Wilfred In The UK

Hello!  My name is Wilfred and I am six and three quarters.  I usually live in Toronto Ontario Canada, but for the next six months I will be living in London, England!

My poppy and daddy and I flew all night on an Air Canada jet.  We left Toronto at 8 o'clock at night and arrived at Heathrow Airport early the next morning, British time.  Everyone was tired, but not me!  I was too excited.  We got into an English taxi, which was very roomy -- big enough for the three of us and all our luggage, which Daddy had to load in because the taxi driver said he had "emphaZEEmia".  When we were all in, the driver took off and we drove through the English country, which looked very green, even in winter.  It was very exciting, driving through the traffic on the wrong side of the road.

We arrived at our flat in South Kensington.   We are going to live on Elvaston Place, across the street from my new school -- Ravenstone Preparatory.  Every building looks the same on our street.  They are all connected, white brick, 5 stories high with iron fences out front.  Some of them have flags, because they are not houses anymore -- now they are embassies.

People had put their Christmas trees out on the sidewalk to be collected.  They are a different kind than we have at home -- kind of spindley on top -- and they had wooden bases nailed on.   We hauled all our suitcases up three flights of stairs and then had a long nap!

The next day, Poppy and I waited and waited for the delivery van to bring the uniform that I will wear to school.  Dad and I got tired of waiting, so he and I went across the street to visit Ravenstone.  We met the headmistress, Mrs. Heath, who is very nice and wears a pearl necklace.  She showed Daddy and me the whole school, which is in a building identical to our flat with a tall narrow staircase that goes up five floors.  There is a big room on the second floor, where we will have gym and put on concerts, and there is a dining room and kitchen in the basement. 

In Canada, I was in grade one at Jackman Public School in Toronto.  In England, they call grade one Second Form.  They have lots of different names for things.  A truck is a lorry, an elevator is a lift and you don't ask to go to the bathroom -- you ask to go to the lavatory!

My classroom is on the fourth floor.  I met my teacher -- Miss Moylan -- who is blond and very nice and GOING TO HAVE A BABY!  Dad says that someone else will be teaching my class after spring break.

After we saw my school, Dad took me to the Gloucester Road Tube station.  After we figured out how to use the ticket machine, Dad bought us a return fare.  We rode for about four or five stops and then Dad wanted to get off.  I wanted to go to the end of the line, but Dad said that was too far.  Besides, he had something to show me.  We walked up some stairs and came out on the street.  I looked across the road and THERE IT WAS!  Right there!  BIG BEN!  Can you even believe it?

I will write again soon and tell you about my first day at Ravenstone.  Bye for now.  Wilfie