What day is it?

So we truly know that we are on holiday as we are having trouble remembering what day it is.  This is not helped by the fact that several of our e-devices are still on NZ time.

Anyway, turns out today is Saturday! And this weekend is Easter. The kids are actually really on school holiday and the camp site has filled up with mad dogs and englishmen who think it is warm enough to camp in England at Easter!

So no real gems or insights about travelling today,  just a few random things that have made me laugh or have stuck in my mind over the last few days:

• A very hopeful speed camera sign - realistically when it is placed next to four signs that say "queues likely", there is not going to be a whole load of revenue gathering going on!

• That after a week and a half away you get a text from your daughter's school asking why she is not at school! (ok that's good really that they are still checking!).

• That a groundsman has no right to yell at a kid for trying to get a tractor to start when said groundsman left the tractor bang smack in the middle of the kids playground with the keys still in the ignition (twice) - not my kid by the way.

• And the diplomacy of my daughter who calmly announced to that child's parents that their child "may or may not be trying to drive the tractor".

• It is entirely possible to make your mum laugh by convincing her that you can't row a boat and making it go in circles for 10 minutes.

• And that no matter how awesome a grandad you are - if you cannot drive a car safely no one will want to get in a rowing boat with you! Including the dog.

• That it is true that friends can go for years without speaking but then just pick up where they left off just like it was yesterday when they last met.  

• That if your child loves chickens no matter how many signs say "please do not handle the chickens" she will pick them up and cuddle them anyway! And you will take photos of her doing it!

• That because your husband is mildly confused about what day it is (see above) that he will wish you Happy Anniversary every day to make sure he gets it right! It's tomorrow - Happy 18th Wedding Anniversary, Stig xxx!

Happy Easter everyone else!

Frustration day

On the frustration scale (FS) of 1-5 with 1 being low and 5 being high we have experienced:

Frustration with our intermittent internet connection: FS1

Frustration with our loved ones changing plans left right and centre, and the 25 minutes of discussion it takes to arrange a 5 minute trip to the shops:  FS3

Frustration with the UK banking system: FS10.

In a bitter twist of irony in my ‘strong dislike’ of the USA immigration system I can use my NZ passport to get into the USA – the most security conscious nation in the world (with a FS ranking of 5) – but not as ID to transfer my UK current bank account to a new online version. 

The bank has also earned it’s FS rating through the following:

• The bank cannot accept a NZ home address as the postcode is not recognised.  
• It takes a week to make an appointment and then another week to actually get a response to anything.  
• I can set up online banking online with immediate confirmation - it needs to be confirmed by phone and so I am advised to log on to online banking to add a phone number by which this can be confirmed. Or go into the branch, which takes a week to get an appointment with my ‘personal’ banker. 
• We have wasted two mornings of our holiday trying to organise this already.

Given that we have limited time left to arrange anything, our plans to merge all our existing accounts into one will be determined by which bank offers us online banking abroad asap.

All the staff who have actually been helpful are planning on emigrating to Australia. If the system has beaten them then I fear there may be no hope for me!

(Heading off to Jimmy’s Farm for a bit of light relief! J)

The kids finally get it

The reason why we came that is!

I’m not entirely sure that the kids really understood why we were coming to UK, I mean they knew it was to see their relations, but the bigger picture than that – the EXPERIENCE – was beyond what they could envisage, despite knowing our plans in advance.  I suspect they were thinking that our ultimate plan was to torture them by making them sit together in the back seat of the car for long periods of time while their parents debated about whether the sat-nav voice lady actually knew where she was going or not!

After 3 days here they got it!

They got it at a castle.

As Stig and I navigated the ‘new’ one-way road system around the small town we knew, we distracted the kids by asking them to look out for the castle. It is a fairly large landmark after all.

The reaction was what we wanted “wow it’s huge” was the most they could say as their jaws dropped and they momentarily stopped arguing over seat space and device time. It got even better as we went around the castle – one absorbed the history and the stories, one wanted to keep going round the ramparts so he could imagine himself as a knight defending the castle, and one just liked climbing in and out of the moat (no water of course!). They were buzzing so we were buzzing!

We wanted them to realise the world is bigger than NZ and even if we left now, we have succeeded in that! Not only that – we are having fun doing it J!

Framlingham Castle

Home away from home

Finally in England! It’s a strange feeling being back and with the Brinkley’s – like we have never been away (and it’s been 10 years). While there are changes most are additions so there is plenty that is familiar.

The kids are already getting some quality grandparent time – helps that their granddad is a big kid and joker himself!

Our home away from home is our trailer home set in picturesque countryside, near my mum’s childhood home village, two miles from anywhere down a narrow winding country lane, surrounded by fields, near the river Stig and I both know from our childhood, and with the noise from the nearest motorway audible outside! 

