What I'm learning on my summer vacation:

Patience.

Patience.

And more patience.

For example, here is a re-creation of a phone call I made to the city council,
regarding where my kids will go to school. I have given them all the necessary info
which they've typed into their computer...

Them: Yes, I see they've been placed in a school.
Me: Great! Which one?
Them: I'm not allowed to say.
Me: What?
Them: I can't give you that information over the phone.
Me: Oh, I see. Then I'll just come in.
Them: No, we can't tell you in person either.
Me: You can't.
Them: No. Sorry.
Me: So, how do I find out where they are going?
Them: The letters are all written. They will be posted by the end of this week.
Me: It's Wednesday. You won't mail them until the end of the week even tho they're done?
Them: That's right. You should recieve them by post next week some time.
Me: School starts next week.
Them: Yes, it does.
Me: So, we might not get the letters before school starts.
Them: Right.
Me: That's crazy!
Them: Yes, well, that's the way it works.
Me: I have to know what school they are going to so I can buy the proper uniforms and supplies.
Them: (sympathetically) Yes, I know.
Me: But I can't do that until I get the letters.
Them: Yes. Unfortunately, that's true.
Me:
Them: Is there anything else I can help you with?

Apparently not.
;)

So. Today we wait for BT (British Telecom) and learn more patience.
We tried to call to confirm our installation today - Jer stayed on the phone 24 minutes until his
pay-as-you-go phone ran out of minutes and turned off.
Whenever Jer's told someone we're expecting BT to come today to hook up our phone line, they just laugh. Some add an encouraging, "Well, good luck with that."
Therefore, we may be unreachable for a bit longer than expected.

We would LOVE to get some mail, tho!!
Off to Dover this weekend, if all goes as planned.
TTFN!
(And for those having trouble posting, I'll look into it. You may have to have a google account, which you can set up in 2 seconds.)