Carbisdale Castle

We slept in this haunted hostel - quite a creepy place...

Castle Moil

We stayed in Kyleakin, on the Isle of Skye, for two nights. This was our view.

proper Haggis with neeps and tatties

Neeps = turnips; Tatties = potatoes; Haggis = sheeps' liver, heart, lung and kidney served in the sheep's stomach. It doesn't look as bad as it sounds. The taste, now that's a different story...

View from the Flora Macdonald Memorial

Isle of Skye. This was the nicest day on the trip, I think it only rained once all day!

Loch Shiel and the Glenfinnan Memorial

Harry Potter fans, recognize this lake?

Greetings from the Isle of Skye

Hello all! I am spending my second night on the Isle of Skye. We are staying in a town called Kyleakin. It has been a great trip so far - lots of "wee walks" (that take four hours) and lots of beautiful scenery. The first two days it rained, but today was gorgeous. Too bad my waterproof was packed away on the first day! Today we toured the island of Skye - I will have some really amazing pictures to share. I am heading out now to go for a walk along the bay - it stays light here until 11! Last night was a big drinking night and I have a feeling tonight will be too (we get an extra 30 minutes to sleep in the morning). Loads of fun and good times!! Will save stories for another time... £1.50 shooters are calling my name.

I'm Outta Here!

I am heading out tomorrow right after work. Hope everyone has a nice weekend! See you all next Friday (hopefully with lots of pictures and a few interesting stories to tell)...

I just finished reading Another Bullshit Night in Suck City by Nick Flynn. I have to admit that the only reason I picked up the book was because of the title, but it is an interesting story. Check it out for yourself: http://www.metacritic.com/books/authors/flynnnick/anotherbullshitnightinsuckcity

If anyone would like to read it, let me know. I will send it your way.

London... On a week night???

I met Ashley's Sam tonight. He's great! Seriously, Little A, he definitely gets a thumbs up (and the Brit agrees). We walked for a bit, then had dinner. It was nice to get out on a week night. After three hours chatting and a round of desserts, I can officially say that I approve. Not that I need to, but you know...

On a completely separate note, I feel like a mega bitch, a terrible person.

It's late and I am heading to bed.

Loch Ness, Here I Come!

So, I went ahead and booked my half-term break. Fuck the move, I'll survive. I don't want to give up a week's travel time for something that will only take me a few hours.

It should be "well good," to quote my students. Six days of whiskey tasting, castle visiting (and even sleeping in one), mountain climbing, monster watching, and film site viewing (Rob Roy, Braveheart, Highlander and Harry Potter)... I leave in ten days!

I have been having some disturbing dreams lately. Nothing freaky, disturbing because my subconscious is really trying to point some things out to me. Saturday I dreamed that I beat up one of my students. Now, I am not a violent person (I have never punched a person in my life), and while this particular student is really trying to push my buttons I would never hit her. I guess my subconscious is living out it's own fantasies. This morning I dreamt that instead of getting up and hitting snooze in my bedroom here, I was in my bedroom at my parents' house. I woke up this morning feeling very home-sick and on the verge of tears all day. When I was in Charlotte and I wanted a break, I would drive to Tennessee and visit my parents. I am beginning to feel like I need a break, but there's no chance for TN anytime soon. I have to wait for August. In the meantime, my subconscious will just have to keep fantasizing and I will just have to suck-it-up and take my break in Scotland.

Weekly Update...

So, I think I may have found a place to live. I am not entirely ready to stop looking just yet, but I saw a place Thursday that I really like. It is about a 30 minute train ride from work (but that means that I am also 30 minutes closer to London). It's in a cute, residential area that is situated between two major towns - so I am never too far from interesting things, but still feel safe walking home at night. The woman that lives there now is really cool. She is a healthcare worker, here for two years from Finland. I think we could really get along.

I am trying to convince myself that, even with everything that is going on (work permit extension, qualifying teacher status, moving, etc), I should try and travel on my half-term break. There's a six day backpackers tour of Scotland (same company I used when I went to Wales) and I'd really like to go! I am torn between getting settled here and seeing more of the countryside... Of course, I have a feeling I know what I will choose in the end... Isn't TRAVEL the reason I came to this country?!?

The Long Walk

No, really, that's what it is called!

Last Saturday 'the Brit' and I went to Windsor. It was a beautiful spring day (a bit chilly in the shade and a few sprinkles of rain, but this is England!)! Originally a carriage road, this three mile stretch lined with elm trees is spectacular! We started at the castle and ended at The Copper Horse, a statue of George III on Snow Hill. My description would not do it justice and a picture is worth a thousand words, so here's one from the Royal Windsor website...

The Long Walk, Windsor Castle. Isn't it stunning?!?

Leo's Horoscope for today:

You've always been proud of your friends. You handpick them with great care, and it takes time. Anyone who makes it to your inner circle gets there because they're intelligent, witty and entertaining -- the cream of the crop. That doesn't mean you're a snob, however -- only that you appreciate and insist on nothing but the best in all departments. So when a friend surprises you, it's an especially delightful moment. Well, pack some tissues in your lunchbox. One of those moments is en route.

In other news...

There is a work permit extension application in the works... Yes, friends, it looks like I will be sticking around for another year. It feels a bit weird. I have been living the last year with a 'temporary' mind-set: No need for a lot of things, I may not be here long. With another year at school I am ready to settle into a life here, eighteen months is a long time! I am looking for a place to live: one that is a bit closer to London and maybe one with a bit less marital drama. I am also looking at cars... Watch out Britain - it could get scary!!

With everything that is going on, so many things that can only happen 'if', and happen 'when,' I struggled Saturday to find something that I could actually do this weekend. The car will have to come after I save more, the room will have to come after I find one that I like... So Saturday I bought a mobile phone. [I know, I know, really exciting news, but deal!] I have lived the last eight months without one, but they are nice to have in emergencies (or when the trains are delayed - which seems to happen entirely too often), or that's what I keep telling myself. Really, I just wanted some sort of purchase that would cross that 'temporary' boundary and make my life feel a bit more permanent.

The school has also [finally] set up the course I have to take for my Qualified Teacher Status. It's actually not a course, but a program set up through a local university. It sounds a lot like the Initially Licensed Teacher program in North Carolina - submit a portfolio, a few extra observations, etc. The good news is that, if all goes well, I could have qualified status by September!!

Walk of Shame?

I haven't really mentioned much about my living situation on this blog. But I am tired of keeping quiet, besides I am leaving this month and you guys don't know the people involved, anyway.

I live with a very sweet couple that are in their 60's. It started out as a temporary place to live when I first arrived in town and I ended up staying. They cook for me, they do the laundry, it's a lot like living with your parents (except my parents would expect me to do laundry). Granted, it has not allowed for much of a social life, but I've coped and just thought of it as a temporary situation. In January, Chris met me at the airport with news. He informed me that he was leaving Jenny for another woman. It seems that she works at my school and they have been sneaking around town for the last few months. After that, I started to spend more and more time in my bedroom, leaving more room in the house for Chris and Jenny to sort out their business. It was a very awkward first few months and now I guess I am just used to it all. Chris and Jenny have sold their house and we will all go in different directions at the end of the month. Jenny has spent a lot of time away, visiting her children/grandchildren. While she has been gone, the new woman has been spending more and more time here. Okay, fine, the marriage is over, but this is still a bit awkward for me. Anyway, this morning I woke up, had my cup of coffee and was surprised to find the new woman entering the kitchen to make her morning cup of Joe, too. Am I a prude? Isn't this crossing a line?!

Ah! Friday!!

I am a bit awkward with my year 13 tutor group. I don't really know why, probably because I am used to working with children, not 18 year-olds. Still, they are a fun group and I usually walk away laughing about something. I only see them Thursdays and Fridays and only for about 15 - 20 minutes each day. Today, we had chapel prayer. Have I mentioned that I work at a Catholic school? Me, little miss serious supporter of 'separation of church and state' had to lead a prayer today... I chickened out and told them to take a moment for silent prayer. Then I said, "Does anyone have anything to share? Okay, you can go. Have a good day." They left and I had a laugh. I wonder what was going through their heads...

