Settling into My New Home

So, I’m just coming to the end of my first full week of AuPair duties.  I’m starting to get settled in, getting use to the daily routine and feeling pretty good about it all. The surroundings are starting to become more and more familiar and I fully support the idea of getting lost being the best way to learn your way around a place. Some of my favorite times so far have been just going out for a drive around the town or surrounding towns all separated by these amazing looking fields, hills and pastures. I can’t even begin to explain how beautiful this place is and a picture just wouldn’t do it justice. I don’t think driving down a wide open road surrounded by the London countryside will ever get old.

one lane bridges that are everywhere

 I manned up and decided to go to the gym with Lisa the other night, which ended up being the best idea yet(I think my chances of having a social life went up about 50% and even better my chances of finding the good looking Brit causing me to never more back went up about 30%). They belong to the Mentmore Country Club, which is just a 10 minute drive from their house. Mentmore is a rich town with old mansions that are unbelievable. Supposedly (I haven’t seen the movie), Batman Returns(I think) was filmed at the Mentmore mansion, this huge castle looking thing that can be seen from the golf course(I’ll try to get a picture). But the gym was really cool, very modern. I’m trying to get a membership this weekend so I can get in shape for vacation in February…Dubai anyone? Lisa said last time they went when Kate was a baby she couldn’t even go in the water it was so warm. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for everything to fall into place because that would be quite the vacation especially in the middle of a London winter.

Kate and I went into Tring on Thursday to go shopping for Beth’s birthday present and went to a cute store called Fancy That. I went to pay with the card Lisa gave me(the one used to deposit my money in each week I get paid but it is under her name) and with my luck had some courtesy call where I had to talk to the card company on the phone. The first question they asked was date of birth, which obviously I did not know and that didn’t go over well. Long story short I got the card taken away and cut up….so much for my first purchase in the UK(bummer!).

It was such a nice day though so we walked around the main street a while. There was a singer on the corner we gave some change too that had such a nice (loving-old man sorta tune) voice singing an old Irish sounding song. It’s the little things I’m loving about this town, that’s for sure.  I stopped and bought Kate some sweeties(candy), the whole lingo thing is actually more different than I thought!  They get really confused when I call them “girlfriend” and “girlfriend” is also when a boy dates a girl.

Trousers = pants

Pants = underwear

Trainers = gym shoes

Tea = dinner

Pudding = dessert

I feel like there are a million but I'm totally blanking.

I’ve met many parents at the school and have already scheduled my very first play date! We’re going to have tea(dinner) at Abbie and Kate’s friends house next Tuesday J. Lisa has also talked to two of her friends who have aupairs- one from France and one from Denmark- and we are supposed to meet sometime this/next week hopefully!!

Today I had the day to myself from 9 when I drop the girls off till 3 then ran some errands (getting my picture taken, stopping at the ATM and going to get my train ticket from the station). I had some extra time before picking the girls up at school so I went and walked around by the canals. I'd never been to this side of the canals yet and it was kind of scary so I took a few pictures and booked it. 

houseboats

Beth is having her birthday party on Saturday so we’re going to some pottery place I think. Later that night the whole family and I (minus Kate) are going to see Footloose at the theater in Tring. Its performed by teenagers but Lisa says they are always good shows so I’m still excited!

I’m hoping to go into the city on Sunday if they don’t have plans already to do some shopping and sightseeing before it gets cold. Hopefully I’ll have some pictures to post when I get back! 

Photo shoot:

 

Abbie and Kate watching cartoons in my room

Silly faces

Hear no evil, See no evil, Speak no evil

Beth wanted in

The three little ones