Installment 2 8/09/98

Dear Family,

If you're getting this email and you haven't responded to the first
(this would NOT include anyone with Bard in their name), then you are a
shameful slacker, and I hope you will feel guilty enough to respond this
time, or I really will have to follow through on my threat of no future
installments.  (This technique never works with Henry, so I don't know
why I think it should work on my adult relatives ...)

I have just survived my first week here without John, and must say it
was easier than any time alone in California.  It helped that the kids
had summer camp each morning and that the neighborhood is secure enough
that I didn't worry at night.  Tonight I even let Julia ride her bike
around with a pack of neighborhood kids who were having a water fight. 
We are finding playmates by the droves for her here, but not a one for
Henry, who is getting desperate enough to ask passersby if they know any
four-year-old boys.  Camp also was a bust for him as far as new friends
go.  He ignored the one boy at camp who had the most playmate potential
because he thought he was a girl. (Austin has a ponytail and wears
brighly colored overalls; even I was confused at first.)  We're getting
eager for school to start (Aug. 26).  He is constantly trying to play
with the older children, and I'm afraid he is getting a reputation as
the neighborhood pest.  

The big developments for me:  I no longer need two hours in the grocery
store (but I'm still nervous that I can't bag my groceries fast enough
for the checker), and I can find my rearview mirror without too much
thought.  I continue to encounter a lot of small challenges, however.
Today I tried to fill my tank with leaded fuel, which was simply labeled
"4 Star"; thank goodness they make the nozzle sizes different.  You
can't imagine all the minute details you have to pay attention to in a
new country.  Just trying to buy candy ("sweets") makes me nuts.  What,
after all, is a Munchie?  (They're actually my favorite candy now, sort
of a luxury Junior Mints).  You take for granted what you know through
advertising and childhood experimentation.  I don't know what I'd do if
I were in Japan!

We're still occupying ourselves with small outings.  One Sunday we
visited friends of friends in Wimbledon, where we picnicked in the rain
in a beautiful park.  You do what you have to do weather-wise here. 
With their two sons, they live in a tiny Edwardian row house, which
makes our 1700 sf look like a palace.  The day before we took a two-hour
drive to an air show in celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Royal
Air Force.  Most of the planes were American.  The highlight for me was
watching the guys tied to the top of the bi-planes doing aerobatics. 
For John and Henry, the climax was watching the very loud Concord take
off.  Julia most appreciated having her face painted with camouflage
paint and being allowed to sit in an army jeep.  The day seemed to have
inspired a new barrage of military fantasy play for the two kids.  Yes,
this is the same Julia who used to cry if I made her wear pants.

One the way home from the air show we drove along country roads where we
saw numerous charming thatched cottages and half-timbered buildings as
well as narrow lanes bordered by hedgerows.  We also drove through the
Vale of the White Horse, which is a large and very old (almost 400 ft.
and about 2000 yrs) figure of a horse carved into the chalk hills. 
Julia and John took a walk together to view the horse more closely, but
I kept a very tired Henry company in the car.  We had dinner outside at
an old inn nearby, where the kids enjoyed befriending the local dogs and
watching the goldfish in the garden pond.  I have discovered a book
entitled Pub Walks for Families and think this might be the ticket to
family happiness for us!

Last weekend before John left for the US, we at last took the kids to
LegoLand.  We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves (well, at least, half of us
did).  You can't imagine all the European cities that can be recreated
with Lego.  Now I guess we can cancel our plans to visit the Continent
(that's Europe, for all you Missourians). The kids didn't even mind the
30 minute waits for the amusement rides (most very tame).  The rain held
off until we walked out of the gift shop after closing, then we became
totally drenched in our rush to the car.  The water in the roads rose so
quickly, I was certain our little Mini would be flooded, but we made it
home fine.

Speaking of the Mini, I am having a great time in this little car. 
Drivers of Minis all flash each other when they pass.  Previous owners
come up and tell you how much they loved their Mini when they had it. 
Neighborhood and school friends get all excited about it.  One girl rode
home with us and laughed with delight every time we went over a speed
bump.  Luckily for her there are at least six in our development alone. 
Since it has only a tape player (no CD), I've been forced to get out my
old college tapes, which I play very loudly with my windows open (no
air-conditioning of course), and I feel like a kid again.  Who'd have
thought a car could give me so much silly pleasure?

The weather at last (as of Tuesday) has turned to summer.  We've had
sunshine with highs in the 80s (I think; I still haven't figured out the
metric system, sorry to say).  This certainly helps with my mood, as I
was starting to consider the tanning beds at the pool.  The one
down-side to the warmth is that there is an awful odor of horse manure
here when the wind is wrong, and the heat does not help it! I wonder if
this has something to do with the high turnover of renters in this
neighborhood!

Today the kids and I and another husbandless mother and kids went to a
medieval festival at nearby Runnymede, which you might remember was
where the Magna Carta was signed. You might also be lucky if you
remember simply what the Magna Carta was! We watched minstrels, court
dancing, and illusionist, and archery demonstrations.  I tried to shop
for crafts, but Henry informed me in an indignant voice, "Mom, this is
not for YOU!"  I guess whatever is for me will have to wait until John
returns.  Tomorrow we plan to go to Virginia Water lake, where I'm told
the kids should enjoy the hike and rock climbing.  My plan for myself is
to obtain a babysitter and take some guided country walks in the coming
weeks.  Next weekend I hope to be dragging the family antiquing.  I'll
wait to spring that on them, though, until I can figure out some other
day trip to couch it in.

I hope you are all well and that those of you who are planning trips
here soon (Susan?) will let me know what your estimated dates are.

Love,
Maureen et al.