The past two days have taken me completely out of my comfort zone – but to be honest since I handed in my notice I have been out of my comfort zone (Original blog said since middle of July), so my zone of comfort must be expanding. Where to start… well Eleanor got the school bus yesterday to and from school and has settled in well. She likes her teachers and so far so good. Yesterday on collecting her fom the bus drop off, she wanted to be independent and not have me collect her at all, preferring instead to … Continue reading How to befriend complete strangers 20 August 2014

A rainy, overcast day dawned in Suzhou. Martin left for inset at 6.45am, and Eleanor and I set off for school at 7.35am. Eleanor got up, had her breakfast and donned her uniform. No need for her sunhat, but it was proudly put on. From our apartment we can see the entrance gate, I was periodically looking out for the school bus as I wanted to know for tomorrow where it would go from. At 7.20ish it arrived and by 7.30am it had gone. Eleanor and I were going to get a taxi to school. We had the obligatory photos … Continue reading First day as a housewife 18 August 2014

Eleanor had a late night on Thursday evening not because we were out painting the town red, but because she decided that she didn’t want to go to orientation day and that it would be hard to make new friends. Orientation day was not what Martin nor I had expected. The letter said it was 08.30-12.00. Like good people we turned up at 08.20 as the taxi got us there super speedy and knew where he was going. We sat in the reception of DUCKS (Dulwich College Kindergarten Suzhou) – people came in, people went out. At 08.40 we realised … Continue reading A geek/nerd in our flat that is not Martin 15 August 2014