First day at Oxfam....

Had my first day volunteering at Oxfam, up on Kensington High street. Found out a lot about the charity and the store I'll be working at. First off, they have the largest turnover and generate more £ than any other Oxfam shop in the UK. Wow. But the "learning the ropes" had to begin. So, after meeting a few nice volunteers, they showed me what we'll be doing. I can say I'm very impressed. We get quite slot of donated bags per day, but we go through them as well. The big change for me is, learning and knowing that our product needs to meet the highest standard for the clientele. Apparently, we get the discerning shopper at our store. But going hand in hand with that, is the amazing donations we get. I saw Fendi, Diane Von Furstenberg, Burberry to name a few. There were plenty of high end brands that I don't know, but we sell too.
The things that empresses me most though, is then culling/sorting process. The stats they told me, was 80% of what we receive, we don't use!! Okay then...but wait. It doesn't disappear. Oxfam owns another company (I can't recall it's name) but it's a sorting distributing firm. We can be very picky about what we want to display for our customers- who want the best. But back to the culling. Items are divided up into special bags. Off they go to the firm, where they are looked over and redistributed to other Oxfam shops. Since we can't use them, other shops in other parts of the country can! What is left is then minced and sold to companies who need- cotton pulp or whatever. Is is a 1 million pound business which goes back into Oxfams coffers. So it's a win-win.
After culling, things are prices, steamed and racked ready to go out on the floor. I got to sort,steam and work the till today. I passed on pricing. I don't think it's my thing, but they have chart so pricing is standardized. This is good, because it's not based on the individual pricer. So, while things are more expensive than other shops, it's well priced for ours.
I'm really looking forward to my next day, probably working the till again. I have to get more comfortable with the coinage. But this poses no trouble, just requires using the little gray cells...

Been Busy.....

Here it is again, the weekend. But this week I've actually had stuff going on. It's about time too! I was really feeling like a human being, not a human doing. You would think after all the grief of unpacking I'd be needing a rest. But I think it actually spurned me on to get getting on with my life here in Jolly Olde England.
Tuesday I had an appointment to meet with the local Oxfam charity shop (thrift shop) director about volunteering. It's just up on the High street and would get me out of the house one or two days a week. Sounds good to me. Well, you need to go for an interview, I guess so they can see if you have all your arms and legs and can speak English - which I don't. I speak American. But I think I can translate enough to get by. It went well enough. I start this coming Tuesday. They're thinking about putting me on in the afternoons, which is fine for me. I'll start off with one day, and hopefully move up to two. Let's see how complicated my life gets first.
Later on that evening, Mike attended the second of three London clubs that all the students get to be honorary membeers of, for the year anyway. It was the RAC club on Pall Mall. I met up with Sophie, the Canadaian spouse, and we strolled down a very crowded Picadilly to the club. It was very impressively British. Like something you'd see in a 20's Movie. Yes, they did have quiet reading rooms too. We were given the grand tour. They have squash courts, a pool, a bar, a separate cocktail bar and a restaurant. After the tours, we were ushered downstairs to the bar for socializing. I got to meet a number of students. Raj, from India. Nice guy, hard to understand. Ewan, the Scot. Nigel the British Brigadier. Mike the Canadian. Steve, the other American. And numerous other slightly drunk students. We moved on to dinner upstairs, followed by after drinks back down. Port, yum.....
I had the Irish Flu the next day...
But Saturday, Mike and I decided to do one of our walks. He had bought a book at a local bookstore (yes, they are alive and well in Britian) so we began the task of trying to do all the 11 walks in London by the end of our time here. We figured we just go in order, as some of the places we have no idea where they are. Tour number one was Mayfair. It was a 3 mile tour and took us about three hours as well.

We started at Piccadilly Circus and walked westward on Piccadilly. Stopped a numerous Georgian buildings, The Royal Art Academy, then up onto back roads for historical sites and trivia.

We turned north to Berkley then Grovsner Squares. Found out about the Duke of Westminster, who still owns most of Westminster...And ended coming down Saville Road.

