solar panel

Sorry about the sideways photos lately; it's my phone - but hopefully I have managed to rotate this one of the brand new solar panel on our roof.  It works along with a spaceship-like installation in our airing cupboard, and hopefully it will reduce our reliance on the oil in a way that won't require a lot of maintenance.   The cylinder is well insulated anyway so it seems I just put the hot water on once in the day and it stays hot all day and night with the help of the solar.  Jolly clever.

progress

autumn is here.  the house martins have flown.  and the last storm blew most of the remaining apples from the tree.  we have three huge tesco bags full of apples ready for crumbles, juices or compote.  there is an increasing amount of furniture and we have lots of boxes to unpack.  a healthy state of moving house.  i keep thinking that if we hadn't bought this house earlier in the year, we'd be still agonizing over houses.  now we are almost functioning in the new place.  it feels good.

queen of hearts

Bernard has been enjoying his nursery rhymes so much that we decided to make jam tarts.  He had one for dessert served with a petit filou. 

new house

we arrived in convoy with ong ngoai who installed a curtain rail and a stair gate.  Then we tuck in to a meal served on an upturned wine crate. 

out and about

Since arriving in England we have been visiting a lot of parks and Bernard is getting more and more confident at climbing, swinging and balancing.  When we arrived, he had never been on a swing.  Now he loves swings and asks to go higher and higher!

at the park

We are in the kitchen. Bernard is playing with his blocks. Temperature is probably about 36 or 7 degrees but it is cloudy as we are building up for a storm. And so humid you break out in thick sweat just changing a nappy or washing up. This morning I brought playdough out of the fridge and the atmospheric humidity turned it horribly slimy. Bernard is doing fine with the heat but has a rash on hbiggbhhhhhjhfdzsfm,vbxctf jnhsgdxfdcfbnv vbbbggbddffxf bbvczzxcbbggnhnnhhhhjhrqghjk,kjmmjjjmjhgdaaaqwertuyuukiiooopppsadfhhhjkk.llzxvccvbb mm,,. Ah yes the joys of trying to do anything on a computer when he is awake. We have had to stick to cotton reusables because the plasticky disposables are making the rash worse. he loves the cream, though, and asks for more every time!
Today was a happy day as we did our usual Saturday routine of going to the market then to a cafe to play. We had a long nap and then Bernard, refreshed, played beautifully with his toys until we went to Tiniworld. An older child adopted Bernard and took it upon herself to guide Bernard round the soft play climbing frame, which he loved.
Just a few more days to go and I have a complex plan pinned up on my fridge. It looks like I may have found a few more hours for the nanny so am happy about that. Everything is falling into place. Glad I had all this time as it has been a relaxed process so far. Advice please on entertaining an alphabet obsessed toddler on the plane!

Sent from my iPad