School life keeping us all busy. The commute to school at the moment is an hour each way so 4 hours in the car chews up much of the day. We're starting to learn the new route (now I'm jinxing us!) so at least I can study in the car rather than navigate when Adam drives. The kids are really tired by the end of it but only a week more till we move closer.

Zoe had her first cross country race of 0.8 miles on Friday. A long way for little legs! She was so excited, telling me she was going to have a salad for lunch as it was "nutritious" and would "fuel her body" (!!!). Competative Daddy had already had similar thoughts, loading her with carbs the night before! Something worked though as she came away with first place. She was over the moon.

Zac's school didnt race. He's been busy with his touch rugby, swimming, art and new "cookery" class! We're hoping to foster a love of cooking in at least one of us!! We've thankfully escaped having nunchucks for another week as Zac was sick a few days so missed the martial arts class.

I've started swimming at the school once a week (although it really seems to stir up my foot). Still getting lots of pain with walking or knocks. Urrrr. Met some lovely parents and was invited for coffee afterwards. Excited to be making some friends.

Enjoying all the little differences of English village life:

- postmen that push a post trolley down the street on foot and deliver the mail through a slot in your door

- garbage men that walk behind the truck

- almost daily rainbows thanks to the alternating sun and rain

- adorable little squirrels bounding everywhere... and if we're lucky the odd deer

- shiny "conkers" that rain down from chestnut trees in a breeze

- quaint thatched or stone cottages

- roads the wind past fields and hedges

- colourful blue or red house doors

(.... although not quite so enamoured that our door opens directly onto the footpath!)

Feeling very glad not to be living in a big town.