Life, Fear and the C word

I finished reading Life of Pi yesterday. It took me quite a while to get through the first part, but after that, I finished it in the weekend. I enjoyed the book, but what stands out most in my mind is this passage Yann Martel wrote:

I must say a word about fear. It is life's only true opponent. Only fear can defeat life. It is a clever, treacherous adversary, how well I know. It has no decency, respects no law or convention, shows no mercy. It goes for your weakest spot, which it finds with unerring ease. It begins in your mind, always. One moment you are feeling calm, self-possessed, happy. Then fear, disguised in the garb of mild-mannered doubt, slips into your mind like a spy. Doubt meets disbelief and disbelief tries to push it out. But disbelief is a poorly armed foot soldier. Doubt does away with it with little trouble. You become anxious. Reason comes to do battle for you. You are reassured. Reason is fully equipped with the latest weapons technology. But, to your amazement, despite superior tactics and a number of undeniable victories, reason is laid low. You feel yourself weakening, wavering. Your anxiety becomes dread.

I have been receiving a lot of forwarded emails lately from a particular person in North Carolina. This woman was an advisor to our sorority and a replacement mom to many of us that lived away from home. Typically, I just look at the subject lines, mumble something under my breath about hogging valuable webmail space and delete the message. In the last few weeks I have started to read the messages. This, in all honesty, has been going on for years. The advisor, a very caring and supportive woman, has been updating us all on the health of one of our own. D was diagnosed 6 years ago with IBC (inflammatory breast cancer), a very aggressive type of cancer and has been fighting it ever since. All too often the emails that get sent around are asking for donations for D and her family and, unfortunately, the sentiment gets lost in the plea for dollars. That was the attitude I took for a long time... Until I started reading the messages in the last few weeks. D is on a trial with Duke University that hasn't been tested on humans before; they are treating the cancer of her lungs and liver. She calls herself 'Patient #4' when the first 3 have been removed from the trail for various reasons. She has had terrible side effects from this treatment, but insists on continuing. She has known many people to die from IBC since she was diagnosed, 60% of the people with IBC are dead within 5 years. Her message today was that she is going to have to go into hospital soon to remove fluid that has formed around her heart. I don't know D very well, really only by reputation, but she is a strong individual. She's lobbied Washington for funds to support cancer research, she is raising a family and she is fighting cancer minute by minute. I have had D in my thoughts a lot these last couple of weeks, especially since her fight is getting more and more difficult. I am not usually one for prayers, but I have found myself saying them for D and her family.

Really, the Martel passage can apply to anything in life. I fear many things: spiders, public speaking, and all sorts of things. But what terrifies me the most, the thing that Martel describes in Life of Pi for me is an end to all that I know. I have lived a very privileged life. I have grown up in a loving, caring household with very large families on either side. I have two sets of grandparents that are healthy and get around without any major problems. Death is not new to me; I have had close friends pass away and family members as well. I do not fear my own death, but I fear the death of the ones I love. I am terrified of a life without loved ones.

What terrifies you?

Ten things that made me smile today

(in no particular order)
10. Bruises on my arm that remind me of a day at a paintball centre. That was great fun!! Wasn't really sure I'd like it, but I had a blast!!
9. Meeting really cool people in Cardiff.
8. Finding my name (or a nickname that always cracks me up) on a certain someone's "These are the Daves I know" list. :)
7. Making arrangements to meet Little A's Sam in London when he is in town.
6. Watching live music at a bar called Callaghan's in Cardiff yesterday - Ha ha!! Everything in that statement reminds me of you, K.
5. Bank Holidays are wonderful!!
4. Spending time with someone who 'gets' the importance of Go-Go-Gadget Arms. (Sorry, Brit, you are never going to live that down.)
3. Road Trips.
2. Huge Burritos that scare school officials. Little A, that was a great article!! http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/burrito_lockdown
1. Meeting and getting to chat to Andy and Josie - Hi guys!

I have not been good about keeping up with anyone in the last few months. I have a load of pictures I need to finish labeling and send (the ones from Europe). I have emails in a draft box, just waiting for a bit of time to finish and send (Toni, there's one for you in there). One day I will be able to say that everything on my TO DO list is complete... But then what happens?

What a faux pas!

I thought I had already learnt all of the phrases that do not translate well from British to American English. I have become accustomed to using 'rubber' in place of 'eraser.' 'Trousers' instead of 'pants,' I am still having trouble remembering, though. This weekend I learned a new one. For all of my American friends out there, 'Blown Off' (as in, "I can't believe he didn't show for our date on Friday!") in the UK means to fart or pass wind!! You would use the phrase 'blown out' instead. Not sure if this is one I will be able to get used to, I associate 'blown out' with straightening my hair.

Did someone slip me a Coke?

I am wide awake - this is not good on a school night. I had every intention of getting to bed early, too. Oh well.

I have been feeling very nostalgic lately. Wednesday I pulled out last years yearbook and started thinking about my old students. I wonder how they are doing in High School this year. For as much as some of them drove me nuts, I loved my kids!! I am starting to feel that way about the kids here now. I have some pretty wonderful kids this year. And, well, even the not-so-wonderful kids are still pretty great too.

I've decided that I do not post enough during the week. I used to be better about it. Oh well. So, this is it for now. Tomorrow I will tell you about my weekend.

In a nutshell...

There's been a lot going on in the last few days: I will try and address as much as I can.

My week at school has been exhausting! Granted, I had returned Saturday from a holiday that left me feeling a bit under the weather and completely knackered. However, the kids did not make things any easier. Monday, my last lesson was a 'free,' so I put my head down in the Science Resource Area and napped for 10 or 15 minutes. Sad, I know, pathetic really, but I felt much better when I woke up! Luckily, the cold has all but disappeared and I think I have finally caught up on my sleep.

The house has been sold. I came home from Europe to a 'For Sale' sign in the drive. This was nothing new to me, they have been talking about selling the house for a while now. Of course, I wasn't expecting it to be quite so soon... One week on the market and their asking price!?! Not bad!! Looks like I need to plan on moving by the beginning of June.

R posted a link to a site on her page that has a bunch of quizzes. On the 'What Kind of American English Do You Speak?' Quiz my results were: 65% General American English, 20% Dixie, 10% Yankee and 5% Midwestern. I felt good knowing that Dixie does not dominate my vocabulary. Then I decided to take the 'How Normal Are You?' Quiz... The 20 questions were pretty basic: 'Can you roll your tongue?' and 'Do you button your shirts from the bottom, up or from the top, down?' Based on my results, I am 0% Normal!! I thought it was a joke, so I made The Brit take the quiz, too. He scored 60% Normal, 'a normal amount of normal' according to the website. On the other hand, I am a freak!! Glad my friends know me better than some internet quiz, or do they? :)

I had another wonderful weekend!! There seems to be a pattern happening here. I can't complain. I won't complain, I am really enjoying myself!!

The Brit took me to see the Rugby Powergen Cup Final on Saturday. It was fantastic!! Rugby really is an interesting game and great fun to watch! Nothing against Football (the American kind), but a game where the men tackle without padding and ears get tapped back so that they are not bitten or torn off sounds like a jolly good time! In all seriousness, a game where the ball can only be passed backward can be quite challenging (and loads of fun to watch).

And now for something a little bit different...

I was trying to think of a way to address everything that has happened in the last few days in a way that was not entirely boring or wordy... So, here it goes:

Amsterdam
Sites Seen: Canal Cruise, Tour up and down the alleyways of the Red Light District, evening entertainment at Casa Rosso, the Anne Frank Museum and the Van Gogh Museum.
Favourite Moment: Walking along the beautiful streets and canals of Amsterdam, the houses were very unique (tall and skinny) and very picturesque.
To Make You Laugh: Crossing the streets in Amsterdam wasn't fun. First you would have to dodge bicycle traffic, then cars, then trams, then cars going in the opposite direction and finally the bicycles going in the opposite direction. I felt like Frogger!

There is something about walking up and down alley streets with glass doors exposing half-naked women... It just makes me curious. Then I saw a man (obviously a tourist) stumble out from behind red curtains, adjust himself, pull up his pants in a way that just screams, "I just had sex!" It was at that moment I thought, "Oh, God no! That's about as close as I want to get to the Red Light District!"

St Goar
Sites Seen: Nice view of the River Rhine, Winery in St. Goar (pronounced Go-are) and the Hotel bar.
Favourite Moment: Chatting and getting to know other people on our coach that night in the bar. It was nice to be the only ones in the bar for that reason.
To Make You Laugh: Typical 'A' Moment: Our roommate disappeared with the key, so I was locked out of the room before dinner. I wanted to change before our wine tasting, so I ran upstairs to change clothes quickly. By the time I made it to the meeting place, the group was gone! Luckily, I met up with two other 'late' people and we didn't have very far to walk.

The wines were nice, all white. There was a dry Reisling, a semi-sweet, a sweet and an Eisswine. I like the first one, but the others were too sweet for me. The Eisswine was interesting - very, very sweet.

