Two weeks in and we are settling in to the rhythm of life here. After several showery and overcast days it has become very warm again. For a week or so Phoebe was very low, and begged us alternately to get a dog, and go home! I think partly it's boredom. We are living with the contents of our suitcases, so the girls just have a handful of books and DVD's and a few small toys. Interestingly they are adapting. They are tiring of watching DVD's and are venturing outside more. Two boys from phoebe's class, Kurt and Alex, live in nearby houses, so they have taken to going out to find the boys, and running around brandishing sticks, building dens, befriending stray cats, and generally enjoying far more freedom here than they would in Surrey. Houses here are just built on the rubble and few have gardens or boundaries to speak of. In front of our house is a large patch of dry waste ground. There are few passing cars, and all drive very slowly over the rough ground, so the girls have much freedom to roam around and can disappear to play for an hour at a time. They are becoming quite feral!

The island's public swimming pool is wonderful. It's a 50 metre salt water pool right down on the bay at Jamestown. Freezing for about 30 seconds, then very refreshing in the heat of the sun. Swim sessions cost 70p for adults and 40p for kids! The pool is rarely busy, and on a sun lounger basking after a swim, i feel like i am enjoying an expensive, exotic holiday! Swimming club for the kids is every Wednesday after school. Phoebe goes down with Mia, and is loving the freedom of making their own way there from school, with her £1, so she has 60p for a snack! Yesterday she told me that they got picked up by one of Mia's friends, and got to ride down to the pool in the trailer of his truck. It's funny how in the UK I would have had minor heart failure at the idea, but here It's a normal sort of thing to do! I did warn her to make the most of it though, as in the UK She would definitely not get away with things like that.

Lottie started Rainbows yesterday, it's run by her teacher and is held in the village hall just up the road. There were just 3 girls there yesterday, which is good for Lottie. A small group might give her the confidence to speak. One of Lotties class mates came up to me yesterday and said "why she not speak when I talk to her?" Her teacher also says she is silent in class. I am sure the change of environment has a lot to do with it, and Lottie is reverting to her usual safety mechanism of clamming up when she is in an uncertain environment, but also, I am sure she sometimes struggles to understand what the children are saying. There are some funny colloquial phrases here, so for example we are asked, "what your name is?" (Rather than "what is your name?") and when a group of saints get together and chat you could easily believe they are speaking another language!

Phoebe got invited along to pantomime rehearsals with Mia last week, apparently she threw herself into it with such gusto, she came away with about 4 different roles to play, learnt her lines and the dances instantly, and has presented me with the challenge of about 4 different costume requirements from our very limited 'out of the suitcase' resources! It cheered her up no end, I think she is like her mum, she thrives on being busy! She has also landed a solo part in the school carol concert at St. James's Church next Wednesday.

Lottie is a star in the Christmas play, I watched her class rehearse yesterday, she knows exactly what she is doing and has learnt all the songs.

I have found a few things to fill my week. I am helping out at the human Rights office on Mondays, I am spending Wednesdays helping at school, and Friday mornings at the Salvation Army second hand shop. That leaves Tuesdays as a 'me' day to explore the island, and Thursdays for shopping, though today was spent at Josie's house, baking for a fundraiser on Saturday.

Hard to believe we have been here for just over two weeks. It feels like three months!