You have to so stop and read and look at the sights. Now these tours aren't the obvious things. The book is called "London's Hidden Walks" so there is much trivia that isn't on the beaten path. Should be fun!!
Now today is Sunday. I wanted to finally get around to playing with the pressure cooker we took from the "free" pile our neighbor had out in SD. But what to do. How about my rosemary, lemon chicken? I normally do this in the crockpot, but I didnt bring it along as I didn't want to risk damaging it with the voltage issue. Plus, who wants to run electricity for hours and hours when it's expensive here. So, the pressure cooker it is!

Well it came out lovely. So tender, lemony and done in only 25 minutes on the stove. Mike did up some roasted potatos in the mini oven and we topped it off with orange ginger green beans. So yummy. I will have to find more recipes to try. Mike thinks we should do coq au vin. Sounds good to me!!
I think it's time for a nap.....

Where is it?

Well, the bits lost so far have shown up. Mike cracked open, what he thought was his empty sea chest, only to find it chuck full if things. So Uncle Sam has his beard and arms again, the holiday wreaths have reappeared and some other things we didn't even know we had.....see too much stuff. But, now that everything has been open, the only thing I seem to be missing are the flannel sheets!! Now I KNOW I sent those. Where are they? Oh, Mike and I just did a thorough search, and we found them. Stupid me shoved them under the bed yesterday without even looking....
So the only real problems are the broken leather recliner, broken leg off the antique night stand. Ah yes, it is and "adventure".
All in all, I think this is some of the least damage we've had, while big items, there are less numbers.
I think it's also a record - house unpacked, livable, and completely sorted in TWO days. Wow!

Furniture's here....

Oh.... The shipment arrived yesterday... Ahhhhh....this is the part I hate!! I can't explain it, but clutter makes me nervous and feeling disoriented. So, now I have a whole house of it. Actually no, I worked like a busy bee yesterday and today. We have no more boxes to open, but man, do we have STUFF! I purged before we left. I need to it again. I think it has something to do with camping in the house with so little, you get accustomed to minimalism. Now, it's like the store barfed in my house. No one needs this much stuff, no one. I am embarrassed to admit this too. I feel dirty cause I have so much. It's not as if it's even good, quality things. It's just chochkies......
The other annoying thing is, we had the movers (nice guys) unbox. Never had them do this before. Well, they did all but about 6 boxes. But now we are missing bits and pieces. Uncle Sam has no beard or arms, so he's heading for the trash. I can't find others things as well. I know they got left in paper that wasnt unwraped all the way. Nothing valuable, just things I was waiting for. Why can't I loose something I'll never miss? Oh, maybe I have......

A Lamp to light the way... Ok, maybe two lamps

Oh, the wonderful feeling when you make a purchasing coup. And today was another day for that. I'd like to thank Ben Jones for putting me onto Gumtree.co.uk (move over Craigslist) where I discovered two beautiful used lamps. Let me back up with the "why we needed lamps bit". Our reception room, which functions as a dining and living room, is a bit of a cube. As in all the rooms of the flat, it also has the ceiling only halogen lights- which means it's either full on daylight, or pitch black after sundown. So, table lamps were needed. After looking at IKEA and Argos, everything seemed too modern chrome or plasticy. While that would do for now, wouldn't it be nice to get some real "adult" furniture. So I peeked at Gumtree and low and behold, there were two beautiful brass and alabaster lamps with silk shades. Yes please!
Part of the journey in life is to do new things. What surprises me now, is how discovery and new tasks really seem to throw me. Ten years ago, I wouldn't have batted an eye, but these days sometimes it seems overwhelming. It was like this today. Jeffrey, the lamp seller, rang me up this morning after Mike had left for school. "Am I still interested in the lamps?" but of course. I can't believe he still has them, since they were posted last Wednesday. He says I'm first on the list of people who are interested. I jump at the chance. But he's out in Surrey. Where is Surrey. Quick, a map! Ok, it's close to City of London. We chat on the phone and I figure I can navigate the trains. But I have to ask where his station is. Esher. He mentions taking the trains from Waterloo Station to Esher. Great, I can do that. I can get myself to Waterloo on the tube. Just have to make sure I don't miss the train, so I can meet him at the time he's expecting me. My heart is racing for the whole tube ride, and until I'm sitting on the South West train, I'm sure I'll have a heart attack. I hate being late.
Well I get there just fine. Jeffrey is an older gentleman (complete in suit) with gray hair, dress properly British. Too cute. We chit chat a bit. He gives me the lamps history and I mentioned they will be making the trip back to Singapore, where they had them as well. The best £35 I've spent so far.

