole class was interested, especially the one who "knows every place in the world".  This lad seem to raise his hand and was full of questions.  The kids all look normal and "not like aliens" as Declan put it.  The other great thing I learned is that they are allowed to say Christmas and not worry about offending anyone.  That is most refreshing.  I think Declan will be happy here.  A bit apprehensive the first day or so, but seems like it will all work out.  Cameron's venture willl start next week, going to visit Bryn Elian with him.  He is more apprehensive, but I am sure he will do great.  I will report on that visit next week.

I digress, Thursday, we had a storm here.  Waves crashing over the sea wall and into the street.  I was worried about the shells and pebbles hitting the cars.  We seemed to be okay.  Further up the coast, the rail line is out until NEXT Thursday, the 13th of December.

I must learn to write the date as they do here:  day then month then year!  We all are learning that way of writing.  There seems to be a lot to learn.  Today we are gaining some access to the new home, haven't closed on it yet.  That is yet to happen, but should be early next week.  Need to get some sort of stabilitlty for all our sanity.

Finally, Cooper.  Cooper LOVES the sea.  Runs off leash and has many puppy dog friends.  He comes when called.  He thinks he owns the beach.  No other dog should be allowed on that beach without his permission.  The view is spectaculour.  Sea and piers and such.  Pictures of the Coopster playing on the beach later too.

Today we will venture out more, grocery stores, which will be an experience, visiting Joyce and Dave, which is another blog in itself.  The love that they have is endearing and sad.  Seeing Dave cry when even discussing Joyce is heartbreaking enough.  Joyce is in her own world.  Non-reactive most of the time.  She got irritated with Chris last night, when he tried to trim her nails.  Her mouth was irritating her, so we brushed her teeth, and she seemed a wee bit more confortable with that.  Hard to say really.  It's all a bit of sad state of affairs.

I miss you all from across the pond.  More later and our adventures continue.  Love and Hugs and Cheerio as they say!