The NHS

I have been very curious about the NHS since moving here, because I hope to practice within it and also due to my interest in natioanized care. The English people with whom I have discussed the NHS seem to either abhore it (one lady said she would rather starve than go without her private insursance) or think that it is "fine." No one has been too enthusiastic in a positive way. I have had my own frustrations, such as not being able to get either the swine flu nor the influenza vaccine for Aaron and Linnea, as they do not fall into the high risk groups.

Unfortunately, when Meade's parents arrived for their visit, Meade's dad, Don, was very sick ("unwell" as they say here). He intermittently has episodes of persistent nausea and vomiting, which at times require hospitalization to resolve, and this one was pretty severe. So, after a while, we decided he needed to be hospitalized and he and I went off to find a hospital that had an open A & E (ER). We ended up at the West Middlesex University Hospital and because his diagnosis was "hematemesis" or vomiting blood, we did not wait long. We went through the usual exhausting experience of telling the history to 18 different people (no difference from US system), he was evaluated by an awkward intern (to whom I was probably a very annoying patient advocate), and after only about seven hours or so, he was admitted (not bad I thought). He was in a six person room with a few men; one who Don describes as "the crazy guy," who would hide from the nurses in the linen closet and run around naked with a catheter (sounds like Harborview), a crochety old englishmen who constantly complained about the tea and wrote his son out of his will due to his inattentions, and a few other interesting characters.

Overall, the care was a little weird but probably average and definitely adequate. He survived the night and after some custard and tea in the morning headed home. And here is the one difference from the U.S. system- he walked out of there with no questions about his finances, where to send the bill, etc. We think that that was it. Completely free, even for a non-resident of England. Crazy.

The City Lights

Every once in a while, we venture out of our little village to the big city....a little more often lately actually which has been great. I saw Pink Martini, an Oregon band (that I love) a couple of weeks ago with a friend. I found out last minute that they were in town and decided on a whim to go on a Monday night. They were incredible. Last night, I saw Les Miserables in London with some teacher friends and a friend of mine from college, Janine, who is currently living in England. It was, of course, excellent. That was the first time I have seen a West End show, and look forward to many more. Meade is out at Depeche Mode right now!

A Christmas crazed country

I thought that the United States went a little overboard with the commer-cialization of Christmas beginning in late November. Well, the UK takes what we do to another level...and then some. As Thanksgiving is no distraction, that leaves much of November and December to get into the Christmas spirit. And do they ever. It is everywhere! And, as apparently the entire country is filled with Christians, there does not seem to be much concern with those of other religions being offended or annoyed. No, it is all about Christmas, no "Happy Holidays" here. They teach the children Christmas songs in preschool and place Cristmas trees all over the place. It's very interesting to me.

We have been enjoying this celebratory ambience in the city and around. We visited one of the German Christmas markets in London, the one on in Hyde PArk, which I think is the largest. It consisted of a fair with lots of rides and games, stall upon stall selling hot chocolate, mulled wine, sweets and sausages or arts and crafts, and an ice skating rink. The kids loved it to say the least. The following day, we visited Santa in Savill Garden, which is near our house. Aaron actually was the braver of the two and did talk with Santa a bit, though no one sat on his lap (not sure that was even an option). Neither knew what they wanted for Christmas, but Santa said he knew and had received the email that we moved to England so he knew where to find us.....

The twins has a Christmas party and show last Friday. They have learned several Christmas songs at school (several with dance moves as well), which they sang for the parents followed by a pot luck lunch. Aaron and Linnea both did really well- Aaron was out in front showing off his dance moves, which you can sort of appreciate in the photos.

The photo of Linnea and Aaron and the two boys are their twin friends, Gabriel and Elliot, who are 4 years old and from California. Aaron and Linnea are crazy about them.

Some recent photos

I can't seem to get these photos where I want them. Anyway, this is (1) Linnea climbing a tree while on a bike ride in the park (2) Meade with a mustache, which he grew along with several other teachers for a worldwide Prostate Cancer awareness fundraiser, "Movember," nice huh? More later on that (3) a tree in our backyard, which a flock of green parrots (barely seen) has been visiting daily to eat the little apples..why are they here? I don't know! (4) Aaron pensive in Windsor Park (5) Aaron planting bulbs.

Thanksgiving

We celebrated thanksgiving on Saturday (as Thursday was of course a regular working day) with a large gathering at our house consisting of several Americans, a few Australlians, several Canadians, a South African, an El Salvadorian, a few Brits, and our honored guest...Abby!

Abby is one of Meade's former students from Garfield and was our "mother's helper" a few days per week when the twins were age 3 months to about 7 months and, following that, our babysitter occassionally. She is curently traveling through Europed visiting firends on her way to India and spent a few days with us. The kids were SO happy to be with her.

Meade cooked the turkey and stuffing (in our neighbor's oven, as ours was too small) and our friends brought the rest. It was a fantastic meal and a great time. The kids enjoyed the unlimited access to chips (crisps, whatever!), the pumpkin spice cookies and playing with their friend Christy Anne, who is the 11 year old daughter of one the teachers and often the only other child at school social functions. It did not get too crazy (vs our party a couple months ago) with all heading home after a little late night dancing by about midnight.

The next day, we took Abby to visit the home of Charles Darwin, which is in Kent, about an hour from us by car. It was interesting- we all learned more about the life of this brilliant scientist. I did not know that he had several children! We got to see the chair in which he sat while he wrote The Origin of Species, the gardens in which he performed natural history experiments, his laboratory, etc. The kids were not as impressed with this, even though they did get to use the headphones like at Stonehenge. There was a small area with manipulatives, so that provided a little relief (see photo with Abby). We did the turbo tour, as usual.