Two weeks ago we arrived to UK and so here is just a little post about my stay and first impressions so far
- The flight to here went pretty well. I was scared that my almost 2 years old son will be a little nightmare on the plane. I did google and read about tips and tricks how to entertain kids on the plane, but since I know my son and I know that sitting in one place is just not for him then I had “amazing” plan to wake him up 2-3 hours earlier than normally and just to keep him active so once he can sit down on the plane he will fall asleep. What do you think, did the plan work? YES! Our flight went well and little mr.R slept most of our flight
- Driving on the left side. Oh boy. I was scared of this one, because I am used to driving on the right and so driving on the left side seemed very unnatural at first. I have driven twice now and its actually ok 😀 I just have to remember to keep left all the time.
- Roundabouts. I just don´t get what the UK has with the roundaouts. They are like freaking everywhere! The most horrifying that I´ve seen so far is the Magic Roundabout in Swindon. It seems pretty clear on pic but IRL it is just a bunch of lanes and cars and so it is a BIG mess.
- Prices. Well when we in Estonia are all the time complaining about food prices then here they are even higher 😀 But at the same time you can buy clothes, shoes etc for much less.
- Childcare here costs almost twice as much as in Estonia, but at the same time I do like the system here more, because it is more child friendly.
- Couponing exists. I have seen US TV show about exreme couponers who often pay cents for their entire purchase. Here you won´t get that amazing deals, but the deals are better than in Estonia and you can save 50% more if you do your calculations right
- Postal service. Well once it happened that mr.R was delivered a package. But it wasn´t for him neither was the address on the package our address, but the courier was 101% sure that the package was for mr.R and the address is right and so they argued and argued and argued until the courier checked again and discovered that oops it is the wrong address. Then another time mr.R had ordered some garden furniture, but with our furniture we also received neighbour´s garden statue or smth like that. I mean doesn´t the couriers check the addresses? Crazy!
Oleme nüüdseks 2 nädalat Inglismaal olnud ning jagan teiega enda kahe esimese nädala muljeid.
- Alustame lennuga. Minu suurim hirm seoses lennuga Inglismaale oli see kuidas väike mr.R selle üle elab. Minu peaaegu 2 aastane jõnglane on suhteliselt püsimatu tüüp ning kaua paigal ei suuda istuda. Guugeldasin mis ma guugeldasin ja lugesin mis ma lugesin erinevatest nippidest ja trikkidest, kuidas lapsi lennureisiajal lõbustada, ent lõpuks otsustasin minna lihtsama vastupanu teed. Ehk siis minu geniaalne plaan oli poiss 2-3 tundi varem tavapärasest ajast üles ajada ja ta piisavalt ära väsitada nii, et kui ta lõpuks kella 12 paiku lennukisse saab, siis kohe ka magama jääb. Mis te arvate kas plaan töötas? JAH! Õnneks suurema osa lennust magas väike mr.R maha ja ma arvan, et kõik kaasreisijad võisid selle üle vaid rõõmu tunda.
- Vasakpoolne liiklus. Vot see oli esimese hooga hirmutav kuna olen harjunud ju meie normaalse 😛 parempoolse liiklusega. Olen praeguseks kaks korda ka sõitmas jõudnud käia ja polegi nii hull, lihtsalt kogu aeg on vaja meeles pidada, et tuleb vasakule hoida 😀 ning auto vasaku külje mõõtmete tunnetamine võtab veel natuke aega.
- Ringteed. Aru ma ei saa mis värk inglastel nende ringteedega küll on. Igal sammul on jälle normaalse ristimiku asemel ringtee. Eriti jube “Magic roundabout” (vt pilti üleval pool) on Swindon´i lähedal, mis kujutab endast ühte suurt ringristimikku, millel on omakorda viis tillukest ringi. Pildilt vaadates tundub see isegi arusaadav ja loogiline, ent seda reaalselt läbida on õudne, sest see on üks sõiduridade ja autode segapudru.
- Hinnad. Kui me Eestis vingume kogu aeg, et toit on kallis, siis nüüd soovitan ühe ringi Inglismaal ära käia ja siis räägime uuesti toiduhindadest (jajah, ma tean küll, et meie palgad on ka tunduvalt väiksemad). Samas riideid jms kaupa saab tõesti soodsamalt ning outlet poed ja nö tehasepoed on tõesti tunduvalt soodsamad.
- Lastehoid. Jällegi kallis – vaat, et kaks korda kallim kui Eestis, ent sellevõrra ka tunduvalt lastesõbralikum st, et ühe täiskasvanu kohta on rühmas lapsi poole vähem. Aga kohtade puudus on ka siin ja seega ma ei tea kuna ja kas üldse väike mr.R siin hoidu jõuab 🙁
- Kupongimine. Ehk keegi teist on näinud TLC kanalilt saadet Extreme Couponing, kus eriti osavad arvutajad ja shoppajad vaat, et tasuta oma kaubakoorma saavad koju veeretada. Ma ei tea veel, et siin nii häid soodukaid saaks, aga kupongid eksisteerivad ka siin ning koos eri pakkumistega (a´la 2=3) neid kombineerides võib tunduvalt soodsamalt oma kauba kätte saada.
- Postiteenus jätab kohati soovida. Kaks näidet teile. Ükskord toodi mr.R´le pakk. Pakil oli võõras nimi ja aadress, aga kuller ei tahtnud kuidagi aru saada, et ta on vale pakiga meie ukse taga. Vaidlesid nad siis tükk aega kuni kuller siiski uuesti pakil olevat aadressi vaatas ja avastas, et oops on jah vale aadress. Teine kord aga tellis mr.R aiamööbli. Kuller tõi mööbli paki ning lisaks ka veel naabritele aadresseeritud aia skulptuuri vms paki. Oeh mida iganes nagu …..
Norah Salazar says
I do love most things in UK, especially Superdrug , Boots. Hope you enjoy your time there! I lived in London one year 🙂
Leelo says
Boots and Superdrug are great! 😀
I had no idea you have lived in London. That´s so cool!
Beautyjudy says
You are having such an adventure! I how things become more familiar soon!
Lavender Smith says
Great post, I love it! Enjoy the rest of your stay 🙂
Jess S. (@loveforlacquer) says
So fun! I can’t wait to see the goodies you get!
Lisa Heath says
How fun! And I’m so glad the little one was easy to deal with on the plane!
Jamie @ Makeuplifelove says
Super amazing that the little one was perfect on the flight. Great plan. Love everything about the UK and cant wait to keep reading as your adventures begin!!
neversaydiebeauty says
Haha, love your video of driving! I’ve been too scared to try it. Enjoy your stay in the UK. It will be wonderful!
Leticia Fontaine (Cosmetics Aficionado) says
I have never been to the UK, but I would love to go!
Ange (@angejim0531) says
I’d love to go to the UK!
Phyrra Nyx says
Cute pic of you in the phone booth! Wish I was in the UK with you!
makeupbylaurag says
I think I am meant for the UK
Betzy Carmona says
I need to travel asap !
Ashley says
How great that your plan for your son worked. Enjoy the UK, I have always wanted to go there.
daydreamingbeauty says
What an adventure!
litfromwithin9 says
driving on the other side of the road and crazy roundabouts would scare me, too! Glad to see you are setting in your new home.
honeygirlsworld says
I love that pic of you. I would have a hard time driving on the opposite side but this speed racer would certainly try it. lol
geniabeme says
Th driving part would confuse the crap out of me!!
Christy Garrett Parenting Tips says
My brother spent three years in England and loved it. I haven’t ever been abroad but I would love to visit one day. I think that driving on the on the right side of the car would be a bit awkward.