The end of a busy weekend

We are the end of our first weekend in the new apartment and both Merrilyn and I are feeling exhausted. Its probably due to our (well ok - my) nature to get settled as quickly as possible. Tonight - we're well on the way.

Friday night we unpacked the half dozen boxes we air freighted that had been sitting in a row in James' old bedroom. There were two boxes of kitchen items so Merrilyn was pleased. You can't underestimate the value in having familiar items around you. Even if it is just plates and some Brunetti espresso cups!

We swapped James into the study. Although it doesn't have built in wardrobes it is a better suited to him. We also put him on a mattress on the floor. He has a trundle bed which puts him too far off the ground.

Saturday we moved some furniture around and set up the new stereo. What a joy to have music to listen to again. It pretty much hasn't stopped. In the late afternoon/evening we took a break to have a picnic dinner with Gary and the family at Runnymeade (you know the spot Lynne) by the Thames. The kids enjoyed playing together. There is a small wading pool that well all enjoyed impromptu. Merrilyn bought James' bathers (it amazes me what she thinks off!) and he wasted no time stripping down and commando crawling through the water.

Although there are rooms like the lounge and master bedroom that are well furnished others like James' room and the study are less so. So this morning I made a long trip to ikea. There are not a lot of them around London so I had to travel a little over an hour on the M25 north (just past Luton). Once there I spent hours finding shelving, drawers, a desk, and plenty of storage odd & sods. I felt like a pack horse lugging three polyethylene bags loaded with booty. As the back seat of the Volvo was folded down I came along. That - I think - was a mistake. Particuarly when it came to picking up the flat packs from the warehouse and into yet another trolley - through checkout - and out to the car. Not to whinge but some of them are about 40kgs each.

In any case got them home and Merrilyn and I lugged them up the stairs with James looking on. Of course, he wanted to help but generally just got in the way (poor thing!)

Construction will have to wait for another time. Its been hot here this weekend. 32 - 34 degrees. But also quite humid. And the apartment doesn't have cooling (this is after all England). The windows are double glazed so the trick is to close the curtains in the late morning and them open the windows in the evening.

Tonight after dinner (and some "chunky monkey" - James favourite ice cream) we went for a short walk up to the Castle to see the boom gates. James wasn't disappointed with a few cars going through; each time the bollards going up and down.

He's getting a little disobedient at the moment. Probably a combination of nearly 3 and all the changes in his life lately. We're doing our best to keep perspective but sometimes you really have to take a breath... Another way to look at it is that he's spent some time in some really interesting corners.