The Rhine River Valley was spectacular, with vineyards squeezed on every mountain slope, no matter how steep.

Munich
Sites Seen: Marienplatz, Glockenspiel, Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady), Richard Strauss Fountain, Preysing-Palais and dinner at Hofbrauhaus.
Favourite Moment: Eating dinner in the Bravarian Beer Hall where we could not read the menu. We ended up just pointing to various plates on other tables.
To Make You Laugh: Was SO excited to learn German drinking songs that Becke and I approached a near-by group singing along to teach us... They were from Montana. They taught us how to mumble along to the majority of the words except "I'm Proosted, I'm Proosted". Funny, I didn't know that Germans used the phrase "I am?!"

We were warned that all of German uses half-litre steins, but in Munich they only used litre-size. It was wonderful!

Hofgarten
Sites Seen: Innsbrook was a beautiful little mountain town! We also stopped at the Swarovski Crystal Centre. The most impressive thing I remember about Austria was the Alps.
Favourite Moment: Finding a bar (inside the hotel) that serves Jaggermeister and dancing the night away.
To Make You Laugh: Getting LOCKED OUT of the hotel and having to throw stones at windows the next morning to find someone to let us in!! I was furious at myself and a bit embarrassed, but my friends had a laugh and decided to give my story a twist. It seems that I spent the night in a barn in Austria with Mel Gibson... Moral of the story: Always stick with the group!!

That night a group of guys on our tour ran through the streets of Hofgarten, completely naked!! I couldn't believe that they did it - there was still patches of snow on the ground!! When I expressed my shock, I was told, "That's just typical Aussies for you!" I think I want to move to Australia next - Aussies are crazy!!

Venice
Sites Seen: Piazza San Marco, Campanile, Basilica San Marco, Ponte di Rialto, a Gondola ride along some of the city's 150 canals and dinner at a quaint little Italian Restaurant.
Favourite Moment: The whole Venice experience was amazing! The town is so quite without all of the motorized traffic and the gondola ride was very relaxing.
To Make You Laugh: I wandered off on my own for a little while, just to take in the city for a bit. I stopped in a glass shop to admire the pieces and the store owner yelled at me for saying "Hello!" I thought I said it in Italian, but he told me that we were "not in France." I guess I should just stick with the "Ciao" that Brad (the tour manager) taught us to say!

Italian public toilets do not have seats!! And, the lunch counters have wonderful sandwiches, but they are such a pain to order (you have to choose what you want, move to the till to pay for your item, then go back to the lunch counter to have the sandwich made)!

Rome
Sites Seen: Colosseo (the Colosseum), Foro Romano (Roman Forum), Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele, Piazza Venezia, Fontana di Trevi, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Vatican City, Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Steps), Chiesa di San Clemente, San Pietro in Vincoli (Church of Saint Peter in Chains), Bocca della Verita (Mouth of Truth), Circo Massimo and a few shops along Via Del Corso.
Favourite Moment: Opting out of the Colosseo tour and spending the morning with Toni finding the hidden gems of Rome. San Clemente is an 11 century church that was built on top of 4th century ruins. Under those ruins are 1st century ruins! It was great!! Then we met up with the rest of the group at the Roman Forum and used a book I purchased to make our own tour, 'Then and Now.'
To Make You Laugh: I am not allowed to cross streets when there are attactive Italian men directing traffic... I almost fell in the middle of the street - for approximately 5 minutes! It just kept going and going and all the while I was pushing and knocking into people, unable to steady myself. Finally, I was able to catch myself on the hips of a woman at the front of the group. I think I scared the piss out of her!

I think I was still drunk that second morning in Rome. The bartender at the hotel poured a bit strong and I can't really remember why I needed to drink someone else's wine. Becke and I learned how to say "Fuck You" in Italian. That night I got locked out of my bedroom again, but I refused to leave the hotel, thinking that if worse-came-to-worse I could always sleep on the cushy couches in the reception area. Luckily, someone in our group was smart enough to nic the master key from reception and let us (I wasn't the only one locked out!) into our rooms.

My second night in Rome, I took it easy. We played cards (that was a lot of fun!) and I was in bed early.

Florence
Sites Seen: Piazza Santa Croce, Fontana del Nettuno, Palazzo Vecchio, Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio, the Duome, dinner at a Firenze restaurant and dancing at a nearby night club.
Favourite Moment: No particular moment... The whole experience was amazing. I have found my next city... Just need to learn Italian first.
To Make You Laugh: Looking to do some serious Italian shopping, Toni and I decided to hit a market in town. Toni did an excellent job navigating us though the streets, only to find that the market was nothing more than 9 or 10 flea market booths. After that, we combed the streets for jewelry, bags and gellato.

You know it is time to go home when the Italian Night Club plays Bon Jovi at the end of the night. I passed out in my clothes for the umpteenth time because it was too much of a bother to search for pajamas in my suitcase.

Lucerne
Sites Seen: Stanserhorn (a gondola ride up the mountain), The Kapellbrucke (Chapel Bridge), and that's about it. I spent the rest of my time shopping for Swiss Army Knives, Swiss Army Watches and Swiss Chocolate.
Favourite Moment: The BEST hotel meal we had on the trip!!
To Make You Laugh: Happy Dances in the hotel room when Toni and I saw the size of our suite. It was monstrous and wonderful!!

Paris
Sites Seen: Tour Eiffel, Centre G. Pompidou, Musee du Louvre, Musee Rodin, Eglise du Dome (Napoleon's Tomb), the outside of the Catacombs, Musee D'Orsay, Arc de Triomphe, dinner on the Champs Elysees, drinking the night away at a bar next to the Moulin Rouge.
Favourite Moment: There are too many to name 1) Seeing Jonathan propose to Karen at the top of the Eiffel Tower, 2) Enjoying the architecture of both the Louvre and the Musee D'Orsay along with all of the pieces of art inside, 3) Dinner with friends - that was the BEST way to wrap-up the trip!!
To Make You Laugh: I was SO excited to do something 'different' my second time in Paris. At first I wanted to do the Sewer Tour, but Rick Steve did not give it a good review, so we decided to visit the Catacombs. The write-up says to be sure to bring a torch (flashlight), so I knew that it would be great!! [If anything my chicken-ass would keep the group entertained, jumping at everything in sight!] We made it all the way there to find out that it is closed until May 2005. Maybe next time!

I'm Home!

This has been SUCH an amazing experience!! I am exhausted, sick and am dreading real life. I have seen, touched, tasted and felt things in the last 12 days that I have only seen in textbooks and movies. It's like I have been on this terrific 'high' for two weeks and, some how, setting my alarm for work tomorrow is such a buzz-kill.

Will write more later before reality completely sets in. Below are a few pictures from the trip...

Paris
The Louvre was spectacular! I fell in love with the building as much as the artwork inside.

Lucerne
My tour buddies - a fabulous group of people!

Florence
The tour guide started her lecture with, "This is where Galileo built his first telescope and where Michelangelo built his flying machine." After that, I vowed to come back and send more than just a few hours in this town. Anyone care to join me?

Rome
Too much history to even begin to describe... Remnants everywhere... I have no words to do this city justice...

Venice
My favourite city, by far. How can you not love a place that only allows transport by foot or by boat?!

Innsbrook
A surprise stop, but a spectacular one, nonetheless.

Amsterdam
Amazing city - for obvious and not-so-obvious reasons!

Venice, Italy

This is the most beautiful city I have seen so far!! I absolutely LOVE it. I keep thinking about the movie, The Italian Job. I won't say much now because the keyboard here is really difficult to use. We are going on a gondola ride later today, then dinner in a Venician Restaurant. Tomorrow we head to Rome, which could be quite interesting depending on the Pope's health. I'm off to check out the sites.

Munich, Germany

Okay. German Keyboards are not easy to use, especially when you have had a couple of litres of good Bavarian Beer. It has been a wonderful trip so far, very busy but lots of fun! Amsterdam was amazing (including the sex show we saw Tuesday night - who knew you could do THAT with a banana!) especially the Anne Frank House. Yesterday we slept in a small town in the Rhine Valley of Germany, tonight I am in Munich. It has been pretty much non-stop and I don't expect much of a rest between now and April 9, but I can not complain. We are really seeing a lot and having a great time! Today we wandered around Munich and found our way to the Beer Hall, and eventually found our way back to the hotel via the Munich Underground. Lots of fun!! Miss everyone!!

Okay folks, this is it!

I am heading for London now. My suitcase is packed full and I hope I have included everything. For the next 13 days I will be touring Europe. I will try and stop in to say "Hi," but I won't make any promises. Expect lots of pictures when I get back.

