We bought Vicky a new bike at the weekend – one that has 7 gears and handlebar brakes – hopefully this will help us get out more.

We went out on Sunday evening and then again tonight so we have started out in the right direction we think 🙂  Incredible that mid January we can go out with shorts and a t-shirt after work on bikes !! Let’s hope this nice weather stays with us for a while longer.

Simon gave up on the search for glasses last weekend when he found that not only will the US folks not supply the super thin lenses – some crap about Health and Safety – the lady in the Optician suggested that the thinner lenses could break and cause facial damage – Simon’s reaction was typical Simon – bollocks, they are plastic and will not break.  On top of this there were other issues that highlighted a lack of confidence in their ability to build a set of glasses that would actually function to Simon’s UK prescription.  So we have sent an email to the UK optician with the hope that they can setup the required glasses and then we can figure out a means to ship them to us out here.

We are in the middle of deciding whether we should look for an alternative accommodation out here, so have started a little search.  We are going to look at a property on Monday that is walking distance from Elliot’s school, has four bedrooms, is 40% more spacious than what we have today AND has a pool and hot tub in the back garden – yay ! It is just $700 per month more expensive – we are seriously considering this additional expense – will help with guests and will be MUCH better for the kids to be able to play outside in a garden.

WOW – it has been 23 degrees Celsius in he area today.  We were soooo caught out with our choice of clothing.  Shorts and t-shirts would have been the right choice today – blue sky and sunshine 🙂

We have been out shopping today nearly all day – Simon has been looking for some new glasses and so when he found some that he liked, the staff in the optician pointed out that the glasses in question are not available to someone with such bad short-sightedness – not sure what to make of that….. 🙁

Coldstone Creamery shouted out to us as well……. and beat us…… 🙂

Simon has really missed the 15 minute commute 🙂  It is GREAT to be back for that alone 🙂  The four trips to Daresbury from Ossett were hard – feel for Mr Leech who is still doing that commute most days…. 🙁

Olly had his first night last night where he was not allowed to sleep in mummy and daddy’s bed.  It was hard letting him cry in his cot, but it was necessary.  His “training” in the UK needed undoing.  hopefully tonight will not cause the same challenge….

Vicky has spent the last two days tidying up the Christmas decorations and the toys that the boys seem intent on getting out, messing with, then getting out again (once mummy has tidied them away).

We have a long weekend ahead of us so we are looking to do something out of the ordinary so that we don’t end up wasting yet another weekend.

Oh, the automatic watch winder that Simon ordered for our new watches arrived just before we got back here, and it works a treat.  It could take up to four watches that are automatic and then up to 6 other battery operated watches or jewellery.  A steal at $85 delivered – the item that we looked at in the shop where we bought the watches was a mere $700 for just ONE watch…. Guess that’s what you get when buying branded items…. Rolex was the brand in the case of $700.

Finally, the weather is on the up – was 18 Celcius today and blue skies – oh ddaaaaaammmmmnnnn 🙂

Our apologies for the lack of updates during December and over Christmas and New Year.

We all went back to the UK for 3 weeks vacation (well, Simon worked a few days) to enjoy the festive time with friends and family.  During this time, some dumbass switched off the IT kit in the house, when meant that the website could not easily be updated – hence it wasn’t updated at all 🙁

Anyway, we got back yesterday evening following a 4 1/2 hour drive down to London’s Heathrow airport, and then a 11 hour flight direct to San Francisco.

The boys were really good considering the amount of time spent sat down doing very little, and they really enjoyed Christmas Day #3 when they found a third set of parcels here in Los Gatos.  The first set were in Ossett and the second in Halifax.  Father Christmas really has spoiled them this year 🙂

We are hoping to begin Olly’s training tonight, as he has been unwell during most of the time in the UK, culminating in his requirement of sleeping in the same bed as mummy and daddy pretty much every night.  We allowed him to sleep with us again last night, what with it being our first night back, and hence our need for sleep to get into the timezone etc.  Tonight he will not be so lucky….