Monday January 4th 2010

Today the move really started to happen. The packers arrived but with the temperature at about 20 degrees and freezing, they couldn't start their truck and were late. Not to worry - 5 days to pack should be enough.

Also today was the day that both children went back to school. Charles has been a day boy at The Pennington School for the past 5 and a bit years. It is a private prep school about 5 miles from where we live and for him it has been fabulous. He only has 5 months to go before he graduates so this will be great preparation for him to get ready for college. We, for which I mean I, had sorted everything out for him to take and Steve took him down but they weren't expecting him until later so everything was locked up. Not to worry, it is only a 10 minute drive . When they got back later, someone had at least pinned a note to his door with his name on and a picture of the Houses of Parliament. When they got inside, however, there was a bed, two desks and nothing else. I guess the other boys had made good use of the chairs, cabinets and other things. Not to worry, another trip home for extra bits remedied the situation. Spartan living, hmmm, now that will make him appreciate home comforts.

Charles is very interested in politics, especially the UK kind. He plans at some stage to study in the UK and work for the Conservative party. He is definitely his mother's son - I joined the Young Conservatives when I was about 17 years old and my first blood was canvassing for Margaret Thatcher in 1979.

Emma on the other hand is nothing like her brother. She goes to a "wacky" Quaker school just outside Philadelphia. Westtown is absolutely perfect for her and it is music to my ears when she says things such as " I can't wait to get back to school". I can't ever remember saying that in my day. Emma hates talking about politics but is very arty and immensely socially liberal.

I have to say that both schools are just perfect for each of my children and for that I am very very grateful