Autumn in England isn't the only thing we are getting used too...

It's time for fall here in England...or as they say here "Autumn."  We've been here a little over two months now and some days I feel like it's been forever and then others it seems like we still just got here. I am surprised at how much we have gotten done in this time. We have set up house in the hamlet of Brookville...we decided before we got here we would live off base and get the full experience of living in another country. Living on the military base certainly would have been the easier thing to do but I feel we would missed out on having English neighbors, living in an English house, etc...the base provides security and a sense of what is normal. We have rocked the boat when it comes to what is normal and or familiar to us.

The tiny things like being able to plug in a hair dryer or having cable TV are luxuries we didn't have right away. If you've ever traveled abroad you know they outlets in the houses/hotels are different from ours. And something about the power running thru them...I don't know if it is too powerful or what but let me tell you now, I've burned out two flat irons, one small boom box and Michael fried the computer.  LOL I have to examine all American appliances before plugging them in and even then I hold my breath and close my eyes waiting for sparks. I've begun the process of replacing my small appliances. Ive gotten new hairdryers, a hand mixer and a toaster. The other things will come in time..oh and a few lamps have been replaced. It's just easier than taking a chance. They are mostly cheap low quality items so when we do go back to the states I can leave them behind for someone else and not have spent too much money on them.

It took almost two months to get our phone line and Internet services hooked up and running and we still have a few kinks to work out with the phone and a lot of background static.  I LOVE my English house and wouldn't trade it for the largest house on base. I love the privacy, being stacked up against everyone else is what we did when we lived in Florida and this is much nicer. Not once have I  been disturbed by a loud party, or rude neighbors. We are living in the country here...farms all around me. That is also different for this city girl.

It's a learning process. I used to be a good cook til I moved into my English home with an UK oven. I will master this oven if it kills me, in the meantime we eat a lot of burned meals. I'm starting to get the hang of the currency...barely. And the driving is a little better. I don't think much at all when I am driving back and fourth to the base but if I stray from that route I do get a bit nervous.

Things I miss are minor. I do miss my thrift stores in Florida. I do miss the discount stores like Target...I have yet to find a place (close by) that has everything in it like a Target or Walmart. You know when your kid comes to you at 9pm and says Mom I need glitter and construction paper for a project due tomorrow...what do you do? You run to Walmart...not here.  I miss my ice coffee from McDonald's, they don't serve that here in the UK.

I'm glad we made the big move across the pond and I'm even starting to think I look good in my winter long johns!