Happy Easter Everyone!

I have just had an amazing weekend!! Funny, the things that start out as something simple, "let's just spend the day together," turn into an entire weekend of fun! Not that there was anything particular to do, just a lot of hanging out and enjoying each others' company.

Friday we went to Kew Gardens. It was a beautiful day! We walked around the grounds, enjoying the Palm House (think large Victorian atrium that is very humid and houses tons of plants), the Japanese inspired gardens and the Rhododendron Dell. There was also a Badger Mound for kids that was fun to crawl through and a petting zoo that we didn't actually make it into, but got to appreciate the baby goats from the other side of the fence. After Kew we had dinner at an Indian Restaurant. Now, you may be thinking, "Indian is Indian, US or UK," but you are wrong! There were so many delicious items to choose from, it was a truly wonderful experience! Not like any I've ever had in North Carolina or in Tennessee!! Mmm!!

Saturday we hung out, shared music and went to Reading. He isn't quite sold on my favourites, but I think they will grow on him. [I have a 'Three-Listen Policy,' you must listen to a song/artist three times before passing judgment.] We also rented 'The Village' - which I really liked. That man (M. Night Shyamalan) has a very different way at looking at things and he translates it into suspense in such a crafty way. This is probably not my favourite of his films, but it was still really good, just because it is never what you think... Never what you expect.

It was hard to leave this morning, but I have laundry to tackle and a lot of packing to do. And somehow, through it all, I can't seem to wipe this silly grim from my face.

It's Spring at Kew

The Palm House

It's times like these...

Read this in an article the other day:
"A stone's throw from Beale, meanwhile, the new Peabody Place is a a big, ugly shopping mall featuring all the usual suspects: Starbucks, Gap, Victoria's Secret and so on. It has a legally enforced dress code. No baseball caps worn backwards, no hooded tops, no sneakers, no baggy pants. Segregation, it would seem, lingers on."

It is referring to a new mall in Memphis, TN. Funny, if I was still at my school in Charlotte, this dress code would limit every single student in my school. Why would they not prohibit the non-existent mini skirts and the midrift-bearing tops that are in fashion? Are they not just not as offensive?? Even more so, if you ask me.

Late Night Entry

It's a bit late, but I have too much energy to sleep (and yet not enough energy to move to my bed). I just hung up the phone with my sister. Yesterday was my brother-in-law's 30th birthday and I really haven't had a conversation with my sister in ages (I think December was the last time we spoke), so a phone call was necessary, right? I do this every time I hang up with my sister, the cheesy grin and the "I love my pookie" attitude (that's what I call her). With all of the warm-fuzzies she leaves, I should call her more often.

Tomorrow is the last day of the second term. Yippee!! I have officially made it through a second term at a British school. This one was a bit easier than the first (not including the Ofsted preparation/inspection). That leaves hope for the third term...

Next Tuesday I leave for my big Contiki Tour of Europe - 8 countries in 12 days!! Should be quite an adventure - lots of time on a coach (we travel on average 250 miles a day!)!! We will be sleeping in the following cities: Amsterdam, St. Goar (Germany), Munich, Hofgarten (Austria), Venice, two nights in Rome, Florence, Lucerne (Switzerland), then two nights in Paris!! I am really starting to get excited about this trip - I have dreamed of seeing Italy since I was a kid!

Until Tuesday I will be shopping, packing, muddling through my 2004 Income Taxes, relaxing and spending some time with the Brit (as Little A so nicely dubbed him). Whatever I do, school will be the last thing on my mind (at least for the next two weeks) - this is why I love my job!! [This is not the only reason I love my job, but after the Ofsted week we all need a bit of a break - kids and teachers!]

Anyway, I should really get to bed. Despite tomorrow being a half-day, I will be worthless if I don't get at least some sleep.

Come Gather Round...

Imagine 1992 and MTV's 120 Minutes. I fell in love with a man and his guitar that year. His name was John Wesley Harding and the video was "Kill the Messenger." I quickly bought the tape, "Why We Fight," and memorized every song. He told amazing stories, very imaginative and a bit odd (I think that's what I liked most about his lyrics). There was "The Original Miss Jesus," where lyrics claimed "Born before her more famous little brother Mister Christ. Sure, there were miracles but out of the public eye. So they didn't think even to have her crucified. She just wrote some novels and then she died. And only her family cried for her, The Original Miss Jesus." And my favorite line of all times comes from his song "Come Gather Round, "We're so convinced we're different, it makes us all the same."

In 1993, this British Modern-day folk singer came to Knoxville with Joan Baez. My sister and I went: my sister excited to see Joan Baez, myself excited to see JWH. It was an amazing show and the little theater venue (Knoxville's Bijou) made it quite memorable. Eventually, my JWH tape wore itself out (it was eaten in my car stereo) and I had a hell of a time trying to replace it. Last year, Krissie found a CD version for me (isn't she wonderful?!) so that now I again have access to my favorite songs.

Last week, while looking for something interesting to listen to while I marked papers, I visited Nashville's Lightening 100 website. They have a radio show on Sundays that broadcasts live from 3rd and Lindsley and they have mp3s from previous shows. John Wesley Harding was on that list. He has a new album, "Adam's Apple" out. So, in my attempt to find something to listen to while being productive, I spent the rest of the evening playing on John Wesley Harding's website (which was quite interesting - we're talking hours of entertainment!). The man is very creative and has recently published his own book under his real name, Wesley Stace. It sounds like a fun read, Misfortune. It is described in an LA Weekly article as a “Gothic soap opera, but clever, one that uses the conventions of 19th-century fiction and gives them a modern twist." (The website even has audio excerpts read by JWH! It's great!)

Check him out for yourself: www.johnwesleyharding.com or www.wesleystace.com

Another damn survey...

This is totally not my idea. I have nicked it from someone else (thanks, D), but I thought it was such a good one that when someone sent me one of the damn things, I just couldn't help myself.
1) Ever been so drunk you blacked out? No, but I have done many other things while intoxicated. Some I do have to be reminded of the next day... "Oh. I did what?!?"
2) Missed work because it was raining? No, that's hard to do that around here. I'd never make it into school!
3)Put a body part on fire for amusement? Not on purpose, but I have caught hands, nails and arm (hair) on fire by accident...
4)Been hurt emotionally? Hasn't everyone at this point in our lives?
5)Kept a secret from everyone? I am horrible with my own secrets, everyone knows in a matter of hours!
6)Had an imaginary friend? I had "pinch bugs" when I was little that I used to feed by tearing up tissue and leaving it all around the house. Mom loved that!
7)Wanted to hook up with a friend? Oh goodness, yes!
8)Had a crush on a teacher? I always had old, ugly teachers. But if I had to answer the question based on co-workers, that's another story.
9)Ever thought an animated character was hot? I so loved G.I. Joe!
10)Had a New Kids on the Block tape? No! Never! Well, okay maybe one, but I never had the buttons pinned to my denim jacket...
11)Been on stage? Other than dribbling beer down my face at a Uphonik show?
FAVORITES--------------------
1)Shampoo: Found a new favourite brand over here - Tony and Guy Fizz Reducing Shampoo. [I am sure this is really the type of stuff you want to know about me]
2)Body Wash: I miss Bath and Body Works!
3)Hair Color: I've always been a fan of red hair - even though mine doesn't look red anymore.
4)Day/Night: I am such a night person it is not even funny! I have such odd sleeping patterns - How do you think I can watch such crap tv? Hooray for 2 am HBO!
5)Summer/Winter: Too hard to choose. Can I call myself an autumn/spring person?
6)Lace or Satin: I guess lace.
7)Favorite cartoon person: Dot from the Animaniacs.
8)Favorite Food: Anything ethnic: Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, Mexican, Middle Eastern, Indian, and especially Ethiopian!
9)Favorite Movie: Sliding Doors, Time Bandits, Amelie, Jaws, Indiana Jones (all three), Lord of the Rings trilogy, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, there are too many to name.
10)Favorite Book Anne Rice's Interview with A Vampire will always be my favourite, but I also like Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World (Murakami) and The Time Traveler's Wife.
11)Favorite Ice Cream: coffee flavoured. Mmmm!
12)Favorite Subject: Anything that's not maths.
13)Favorite drink: Beer!
14)Favorite drink with alcohol: Beer! Or a Stoli Vanilla with Diet Coke.
15)Favorite Word(s): "road trip?" and "adventure"
16)Words that bother you: "No" and "I can not"
DO YOU BELIEVE IN------------------
1)Your friends: Of course.
2) Santa Claus: Does Hanukkah Harry count?
3)Tooth Fairy: yes.
4)Destiny/Fate: no doubt.
5)Karma: more than anything.
6)Angels: yes.
7)UFOs: yes.
8)GOD: I believe in something, whether you want to call it God, Allah, Buddha, or any of the other millions of names world societies have given her.
FRIENDS AND LIFE-----------------
1)Like anyone? Yup.
2)Who have U known the longest of your friends? Kristin - met her my freshman year.
3)Who do you go to for advice: Everyone!
4)Who do you cry to? Mostly my mom, sometimes my friends.
5)When did you cry the most? Dealing with a break-up almost four years ago. Looking back, I wouldn't be the person I am now without having gone through it. I also wouldn't be where I am now without having gone through it.
6) When are you (happy) laughing: My mother and my sister put me into laughing fits! Plus, my friends - they are always make me crack up!
7) Best feeling in the world: Spending time with good friends.
8) Worst Feeling: Making someone else late when you know how much they hate it.
9)What do you do when it rains? Not much else I can do, grab a brolly and walk out the door!
10)What do you do when your favorite song comes on: Sing
11)What's the newest thing you have done or tried lately: I watched my first Rugby match on Saturday.

