Green Energy & Oyster cards you are never to old to learn

Today is Barack Obama's birthday - today is also my son Sule's and his partner Natasha's birthday. I often wonder what are the odds of other couples being born not only on the same day but the same year - grandchildren have got their head round the strange situation by singing happy birthday to mummy and daddy.

What to buy for presents - just has to be for their new house. Went to see it last week with my sister. Excited children showing me every cupboard in every room. A house is a house but what has fascinated me about it is, as a new build it has many green energy saving features I've heard about but never seen in use before. Specially the solar panels on the roof, have to admit I'm still not sure in practical terms how they actually work.

Set back from the main road, one impressive feature about the whole building complex is the unusual shaped layout. There is even a closed off fully equipped children's playground visual to all residents so small children can play safely.

Learned another valuable lesson today about the use of the Oyster card. Unless one has a weekly or monthly payment on a card with the pay-as-you-go type, no matter how much money is on the card you have to buy a separate ticket to travel on the overland trains. As a visitor to London got my sister a pay-as-you-go. Loads of money on the card but when we rushed to catch the train we were blocked by the barrier. Had to queue up for a ticket - all so frustrating especially when the trains are only every half hour and it's getting to past children's bedtime. Which child is going to willingly go to bed when nana is expected and they are excitedly waiting to show off their new bedrooms!!!!