The trailer home is what Kevin McLeod would call ‘bijou’ but it is perfect for what we need it for – a three bedroom home with separate toilet and bathroom, and open plan living/ dining / kitchen, all tastefully colour coordinated in shades of beige. Jeremy Clarkson I suspect would want to drop it from a great height to see how well it holds up! Speaking of ‘holding up’ - much to Stig’s horror every time there is a strong gust of wind or someone inside moves too suddenly (e.g. hitting the wall turning over in bed) the place shakes like an earthquake! He thought he was having a break from all that shaking!

All of the doors open out into the hallway so to avoid injury to the unsuspecting we have decided that anyone leaving their room has to knock before opening the door!

While it is quick to heat – it is a tad cold first thing in the morning – like most NZ homes really!

So a new travel adventure begins for the kids – they are really pleased to be here despite enjoying the USA. For me it feels a little bittersweet – at the end of all this we have to leave one home to return to the other.

10 Reasons Why We Like The USA

1.     That despite the general chaos of the USA immigration and security system that we still met some people who made the process bearable! 

·      The security guard who gave us an informative chat about coolade, grapeade and the difference between Powerade and Gatorade,

·      The very serious immigration officer who cracked a the hugest smile when we lifted Leah higher than the counter so he could check her passport photo, 

·      The security lady who informed me with a smile that the huge security risk resulting in my bag being thoroughly re-searched was those highly dangerous baby wipes!

2.     Travelling with a family has its benefits – we got jumped to the front of long queues, boarded first – I know this happens in other places but they actually sought us out so we could do this!

3.     Cheap everything (except New York accommodation).

4.     Being called “ma’am” feels so polite and respectful! (but only when said in an American accent).

5.     The Straten Island Ferry – the most awesome public transport/ tourist transport I have ever seen.  Hundreds of people are herded like sheep onto the ferry at one end, and vice versa at the other end. But there’s no fuss, crowding or jostling to get on, plenty of room for all and it‘s free! And as a bonus we got to sail by The Statue of Liberty (twice). The kids wanted to go again!

6.     The Jersey Turnpike – okay we didn’t necessarily like this but 16+ lanes of motorway is pretty impressive to see!

7.     Jersey Shore (the real thing not the TV programme) – miles of gorgeous beach with a boardwalk and arcade that runs all the way along the beach front, including rooftop golf, funfairs and a ski-lift type contraption that allows you to view the glory that is the shore from above! This is still being restored after Hurricane Sandy and looks like post earthquake Christchurch in parts L.

8.     New Jersey pizza – about 3 feet in diameter – need I say more?

9.     Funnel cake – made by pouring donut mix from a funnel into a deep-fryer and covering the cooked ‘donut’ with the topping of your choice (icing sugar for us) – yes I know it’s another food one but I am a de Lima!

1.    The McCue family – the loudest, craziest, warmest family who made us feel right at home.

When Qantas does it better than Mum

One of the hardest things preparing the kids for the trip was explaining that it is safe to travel by air when the news was full of the missing Malaysian Airline flight.  Despite reassurances that everyone would now be extra security and safety conscious Aaron was still anxious about flying.

So I was a tad surprised that he was the one who after the first flight was leading the way at the airports - showing us where we needed to go next, finding our gates and first to the baggage claims to get our cases.

It was on the last leg from LA to NY that the reason why came to light - the first flight I had sat with him.  Aaron was as usual plugged into the screen from the minute he sat down, and as the attendants started their safety briefing he commented that he really liked this video. I leaned over to see his screen expecting to see Disney channel, but it was the safety video. This explanation of all the safety procedures had reassured him that should anything happen there was a plan in place! Thanks Qantas!

And while on the subject of Qantas - I always say that my ideal holiday is one where I don't have to thin about planning or preparing meals. For 24 hours Qantas fed my family, and cleared up after them! Mummy bliss! I wonder if they will deliver to our campsite......

24

I'm about to start my own version of 24 - Kiefer Sutherland will have nothing on me as I race my way towards getting the family on the plane!

While I have worked my way through a far too long of things to do, and feel remarkably on top of things, I keep thinking of things to add onto the list! Some things have come of it like mulch the vege garden and clear the garden under the bathroom window, while some of those that have been added include put bathroom door back on and find all e-device charging cords.

On top of this I have a sick husband, a child recovering form illness, and one with a potentially dodgy tummy. Fortunately the healthy one is Leah-the-Organiser so if worst comes to worst I will hand her all the documentation required for the trip and just let her get on with it! She get us where we need to go in no time - probably in less than 24 hours!