Exhausted, but still smiling...

We passed the Ofsted inspection. It was a little touch-and-go for a bit. Two teachers walked out and the number of 'unsatisfactory' inspections kept rising, but in the end, we pulled through. It was an exhausting and stressful week, my observations were complete on Monday, but there was still the fear that an inspector would enter my room at any given time. The worst part was Friday afternoon when the Principal called a staff meeting. Why would you get up in front of a group of people after a week like that and say, "Good job, but I know we can do better next time. I know this isn't something you want to think about, but we have to prepare ourselves for the next time they come..." What sort of motivation is that?!?

I have spent the better part of my weekend on the other side of London, taking it easy and relaxing. Now we only have a week and a half before our Easter Break (and my big trip: 8 countries in 12 days!! WooHoo!!).

One down, three days to go...

Unless they decide they want to stay for Friday (but they won't do that unless things aren't going well). This is Ofsted I am referring to, btw. And I wouldn't wish this experience on my worst enemy. Don't get me wrong, the inspectors are nice enough, but there's just so much pressure and so much stress attached to this whole experience.

I got up early this morning and took my time packing my bag for school, but somehow my geography lesson got put in the wrong pile and ended up underneath a bunch of crap on my bedroom floor. So, what else could have happened when I've left my lesson plan at home? Yup, as you've probably guessed, I was observed first lesson (geography). There's me feeling like a big old goof trying to explain why I do not have my lesson plan with me. Then a couple of the administrators stop by asking if I needed to call home and have someone bring it to me... Umm, it's just a piece of paper and it's a bit late don't ya think?! Anyway, other than feeling like a complete fool, the lesson was okay and I got my 'satisfactory' mark.

So, feeling a bit better having faced the firing squad, I went on with my day. That is, until my last lesson when the science inspector walked into the room. Now, I teach a wonderful group of very low ability year 7 students on Monday and Tuesday afternoons. I say wonderful because they really try hard, but they are climbing the walls in the afternoon lessons. And they were in rare form today! The lesson sucked. It was horrible. But the inspector said that I was persistent about their behavior, so I made my second 'satisfactory' mark.

Now, both lessons were horrible and I feel that on any given day, my lessons are SO much better than what I have just shown. I just don't think I am one who performs well under pressure. Oh well. I have my marks and there's nothing I can do about it. Other than work a bit harder tonight in case I see the inspectors tomorrow... Or the day after that... Or the day after that... Ugh!!

I can't wait for this to be over!!

I can not seem to focus today at all. This is my horoscope for the day and it is very fitting:
As of this evening, you'll be thinking specifically about one person -- just the one. You may need to spend your time with others, or be duty-bound to take care of responsibilities, but your mind won't be there.

There are about a million things I'd like to say right now. Instead, I will try and work on Ofsted preparation (through my cheesy smiles that don't seem to disappear)...

What happened to the weekend, is it Sunday already?!

I was looking at the most recent Time Out Magazine and there are a TON of US bands touring England this spring! I was quite surprised to see G. Love, North Mississippi All Stars, Gov't Mule, Drive By Truckers, and Me'Shell Ndegeocello. There's also some bigger names on tour like Jimmy Eat World, Jack Johnson, Ben Folds, and AudioSlave. Then, there are the groups that I had to stop and think, "are they really still playing?," like the Spin Doctors, Presidents of the USA, NIN and Hanson... [Ha! Sorry, but I can't help but laugh when I think of Hanson!] I haven't tried to make it to any shows since I have been here, but I want that to change. Consider it a very late New Year's resolution. Anyway, Particle and Keller Williams are playing the weekend after next and I am going to go ahead and get tickets. Hooray for Spring!! I just wish the weather would feel a bit more like spring...

So, I spent Saturday evening in the same spot as last Sunday - freezing my ass off, snogging (kissing) on a park bench along the Thames. I met him at noon and we spent the day wandering around London (I finally saw Buckingham Palace). We walked a good portion of the city and I have the blisters to prove it (Damn Skechers!) I had a really nice time with him, though, and we've made plans for next weekend...

Ofsted inspection starts tomorrow. I've already spent my morning at school (I wasn't the only one) and still have lots to do! Ugh!

What a long, strange day!

It's been a rather odd day. I've mentioned the strange weather in an earlier post, but truly we've had snow, in some form or another, every day for the last two weeks. Today, there were a few flakes on my walk to work. By mid-morning most everything had a light cover, and the streets were slippery. They cancelled school by 1:00 and sent all of the students home. Most teachers stayed to prepare for our big inspection next week. So, by the time I left the school at 4:00, the sun was blazing and there wasn't a drop of snow anywhere. Weird.

This, compounded by the fact that I was up late last night, has made the day feel entirely too long! Yesterday feels like weeks ago and tomorrow will not get here soon enough.

Another one...

www.overheardintheoffice.com

I love this blog!

Have you seen www.overheardinnewyork.com? It's really a fun read!

My favorite so far:
Girl on cell: I knew it was over when I grabbed his shirt and he told me I was pulling his hair!

- Bleeker & W. 11th
Overheard by: Alaska

Desperate housewife, I am not. But the show still rocks!

I have just finished watching another episode of Desperate Housewives - I love that show! We are a few episodes behind the US right now. Tonight's episode was the one with the fashion show and ends with Carlos being carted off by police. I can't really explain why I like the show as much as I do, but I can't seem to skip an episode either...

It has been snowing here off-and-on for a week and a half. Although it never seems to stick, it is still quite pretty to walk through. Today it snowed rather hard and they even sent the primary kids home early. By mid-morning it was a mixture of rain and snow and by afternoon most of the snow had melted. Grr! Funny, the towns around us are covered, but not us. Still, it is nice to watch it fall - just wish I was watching from indoors instead of walking to work.

I don't know what I was thinking last night...

... but I totally I made out with a boy sitting along the Thames with the London Eye illuminated on my left and Big Ben across the river!! :)

Love actually is all around...

God I love that movie!!

Today According to the Stars:

That woozy, dreamy feeling you were toting around last week? All the while you were wondering if you were doing the right thing? Picture the best of that -- the romance and idealism -- without any confusion. Congratulations! That's your day.

Why Are We So Hard On Ourselves?

A senior manager at the school stopped me today and asked how things were going. He said, "you really seem to be doing well." I told him it was all a front, but thanks... The Head of the Science Department was walking behind me, so he stopped her and said, "she seems to be doing very well." And she replied in agreement. Why is it that I feel like I am a crap teacher, why am I so hard on myself??? Anyway, Good is nice and the compliment is nice. :) Someday I want to be called an outstanding teacher... But for now I will settle for "good."

Snow... Maybe!?

It has been snowing off and on all week, but never enough to amount to anything. I seem to time it just right where I get caught in the snow/rain either walking from one building to the other at work or walking to and from school... Today, which was the day they were predicting to be the worst for snow, it was just rain (with an occasional flake here or there). I was so disappointed. That is, until I just looked out the window. There is a light accumulation and if it stays cold enough and if it snows a little more, we still have a chance for a snow day!! Long shot, I know...

I swear I am such a kid!!

So, it has been snowing off and on all day!! It will only last for 5 to 10 minutes, but it comes down pretty hard. It was a frustrating day at school - first day back after half-term and I can already feel my voice going. I don't think the snow helped any. Why is it that kids will go absolutely NUTS if they see the sky spit flakes?! (Of course, I am secretly jumping up and down, but I don't scream and run to the window!) Outside it has started again. Fingers crossed, maybe it'll stick!!

