October 16, 2006

Hi, everyone!

We are enjoying our first autumn in England. The days
are cool (50's and 60's) and mostly clear.
Cheltenham is such happening place to live. This past
week, the literary festival was in full swing. Jim
and I got tickets to see Frank McCourt at our town
hall (a beautiful venue). Frank was very funny and
witty. He talks just like he writes and shared many
great stories that made us realize just why his
Angela's Ashes, 'Tis and his latest novel, Teacher Man
are so popular.

Aidan started his full days of school last week and
Jim and I celebrated by heading down to London. I
felt kind of guilty, but we dropped off our little
Aidan, jumped in the car and the tires almost squealed
in the parking lot as we raced out!

We bummed around London mainly enjoying the difference
in scenery. We stopped at Selfridges Food Hall, and
feeling a bit full of ourselves, decided to indulge in
some exotic, luxury food items. We left with some
Kraft macaroni and cheese, Hersey's syrup and 2 boxes
of Arm and Hammer baking soda (can't get it here and
my little fridge needs all the help it can get with
the smelly cheeses). At $36, it was a real splurge!

The kids are doing well in school. Aidan is adjusting
slowly but surely. I hear him talking to his toys in
French, so they must be teaching him something. He
sings his patriotic lullabies (like You're a Grand Old
Flag and the preamble to the Constitution from School
House Rock) which makes me happy. The head of upper
school hung an American flag up because there are so
many Americans at the school now (I think its up to 7
in the upper school). It has since fallen (Michael
found it on the floor and like a good citizen, picked
it up and handed it in). The headmaster asked if I'd
help with some kind of Thanksgiving
celebration/education, which I thought was quite sweet
and inclusive of him. After agreeing happily, I am
now struck with fear that it may somehow involve
baking.

Ryan scored a try (a goal) in rugby during his last
game. He was one happy boy! Now, of course, he's
even more puffed up than usual and has no problem
micro-managing the guys on his line. He went to an
all day field trip to a battle reenactment South of
London on Saturday. He loved it (although the French
still won). He is trying to grow his hair out, but is
currently sporting an early Paul McCartney/helmet head
"do" that is hard to look at.

Siobhan was chosen to be a monitor! We are very proud
of her. Responsibilities are that of a prefect, a
student supervisor (without having to purchase new
uniform pieces-she wears a special pin, thank God).
She can boss kids around (a personality trait
perfected by age two), give black entries (those
annoying little marks that bring about certain doom if
enough are amassed) and she is called upon to be a
leader in the school. She had to interview for the
position last year. Her housemaster confided in me
that he highly recommended Siobhan for prefect last
term, based on her leadership qualities, but there
might have been a mutiny if "the new girl" swiped the
much coveted position. There were two girls and two
boys selected to be monitors.

Michael continues to work like a dog at school and
rugby. He prefers rugby. He is really getting good,
although he is black and blue all over. He is
learning the differences between American football and
rugby the hard way. The boots' metal cleats are about
an inch and a half long. He has already gotten one
under the knee cap and was kicked on the side of the
face. In rugby, you don't tackle too low and you get
yourself up and out of the way of boots after a
tackle. All the boys at school look like the walking
wounded!

Jim is doing well and enjoying his work. He makes
quick trips to Paris, Milan and Prague and is home in
a day or two. He will be back and forth to the US
quite a bit before the end of the year, but we can't
complain as he hardly travels like he used to back
home. On a recent trip a funny thing happened to him
in the airport. There was a group of six people
following him everywhere. He'd get into a line,
they'd follow. He'd go up to the desk to ask a
question, they'd follow. He went to the bathroom,
they'd follow. Finally, they got up the nerve to
approach him. They thought Jim was the travel guru,
Rick Steves!

Goodbye from the land void of Holloween decorations!

T-Ann