Wales

Well, just a few notes about where we are. We are living in South Wales in a small village called Monkswood - this is very small, part of the address is near Usk which we are ... about 10 minutes to drive and about 40 minutes to walk, in Usk there is a small supermarket (Spa), hairdressers, dress shops, post office, bank, basically most things, its main street is the shopping area. Also the Dr, dentist and some lovely interior stores in situated around the main square.

Here is the cottage we are in (side view in middle) and Joseph and Maddy with the dogs in the back garden - we now have a balcony off the back too.

Getting used to the fact that all houses are brick and stone, no wooden houses at all, that our "old" houses are very new, washing machines live in the kitchen, dogs go everywhere - even sat next to one on the bus to the Usk Show, it was a good thing that we got rid of 1 & 2 cent pieces, because those pennies get really heavy to carry around in your wallet and you seem to end up with so many. Jaffa Cakes are just as good when they are Sainsbury or Asda brand, someone has fun making up crisp flavours - steak and onion, marmite, shrimp, prawn cocktail, worcester sauce and many more. School lunches are really popular, at the kids school they are apparently very good and healthy - packed lunches about 1/2 the school. There are no school fees that parents pay, and books are provided by the school, you only need to pay for the uniform which is pretty cheap in comparison and pens and pencils. At Joseph and Maddys age the uniform is a little more expensive as they need a jersey with a logo and PE kit which is a rugby jersey for Joseph and socks, skirt and socks for Maddy - they do hockey, netball, rugby and soccer and would you believe Maddy has been put into netball - she is not impressed!

The weather here is lovely, have been having some wonderful days - and it is supposed to be better in the weekend, today unfortunately Joseph is home with a head cold - and I think it won't be long before my scratchy throat and blocked nose ends up being more, but not swine flu so thats OK.

Supermarket, not too expensive really - I would say about the same for most things but meat is probably a bit more expensive and other things cheaper so it kind of balances and if you stop converting then we are doing pretty well in pounds. Most things are sold in supermarkets and most are huge - appliances, clothes, toys, wine and spirits, in fact most things especially in the big ones like Tesco, Sainsburys, Asda and many others as well - lots of different ones around as well so it pays to shop around if you have time for the best bargains.

There is a fantastic shop in Monmouth that sells the music and lyric books for almost every musical show, TV programme or film - stage and screen you could imagine, amazing what you can find, apart from the obvious ones some others from long ago.

Here is a photo of the house that How's grandparents lived in in Prestiene (sorry if spelling wrong)

Going to save this one and do another as everytime I add a photo it seems to go weird :)