Hi from Mercedes Street

Hello from the US of A!!!!

Just thought I'd update everyone on the first steps of our trip.

We made it here in one piece though not without some excitement. Due
to some bizarre turn of events, despite arriving at Heathrow over 2
hours before our flight was due to leave, we somehow managed to miss
the time slot for going through security which we didn't know existed.
So our bags were unceremoniously removed from the plane and we had to
go and book ourselves on another flight. Luckily they got us on a
flight 5 hours later, so we had some quality time hanging out in
Terminal 5, doing plenty of window-shopping and eating large amounts
of English chocolate. I explained to the kids that this was all
beshert and that we had no doubt narrowly avoided either sitting next
to someone with bad personal hygiene or getting food poisoning from
the meal on the earlier flight. And Avrom was delighted since it meant
that he could get in an extra few hours of work before he had to pick
us up from the airport.

The flight went smoothly - tho we had seats right by the toilets,
sorry - bathrooms. I was once told that the only reason to sit near
the toilets on a plane is if you have diarrhoea or you'd like to meet
people with diarrhoea. Delightful....

Anyway, now we're happily enjoying our new place on Mercedes Street. I
arrived here to find that Avrom had been shopping at Costco for a few
essentials. I was met with a lifetime's supply of soap and Snapple
(iced tea). So, if nothing else, we will come back after our trip
fully hydrated and smelling lovely.

The house is fully furnished - we just need to kit out the kitchen.
Haven't done that yet, and I'm contemplating holding off for a few
weeks. What's the rush? Luckily, Teaneck is not short of kosher
eateries and having no cooking utensils is pretty convenient. We have
so far sampled "the Kosher Experience" on Cedar Lane. Actually, that's
the only road I know how to drive to so far, so we might be going back
there very soon.

Anyway - am now going off to a friend to borrow some towels since, not
surprisingly, our lift hasn't appeared yet, despite being promised for
last Friday, and we only have a few towels. Better put that Costco
soap to good use or the kids won't make any friends!

Be in touch!
the Gilberts
xxx