Everyone has sinusitis

So apparently the entire family has now gotten a tad of sinusitis which makes it harder for the bacteria to just leave. Get out. Be gone. Which also means that I got another go of it - just coming out of it - but I can feel it draining all my energy at the moment. 

Spent the day in today, partly because 2/3 of the children are sick, but mostly cause there is an endless supply of tea. I thought I drank a lot of tea before, but I knew nothing of the concept "have a cuppa" - which means you have a cup in hand at all times. I like the idea. 

I also like the fact that I have a trip home planned (schh don't tell anyone it is still secret). I am really starting to miss my sister and dogs by now and I cannot wait to just get to hang out with them. If only for three days!

Homebound (in two months)!

I never thought I'd be so excited about booking flight tickets to go back home. But I am over the moon about the fact that, I will not only get to go back home and see my family - but also surprise them; seeing as they have no idea I am coming back home - and I have no plans of telling them either.

It has always been the going away that brought me the great pleasure. And it was obviously only because I knew that I would be going back home, eventhough I kept telling myself that I wanted to get away. The fact that I had somewhere to go back to is settling and calming. I am not saying I want to leave London now to go back home, but after not having seen your family for a month, and knowing that you'll have to wait two more just makes me want to go home even more - if even only for a day or two. The planned visit will be brief and possibly just as teary as the one when I first left but it doesn't matter to me. Cause I know I will get to go back - both to London and Stockholm that is.

Am I a grown up now?

Me five years ago would have been panicking by now. Not going home in a week? Doing my own laudry? Shopping my own food? What do you mean I have to make my own bed? Past-me would have been pulling her hair, wondering how she could get out of the situations she didn't like and how she could get someone else to do whatever she felt was too much to ask of her. She would have gone out of her way to have someone else do the dirty work and possibly even tried to take the credit for someone elses hardwork. She would have complained (loudly) about having to get up at 6.30 every morning, and she would definitely have complained even louder (if possible) about waking up by herself before noon on weekends.

The present-me is quite enjoying it. I am really liking the fact that I can come and go as I want out of working hours. That I decide what I want to eat and buy to eat. That I am the one to make my plans for the weekends, rather than having to plan around everyone else's plans. Surely I had freedom back home as well - but this is so different. Cause there is literally no one here to tell me to do something out of work hours. And though that is freeing, it is also strangely unsetteling. Going back home after a year is going to be almost as big of a change as it was coming here. Am I scared about that? Yes.

Having talked to many other au-pairs, I realise that I ended up in the right family. The one thing that would make them better would be if they got a dog. Dad being allergic, makes that a no-go. But one can't have everything, right? I don't mind not having to walk a dog though, yet I have talked to Mum about spreading the word to her friends, that I wouldn't mind taking a fury four pawed adorable drooling dog for a walk every now and then.

Cause I do miss my dogs. A lot.

Who would have thought?

I never thought I'd actually enjoy doing dishes, washing, ironing, making dinners and go grocery shopping. However, I am. I think I was secretly made for being a housewife. Schoolr uns are brilliant; sitting in a car, listening to music while you can't move cause the streets are crammed with cars. I am enjoying it. 

I also never thought I'd feel as free as I am feeling now. Surely, I have stuff do yo, and I have places to be - but the time in between I can plan as I like; something I am not too spoiled with. I love the fact that I am bo longer even thinking "It is too early to get up," rather than bust getting out of bed and getting to work. Very settling. 

Lastly; I never would have thought I'd get to spend almost an entire month with my best friend again. That makes me happer than any of the mentions above. 

In a mere week, things has changed

I did not mean to let an entire week come between me and this next post. It just happened.

I am getting into routines, that is what got in the way. Basically getting up at 6.30 every morning and being back home at 8.30 doesn't really leave me any sparetime to do whatever - when I get back home I basically just want to sleep. But at least now that the youngest one is back at school, I have my midday off. So this week I've met up with a bunch of au-pairs (all from Sweden) for some lunch. I have also had a serious sitdown with a book for the first time in 6 weeks. I have had time (read: energy) to do some of my own laundry. It just feels like things are falling into place and I like having things to do non-stop - it leaves me feeling less homesick.

Alright, I am not missing home as much anymore. Now it is more about missing what I am missing out on. Talking to my family on Skype, I see that their way of behaving hasn't changed. But I am not sure if I have changed and going back there later on, I don't know - I just feel as if though they are moving on without me, when in fact I might be the one moving on. This makes no more sense written down than it did in my head. I just wish I could be around home, for the random and common things - which I didn't even think about before I left. I am getting lots of those random and common events here as well though.

