Relocation

I should probably start a new blog now as the Singapore adventure is behind us but would not want to loose all of you, so will keep this one running for the time being.
We left Singapore after quite hectic few weeks on the 5th of December. Squeezed in a few hours by the pool and the boys Taekwondo on the last day and Beatrice delivered her hamster to the new owner.
The handover of the flat was quite a scrutiny - every lightbulb counted, AC remotes batteries, etc. I had had the whole place painted the day before and thoroughly cleaned but the agent still wasn't pleased. We'll see how much of the deposit we get back. They are real sharks. Even my Singaporean friend Corina was surprized at this level of meticulousity.
The last weeks in Singapore had been very rainy so the plan to make the most of the pool didn't really work as hoped. But the kids still got out quite a bit and there was always someone under our windows calling them out to play. That was really the best bit of living in a condo like Cavendish Park - not too big and it was easy to make friends, for the kids as well as for me.
Corina, Pat and the kids took us to the airport and shared a farewell currypuff after check in. It was really kind of them and a good warm feeling to know that in these less than 2 years we had made such good friends.

KLM was a good flight. Kind service and good entertainment unlike our last longhoul experience with Lufthansa. They had even upgraded the kids playarea in Schippol airport so that our wait didn't seem that long and unbearable. The boys were still a bit unsure where we were and which country and so on.

Arrived in Tallinn in early afternoon to be greeted by +1 degrees and grey skyes. We had a lucky coincidence with flight times so could meet our swedish grandma on the airport - she was on her way back home and had already checked in. So we had a half an hour at the airport. Then headed to the appartment that we had bought this automn without having seen it at all. So far I haven't discovered major hiccups, just small things that need to be fixed. But that's all minor. Main thing - location and size are good and having spent a week there now it feels quite good. Not a home yet as all our things are still on the way and we are kind of camping but nice enough.
We have had to struggle with jetlag this time more than before - due to the lack of light I guess. First morning kids got up 3.30 am and it was dark until 10 am. Already 3 pm dark again. So by 4 pm one feels that it is time to hurry home, have dinner and go to bed. A real struggle to stay up until 8 or something.
The main challenge for the week was to get Beatrice's school sorted. Most schools that I had emailed had given negative replies - no spaces. Luckily after lots of interventions Vanalinna Kool (The Old Town School) has accepted her. Now having been to my old school that is actually very convenient for our flat and Vanalinna kool there is no doubt in my mind that this is the best possible option for Beatrice in Estonia. She knew it immediately after the first visit and didn't even want to see any other schools. Therefore she never opened her mouth while in my old school. This one has better test results but clearly the general attitude is still old-fashioned and "factory-like". In fact mos schools at the top of the results list just aim for their ranking in the annual tests and don't pay attention to the individual abilities of the kids. Everybody has to finish the program regardless. Vanalinna is really friendly. Beatrice spent an hour with the psychologist there and I could see from afar that she was relaxed and happy. It has been abit tricky for them to establish which year she should join as the curriculum is so different from the British one. There will be even two girls in the school who went to Beatrice's school in Singapore for a little while.
Also went to see the boys kindergarten. The class is going to be much bigger than before and the schedule so different. As they can spend the whole day there they are expected to take a nap, which might turn out to be a problem. Otherwise it looks nice and clean, big outdoor space and near home.
We did have a hint of the snow one day and everyone was keen to take the sledge out already. It wasn't quite enough for that but at least for a small snowball fight.