And I learned how NOT to buy train tickets (at the station)....

Back to the Blogoshere

I'm tired. Achy actually. Mike and I just got home from a walk through and around Hyde Park. Phew. We opted not to attend the Thames Festival along with 1/2 of London, but chose to finally explore Hyde Park and Kensington Palace. Since we are now members of Historic Royal Palaces for a year, I fully intend to get my money out of it. Kensington palace is just a few blocks away anyway. Did the current tour, which is a very creative "enchanted palace" tour during their refurbishing for next summer and the Olympics. Much of London is under road/site works getting ready for the influx of millions of people....
Since we were in the park, I dragged Mike across it to find out where the closing night of Proms will be. They always hold it outdoors in the park. I figured we could possibly sit outside the paying area and still hear the music. Looks like that may be the case. We scouted out a great looking spot, and will return in a few hours for, hopefully, a free concert.
Yesterday we went out to Greenwich. It was a perfect day for it- not hot, but not chilly either.

We did the Welcome Center and the Royal Naval College grounds, Queen's Palace and the National Maritime Museum. Too pooped to hop it up the hill to the observatory and the Prime Meridian. We'll save that for another trip. So much to do.

Amended at 4pm.....we're NOT going to then Proms tonight , as then weather has turned from sunny to cloudsy and drizzly. Also, Josh Grobin has backed out since he's ill, and I really wanted to hear him. So, we'll be nice and cozy at home on our air mattress couch this evening, enjoying the Proms on the Telly. So much for planning anything...

Silver teapot lining....

It's the random, occasional, out-of-the-blue blessing that really gets me. Since our goods are MIA, and we are allowed to buy and claim items, I find that I really am missing my teapot! Sounds crazy (consider the author) but I've been making tea in the most unsatisfactory way....in another mug, then transferring it to my drinking mug. In this country especially, it is the most uncivilized way! Ya know how when you learn something, you tend to always do it that way. Well, a good Scottish friend decades back taught me the correct way to make and take tea. So I've been longing for my teapot....to make it properly.
I had decided it's been long enough. I NEED a pot. Being a creature of habit, I didn't want the large, multi person one either. I long for the small individual one. The correct one, for just one person in the morning. A trip up to the High Street, and Marks & Spencer was in order. Certainly they could hook me up with a proper pot. After perusing the kitchen dedptartment, I was aghast (there's a word ya don't see often) that they had NO tea pots what so ever. How can this be. In pure dismay, we wander into the cafe (highly recommend when you all come over) for at a cup of latte. After we order, I ask the gal behind the counter, "can I purchase a teapot from you since they don't sell them here.". "No she says, but if you want to donate to the charity till, I'll give you one".....Wow!! So Mike dumps all his change into the till, and she, Gerry (blessings on you girl) wraps it up for me.
There is a silver lining, even for teapots.

Where in the world is our furniture.

Well, actually, it's here in the UK. But talking to the movers, looks like it'll be ANOTHER week or so. (insert cricket noise here) There is nothing to do but go with it. Since they are over the time limit for delivering our goods, we are allowed to be reimbursed for things purchased. Going shopping tomorrow!
The weather is sunny and bright, near 70 today. Getting so stir crazy, Mike and I decided to go for another walk. There are many places still yet to explore. Most are on the High street. Wanted to take the bus to Piccadilly, but after waiting for the bus to come, our oyster cards wouldn't work. We figured it's because Mike set up the auto charge feature, and it needs 24 hrs to click in. In utter dismay, we walked down to a cafe we wanted to try. Oo lala. It's nice - a great place to take people when they come over. Coffees, paninis, soups, cakes.

Kurt, it reminds me of you....

I have to say I'm really loving the pastries here. I knew they were less sweet than at home. But my mind has not caught up to it yet. One takes a bite into a decadent cake and it doesn't throw your taste bids into a sugar coma. Ahh, it's a lovely thing.
Hit the local garden centre (Rassell's) on the way home. Just a few blocks from our place, it offers so many varieties of plants, even citrus trees. No, we're not buying a tree. Got some lovely end of the season geraniums for 50p each. Wicked. No need to root my own.