Dr. Bev has been posting cause frankly I've just returned to the land of the living after a week of hellish jet lag. Now, after 2 nights of actually sleeping I'm beginning to feel human again. Perseverence was called for, getting up at a normal time, eating regularly and going to bed at a normal time...then lying there awake (do you know how many bizarre thoughts you can have after hours awake in the middle of the night?) only to get up at 4:30am for breakfast! I'm very happy that week is over.
Regardless of the, at times dizzying ,jet lag, we have been exploring. Now remember everything is uphill or downhill depending on which way you are looking. So we hiked the hill over to Highgate Village, one of the older villages that make up London, it is just over the hill and a potential site for permanent digs. Smaller than Crouch End, a little less trendy, but peaceful and green, and full of the all important cafes, fruiterers (yes there is such a word) and bakeries. Who needs more? We keep taking different routes home (don't worry the map is always on hand) and discovering beautiful, tree lined roads that eventually get us home. Ok, you caught us, at times we are trying to find less steep hills!
On the practical side, we got smart and did a major shop and had it delivered! Some other poor sod carried it all up 3 flights of stairs (no lift to use). I think this will become a regular habit. Headed into the tube station (underground) to purchase our Oyster Card for easy use of the tube. Here we were all but adopted by the attendant who spent about a half hour explaining the intricacies of the tube to us. What a doll he was. Now it seems easy, but if you don't hear from us for days, send out a posse!
Learning to cook on a gas "cooker" is a delight. Happy to say we haven't blown the place up yet. Also learning the intricacies of the "boiler" which is the equivalent of a hot water tank but very different. The brain is pooped by night as it endures a new learning curve with every new turn.
Great news is we have a new bank. Now this doesn't sound like much to you back in Canada, but it is apparently difficult to get banking started up here. Not so it appears, we were quickly approved and will meet with a private banker tomorrow morning.
Then it's the weekend and there is plenty of exploring to do.
Ta for now, Dr. Toby
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