Some things are different

The guineas needed some bedding and hay so we had made a trek out to find a pet shop.  We came across one inside a large shopping mall, Pet Center, and although didn’t seem that big to my surprise it sold an amazing array of wild animals. The sorts of which you normally see in the Zoo (Tarantula, huge lizards, parrots, tortoises)

(The photos aren’t great because the shop manager told me to put away my camera, but I sneakily took some because I couldn’t believe you could just walk away with some of the animals in here….)

There were a variety of Python including this Albino one

And most surprising for £4,000 you could buy your own Monkey.

We also had to register the kids at the local Doctors…our neighbour who is a nurse gave us a list with recommendations with her notes on the side -  ‘dobra’ (meaning good) ‘ne’ (meaning no don’t go near them) and ‘volno ale.. ‘ (meaning they’ll have spaces but still be warned)

When we turned up at the Poliklinic it looked like a small 70s style hospital and a multitude of doors led off corridors.  I was very glad we had this list otherwise it would be impossible to navigate. I’m still trying to get my head around the system, you pay annual insurance, and then choose your doctor (obviously the more popular the doc the less chance you can sign up with them).

First on our list our ‘dobra’ Paediatrician shook her head, put her head in her hands twice, then after a lot of sighing felt sorry for us and registered the kids.  Big Hurrah!  Plus not only did she seem cute and friendly, she speaks English..result!

Tomorrow is first day at school – eeeek.  We’re not sure what to expect and hubby is useless at remembering how it all works.  We do know that we have a loooong list of things to bring in, the kind of things that a normal English school would usually supply.

We've got the pens, pencils, colouring stuff etc…but then the list goes on to include aprons, a plastic table mat, covers for books, a cup for water, a hand towel, cloths to wipe down the table, and wait for it paper napkins for the dining room & toilet paper!!!   We also have to pay about £200 for exercise books. It feels as though not much has moved on from communist times….

Just some of the things the kids have to lug in their backpacks every day!!!

Here's to tomorrow.....

In case of emergency

The guineas are still a bit in shock, in London they used to 'talk' to us and whistle when they wanted something...in Prague they are silent, it's as if they realise they are in a foreign country and, like me, they have to quickly polish up their Czech before they open their mouth.

At least they have some fresh grass to munch on in our new garden.








Hubby had his first day at work today (working his London job from a Prague desk for now) so he left us alone for the day....and in case of an emergency he gave us a local pay as you go Czech phone so he could call us to check up on us from work.  As we set  off for the local store it took me a while to realise the phone had started randomly dialing numbers in my bag - including the police!  I couldn't turn the thing off so I ripped out the battery instead and vowed never used the damn thing again.  But for future reference I now know the number for emergency services, it's 112.

And a Big Happy Birthday Daddy! xxx

yummy cake by the way....no I didn't make it....

Arrival

After arriving at midnight and finding a space on the floor to crash, we got up early as the kids were excited and started unpacking boxes. Before we knew it, it was 5pm and as the sun was still shining we sent the kids out to play in the little park a 1 minute walk away.

It's a sign of being in Prague we've gotta start leaving them on their own, no 'helicopter' parenting in sight here! Although we're not quite there yet and had to keep surreptitiously checking up on them. But husband mistakenly sent son out with his new skateboard so the inevitable happened and we had tears at the door and a bloody knee and elbow.

I duly patched him up and with some TLC but suddenly son announced that 'he couldn't hear', 'everything has gone dark' and he wanted to sleep. So I panicked and with a wilting boy in my arms we made a run to the emergency thinking that he had somehow hit his head. Great - we were in Prague less that 24 hours and already had to visit the hospital.

Luckily it was all fine - we only had to wait 5 minutes to see the Pediatrician who was extremely thorough and we even left with present (kids magazine) all for the princely sum of £3...Wow can you imagine that in the UK?

We celebrated by going out for dinner at Polly's our local restaurant and decided that it was a good exercise and we know where to go in case of emergency!

We've definitely brought too much stuff from the UK....THERE IS NO WHERE TO PUT IT ALL.

Luckily we have the basement to dump our stuff but eventually we'll have to sort that space out too so the kids can have somewhere to stay.

First priority though - kids bunkbeds built and up and the guineas back in their cage, even though they are surrounded by towering boxes that need to be unpacked.

First Stop

The Eurotunnel was great, 35 minutes, beats the ferry anyday, although in our carriage the air con had broken down, so we worried about whether the guineas would be ok, but they seemed fine, albeit slightly traumed.

Here's Peanut looking a bit surprised.

We invited ourselves to see old friends in Brussels for dinner and to crash the night. We hadn't seen them for years - in fact enough time for them to fit in having two kids since. It was lovely catching up and they have a gorgeous apartment

She is German and he is Spanish, and not only do the the kids speak both languages, but they also communicate in perfect French at their daycare. Almost puts our kids to shame. But That's Brussels for you though, a real Euro hot pot.

Even though we should have been on the road, we couldn't resist getting to see a bit of Brussels - and to enjoy a latte (or cafe du lait) before setting off - a 10 hour drive to Prague on the scary no-speed-limit German Autobahn's.

Leaving Wanstead

Bye bye lovely friends, cute high street & the cafes of Wanners

bye bye rainy UK as we pack up our car.

Suitcases - tick

Kids - tick

last minute crap - tick

Guinea pigs - tick

Last minute panic with Polish moving van - tick

And then we're off to the Eurotunnel and our last views of English shores.....