Seattle

We really enjoyed our day and a half in Seattle. We visited the


where we saw a ton of


and


We also saw a brass pig,


a metal giant squid,


and the ORIGINAL Starbucks.


We went to the Space Needle


which had beautiful views


and a cool logo.


The monorail took us right back to our hotel. Phew!


After wondering how to stay awake and fight jet lag...


We decided to see HP7b and all loved it.

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First Impressions

People smile. They smile A LOT. AND they look at you whilst smiling and/or saying hello - to a stranger.
People say "excuse me" all the time and realize they are blocking your way.
Whilst shopping, people stay to the right in an orderly fashion. It's really awesome.
Shopping carts (trolleys) don't drive themselves sideways, but they squeak more.
Cars stop for you to cross the road.
I had proper biscuits and butter and no one thought I meant "cookies".
Sweet tea is everything I remembered it to be and tasted really great in 95 F weather.
Leftovers can be taken home in a box.
Waiters automatically bring the bill.
Seinfeld.
Very wide roads and fabulous parking spaces.
Shorts, flip flops and ball caps are worn in the appropriate weather.
Sushi is amazing, especially an all-you-can-eat sushi buffet. O.M.G.
It's great to see people we know.

People are loud.
There is too much food served on a plate. We are all busting a gut.
Jet lag sucks. We are all up at 6, 6:30AM and exhausted by 7PM.
It's really hot. We are trying to get acclimated but it is hard work and probably adds to the exhaustion.
I have no idea what or who they are talking about on the radio. News is really news to me.
People wander in parking lots just like in the UK. I guess aimless wandering is a human trait.

The Journey

Our trip to Heathrow was uneventful but Neil, the driver, is definitely no nonsense. He was there in plenty of time probably expecting us to be running around like a bunch of chickens with our heads chopped off, but we were ready to go although we did almost forget Evan's suitcase. Teenagers!

We got to Heathrow it took a very long time to check in our 10 bags. In order to be allowed our ten bags, we did have an slight issue with the attendant needing to see Craig's ID which he had to hand in at work before leaving the country only to get another one exactly like it today at work in the States (stupid rules) but there's a blurb in his passport which sufficed. We had a great meal as far as airport meals are concerned. It was nice to be there very early to actually enjoy traveling. Owen found a DS game in the shop for less than five GBP so he was happy.

The flight was long. It's just not fun and the movie selection was a bit lame. However, I need to admit that I have been wrong for a very large part of my life. I have always avoided whatever genre Jane Austen and the Brontes are classified as for no real reason, just because... Jane Eyre is one of the best stories EVER and the latest remake with Mia W something of Alice in Wonderland fame was fantastic! Where have I been?!?! Thank-you Charlotte Bronte. Although I am still unsure about Jane Austen.

Immigration was great. The passport control guy was so wonderfully nice and friendly and American. Customs was silly and they are so clueless. In hindsight, we should have ignored the stewardess and NOT have claimed the ham and cheese sandwiches we were saving for later in case of child starvation emergency. And I should remember the real date of Craig's birthday, yeah, the one that's on his passport. Whatever.

We were reunited with all of our luggage (I counted it three times) and got our pre-booked shuttle. Our first impression was how HOT it was at eight pm. On the way to our hotel, we were entertained by some mighty awesome lightning storms. The gods knew that we were gypped out of fireworks on the 4th of July for three years and made up for it in spades. However, the shuttle we were in must've had wonky windscreen wipers or the windscreen was waxed because the visibility was awful for most of the way to Columbia. It was nerve-wracking.

The hotel is great & as roomy as needed plus there's a pool. We all were awake by six am this morning due to a time change vs. internal clock issue. We went straight to Chick-Fil-A and then to see Grandmom & Pop and then to Target. We are relaxing from the heat and having some American snacks whilst watching Cartoon Network, yes even me.

Oh, and one last thing, we have returned to Honda Odyssey land. I swear they are every third or fourth car on the road. Scary.

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Full Circle

Well the day has arrived. On July 11, 2008, we arrived in Prestbury, Cheltenham, England thoroughly physically exhausted but totally excited. On July 11, 2011, we leave Prestbury, Cheltenham, England thoroughly mentally exhausted but totally excited. We have come full circle, litruhlee. A new adventure begins. Thanks for the best three years to all of our friends and this great country. See YOU again!

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Owen's Passed Out

The title of this blog requires some previous knowledge. I was reading something somewhere and I saw that a guy who had "passed out" of a military academy. Now I thought this meant that he got sick or failed but no, it means he graduated and was allowed to pass in review at graduation or something like that. So Owen has passed out of Junior School. He is officially a Senior School candidate.

The ceremony was lovely and brought me to tears a bit when the keynote speaker (who is the newly appointed Headmaster of the Senior School) actually told a story about an impromptu meeting/discussion about friendship he had had with Finn earlier in the year without naming names. Owen knew it was about Finn too which actually made him listen.

We all went out to dinner to spend a chunk of our US Government per diem rate, saw some friends who are flying away tomorrow and had a delicious but looong meal. Who knew it took a half hour to make gelati and dough sticks... We are 3/3 on the marathon meals since going into temporary housing. The McCarter curse.

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Mr 11

On the day we moved into temporary lodging, Owen turned 11. I eventually baked a cake and we celebrated a few days later. Owen was very accommodating which was a welcome bit of maturity. Here are some photos of our family celebration.

Here are some snaps from his party at BattleZone.

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Lynford Hall

Here are some snapshots of the place where Evan and I stayed whilst in the process of shipping the car.






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