A life without...

Since living in England, I have done without many things.  For years, I have hand washed all my dishes. It was fine when it was just Chris and I. But when Olivia joined us, and then Fae, life without a dishwasher began becoming rather time consuming. This especially was hard at different events like Thanksgiving with 12 guests.  Not to mention her baby dedication, when I decided to have afternoon tea for 100 using real tea cups and saucers!  But I have learned to do without a dishwasher, and have actually enjoyed the peace that comes with washing dishes after dinner while Chris gives the girls a bath.  I enjoy looking out my kitchen window, at the gargoyles (Yes, I said gargoyles , and the stained glass window of the church.

The other thing I have learned to do without is a dryer.  For years I have line dried all my clothes.  Again, this wasn't an issue when I was single, or when it was just chris and I.  But when you add all the laundry that comes from children, it becomes a major chore.  Since moving to the flat we live in now, getting the clothes on the line (which happens to be on the church roof) has been difficult with the kids. And since it rains alot here, you never can guarantee good weather for drying outside.  But, I have grown used to the nice smell of line dried clothes... and have appreciated the fact that I dont have to worry about them shrinking!

Today we realised that our car insurance runs out on the 14th of July!  Now, we can either renew our existing policy for the year, and pay the cancelation fee when we sell the car.  Or look up a monthly car insurance.  Or... we can live without a car for a month and a half.  This option definently has some perks... no more buying petrol; we can sell our car sooner rather than later; and we can enjoy the extra exercise that comes from walking everywhere.  If we lived anywhere other than in the heart of a city, I wouldn't even consider this as an option. But since we live next to a metro station (yes, we live a few steps away from one), which can take us to various friends houses, the grocery store, the dr, the city centre, the airport, etc; this actually could be a possibility   Chris brought up the question of what if one of the girls needs to go to the hospital... and I guess we could call a taxi, or an ambulance for a real emergency.  It would just limit our range of activities which require driving to rather than the use of public transportation.

We havent made a decision regarding the car situation yet... we are just going to wait and see what quotes we get from temporary insurance companies.  Its all becoming real...the move that is.  It will especially feel real when we say goodbye to our beloved car!