…nor will we ever pass for British football parents. 

Yeah. no. Though our kid looks super cute second to right there doesn't he? 

The boys tried out British football (soccer) leagues this school year.  Two have opted out for the next term.  One found it a good fit and wants to continue.

Random things we have observed thus far: 

There are two main responses to various plays.  "Well done!" or "Unlucky!"  One of those two phrases are uttered at regular intervals. These are the only two catchwords you need to know to engage from the sidelines. 

The local parents do not sit when watching games.  You can spot the two American families by their folding chairs.  It isn't like everyone else is pacing and cheering.  They stand rooted to the ground as a rule.  I sit.  True confessions?  When it's under 50 degrees and raining and my kid is sitting out for a bit, I sit….in the car.  Don't judge.  They play this game all year round come wind, come rain, come snow.  They are as devoted as the postal service. No weather deters them. This mom is not quite as hardy.  

It helps a lot that they serve hot tea at the games.  Did you know they have portable tea kettles you plug into the car? We noticed when workers around the farm stopped to take tea in the afternoon.  Hot tea.  In the car.  This is way cool to me.  They do not however use to go cups.  They carefully carry small styrofoam cups with steam rising in clouds around their faces. Another way to spot the Americans.  Giant to-go cups. 

For the first few games I was sure my sons would lose a limb, or at least teeth. Some of the other boys would writhe on the ground screeeeeaming and clutching their legs or bellies.  The adults around us seemed unmoved by their pain. It was disturbing.  Until I realized the same boys would be up and running as vigorously the next play.  My kids explained this is 'diving' where they exaggerate a fall to cause a penalty.  Nice.  

Water seems to be the remedy of choice for any ill that befalls a player.  Land on your leg wrong?  Throw some water on it.  Take a ball to the face?  Pour some water on the kid.  Outdoor temperature seems not to factor in here either.  

Best soccer/football story to date happened at an under 9s game.  One boy had said something disrespectful to a referee.  His mother took an arm and proceeded to drag him across the pitch to the car.  He laid on the ground, being pulled along, biting her ankle.  I must add this was pretty shocking to the British parents as well. 

We are getting on to it all.  Kieran is loving every bit. He has learned more and developed more drive and discipline this term than in many years of playing team sports.  It's just super different from anything we have done so far and something he will always remember about living here. No matter how many sights you see, nothing compares to actually jumping in to your local community.  

Outside – wind and rain tonight. It is warmer than it sounds like it has been in the States though. And there has been fog, which is glorious.

Reading – this book.  I happily lost a chunk of last week to this memoir.  I am now on a quest to find more British, midcentury visiting nurse stories.  First I must finish this week's memoir which is decidedly not that and which I decided not to link.  It's exceptionally articulate but I really disagree with many of the author's premises and a few disturbed me tremendously.  Still I always appreciate someone's honest story.  Even if their choices are not mine. That's pretty much true of my real life interaction too.  

Around the house – a new to us vacuum cleaner. It's got a more oomph than those we have fought with here thus far and I am SO grateful.  A pitiful vacuum is a most frustrating thing.  

From the kitchen – the recipe for this week's S'mores birthday cake. It reminded me of my Gram's cakes which were more often than not in a sheet pan and made with some doctored up Betty Crocker mix. And everyone loved them, just like they loved this one.

Listening to – Jango. I never update my phone's ipod playlists.  I forget it has them.  I heart internet radio though. So while cleaning up from the potluck this morning there was Johnny Cash and Alabama Shakes, Frank Sinatra and John Denver, Bob Seeger and Ella Fitzgerald.  My music isn't boxed up any neater than my books. 

Thinking about this – "All men should strive to learn, before they die, what they are running from, to whom, and why." – James Thurber   Quoted in the second memoir. 

Pictures below from around a very full table.  A funny thing happened recently.  Alannah's coworker brought her home and came in. She walked through the house and came to the dining room.  She asked, "Do you actually eat here?"  Well yes we do. Every night.  That was more noteworthy than the family size or anything else here I guess.  I tend to take it for granted and shouldn't.  It was not a daily part of my own childhood and it isn't for a lot of other people.  It is one of the happiest parts of my life now though.

(side note for photography minded friends – these were taken with the speedlight flash, another thing I greatly appreciate since sunset is before 4pm right now)  

These sisters have been a little under the weather this week.  Birthday party-ing for the new seven-year-old has been on hold until their big brother arrived today.  This morning they found their sillies again. I think we are on the upswing. : )