What Can You Live Without?

Could you live without a dryer? Our new house doesn't have one, but I don't mind.

I have talked about downsizing, simplifying, and decluttering for years. And I've taken steps in that direction slowly over time. All of that must have been preparation for this.

We arrived here with only the bags we carried onto the plane.

Back in NC, we stored some of our belongings for when we return. And we packed up some boxes to send via boat here to England--that stuff won't be here for another four to six weeks. Everything else: Sold, donated, given to friends, or tossed. If I had to put numbers on it, I'd say that we stored 20%, sent 10%, and got rid of 70% of the our things as we prepared for this move.

Was it hard?

Surprisingly, not really. I remember that Mike said, watching a very nice couple drove off in our (now, their) 2005 Audi A4 Wagon, "With everything we sell, I feel better and better. It feels so good to just let it go." Me, I was just in get-it-done mode, not really taking the time to reflect much. Now that I've had a chance to think about it, I've got no regrets.

And now we're here, waiting for our boxes to arrive. The movers said we were shipping about 2,000 pounds of stuff. As we live here for our second week without the contents of those boxes, I'm wondering if we really actually need it all. I'm also wondering where in this sweet little townhouse all of it will go!

What's been interesting is to track the mental tally of items that I really miss or need. My chef's knife. A cast iron skillet. A stock pot. Running shoes. Extra socks. Merrit's rain boots. Ollie's basket of matchbox cars. Pens and paper. My own pillow. All my big, fun earrings.

I'm missing my hair dryer, but I need to buy a new one because the outlets are different here. Haven't stumbled upon a beauty supply shop yet! So, my hair looks flat, but hey, it's raining, and no one knows me anyway! LOL.

I definitely can't wait four weeks to exercise, so I'm planning to buy new running shoes in the next day or two (again, not sure where to go for that, but I'm going to ask one of Mike's co-workers that I've met).

And, really, that about does it.

It's been very calming to live with just the essentials. With the exception of a few favorite things, I'm feeling very free and unfettered living without all that stuff. The pace here is so appealing. One load of laundry a day. Small loads of dishes in a small dishwasher; works for us since we've only got four bowls, four plates, four forks, etc. Carrying home groceries for that day's meals. Simple and fresh, and open to last-minute changes based on what you're in the mood for or what looks good at the butcher shop.

Am I in the honeymoon phase? Probably. :-)

How to Get Up and Running with Skype

For family and friends wanting to get set up with Skype, this one's for you...

Thanks to www.top-windows-tutorials.com for the two great tutorials on installing Skype and setting up a Skype account. The third tutorial, on making a video call with Skype, is from YouTube.com. (Remember, though, that before you can make a video call, you must buy a web cam and set it up on your computer.)

Tutorial 1 - Installing Skype

In this short tutorial, we'll show you how to install Skype on your computer. Installation is very easy, but just in case you need some extra help, we prepared this short tutorial.

In order to install Skype, you'll need to download the latest version. You can obtain the latest version of the software from the official Skype homepage here. Download the file to your desktop, or somewhere where you can easily access it. When the download is complete, double click the file, or select "open" in your browsers download manager. You'll need to be connected to the internet during the installation. 

Windows Vista users may have to grant permission for the installation to proceed if prompted to do so by Windows User Account Control.

The following window will then appear:-

Select your preferred language on this screen. Be sure to tick the box to acknowledge that you accept the terms of the privacy and end user licence agreement. Click on either of the blue links to be taken to a copy of these agreements.

When you are satisfied, click on "Install". The following window will then appear:-

There will be a delay while components are installed on your computer. This can take several minutes, so don't be alarmed if your computer appears to stop responding for a moment. When the process is complete, the following window will appear:-

Installation is now complete and the create account wizard will start. We cover creating new accounts in our next tutorial.

Tutorial 2 - Setting up a Skype Account
In this tutorial, we pick up from our installation tutorial and show you how to set up a Skype account. You will need to create an account before you can communicate with other users on the Skype network.


Please allow for a short delay while the video loads. When loading is complete, press the play button below the video to start playback.

Tutorial 3 - Making a Video Call 

The Omelette Man Is Back in Business

After about a month off, Merrit announced this week that "we need to get back on our omelette schedule." Here are this morning's delicious results.

The Pirates Discover the Skate Park; One-Pot Cooking

I broke down and bought the boys a couple inexpensive toys at a store called Cherished just around the corner that sells some new and some second-hand toys. Each boy got a sword and an eye patch. Ollie also chose a bag of matchbox cars and Merrit bought a iPhone-lookalike toy that he was promptly and soundly disappointed with. I think he thought it was going to have games on it!

