Ellie just said that if I dropped her computer off our really ridiculously high bed that she would, in turn, jump off after it. I'm a little frightened about her commitment to this device. (don't worry mamas and papas, no one is jumping.)

Anyways, so they sell shrimp chips here. Like literally on the same shelf as cheddar and sour cream, they have "prawn chips." Who wants to eat chips that taste like shrimp? Is that for poor people who can't afford shrimp? Also gena claims they have lamb and garlic chips, and i have also witnessed ham and cheddar. So whoever wants to try some new chips, send us your address and we will send them wrapped up for christmas! nothing like ham and prawns under the tree.

We have settled into our place and we are really feeling at home here which is nice. George is turning out to be just great. Last night we went out for a drink with him and a couple of his friends and he bought us some drinks and was really watching out for us, kept making sure we were safe and having fun and what not.

I have been emailing places like crazy hoping for someone to respond to my resume and agree to hire me, however it is just wishful thinking so far. Ellie and I decided today that we may apply to whole foods and at least get half off amazing groceries. I emailed my resume to someone called beverley underwood the other day and i thought it was a legitimate job and they told me to come in and everything and i took a long shower, got dressed in real business clothes and made ellie dash out to get us some nail polish remover so i didnt have chipped polish. We were so excited and when i got there it turned out to just be an agency. They made me take these stupid tests in microsoft word and you weren't allowed to right-click except sometimes you needed to and it was very confusing, the clicking that is. I don't think i did so hot, even though i've been using that software since fifth grade or something. But apparently I type very very fast and beverley underwood got me a position tomorrow where i am going to a department store and have to listen to cassette tapes of police interviews with employees who have stolen from the store and i have to type the interview up as i hear it. Apparently, i have to use the transcribing machine with a foot pedal and everything. When I told beverley that i had no earthly idea how to do this, she said, "well don't tell them that.'

Then she set me up for tuesday through saturday to be a receptionist at a casino. I hate casinos, i think they're sleazy and gross and now i am going to work in one all week. It's nice to employment but i wish there was something permanent for at least a month so i can get comfortable in one place.

Ellie got a babysitting job for an american family and she will do that two evenings a week until she gets a better job. Tomorrow she is going to see if beverley can get her some work as well.

Yesterday we went to the stables market right next door to our house and we went with gaelle, our french friend. We walked around and ate curry from a stand and then ate fresh donuts that were amazing. The market is really fun and there are so many places and cute things to see there. Today we went to hyde park and walked around, taking in how lovely the seasons are and alternately freezing our butts off as well. We rode the double decker bus home and then got kicked off because we kept riding and didn't realize everyone was supposed to get off.

-Kelly



So since kelly types 70 words per minute, and I type... 35, she does the writing and I'm in charge of the photos. I'm also in charge of the cooking, since we've moved into the new flat we are able to cook and it has been saving us quite a bit of money. We live right across the street from sainsbury's, the local supermarket, and its much more convenient. Last night I made lots of pasta with cream sauce, fresh garlic and tomatoes and bread from the bakery and it cost us less than 5 pounds. It was probably the most we've eaten all week. Plus we get to cook things we can't really get here in the UK, like real omelets. Apparently, breakfast isn't a very big deal here. A traditional english breakfast consists of an omelette (one egg folded over) sausage, toast, and baked beans. Weird.
-Ellie

Here are some pictures of our life:

OUR FLAT:
the outside of our flat (we are the two 2nd floor windows on the right)



the view from our kitchen

we'll put up a photo of our actual room when we finish unpacking and you can see the floor. maybe tomorrow...


kelly and gaelle



Camden Loch. We live one block from the canal

HYDE PARK