A soggy day in Hampshire

I thought I was being really clever when I found the DVLA (the drivers licensing place) had an office in Poole - which is sort of close to Bournemouth - and a heap closer to me in Andover, than Swansea (the head office in mid Wales) is.  Nothing on the website indicated that it would be anything other than open.. but no.. No phone numbers by the way to check is available on the website either.

We drove (about 2 hours - as it was really windy and raining) to find a boarded up building with signs saying it had closed permanently..sigh..

I found a place where I could at least pick up the forms I needed and got a mug shot ( I look like Europe's most wanted) so will be ready for the big drive into Wales tomorrow - as I really need to sort out my licence and the car details - and I don't want to hand over my original documents into a big black bureaucratic hole.

Not to waste a trip, we went to explore the seafront - which was so blustery, we could hardly open the car doors to get out. Not to be put off, we ventured into the middle of town, to do a few shopping errands. To be fair to Poole; I am sure its a hub of activity in the Summer time; but its a pretty dire place in the wind and wet.

This mural is in the middle of the mall. Very pretty..and we are the only mad ones out on a day like today...

I have to acknowledge the kids and their patience.. so far its been a pretty boring old time in the UK - running round doing one job and then the other - but have promised when we get to Cornwall, we will do some fun stuff and start our 'travels' for real.

My New Little Car

Trying to settle yourself into a new country into any sort of normality is going to take time - this I understand. Though the last time I was in the UK for any length of time, I coped with public transport, a bicycle and then moved onto a motorcycle.. I didn't have kids.  I know you can cope without a fuel guzzling environment destroying machine... but I've become so used to being able to jump in a car and go whereever I want to at the drop of a hat, it was an easy decision to get a car for here.

While my beautiful Skoda takes breather ( poor thing did nearly 35K in the last 6 months.. yes.. 35K) I have been given the opportunity to buy a cute little run about - a little ford focus.  Its got low millage for its age ( 60K - its a 2000 model I think) and its really tidy. I am so thankful for this little car.  We are going to cover some miles while its mine... poor little thing.. won't know whats hit it!

I have had all types of trouble getting insurance and my drivers licence sorted (even though I hold a UK drivers licence - its a paper one from years ago.)  I am planning on having to drive to Swansea to sort it out - yep a few hundred kms away because thats the head office and there aren't any others.

Welcome to the UK!

Am safe and sound in the UK.  It was so lovely to be met at the airport and picked up. I've never had that before - its always been public transport or transfers - or my own car.

We are staying for a short time with my cousin Chris and Roy in a gorgeous little Hampshire village outside of Andover, called Smannell.  They have a wonderful farmhouse with a well kept garden, along a cute little laneway.  In the summer, there are horses and cows in the fields beside it; and we hear plenty of horses being ridden down the lane.

So - have slipped into something comfy and grabbed a drink with Chris.. cheers!!

The kids are still getting used to how chilly it is and how to manage going outside with jackets etc, and then taking them off for inside - but we will acclimatise soon I am sure.  We are all pretty excited to be here.