As you can see, we finally got all of our computer gear up and running and I can now download some pictures for you to see.
Here is a photo of our new house. For those of you who like to use Google Earth, our actual British address is:
Here is a photo of our new house. For those of you who like to use Google Earth, our actual British address is:
42 Heatherset Way
Red Lodge
Bury St Edmunds
IP28 8JR
But please just use our APO address for letters. It's much cheaper!
We are finally getting down to the last few boxes and making our new house feel like home. We have had to downsize once again to make room for everything. I just took another load to the Airman's Attic today. It's amazing what you can live without when you need to.
Odd things about British houses:
The walls are made of cinder blocks. Therefore they are hard, like concrete, and difficult to hang things on. Tony had to buy a masonry bit and must first drill into the wall before inserting a nail. We will definitely be conservative when it comes to hanging things! Some people I have talked to are not allowed to hang anything or are charged 2 pounds (approx. $3.50) per hole they make!!
There are no electrical outlets in the bathrooms. The lights are turned on by pulling a string hanging near the door. No wall outlets at all!! Doesn't that make getting ready interesting? We are currently using our 4th bedroom as the "beauty parlor."
Electricity is VERY expensive. We must be very careful about leaving things on, especially the transformers and turning everything off and unplugging when not in use. The utility bills are a major reason that people chose to live on base. Of course, everything is 220 volt off base. Therefore all the plugs look much different and nothing American can plug into the outlets. We must use transformers (heavy black boxes about the size of a loaf of bread) to convert the electricity to 110 so we can use our American appliances. Our lamps do work with a converter plug and a 220 light bulb. We have chosen to buy some British appliances (coffee pot, hair dryer, curling iron, clocks, radio/CD player, etc) Many of these are dual voltage and can be brought back to the states. It's cheaper to use 220 appliances than to run 110 appliances with a transformer.
There are no street lights on our street. This is actually a positive thing. We are able to lay in bed and see a million stars in the sky. Since there are no screens on the windows, the view is amazing!
Usually British houses do not have closets (3 out of 4 of ours does.) Eric is the lucky guy without one. His clothes are hanging in the 4th bedroom. Feltwell does have wardrobes to lend out. But now that we have Eric's room all set up, we like it better without one.
British homes do not have doorknobs. I've heard this was some crazy tax thing of the past. You were taxed on your doorknobs. Therefore, we have a handle type door opener, but no circular knobs. Every lockable door (front, back, side, garage, etc) all have separate locks and separate keys. We have a key box in the kitchen and I have had to go through and color code all the keys. You must also use a key to lock from the inside.
Most homes do not have grass in the front yard (see photo above.) Since the roads are so narrow and parking is limited, most people just pull up into the yard and park in the gravel. You know how much I like to mow. This will take some getting used to. Our back yard does have grass though! And people mow 12 months out of the year I have heard. The grass is still green here, but many trees are turning colors and the leaves are falling. It's beautiful!
I will post more photos once the house gets a little more organized. It could not come fast enough for Tony!
Hope all is well with you. Lots of love from our new home to yours.....
Red Lodge
Bury St Edmunds
IP28 8JR
But please just use our APO address for letters. It's much cheaper!
We are finally getting down to the last few boxes and making our new house feel like home. We have had to downsize once again to make room for everything. I just took another load to the Airman's Attic today. It's amazing what you can live without when you need to.
Odd things about British houses:
The walls are made of cinder blocks. Therefore they are hard, like concrete, and difficult to hang things on. Tony had to buy a masonry bit and must first drill into the wall before inserting a nail. We will definitely be conservative when it comes to hanging things! Some people I have talked to are not allowed to hang anything or are charged 2 pounds (approx. $3.50) per hole they make!!
There are no electrical outlets in the bathrooms. The lights are turned on by pulling a string hanging near the door. No wall outlets at all!! Doesn't that make getting ready interesting? We are currently using our 4th bedroom as the "beauty parlor."
Electricity is VERY expensive. We must be very careful about leaving things on, especially the transformers and turning everything off and unplugging when not in use. The utility bills are a major reason that people chose to live on base. Of course, everything is 220 volt off base. Therefore all the plugs look much different and nothing American can plug into the outlets. We must use transformers (heavy black boxes about the size of a loaf of bread) to convert the electricity to 110 so we can use our American appliances. Our lamps do work with a converter plug and a 220 light bulb. We have chosen to buy some British appliances (coffee pot, hair dryer, curling iron, clocks, radio/CD player, etc) Many of these are dual voltage and can be brought back to the states. It's cheaper to use 220 appliances than to run 110 appliances with a transformer.
There are no street lights on our street. This is actually a positive thing. We are able to lay in bed and see a million stars in the sky. Since there are no screens on the windows, the view is amazing!
Usually British houses do not have closets (3 out of 4 of ours does.) Eric is the lucky guy without one. His clothes are hanging in the 4th bedroom. Feltwell does have wardrobes to lend out. But now that we have Eric's room all set up, we like it better without one.
British homes do not have doorknobs. I've heard this was some crazy tax thing of the past. You were taxed on your doorknobs. Therefore, we have a handle type door opener, but no circular knobs. Every lockable door (front, back, side, garage, etc) all have separate locks and separate keys. We have a key box in the kitchen and I have had to go through and color code all the keys. You must also use a key to lock from the inside.
Most homes do not have grass in the front yard (see photo above.) Since the roads are so narrow and parking is limited, most people just pull up into the yard and park in the gravel. You know how much I like to mow. This will take some getting used to. Our back yard does have grass though! And people mow 12 months out of the year I have heard. The grass is still green here, but many trees are turning colors and the leaves are falling. It's beautiful!
I will post more photos once the house gets a little more organized. It could not come fast enough for Tony!
Hope all is well with you. Lots of love from our new home to yours.....
5 comments:
How exciting, I so remeber the smallness of European housing. Oh how I am not looking forward to that moving and unpacking thing.
Missing you
Tonya
OMGosh! Love your blog... sooooo excited to see your smiles! Lots of new things to experience, a lucky family on a new journey. We send our ((((HUGS)))) The Probert Family
I think I have unpacked my last box. Tony may still have some in the shed, but those I will leave for him. Dropped off another load at the Thift Store today. It's amazing how much junk you collect in 16 years!! And nothing had to be deliverd through the windows, Wendy!!
We miss you Mrs. Probert!!!
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