Swords in hand, we walked back to the sea. Today was 57 degrees and partly sunny. Everyone and their dog was at the coast, though you can't really tell from this pic. Looks deserted.

Ollie looks so chill. Like, "Bring it."

This week is half-term break, which means that all school-aged kids are out of school. Seems like there are a lot of families out and about and even tourists from other areas here this week. And dogs! So many dogs! Of all kinds. I guess there's not a leash law because, at the beach at least, the dogs were running loose and they were everywhere you looked.

Ollie was running loose, too, feeling full of himself in the bracing winds.

We walked further today than we did earlier this week and we found a skate park. So super cool. Merrit was wishing his buddy Lincoln could have been here to check it out! Kids were riding bikes, scooters, roller blades, and skateboards. Most kids Merrit's age were riding scooters. The big bowl was dominated by teenage boys doing pretty impressive bike tricks. The boys were MESMERIZED.

When we got home, it was time to start dinner.

I have two small pots and a skillet that Mike's company has been kind enough to loan us until our boxes arrive. I've been trying to cook simple, hearty dinners that don't require expensive ingredients, as I'm just getting our kitchen's pantry stocked with staples. 

We joined the library--just two blocks away--on Monday and have already been there three times. Earlier today I checked out a cookbook called Just One Pot by Lindsey Bareham. Tonight I'm making her Sausage and Mushroom Cassoulet.

The fresh thyme and rosemary are from pots in the back courtyard.
This townhouse was meant for me.

Love reading cookbooks. I'm learning about local ingredients by reading this one. I can't wait to find out what aubergines and rocket are...and try them!

And then there are ingredients that either aren't all that available or just not as popular back in NC that are everywhere you look here. Leeks. Beets. Lentils. Lamb. Barley. Monkfish. What a fun way to explore a new country.

Part of me can't wait to get my boxes of cookware and kitchen gadgets. Part of me revels in the simplicity of the hearty stews and comfort food that I'm--out of necessity--limited to for now.

P.S. Googled it. Aubergines are a variety of eggplant. Rocket? Get this. It's just arugula.

Stuck at Home Today

Merrit climbed to the top of this pillow mountain and proclaimed,
"I'm the King of England!!"

The boys and I are stuck at home today. It's raining, for starters. But also the man from Virgin Broadband, our new Internet service provider, is supposed to be coming by to set up our phone line and install wireless Internet access.

Full disclosure: I faked all the previous blog entries because I didn't have Internet yet.

We are also waiting for a plumber. I noticed this morning a large wet area across the ceiling and down the wall of the small dining room--right underneath the upstairs bath. Called the landlord. A perk of renting, right?

Rain. And more rain.

The boys won't have their boxes of stuff for about four more weeks. That means that only the toys they traveled with on the plane are here. They're a bit bored, but I like to see them work through it and make up games and use their imaginations.

What started out as a plan to build a fort transmogrified (a little Calvin and Hobbes for ya) into Pillow Mountain. Imagine gleeful giggles as the boys slide down the sides and scramble heels over head to see who is first to reach the summit. Ollie can hold his own, let me tell you.

The next nine days call for rain. Pretty quickly, I bet, we'll do like the locals do and:

1. Dress for it.
2. Get out in it.

No one here stays in. I have watched them through the front window all day. Moms with infants in plastic-sheeted prams. Kids in rain slickers and Wellies. Old couples with umbrellas. Commuters walking quickly by, head down, all business.

I am keeping my eye out at the charity shops for size 10 rain boots for Ollie. Merrit already has a pair of rain boots (so cute, got them from L.L. Bean last Christmas, they have turtles on them)...but can we wait four weeks to get them?

On another note, look what popped up overnight in our back courtyard:

Village Life

Merrit wanted me to take his picture leaning against the

village clock tower.

I knew I'd love the pedestrian lifestyle. When you turn right out of our front gate and walk about half a block, you get to Park View, one of the three main streets in our village of Whitley Bay.

At that corner is a busy cafe called Sugarloaf, which serves breakfast, lunch, and coffee. Kristi, the boys, and I ate there last week. I had carrot bisque and fresh baked bread and K and the boys had BLTs. All delicious. Even though we asked for tap water, it came chilled in an old-fashioned blue bottle. Charming.

Turn right, and the next two blocks have a couple of charity shops (what we'd call thrift shops or second-hand stores), a dry cleaners, a butcher shop, a produce stand, a wine shop, a barber shop, Hound Dog Guitars (Ollie insists we stop and at least look in the windows each time we go by...we've met the owner, who has a Greyhound), a store selling from-the-farm eggs, milk, cheese, and honey, and a small office supply store (stopped in here to send a fax back to the U.S. and buy some paper and pencils).