I don't want to go to work tomorrow...

They are predicting snow. Actually, they are predicting flurries off-and-on all week, but somehow I don't think we are going to get more than a dusting. It would be nice to experience a snow day in the UK so that I can compare it to home. Aw! Who am I kidding?! I just like having days off from work!

So, it has been a fairly quiet weekend. I tried to go into London yesterday, but the train lines were down. I could have taken a bus, but instead I just hopped a bus to Bluewater. I was in search of shoes, but decided to hold out for the open-toed variety (once the weather gets nicer). Winter should end eventually, right? I did notice Friday that it is staying light out much later in the evening, like 5:30...

We had English Pancakes for dinner this evening and boy were they delicious!! They were thin, like a French crepe and you roll them up with toppings inside. I ate mine with some sprinkled sugar and some lemon juice, a "very English" style I was told. They were lovely!!

I've been reading in the news that Israel is pulling out of the Gaza Strip. I know there is a lot involved and the Palestinians are not entirely happy with the way Sharon is moving ahead without a proper peace accord, but this is big folks!! Who knows?! Call me an optimist, but we may actually see peace in the Middle East (and a Palestinian State) during our lifetime!!

I got my hair cut yesterday and the woman dried it out straight. It's REALLY long! Just thought I'd share. 

Home from the whirl-wind Tour

Where to begin? It was an absolutely amazing trip - lots of fun!! We saw SO much and did SO much in the short amount of time that we had - it was a blast!! I met some really cool people and enjoyed spending time with Krissie and her friends!! Good times and lots of memories!

Day 1: Met Krissie at Victoria Station, London approx. 4:15 pm. We made our way to Luton Airport. After riding the tube, a train, a bus and eventually a plane, we arrive at Paris' CDG airport. Then we made our way to the Hotel Mayet. A train ride and two metro transfers later we check in, eat some cheese and crackers and fall fast asleep.

It was exciting and a little weird to see Krissie standing at Victoria (like it was normal for her to be in London or something). Somehow, the reality of our trip still had not hit me. We caught up on gossip and swapped stories, just like old times.

Day 2: Paris: We woke up and made an attempt to use the funky French shower (it was a tub with a hand-held piece, no curtain). We ate breakfast and met Emily and Nico in the hotel lobby. Nico drove us to Sacre-Coeur for the start of Emily's wonderful tour. Here was our day in Paris:

• Sacre-Coeur: We climbed to the top of the tower and could see the whole city - such a beautiful sight!!
• Hotel de Ville and Notre Dame: Very cool buildings! The figurines carved into both buildings were very detailed and very beautiful! Don't know why I was obsessed with Notre Dame, but I took a ton of pictures of it.
• Lunch: Take away sandwiches on good French bread - Mmmm!!
• The Louvre: We walked through the courtyard (not enough time in the day to see the inside) - such a huge and amazing building!!
• Jardin de Tuleries: Winter and a little rainy, but I can see why it is such a neat place.
• Angleina's: Famous for hot chocolate, we enjoyed the specialty and dessert - Mmm!!
• Champs Elysees: We walked along the well-known street and even did a bit of shopping (or at least tried to).
• L'Arc de Triomphe: We climbed more stairs to see the city!! I never knew you could do that!
• Eiffel Tower: Bad weather kept us from going to the very top, but we saw plenty from the second level.
• Bataux- Mouche: A river cruise along the Seine - very cool!!
• Dinner: St. Germain area for dinner at La Boussole and drinks later.

A very cool day! It was great to meet Emily and to spend the day with her in Paris! Hard to choose a favorite sight, but I loved looking down on the city from at least three different places. The restaurant where we ate dinner was spectacular! I have found myself dreaming of the salmon with coconut sauce... Guess I will have to find my way back to Paris soon.

Day 3: Nico and Emily drove us to the airport for the second leg of our trip. I can't say this was the BEST travel day, but we made it and that's all that matters. First, the airport had only one line to check in for the flight to Barcelona (while other destinations had at least two lines) which meant that the line itself was rather long. Passengers started to get anxious about making the flight, so there were a lot of angry/stressed-out people in line... Never a good thing. Then, when we finally checked-in and hurried to the gate expecting to board the plane immediately, it hadn't even landed yet! The company probably could have saved quite a few customers from stressing -out if they had only informed us while we were waiting. We made it to Barcelona without a problem and caught the train to Estacio Sants where we were expecting to catch a train to Alicante. Unfortunately, there were no seats on any train to Alicante... Uh Oh!! The guy told us we could either take a bus or catch the 7am train the next morning... We opted for the bus and arrived in Alicante at 2:20am.

I am sorry for that, K. I really did try to book tickets in advance, but the website wouldn't let me and I NEVER expected the trains to be full!! It was a long ride from Barcelona, but was cool to see the Spainish coast (well, at least until the sun went down). The bus was a new, fancy one that had a toilet on it (you actually stepped down to get to it). We even watched a movie - too bad neither of us know Spanish... Caroline and Lee met us at the bus station at 2:20am and took us to their house in La Marina. We drank champagne and ate strawberries and didn't go to bed until 5 o'clock.

Day 4: La Marina, Spain We woke up around noon and got ready for the day. Unfortunately, by the time we were ready to leave the house, it was time for siesta, so we went to the beach and enjoyed a picnic along the Mediterranean. It was a beautiful day, a little chilly, but lovely and bright. I was thrilled to be able to wear sunglasses. About 4:00 we headed into Torrevieja. Siesta is a new concept for me - the idea that people take a break in the middle of the day to go home and spend time with their family is cool. They slowly make their way back to work sometime between 4 and 4:30ish to open shop and continue with the rest of the day. It was very odd to walk around the town of Torrevieja and see the shops closed in the middle of the afternoon... Just a very different way of life. We left and headed back to La Marina for dinner. We had a few drinks at two of the local bars, then enjoyed a huge Chinese feast. It was great. I think we were all a little drunk by the end of the evening, I know I was! We walked home and sat on the roof-top terrace for a little while before heading for bed.

Caroline and Lee were great fun! I have loads of admiration for them to leave Wales and move to Spain where the life and the language is completely different. I really liked the Costa Blanca region. There is such a completely different way of life in Spain, so mellow and relaxed. It would take a while to get used to life there, but I think it could be a lot of fun.

Day 5: We woke early so that we could attend the San Fulgencia Market, hopped in the car and drove to the town only to find that the market was not quite what was advertised. It only had about 8 stalls, mainly fresh fruit and veg. We decided to drive to Elche, the shoe capital of Spain. We wandered around the town looking for shoe shops but had no luck. We found a really cool bridge and snapped tons of pictures. We ate lunch at a cute little Spanish restaurant. We left Elche to find orange and lemon groves and snapped more pictures. We spent loads of time in the car, seeing a lot of the area. It was really cool to see the salt lakes and citrus groves - such a beautiful area!! Then it was back to the house for dinner and then off to the Alicante airport. We were in the immigration line at Gatwick with some really shady characters. Caught the shuttle to the hotel and crashed by approx. 1am.

Elche was really cool. It is a good-sized city and you could get a good feel for Spanish life. Compared to Torrevieja, where tourists frequent the area, Elche did not speak much English. So it was especially nice to experience. Driving through the area with Caroline and Lee was nice. We have some fun pictures where we stopped to photograph ourselves with the San Miguel sign. I can see why they are such a special couple for Krissie, they are just really great people!! Lee bought Krissie and I stickers and magnets and even a box of Sangria!! Caroline insisted that I take a juice-box sized wine home with me as well!

Day 6: London, England We caught the 8:15 shuttle to Gatwick. Big hugs before Krissie went through security to find her gate and I caught the Gatwich Express to Victoria, then the Green line to Embarkment, walked to Charing Cross and finally caught the 10:02 train back home.

I had a blast K! Thanks for coming!!

Krissie and I in front of Sacre Coeur

Caroline, Krissie and I enjoying a San Miguel along the Mar Mediterraneo. 

Pancake Day

"Did you know today was Pancake Day?" That's what I was asked on several occasions today. In the UK, since tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, today is the day that you clean out your cupboards. They call it Shrove Tuesday. It seems that traditionally observing Lent meant abstaining from all dairy products, including eggs (in addition to meat), therefore you would indulge the night before... Kinda like Yom Kippur where you enjoy a feast before you fast for twenty-four hours. Pancakes here tend to favor crepes rather than the pancakes I grew up on, but they still taste nice nonetheless. In the British Isles (and some other parts of Europe) Shrove Tuesday is also a festival-type day with Pancake Races (where women run through the streets with frying pans, trying to flip pancakes as they run) and other games. Forget Mardi Gras beads and wild parties, bring on the pancakes! Somehow it just doesn't have the same effect.

