Homogenous

Well here we are in US suburbia.
Err...oops!!! It's a bit like Pleasantville. I feel a constant urge to roll home pissed and leave furniture in the front garden. Actually come to think of it I did that stuff before we moved here so maybe it's not so bad. Ironically it is faster to get into the city than it used to be where we lived before so it must be psychological. I think the difference is that whereas I could bike everywhere and drink in any one of about 10 pubs before walking home, now I have to jump in the car. Also, for the first time in my life I feel like a minority. ALL the neighbors are American and middle class. In Shadyside they were frequently foreign and/or colourful characters. Still...onwards and upwards. As Rob says....."it's still good to be us".

NEWS FLASH....!!!!!!!!

We are moving to the suburbs. Day 2 of Soccer Camp was a great opportunity for Shaz and I to drop Adam off and go and look at the local neighborhood. Coincidentally there was a house just listed for rent at 260 Shadolawn Drive. This has been bought recently by a developer and has a whopping great brand new extension on the back. Gourmet kitchen and 3 full and 2 half bathrooms which.... = 5 bogs!!!!!! Oooh the agony of choice!!!!

I forgot to mention.....we are signing the lease forms in the morning so all being well our new address will be 260 Shadowlawn Drive, Pittsburgh 15216.

This means that Adam will start school in "the fall" at Lincoln Elementary School. We visited it today. I am not usually inspired by such places but it was spectacular. Fantastic facilities, laid back and just up the road. Fingers crossed!!!
As an added bonus, Joey Harrington (Scott and Sue's son) who was also at soccer camp will be in Adam's class.
Fab!

I'll keep yinz posted (if the kids get Pittsburgh accents they can officially be referred to as "Yinzers".....definition number 1 only please).

PS: did I mention that the US Open is happening in Pittsburgh as I write??? Well....Oakmont anyway. It's famous for being where the storage facility is in which all our stuff got flooded during the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew in 2004.

Bite Me!

Yesterday morning when I woke up and focused my bleary eyes, I found Sophia standing by the bed looking down at me (we are kipping on a futon mattress). Without missing a beat she said....."Dad...when I grow up I am going to be a tooth fairy". I of course responded as every good parent would by making encouraging noises and nodding with approval. Afterwards it occurred to me that maybe Soph is considering a career in dentistry. My first thought was..."great!....she can earn shed-loads of cash and keep me in beer in my frail dotage".....however, on reflection....dentistry must be one of the most boring jobs on the planet...cash or no cash....so I am not sure I can endorse it. No offense to all you dentists reading this (you know who you are).

pssst....I don't know any dentists and I am struggling to believe that anybody is reading this regardless of their oral surgery skills

I goofed off work today. It was the first day of the Mount Lebanon "soccer camp" and I took Adam while Shaz went and toured a local school. I was ready to be irritated by the whole affair. I think my reticence stems from the fact that they call it soccer here and not footy which is obviously pretty feeble of me. As it turned out, it was a great day out. Superbly well organized, in a great location and very civilized. I was so impressed that I have infected Shaz with the idea that we need to move to the suburbs and so she is now sitting next to me surfing for houses in Mount Lebo.

My mum is here with Derek!!!! She is sitting here complaining that she has not been mentioned in the blog so here goes. She and Derek seem to be having a relaxing time although Derek tried to cycle down Route 28 today on his road bike. For those readers not living in Western PA, this is like trying to cycle from Liverpool to Burtonwood via the M62. Not sensible and he had to be rescued by a passing off duty biker in a large truck.

Soph in the Scooby Doo van


Your guess is as good as mine!

Spitfire!

I have finally lost the last of my few remaining marbles!

There was me thinking that my mid-life crisis couldn't get any worse and....bam!......I clicked the "bid now" button on an ebay auction for a 1969 Triumph Spitfire.

Gareth has already had a good old laugh via Skype but if anyone else wants a giggle (assuming there is somebody still reading this rattling rollercoaster of mundane trivia) you can see some pics below.

If anybody is planning a trip over for a visit.....it's insured for "any driver".