Keep going straight for another block or two, past a bank and some more cafes, boutiques, and charity shops. Then turn left and you're getting into the center of the village. Here there are a bunch more small stores, independent shops, restaurants, and three small groceries: Tesco Express, Sainsbury's, and The Co-Operative. All three are chains with larger branches elsewhere but the ones here are more like glorified convenience stores. I've been getting pantry staples at the grocery store, but getting fresh foods--meat, dairy, eggs, veggies, fruits--from the independent shops.

I bought this wheeled shopping bag at Ikea. Packed with
groceries, here it is parked by our front gate.

Walking everywhere has been a so much fun. The kids have been asking for it. "Let's go for a walk, Mom." Merrit is becoming a better listener as we navigate crosswalks and busy sidewalks. And Ollie is becoming more agreeable to hand-holding and keeping up. As long as we stop at linger outside the guitar shop.

P.S. Happy Birthday, Dad.

Walk to the North Sea

Wow. You can see the curvature of the earth at the horizon line.

The boys and I walked the three blocks to the North Sea today. A five minute walk unless you have short legs. No, not me. The three-year-old.

I watched while the boys threw rocks into a tidal pool and ran wild across the sand. A nice break from all the white-knuckled hand-holding I've been doing with my non-citified kids on these busy village streets and alleyways.

Really need to get some Wellies for these boys. Ollie wants to stomp every puddle. And I want to let him.

Kutz Barber Shop

Both kids needed a hair cut so we stopped into Kutz Barber Shop on Park View, just around the corner, for a trim.

A buzz cut for Merrit, nice and short.

Ollie's barber must have said, "Sit still...there's a good lad" about 100 times!

Bye Bye Kristi, Hello IKEA

Kristi and I took a taxi up to the Newcastle airport this morning. Got her all squared away at check-in. Tagged her bag through to Amsterdam. I suggested coffee, just trying to prolong the inevitable. But in the end, we finally had to say bye. That was hard. She was the last bit of home.

Sniff. Sniff.

Shopping therapy to the rescue. Off to IKEA.

I rode the Metro to Gateshead then took two buses to the IKEA store there.

The Metro rocks. For just three pounds, you can go practically anywhere in the city. I had no idea where the IKEA store was, only that I needed to get to Gateshead, which is a town south of the Tyne River (Newcastle is north of the Tyne).

Took a gamble and got off at one of the two Gateshead Metro stops. I asked a lady in a meat pie shop for directions, but her accent was so thick I couldn't understand her. Bought a small minced beef pie for 90 pence. It was so hot and good--but kinda messy.

I walked in the direction she pointed me, and found a bus station. Asked a bus driver which bus went near IKEA and he said his bus went there! Two pounds and 10 minutes later, I was walking in through the oversized blue and yellow door. Brilliant.

The key to self-control at IKEA: Only buy what you can carry home. I did buy a pull-behind shopping cart for 14 pounds so I figured I could assemble that on the spot and roll my purchases home that way. Worked great. And I'm sure I'll get a lot of use out of it after today's trip, too.

Cause He Wouldn't Be Ollie...

...if he didn't at least try it. And then, get stuck.

"Why?", I ask. "Why?"

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

Ollie figured out how to undo his airplane seat belt in -- oh -- about 0.2 seconds. He was wiggly and hard to manage at times but slept a lot, which gave us a break.

Merrit played his PSP a lot and watched an animated movie on the cross-Atlantic flight. He had a hard time getting comfortable enough to sleep, but then Kristi raised the arm rest and let him lie down in her lap. Overall, he was a big helper and a good listener.

Planes always capture kids' imagination. 

For great airport humor, some Brian Regan. One of our favorite bits.




Please join us in a moment of silence for the Brian Regan tickets we had to sell. Yup, we had tix for his show at the Durham Performing Arts Center in March. Jer and Kara, we'll be thinking of you guys! Enjoy the show!

Raleigh -> JKF -> Amsterdam -> Newcastle

World travelers we are. Well, since yesterday.

That Lightning McQueen suitcase is just a blur.

How proud I am of our boys? They were such good sports. They wheeled their own bags all the way to Amsterdam!

You go. 

My extra pair of hands and eyes: Kristi. She showed up with a magical carry-on full of Teddy Grahams, lollipops, Happy Meal giveaway toys, matchbox cars, and other distractions.

Funny how after 15 hours of traveling, you decide the airport floor can't be THAT dirty.

We Didn't Come over on the Mayflower, but We're Going Back on One

Wow, this is really happening...

Somehow, between the yard sales and goodbye girls' nights, I actually managed to kinda forget that we're really doing this. Moving to England. omgosh.

Here we go...