Since Halloween isn't a British thing, we weren't going to do anything about it. But then we got a knock on our door and were told Halloween was happening and our street was handing out candy. So, my little pirates got dressed up and we went out to meet our neighbors. The candy is their favorite part, but my favorite part is meeting our neighbors. The night wasn't much to write about, but we did get to meet a few neighbors and eat some candy. One neighbor ran across the street to give us some cookies. He said he'd lived there since the year 2000 and had always gotten ready for Halloween. This was the first year he didn't plan for the evening with a large bowl of candy. He was so excited to see our little pirates that we stood and talked with him for while. He was adorable, but most everyone here is with their British accents! Only five doors answered our Trick or Treat knocks, but that's five neighbors I didn't know before that night. I was pretty excited. : ) We live in a predominately black skinned neighborhood, so it was weird to find white skin answering a couple of the doors. As we walk to and from the bus station, train station, corner market, and look out our windows, we usually see black skinned folks. When we see white skin, we assume they're lost.

M entertained our car and the two cars next to us as he did physics experiments on the Underground. He kept us all entertained for about half an hour!

The kids and I took the train and underground to meet Dave for lunch today. We found a pretty park with lots of seating. Unfortunately, one can only enter with a privilaged key; therefore, we sat on the outskirts facing oncoming traffic. Even the benches outside the park were not allowed to look at the park. We had fun watching all the traffic.
It was really cold today, so M gave his jacket to K. What a loving brother!

The house we call home

This is home for six months: our block, our house, and our house layout. The house is quite tight, long, and narrow.
It's great being on the end because we have a more spacious feel than if we were sandwiched somewhere in-between. The open space to the left is our neighbor's yard, not ours. Ours is all in back and is only accessible from inside the house. We can get there from the kitchen and from the lounge. If you look to the right of our block, this is where the train goes by. It's amazing how many houses back right up to the train; that's what happens when you have a great transport-by-train system; several residents get to live with the trains.
We have a strangely quiet neighborhood. We are out-numbered with our white skin, being that the majority of our neighbors have black skin. I do wonder where my east neighbor is from. Her cooking is incredibly fragrant. I'd invite myself over, but the folks here are quite "to themselves". If we see someone with white skin walking by, we all assume they're lost.
Maybe they're all in a relocation program. From our second story, we see lots of children's toys in the yards, but no children. We see clothes-lines, but no one out hanging anything. We see gardens, but no one tending to them. I like it quiet, but I like seeing life happening too!

We got home from the airport and enjoyed our first meal in our new house - Pizza!

We left for London tonight! We can't wait to see the "king of our castle" again. XO

One of my dearest and best friend's husband shockingly died today. Please pray for the continuing positive outlook and faith in Jesus of my dear friend. In honor of her privacy, I'll not type her name, but let's call her "Bug". All who know her know it fits. : ) Mr. Bug was an incredibly amazing man and he has left behind an incredibly amazing woman with their three yummy little bugs. Those who know me know how much I love my dear purple friend.

We're going to miss our sweet Cheshire. From the day his previous owners, Seth and Hannah, brought him to us, he stoll our hearts and he hasn't stopped. He's an awesome British Shorthair who just wants to love, love, love. Hmmm, maybe that's the British in him? (Get it? "Love, love, love . . . all we need is love . . ." - never mind)