all that matters

So finally after three weeks of trying to arrange the paperwork we have picked up the keys to our car.  For the time being all you need to know about the vehicle, is that the three year old in our family has given it her blessing as the central console and cup holders can be lit up in various colours

of course her favourite is pink!

talking of 3 years olds, it bath time.

Adopo

Muswell

morning commute

One of the many reasons for leaving the UK was that had I become so tired with the daily commute,  when Aila was born it became clear very quickly that if we stayed in the UK, I would never have the opportunity to spend much quality time with Aila than if we were to move country. I may be old fashioned in this view,  when I became a father I didn't want to be the dad who was never there, I only have one daughter, I wanted to maximise my time with her.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed riding the scooter for the past 2 years, indeed I even managed to refine my route over time, so that the journey time from office to home took no longer than 45 minutes. My goal when moving over here was to have a commute of no longer than 15-20 minutes.

When we started looking at properties they were all within this time range, ultimately we settled on our current apartment which is the grand total of a five minute walk from the office.  So now rather than driving through Brixton, Clapham, down the albert embankment and up the mall (i'll admit there are worse commutes in life!) My commute now takes me over the bridge and past the ice rink, not quite the Mall and Buckingham Palace, for the time being though I prefer the ice rink and the zamboni....

Muswell

going back to the future and chocolate brown

One of my earlier memories in life is driving down to Heathrow from my grandparents house in Norfolk, as a family we were about to depart for a new life in Botswana, to be honest I don't think at the age of 3 you really comprehend what that includes, you just know that you don't want to leave your grandparents and from what I recall most particularly, in my case my Grandad Jim. 


There are two moments in particular that are vivid in my mind, the first was that we reset the trip mileage on the dark chocolate brown cortina, he was driving at the time. I recall wanting to know just how far a journey it was, I suspect this may have been a diversion tactic to keep me out of the way, whilst my parents packed the bags. By the way, what is it with chocolate brown? its a colour that we never seem to be able to escape, even over here its seems no house has been built in the past without having had its walls painted chocolate brown, at least once in its life. 

Is it obligatory that in a house over the age of 20 years old that it must have been painted chocolate brown? was there a time when all houses were simultaneously chocolate brown? This must have been in the era of the black and white TV. I can see it now, ooo that chocolate brown looks nice Arthur, do you think we should decorate the hallway chocolate brown its looks very good on TV, everyone's doing it you know, they say its the new magnolia

Anyhow back on topic, the second memory of that day is standing in the car park overlooking, what I presume was Terminal 2, stretching  below as far as I could see, well I was only 3! were a sea of aeroplanes, this was certainly the first time  I had seen a jumbo jet, I was enthralled and recall not wanting to leave the car park. 

... So fast forward some 35 years and there I was at Heathrow, albeit sat in the lounge with my own 3 year old, ok so sat is the wrong term... trying desperately to keep her entertained whilst her mum had a break would be more truthful. At some stage I happened to look out of the window and I happened to see the plane that would fly us off to the next chapter in our life, suddenly I couldn't help but cast my mind back all those years.


We never did check the mileage on the trip....

Muswell

woooooooow....

So I guess we had better start with an apology....if you were waiting patiently every day for an update on here, or even worse were worrying if we had made it safely.....well we did, I have just been far too busy with home and work. Sorry! 


We safely arrived on time and have been in the apartment for 3 weeks this Friday, doesn't time fly when your shopping and trying to organise your life!


I will backfill over the coming days, however briefly I wanted to share this little morsel with you. As some readers may be aware I have a healthy (some may find alternative words, Laura for one) interest in sport. 


About eighteen months ago Verizon begun to run trailers online for  their fibre optic cable service, which just happened to run often on several US sports websites I happen to read, I guess they knew their market!


So on the very first day we were here, I had arranged for Verizon to install FIOS in the apartment, obviously my main consideration was to ensure we had an internet service to allow us to Skype with family and friends. That being said having also subsequently purchased our 46" wide screen tv for the living room, its obligatory over here, when you enter the country after having your passport stamped, they question when you will be buying your TV.


Their may be an untruth in the above statement!


Anyhow - Ice Hockey in glorious HD Woooooow


The link to the advert is below, this whole post will make more sense, once you have seen the advert.


Verizon advert


Muswell