The ‘house hunting’ saga

 Patience definitely required when house hunting as a family!

New transport arrangements

The first week (sorry more photos to follow!)

We love India! The first week has been hectic but fun.

The Apartment 

Our  two bedroomed apartment is overlooking the swimming pool on one side and the buildings and road on the other so there is plenty to see when we are sat on the balcony.  The hotel/apartments are above a shopping centre that has a supermarket . It has everything we need to keep the boys fed and watered. They even let us bring the shopping trolley up to the room in the lift so we don't have to carry it !

Milo in Bangalore Airport Arrivals 

House Hunting

We have looked at about 25 houses on two different housing complexes. It does all become very confusing and we think that our driver is well and truly fed up of us making him drive around in circles. We had two different agents to show us round and their helpers so we looked a bit like a presidential visit each time we showed up at a house. Sometimes an agent had the same house on his list and the driver would point out that we had already been but we were so disoriented that we hadn't noticed! Luckily we managed to narrow down the choice to two or three and are currently in negotiations . Which ever one is the one , we will have lots of room ,sunny places to sit ,shady places to sit and   not enough furniture to fill it.

Play Dates

We have been here a week and already had three play dates with other children and their families. Everyone is friendly, kind and full of good tips. the children are confident and happy here and our boys disappeared to play as soon as we met them so that is really encouraging. We have eaten very nice pizzas with them in restaurants or as take aways so both boys are very happy.

Schools

Three schools were on our main list. The first one was very nice but a bit too narrow in their focus on academic achievement. The second one was friendly ,even having beautiful retriever dogs to help the children if they were upset. The third one was the winner ,with Milo sitting down with a class and asking if he could stay ! It is a very happy school with a mix of Indian and European children and teachers who were very approachable and kind . They let us in all the classrooms ( the first one didn't so we couldn't feel the atmosphere) and we even had lunch there ,which was the first taste of Indian food for the boys. They weren't too keen but were willing to try. They can take a pack lunch if they don't get on with the food but the school does provide a range of meals each day. We think with encouragement of the other children that they will have a go. If they accept our application then they will start in January . The bus will take them to school although it will take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to get there due to the city traffic but we will be able to track the bus there and back so we know when to pick them up. .they have a bus driver and two supervisors on the bus

The Weather

😎

It is perfect ! The current temperature is 29 degrees and it is very comfortable. The middle of the day feels hot but if you move into the shade it is cooler . It is t shirt and shorts weather although when she goes out , Carla can't wear shorts or have legs on show but it is not a problem as cotton trousers are fine . On the housing complexes it is different and acceptable to wear shorts but not in the city .

Monday 4th December 2017 - The Journey Starts

After a final flurry of manic packing, Carl turned up with the Micronclean Fun Bus (so called because you have fun and games when it breaks down!) 

We managed to squeeze all eight cases in and off we went to Manchester to meet Julie, Mal, Abbie and Joe, Grandma and Grandad for pizza.

Grandma had a surprise up her sleeve as she had baked a wonderful cake decorated with Indian animals.

                            

After another tearful farewell we went back to the hotel ready for an early start.

Tuesday 5th December 2017

Air Emirates is wonderful. We went on a new double decker A380 to Dubai and it was extremely quiet and smooth with lots of entertainment. The boys were really impressed with their food which was very well thought through for children.

Dubai was warm when we landed, about 25 degrees, and we had another large vehicle to cater for all our cases. We had to keep telling people that we were not on holiday when their eyes widened at how much luggage we had.

Our arrival at the JA Palm Court was second to none. After throwing caution to the wind and upgrading our room to a sea view (we still don't really know how much we spent -We like to be spontaneous at times!), we were whisked to our room on a nippy little golf buggy that was like being on a mini race track. Our arrival at  the room was filled with laughter and shrieks from the boys who were riding facing backwards.

The next morning we woke to the sound of the birds and the sea,  it was very calming. 

As our room upgrade included all water sports and a posh pool area we decided to stay at the hotel rather than rush around all day.

After a quick breakfast sitting outside we sat by the pool and enjoyed the sunshine.

All the 3 boys went swimming, sailing and whizzed around the bay in a speed boat whilst Carla examined the design of the sun lounger for 2 more hours!

The day was rounded off eating pizza in a beautiful Italian restaurant. All was going well until Milo yawned a couple of times, asked if he could sit on Carla's knee and then promptly fell asleep. He usually is running around refusing to show any signs of tiredness very late into the evening and when we need to go out he falls asleep (predictably unpredictable!)