Oh Yes, You Gotta Have Friends

It's been a banner day for making those essential connections we call "friendship."

The houses here sit back to front, so it's not uncommon to seldom see neighbors. But today I met our next-door neighbor, who is absolutely delightful, and, who I learned, has a daughter Harry's age. Huzzah! She was all help and smiles and very happy to hear we'd moved in. It's about time, people!

While we hear our friends back home are suffering through a 100-plus-degree heatwave, we put on our raincoats and headed to the indoor pool for an exploratory swim. And who should we meet in the pool (IN the pool), but our would-be babysitter Erin, we've been talking via email for a week, she's exceptionally nice, works as a nanny for our landlord, and her charge, Charlie, who we've met several times before. He's 4 and he and the kids got on super well. So we're planning some play dates. Yea, again! (well, yea except she looks wicked good in a bikini. Glad she's not MY nanny!)

The kids were pooped, but not to let a good thing slip away, I drove them to Lammas Park for an ice cream and some more play. We quickly met Noah, 4.5. He and Harry got on like a house on fire, attacking a make-believe alligator, who we pelted with imaginary apples, pizza and tomatoes. Our pirate ship (pictured right) ran aground in Turkey, they told me, where we took imaginary naps and then hid under the boat to escape a hurricane. Even Noah's mom couldn't deny how well the kids gelled, so SHE suggested we exchange information and get together again. Our FIRST, ORGANIC friendship in the UK. We did it!!