I am making sure to press as much as I possibly can into the weekends. So this weekend I've already managed to spend some quality time with my girlfriend, I have babysat (which for the record is not really working cause the children are angels), I'm going to meet up with my 'long-time-no-see' best friend and after that there is an Au-Pair gathering to attend.

If the time tonight allows it, there will be pictures of the past 3 weeks. If time does not allow it, I will probably have to wait another three weeks cause I have three kids and a cello to do school runs with.

Five, is the magic number

The number five has been following me around lately. Five working days so far, also five days since I last wrote. Five hours sleep last night and five more days till I am planned to be reunited with my best friend here in London. Also did five rounds in the washing machine today and there were five of us for dinner. I guess I am grasping here, but the details keep popping out at me.

Anyway, enough of that. I feel that I am finally getting into the routines, leaving and picking up at school. Shopping, cooking, washing. It is all falling into place and the little ones are actually behaving really nicely. I will never get used to the idea that they are as polite as they are. I am driving on my own, which I thought was a bit further ahead in the future but I guess the parents found me a safe-enough driver to drive their children.

Tomorrow is the last day of the littlest one's summer vacation, and on Wednesday I start working regular times. Something I am looking forward to. In all fairness, the children have been angels - really - but I feel like I need a bit of me time and that time has lately only been the 5 minutes it takes for me to walk from the family until I fall asleep on my bed.

I am missing home a bit. Not so much specific people or dogs but more the familiarity of it all. And I guess that is something that I am going to have the hardest time letting go of for now. I am so used to, even when I am on the road for months at a time, that I will go back home soon enough and I am always the one to start counting down the days until I go back home. But a year is a long time to count down and I don't want to do that whilst I am here, in fear of me properly living my life instead of longing back to the life back home. If that makes sense. Though I would not decline a cuddle with my little Princess of a dog.

I have a few things planned for the week though. Might even pick up a book again. But one thing that will most definitely have to happen is washing some clothes (long overdue). Whohoo.

Short text, covering many events

This weekend has been a handful. A lot of new things to take in, new information about the family, the neighbourhood, the routines and the general life here - but I have never been more certain I made the right decision in coming here.

Friday was my first meeting up with the family since I first met them in June (apart from the brief encounter I had with the dad as he got into a taxi). And today I got around to their house again, just to get more information about tomorrow, which is my first proper working day. Exciting!

Also, I said a proper goodbye to my sister today, who's spent the past 10 days with me in London. It was tear-filled but she will be back in two months time. I will miss her, just as I miss my entire family (already - where will this end?).

This weekend has, as said been a handful, and I cannot think of anything nicer than crawling in under a massive blanket and sleep till 7AM tomorrow when my alarm rings. Night night!

Making a new place, my place

I am sleeping in my new home tonight. Which feels slightly odd. But at the same time very good. I am usually feeling slightly queasy when spending a first night at a new place but for once I am actually just feeling very comfortable. Snuggled down in my jammies with a cup of tea, I really do feel home-y. I would not go as far as saying that I feel at home but I am getting there and the fact that I don't feel like running in the opposite direction at the thought of spending a first night at a new place really make me sort of proud of myself. I mean, it is kinda small, a tiny fridge, limited amount of surfaces to place things on and the floor is squeeky - massive wardrobe though - but I think I managed to make it mine (and not by just spreading my stuff all over - which I felt like doing). I actually took my time sorting through the things that I brought and looked over the area where I could put it, arranging it all very neatly. I surprised myself.

Also, I finally have my computer set up now. Which means that I won't have to try and write on my bastard phone anymore. My fingers are not made for writing on those tiny pads (unless you are okay with 90% of all the words being misspelled).

Tomorrow is the first driving lesson which means that I will have to do my absolute best in not running someone over. *fingers crossed* Then again, I will just have to think opposite of how I think when I drive back home, right??

Enjoying my vacation

I am trying at least - to enjoy my vacation (that ends on Tuesday) - but it is hard when I am constantly reminded that it's over soon. Surely it is a minor problem seeing as I live here now and I can do the touristy things when I have time off, but I am still very nervous. I will move into my room today and seeing as I met my tennant yesterday I am not all to nervous about that.

The thing that is doing my head in is the learning-to-drive part that starts on Tuesday. To be fair it is only for too hours and surely I should manage not to run someone over in that time (but if you happen to be in London, stay clear of Islington on Tuesday between 10-noon. 

Yesterday was an experience. I managed to get half my packing to my new home, spend a few hours at Madame Tussaud's, ate heaven on a plate for dinner and on only 3 hours of sleep. Nonetheless, it was a great day and I am once again reminded why I chose London of all places.