Anyway, Happy Pancake Day all!!

Monday

A pretty boring week. A pretty boring weekend... But not for long!! I am getting more and more excited about the trip to the continent - it's going to be a blast!! I just have to make it through the week - Ugh! School is really stressing me out and keeping me really busy. This trip is a welcomed escape. Are we down to only four days, K?

This was a conversation I overheard between two 17 year old boys today:

Boy 1: Did you watch the SuperBowl last night?
Boy 2: Nah. I can't get into American Football.
Boy 1: Yeah. It's like when they film matches here everything looks a little gray. Over there it's all lit-up and has a bright haze, kinda like a Hollywood movie. So I watch it, but it is dull. I keep looking for a plot, but there isn't one.

Could Be Promising...

I recently had a conversation with the Head of Science about a going on a training course for a program we are using with our year 10 and 11 students. At first she was a little apprehensive, it seems that the program will be replaced in 2006. But then she said, "Well, you'll be working with the program next year, so it would be beneficial." Is this a good sign for a job for next year?

Nightmares

I had two disturbing dreams on Friday. The first was about Ofsted. I was in the middle of an absolutely horrible lesson to find an Ofsted inspector at the back of my classroom. The school has me so worked up that I am now dreaming about the visit - Agg! I couldn't wake myself and was almost late for work... The second dream was early evening when I was napping. It was about being beaten and abused. I can't remember exactly what happened, but the most disturbing bit of the dream was waking up and feeling like it was not the first time I have dreamt it...

I just purchased my ticket to see REM at Hyde Park on July 9, 2005!!

I wish I had taken my camera with me...

I didn't think I would need it. Most museums don't allow you to photograph things, anyway, so I thought I would save some room in my bag. BIG MISTAKE!

Yesterday I went to the Museum of Natural History, which was rather disappointing. I guess, living in a town without major museums, I had high expectations. Everyone said, "Skip the Science Museum, it's boring, instead go to the Museum of Natural History." I guess we have different opinions of what is boring... It was a lot of animals, sprinkled with some bones: in other words, it was taxidermy heaven with a Darwin exhibit here and a Dinosaur exhibit there. I can see where people might enjoy it, it was much like a zoo except with perfect views of the animals, they weren't hiding and they weren't sleeping. I'd prefer to see the animals at the zoo - alive!! But that's just me. Even the Ecology exhibit had loads of animals, like the museum had SO many that they just put they wherever they could... I can just imagine their basement piled high with the leftovers...

The museum itself was a huge maze and it was very difficult to get from one section to another. I think that added to my frustration. Before leaving, I decided to give it one last go, and found the Earth Room, which was really cool. It was an exhibit on volcanoes and plate tectonics - more my cup of tea. Plus they had a huge room full of rocks and minerals, and even a special exhibit on Meteors which was cool. Not that it was a bad experience, just one I will skip next time... I will say that the Museum building is absolutely gorgeous!! It reminds me of a building in a Sherlock Holmes movie, just large with a breathtaking design. Inside, the detail was wonderful. The first room was three stories high and there were small monkeys carved along each of the arches, everywhere. It was fabulous!!

Leaving the museum, I decided to try and find Harrod's (hugely expensive, well-known department store). I remembered driving past it when we returned to London on my trip to Wales, so I was trying to find the right block... I walked around the exterior of the entire museum, but could not find the right street. Somewhere along the way, I got distracted my the impressive buildings I was passing, until (in the middle of the block) was this spectacular one that was round and had many stairs leading to the entrance. Overtaken with curiosity, I immediately crossed the street and started to climb the stairs. Come to find out, it is the Royal Albert Hall. That's where Cirque du Solei is performing now and where many operas and symphonies take place. Across the street is Kensington Park, where there is a beautiful monument with spectacular sculptures. Nearby is Hyde Park, but I was getting short on time... It took me a while to find a tube station and get back home...

Long-story-short, I now will have to go back to this area and snap loads of pictures, because my words do not do it justice. OH DARN, I am so upset that I have to go back to something that just completely impressed me... :)

Books, books and more books...

I have been spending a lot of time reading since I have been in England. I can't say that I have always enjoyed reading, but in the last few years I have tried to do more and more of it. My problem is that when I walk into a bookstore I freeze up. I panic. I stress about finding a new book to read. It seems to take hours and the stores make me claustrophobic.

Long story short, I am looking for suggestions for books to read. Any suggestions? Please share.

Here is my most recent: The Time Traveler's Wife Audrey Niffenegger - This was such an easy read. The story was interesting and different - a love story with a twist. I loved this book!

Sisters are always good for a laugh...

I got a package today from New York. My sister always sends the silliest stuff. This one contained a box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, a luggage tag (bright orange with a NYC tube map on it), two notecards (one says "My driving is fine but I walk like a maniac."), and a People Magazine. So, I have spent my afternoon reading about Jennifer and Brad. That is until I had my tea (my dinner) and watched ER.

My sister also sent me a "grow a boyfriend" - I guess she worries about me here. According to the package, he grows 6 times his original size (wouldn't it be nice if they all did). Apparently he will reach full size in 72 hours, but will slowly shrink when out of water, "then you can grow him again and again." God, that girl makes me laugh!

Why is it whenever I visit London my boogers turn black?

Just got back from a day at Windsor Castle. It was just what I needed: a nice day out to remind me why I am here. I have been so caught up in school and what's been going on in the house that it was starting to get me down. After today, I am energized. The town of Windsor is great and the castle is just amazing, especially because it is still used on a regular basis. Hard to imagine that something THAT old is still actively used by the Queen today. The rooms were great, all very ornately decorated - very gold.

I guess the only thing I have to compare it with is the Biltmore Estate. (My sister and I toured the White House when I was 8, but I can't remember anything about it...) The tour was similar, view the rooms/view the grounds, but there's something to be said for a piece of architecture built in 1080 that the Biltmore can not be compared with... And the artwork, each room was covered in beautiful paintings. The most impressive room was St. George's Hall, an enormous hall with a vaulted ceiling that is covered with coat-of-arms for all of the members of the Order of the Garter. This is where the Queen holds State Banquets.

Entering Windsor Castle...

Random Bits of Information

The last two weeks have been... Well, I guess the best way to describe them is shite. There have been some things happening around the house that have caused me to spend more and more time in my bedroom, out of the way. Unfortunately, in retreating to my bedroom I am becoming more and more of a hermit and am starting to feel sad about not having a social life. Nothing is in place yet, but I am working on getting myself out of this "downer" situation. I am thinking that a change in scenery is in order. We'll see...

At school, there's a big push to be prepared for our Ofsted audit in March. Ofsted is an government agency that evaluates schools and publishes reports based on these evaluations. My school did not get a very good report the last time they were audited, so there is a big push to be successful this time around (otherwise, I've heard they shut down your school or something). They are in and around the school for a week, visiting classrooms, assessing teachers and auditing the overall success of the school. It seems to be a highly stressful time and preparations have already begun. This being my first Ofsted visit, I am especially concerned how things will go. If it is anything like today, I am screwed.
(On a sidenote, I am concerned as to why an Ofsted audit is announced. There is so much time spent in preparation, that all the auditors end up seeing is a big song-and-dance. How is that REALLY evaluating the success of a school - how well they can bullshit?)

My weekend, overall, was uneventful. Friday, I picked up a couple of movies to watch: "Bend it Like Beckham" and "Italian Job." Saturday, I rode into London hoping to hit a museum, but I had a late start so I just wandered around. I have my favorite places that I always go, but there's still so much more to see. This time I thought I would just get on the tube and explore another part of the city. I ended up on the Bakerloo line, and rode it to Paddington Station. The area was mainly residential, but very cute. Next time I will consult my guide book and make sure the area I choose is a little more interesting. Not wanting to leave London too early, I made my way to Trafalgar Square with a chai tea in hand. I figured that I could sit and watch the people for a little while. It turned out that there was a huge Russian Festival and the square was packed! So, I watched some band perform and watched the people while I drank my tea - it was wonderful! Maybe I'll try Notting Hill next weekend.

This is my horoscope for today:
The authority figures you've been dealing with lately are quite happy with you -- not only with what you've done, but with the reputable qualities you've displayed. They're not quite ready to show that to you just yet, however. So you'll need to be patient, or at least fake it for just a little while longer. You won't have to pretend you're happy once they offer you a bit more responsibility, though -- and that's what's coming. Oh, admit it. You just love this. Get some sleep. You'll need it.

