I am adding information from the last four days.
Nursery: We started the hunt for nurseries for our boy on Thursday. There was one right around the corner from where we are staying and that looked like the best option. Unfortunately, they did not have immediate vacancies in the babies' class. My wife had called a couple of places from the US and we were really interested in one of them. It is a small chain in the UK, owned by a bigger chain in the US. We visited it on Friday morning and we liked it. It was pretty much like a US daycare - friendly staff, very clean, a minimum teacher to kid ratio (1 to 3), separate cots (cribs) for babies to sleep, daily log sheet etc. They provide nappies (diapers), wipes, formula milk and cooked food. It was a little expensive - 908 pounds per month - but it was close to wife's office. We told them that we are choosing them and got some bad news.
Maternity leave in the UK is 52 weeks (39 weeks of full pay, can you believe it?), so it looks like parents take their time to send the kids out. The usual practice is for the parents bring the kids for up to 6 "visits" - leave the kid and see whether he can handle it. Monday being a holiday and wife starting work on Tuesday, we did not have any more days to spare. The centre director agreed to a visit in the afternoon and then see what happens. So, our boy had just one chance. It turned out to be ok - he had a good time there and we even left him for 15 minutes. Everything went well finally - he started today and is doing good there.
Bike: A colleague of wife's did not have use for her bike and agreed to sell it to us. We bought it for 40 pounds - out first set of wheels. It looks very manly - except for the pink color and the basket in the front. You will find me cruising around the town on it.
We went for lunch yesterday. It was a Bangladeshi restaurant near the town centre and the food tasted very different and good. They did not have a highchair - not sure if that is the case in all restaurants. Wife is very happy with her cooking. The stoves are gas stove like India and unlike the coil stoves in US. Her rotis come out fluffed and is very excited about it. I can't complain.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Well, I have moved 3 places within UK, and I have seen all types of stoves, from gas (matchstick and spark ignited) to hi-fi, trendy coil, so it is all available here :o) depends on the choice of the house owner, I guess :o)
ReplyDeleteGood to know abt the day-care. All the best!!
P.S : !!!!!Pink bike!!!!!! :o) :o) :o) ;o)!!!!heheh
Hi guys, good job on the blog! Nice to know that you guys are liking the place:) We are all ready for the move!
ReplyDeleteGreat blog. could you send me a pic with you on the pink bike. i promise i wont show to anyone :-).
ReplyDeleteAh, European benefits, 1 year maternity. That would be really nice for us suckers with 6 weeks "disability leave".
ReplyDeleteI see you switched your writing to British English (centre!).
We miss you here, it is unbeliveable empty (all eMessage guys are now moved to the other side of the building to one open space).
Keep writing the blog, it is quite entertaining.