Elliotts Abroad – Our Family Adventures Overseas

This is what a true Bristolian sounds like! Sadie gets to hear it everyday, and she can vouch for it!

Pretty nutty fares here. Eugene to anywhere international for under $600 is a great price. How much better when it means coming and staying with us in our country cottage?

Sadie would be on vacation during this time as well. Extra bonus!

The other day, when Colin and I took a stroll down the lane by our house, we were thrilled. It was an idyllic walk, past the church that chimes the time for us each hour and on into the nearby farmlands that our kitchen window looks out onto from the garden. We commented on the stone walls, hedges, and local manor houses that we passed. However, it wasn’t until this morning that we were able to find out a little more about our village.

We love waking up to the pleasant chimes that come from the church located just “kitty corner” behind our house. In fact, our bedroom window peaks into the churchyard. It was fascinating to find out that the church is actually build on the site of a chapel called St. White, which is most likely why the village was named Whitchurch. The tower of the church is Norman, dating from the 12th century and was presumably built when the people moved from an old village (referred to as Filton) to the present village. It was also incredibly interesting to find out that there are acutally underground passages connecting the church, manor house and former inn.

There are a lot of cheap flights out there right now. Visiting us at the end of January or early February is around $570 if you fly out of Portland.

This is the CHEAPEST way to see other parts of the world – to just pay for tickets and food – staying over with friends and family. We are talking about visiting another continent for around $700 per person including airfare. Take advantage of this while you can.

We will be posting a guide on how to visit us for next to nothing soon, so watch for that in a few days.

We’ve learned quite a few wonderful and interesting things the last few months as we’ve adapted to our new life in England. Here’s what we’ve figured out (with help!)

1. How to hang our newly washed clothes up to dry in a rainy country.

2. How to make a “double” sink using a dishpan.

3. How to use a hot water bottle to warm a freezing cold bed at night.

4. How to program the boiler to save on heating and hot water costs.

5. How to cook frugally with leeks and bacon.

6. How to grill things in the “little oven” on top of the”big oven” (our phrases.)

7. How to play football (also known as Soccer)

8. How to wait in a queue (although, we are still impatient Americans)

9. How to cook a proper Sunday roast dinner.

10. How to eat holding both our knife and fork without ever putting them down (Sadie has yet to master this!)