Keeping up with the Clarks: U.K. Week 1

I've really been wanting to blog but I have been...le tired. So I'll just do a thought dump. This might lack creativity. So far:

The cider is GREAT.
English food is good
and...
the roads are CRAZY.

I thought IPAs went down too easy. Now I have a whole new problem: cider.

Driving in the English countryside will be the scariest thing about this assignment. I had no idea.

I've been spending my evenings drinking tea and doing fun activities like studying for my U.K. drivers permit. I passed with the minimum score of 80% today. So more "Highway Code" review is in my near future. But really, the book isn't going to help when you are driving down tiny roads with no shoulders in the dark with deep ditches on either side full of 20 feet of water. The roads in the countryside surrounding the base were not designed for fast cars. They were designed for slow tractors and horses.

Yesterday we put a holding deposit on a house in Ely. We fell in love with the house when we viewed it so we jumped on it; there have been less and less properties to let as we move into winter, and especially with all the things we were looking for so that was a huge relief. It is cozy, right off the river, across the street from a cute tearoom and antique store, has a decent yard for the pups, and is in walking distance of the train station, the grocery store, restaurants, pubs, the cathedral and several other charming little sites.

Now that we know where we will live, we will set up a local bank account. SIM cards should be in the mail now so I can be connected to the world again with my iHand.... :) But really, it will just be nice for Dave and I to have phones to get a hold of each other in a foreign country. We are still driving our "Reliable Rental" around town (and I guess until we passed our test today, sort of illegally? Ok let's be honest this scaredy cat has only driven once. Like 10 feet to the Commissary. And I think I forgot to drive on the left)...a heavy duty Honda Accord with 130, 000 miles on it. So we need to buy a car soon. We may try to just get by with one for now; as I mentioned, the house we found is in walking distance of basically everything I could need.

The process of signing a lease off base is sort of drawn out because the base must go inspect the house for safety...in our best interest, I guess. Hopefully that goes smoothly. Since we got here, we've been staying in temporary lodging on base. We had to switch rooms today (while simultaneously attending the mandatory Newcomers Brief...it's all about somehow doing 2 things at once right now), adding another level of confusion and stress for the dogs. I am guessing we'll be here for about 3 more weeks. I know what the relief will feel like for all of us when they have a yard again.

Dave and I are both sick. Should have totally expected that to happen. I was just starting to get back into my running a few days ago when it came on; maybe my body doesn't agree with the damp cold yet.

Everyone who has moved here has told us it will take AT LEAST 30 days to get settled. So for now, it's one day at a time. It's laying down at night exhausted but appreciative of this opportunity. It's moments of excitement mixed with moments of pure anxiety. Thankful we're here as a family & thankful for the warm welcome we have received from friends in the form of cooked meals, care packages with British goodies and truly making us feel like we can call for anything (with our pay as you go phone from 1990 that I barely know how to operate....but it works). Also, the locals. Very kind!

Cheers!