Hi, it’s Mike.
Jean has done such a nice job with her posts that it feels like there’s not much need for me to add. Not only is she a great writer, but she also has a strong commitment to update and a stay-up-late super power that I don’t share. That said, I’ve been feeling like it’s my turn to add some thoughts so I’ll do my best to complement her posts periodically (read: this could be the last post that I make). And, this is really the first day we’ve had to slow things down. Perfect for me to give an update.
So far, we’ve managed to successfully ignore most people’s advice to slow things down. We’ve packed a ton into our first three weeks. Jean asked me a question about our visit to Glastonbury and it felt like a whole other trip. It was about two weeks ago. Strange how time warps when you’re stepping off the regular course of business and doing some new and interesting things.
Yesterday we left Langrune-sur Mer in Normandy where we’re ~3kms from the Juno beach head where Canadians landed on D-Day. Despite 
it’s history, the countryside is beautiful, peaceful towns and farmland today. We took a tour, visited museums, beaches, towns and cemeteries to learn about the invasion. Fascinating and sobering. I had no idea that the Canadians were the only Allied D-day force who were all volunteers (rather than having draftees) and that much of the German army was non-German conscripts from their eastern front. It was all impressive, particularly the nearly impenetrable Point du Hoc where the US Rangers scaled walls before attacking bunkers.
Biographies and movies have been great to help put some context around our experience. Lucy decided she’d be a doctor if there was a war to help the soldiers. Our brave boys decided they’d break their legs before going. It was a great opportunity for out-of-school schooling – although we’re all a little bit at capacity with wars and battles right now.
So far, the kids have also been very good when we put some books and assignments in front of them. They find it funny to think of us as their teachers.
Calling us Mr and Ms. Raising their hand. Asking to go to the bathroom. I quite enjoy this time in part b/c it’s all atypically very quiet. Then one will struggle with a problem and a 
breakdown that wouldn’t fly in the school occurs. Not so nice. I guess that’s part of home schooling. Given that we only have one laptop among us, they are taking turns writing in their journals, reading, and completing Khan Academy math online (excellent resource by the way). Train travel is the perfect opportunity to hit the books too. They, too, are finding their groove expressing different interests and ideas. Henry has shown an interest in diving and coding. Lucy wants to learn Spanish. Tom wants us all to be hunter gatherers. Particularly, after the zombie apocalypse occurs. Of course, much of our trip has been scenario planning for the apocalypse. What would we do if such and such happened…?
They’re fun travel companions. Game for pretty much anything – particularly Lucy who seems to be the most malleable. She’s quick with a quirky humour and loves to make me and others laugh. On our way to Bath, she would ask with a smile, ‘How much further until we get to Tubs’?
She’s instigated a game of ‘Jell-O’ in the back seat of the car through small, winding streets that has the kids fall all over each other on every turn then laughter erupts. The country roads follow traditional horse and cart pathways and are quite fun to drive. I love the roundabouts – such a smart idea. Plus she keeps up with her brothers in some pretty large ocean waves and typically is the last one who wants to leave. She’s quick to give thumbs up signs and skip down the street when the mood strikes. She’s brave until she’s not. We waited for an hour to visit the London Bridge Experience which we exited about five minutes into the dark, scary, underground with a terrified Lucy. 
While in Paris, she gave up her seat on the crowded subway to a man who rewarded her and her brothers with mini Eiffel Tower trinkets. I was so proud of her and it was great to see her kind nature get rewarded from a generous stranger. Paris was terrific this time as well. Beyond the main sights, we really enjoyed the Montmartre neighbourhood and climbed to visit the Basilica of the Sacre Coeur where Lucy played the role immediately by crossing herself (backwards), praying (there’s no rushing her), and lighting a candle declaring that “Hope I can talk to you guys more often” while looking upwards. She’s got me wrapped around her finger.
Tom is easily lost in his own thoughts and things of personal interest. He was fascinated by a story in the Tower of London about two boys killed by their uncle who wanted to claim the throne. 
He hung in there reading the signs, asking questions, and brought it up days later trying to understand why an uncle would do something like that. He likes dark stories and is always asking me to tell him new ones. Then he can’t sleep. By morning he’s at it again…’tell me another nightmare that you’ve had, Dad.’ He also appreciates the beauty of our surroundings and often calls it out to us. And, the English countryside is beautiful. They’ve even marked it on maps as “Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty” in case you can’t see it for yourself. Rolling hills, trees arching over winding roads, waterways, farming fields of various colours, stone houses, etc. – it’s all quite gentle and simply stunning. Our friend Paul (and family) kindly hosted us for a night. It was great to see them! He let us know that there are 10K villages that are over 1K years 
old in England. Amazing. The winding country pathways converted into roads make a whole lot more sense.
One of my favourite moments so far was walking home from the show ‘Stomp’ with just Tom. Rather than take the Tube we spent an additional 45 minutes wandering the streets and he jabbered the whole way home while spinning around lamp posts, jumping off stairways, and putting in some multiple of steps greater than my own.
Henry took a deep interest in medieval life and probed deeply about the weapons and the smaller size of everything in those times. He likes the idea that he has to bend to get through some doorways from a thousand years ago suggesting that he’d ultimately be a giant if he were to teleport through time.
It’s true that many things seem a little cosier in England. It felt a bit like the land of Hobbits forcing me to duck, weave, or step aside to avoid collisions in the narrow and short rooms, corridors and roads. Henry is also quite pleased that he shares his name with a long line of royalty. I reminded him that having six wives is not recommended but rousing speeches are. He’s also been vigilant about keeping an eye on his siblings, often checking on where they are in crowds and ensuring they’re within close reach in deeper waters. He’s inherited one of his mum’s other super powers – to be hyper organized. I mean that in a good way. He’s the first to pack, knows where all his stuff is, and will even help the others when we’re getting ready to move. He’s been a huge help.
Some other early observations…
- Our kids need room to roam, play, and recover. So do we as adults (we’re starting to let go of a few things and I’m hoping it’ll start to slow our momentum)
- We’re all happier when we’re not in such a big damn rush.
- We have too much stuff (I thought we’d be pretty good with one carry on per person and a communal family bag yet I’m ready to drop a bunch already and send it home – particularly after awkwardly hauling it through train stations and city streets)
- It’s possible to live in very tight quarters yet we all enjoy a bit of our own space too
- I’d forgotten how much I love London and could easily get absorbed into that city for a long, long time
- The British do beer right. The French do bread right. So evident…and delicious. Mushy peas…not really for me.
- I love that the English let dogs into most pubs (at least in the country)
- We all miss our dog, Mabel.All other dogs are met with great enthusiasm from our crew. And, pigeons hold some strange fascination for our kids too
- One of the best things … seeing everyone start to relax and find their way together
Anyways, that’s it for me for now. I’ll shorten my posts in the future. Back to your regularly scheduled program with Jean.
Cheers, M