Adjusting

We have been here for about a week and a half now and are adjusting relatively well to our new life. Our home is in the village of Somersham, about 80 miles north of London. The weather has stayed pretty consistently around freezing. There has been a light layer of snow on the ground each morning which melts by noon. I have enjoyed it because I much prefer snow to rain, and I am certain if it were 10 degrees warmer, we would be having nasty rainy weather (which is what everyone here is used to). I am looking forward to warmer weather in the spring and summer so we can get outside and enjoy our yard and the village more! While we have 2 cars (our Buick Rendezvous from the states and a small British car, the Daewoo), walking and biking are very popular here, and I plan to walk as much as possible, especially within the village. The village itself has a couple of restaurants, pubs, and take away places for food. Fast food isn't as common here as it is in the US. I have seen McDonald's, Burger King, and KFC in nearby cities. Somersham also has its own market which carries basic grocery and toiletry items. Huntingdon is the nearest city for full shopping trips. They have a Tesco which carries a full range of grocery items plus has a 2nd floor where they have a selection of clothes, electronics, and all kinds of odds and ends. We are also able to use the BX and commissary shops located on the nearby military bases. At the bases, you can shop using US dollars and there is no tax added. The shops in the UK all include taxes in their prices as well. The British pound is currently around $1.60.

Our furniture was delivered last Monday. It was certainly nice for all of us to have our own things again, especially Lexie. She has had fun discovering "new" toys and books every day. While our new home is spacious, the stair case has a bend and a low ceiling which made getting some of our furniture upstairs impossible. Not long before the move, we purchased Lexie a new bedroom set, including a twin bed, dresser with mirror, and nightstand. All but her dresser fit. We also purchased a new guest bedroom set of which the full size box spring would not fit. The master bedroom was the most difficult. We have a queen bedroom set and are now unable to use our dresser, hutch, and box spring. All of the furniture that would not fit is now stored in our garage, and we are in the market for 3 new dressers and 2 box springs. Some parts from our crib were missing, so one purchase we have made is a new crib. I am very excited to get some new nursery furniture because in the past everything was pretty mismatched. Lexie's room is the one room we have well put together. The other rooms are all still full of clutter which we are slowly making progress on. Though the mishaps with the furniture were frustrating, we are making the best out of everything. After all, I figure I can't complain too much about being able to shop for new furniture!

We have also begun attending a church in Cambridge, about 25 miles from here. The parish is St. Ephraim the Syrian and is part of the Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate). The parish does not yet have their own building and holds services out of the chapel at the Westcott House at Cambridge University. The parish is ethnically diverse and consists mostly of students and immigrant families. While our contacts are still limited, everyone is very friendly, and we look forward to getting more involved with the parish.

In other news, I have begun attending the local surgery (doctor's office) here in Somersham. Uncomplicated pregnancies are generally overseen by a midwife only. I did meet with the doctor first just to go over my history and got in the next day to see the midwife. They are very quick and easy to make appointments, and so far I have been very pleased with everyone at the office. Most appointments are comparable to those I have attended in the states. One thing they don't track as closely is weight. They haven't weighted me yet, and I can't say I'm disappointed! They push for as natural a birth as possible. Drugs are available but not as popular as they are in the US, and epidurals are very rare. I will be delivering at Hinchingbrooke hospital which is only about a 15 minute drive from home. Overall, though anxious about the differences in medical care, I am looking forward to the new (and more natural) experience!

I apologize if this post is difficult to follow. Everything is still so new. Each time I begin a train of thought, something new comes to mind!