The Smart Car

r
It's just TOO cute!! Of course, I'd hate to be in it on the highway.

I don't think I am adjusting well, this time around...

Well, all of my luggage has finally made it back. And, I made it through another week of school... Then, Friday the bug hit and I've been in bed ever since...

It was a lot harder to get on the plane this second time around. All of the adventure was gone, I knew what was waiting on the other side of the ocean. So, the saying "goodbye" part was a lot harder, especially the saying "see you in 7 months" because that seems like such a LONG time.

Then, the luggage crap happened and I was greeted with some bad news about my living situation. Plus, I had to dive right into school (which was both good and bad). So, by Friday I was completely worn out and was starting to feel sick. I came home and went straight to bed and have been there ever since.

Problem is: Because I have been sick and in bed, I have spent this weekend back on American time - get up at 5pm (noon at home) and go to bed at 5am (midnight at home). Which, unless I can correct tonight when I go to bed, will set the stage for all of next week... Ugh!

Luggage Update

One bag has been located. It arrived in Paris this afternoon by mistake. WTF!?! It should arrive in London tonight and will be delivered tomorrow... This sucks!

We missed you Little A!! 

I'M BACK!

The trip home was nice. I can not think of a single thing that I wanted to do and just didn't. Of course there are many, many people I wish I could have had more time with. But at least I got a visit in, even if it was only for a couple of hours. I got to spend some time running around with my sister in NYC - that was fun! I love that city!! I got to spend lots of time with my parents and Sassy - that was nice! I spent time in Charlotte and hung out with friends - not enough time, but it was worth the trip. And I got some good time in with the grandparents - that was important. So, all-in-all, not a bad vacation.

Of course, I arrived at Gatwick yesterday morning, completely exhausted, to find out that my luggage did not make the flight with me - ugh! That is half my life right there - all of my gifts, all of the items I'd purchased with gift money, and almost all of my underwear that I have (TMI, I know)!! I had gotten rid of so much when I moved, that the items I kept are truly my favorites and, unfortunately, they were all packed in two bags heading from Atlanta to London that were somehow misplaced along the way. Needless to say, I am very unhappy about it all! They told me I would hear something in 24 hours - it has been 28 and no word - Grr!

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go...

Well, not exactly. I still have a few more things to shove into the suitcase. I had a brilliant plan to only pack a carry-on so I could get in and out of LaGuardia easily tonight (and then again in and out of LaGuardia tomorrow night), but that plan went out the window about 8:00 last night. So, instead, I have my trusty rolling suitcase. I will check it... Everything will work out okay...

So, in approx. 15 hours I will be hugging my sister and diving into her new futon to get a few hours of shut-eye before we tackle NYC shopping. I know, I know... What am I thinking? I just finished complaining about London crowds... But crowds are much more bearable when you have company.

I have survived my first term...

Only two more to go! It has been an extreme learning experience. And I chose to celebrate it by sleeping for almost 18 hours. I slept through the staff party last night and probably could have slept all today, as well, but there were Christmas presents to buy. So I forced myself out of bed to fight the huge crowds on Regent Street. Ugh! Why do they make crowds look so nice in the movies? No one ever seems to bump into anyone else. No one ever seems to just stop in the middle of the sidewalk.

Hooray for British Pubs!

Haven't had much of a chance to be out and social, but tonight was the Science Department Christmas Dinner... I was not banished to the "boring" part of the table (always a good sign), they were cunning when they made the seating plan. I enjoyed my sea bass and my John Smith pints. At one point I was feeling a bit tipsy (I've lost my tolerance over the last few months), but recovered (graciously, I think) and continued with my glass of wine... Can't wait to visit Charlotte, where I have (or used to have) a fun social life. Until then I am just going to have to meet some REAL drinkers in town (other than the students at my school)... Six days and counting, not sure if there's time before the new year...

Maybe that should be a New Year's resolution...

So far, my resolutions are pretty lame:
#1 - Lose weight (I could sound like Bridget Jones and start talking about the number of stones, but I'll spare you)
#2 - Make some friends (because YES, I am really THAT pathetic)
#3 - Work on classroom management (I have some ideas for the new term)
#4 - start working on what I want to do with the rest of my life...

Bruges Christmas Market

Woke up early Saturday morning to catch the bus - we had to be at the stop at 6:54am. Ugh! Everyone at school said that the coach would have tea and coffee, not my coach, so I spent the first part of the trip sleeping. In Dover we boarded a ferry and made our way across the channel to France. I finally got a cup of coffee on the ferry. Of course every British person on the boat was drinking beer or "spirits" (at 8:30 in the morning!?!) It was an uneventful ferry ride - too cold to go outside, too foggy to see anything and too early to do much else. So, Catherine, Claire and I just lounged around for an hour and a half. Once in France we had about another hour and a half to get to Bruges - more bus time. Finally, around 12:30 (1:30 local time) we made it to Bruges. We were given four hours to see the market and the town and buy as much chocolate as we could...

There are so many things that I loved about Bruges and I don't even know where to begin. First of all, there are tons of bicycles (people ride bikes instead of driving cars) and you'll be walking along and pass a bike rack with hundreds of bikes attached. Next, the architecture is interesting. You can see the German influence - all of the buildings, houses, etc. Look really cool. Then, you have the river running through the town and all of the houses and buildings are built along-side it. There are four languages spoken in the town: French, German, Flemish and English - and most people who live there can speak 3 of the 4!! I could go on and on. My point is that it was a wonderful town.

We made our way to the Market Place - very big, with a large church/clock town on one side and many stores all around the sides. We were trying to find a place to eat - a place with "good French bread" - and decided on sandwiches, to go, so we would have plenty of time to explore. Catherine and Claire were so excited to see all of the French influences in the town. They were thrilled that they could speak French in almost every store we visited. After lunch, we decided that we needed chocolate (since Belgium is so well known for its use of the cocoa bean). We found a store that sold waffles and ordered ours draped in chocolate - it was heavenly! We spent the rest of our time shopping. Then rushed back to the bus for the four hour trek home - (it was a long ride home and we slept most of the time).

The bus stopped in Calais at a huge beer and wine warehouse. We were given 45 minutes to shop and the majority of the bus filled their carts. I would have much rather had the extra 45 minutes in Bruges. But if you say "France" then the British start to drool - there are so many huge shops like this all over the French coast and the Brits go nuts over cheap beer, wine, cigarettes and groceries. So many of them haven't seen past Calais or these huge mega-marts. Um, hello, there's so much more to see than a neon sign!!

Anyway, getting back into England was interesting. The bus stopped at the Border Partol gate and replied "all British" to the patrolman when he asked, "What nationality are your passengers?" The patrolman decided to spot-check our passports and when he found an American and two French girls on board he got a nasty attitude (myself, Catherine and Claire). He looked at my passport and started drilling me, "What are you doing here?" When I showed him my Work Permit, he started drilling me, "Where do you work? What do you teach? Where is your school? How long have you been here?" It was a little disturbing.

I really enjoyed myself, it was just a very long day. The funniest part of the trip was when Claire and I decided that we wanted to learn how to say 'Hello' and 'Thank you' in Flemish. We met this very nice vendor and asked her. It turns out that the way to say 'Thank you' in Flemish sounds like the way you say 'take it in the ass' in French.

I don't really know what to say about the Christmas Market, we kept wandering around the town trying to find it. We'd find a little area with a few booths set up selling t-shirts or food, and say, "Is this it? This can't be it." Turns out that when we got back to the bus, our driver said that the market ended at 1:00 (and we arrived in town at 1:30). So, I missed the Christmas Market, but I really couldn't care less - I loved what I saw of Bruges. It is a great town - with or without the Christmas Market.

I don't even want to think about the time...

It late and I am exhausted, but am feeling pretty happy about what I've done this evening... Check it out for yourself: http://www.myadventuresinengland.com

It's not exactly what I had it mind (and I really don't think it is all that nice looking), but at least it is something more than I had before and I can always go back and change it when I want.

My plan is to use it for communication with family and friends, and update every-so-often. My blog I'll keep updating regularly - it's for the things I don't want my grandparents to read. Of course, with the way my life has been lately, I FEEL like a grandparent myself.

I am heading to Bruges (Belgium) on Saturday and I am counting down the days until I get a break from school. It hit me this evening that I will be on a plane to New York in a week from Monday! Then it hit me that I only have two weekends left to do my Holiday shopping - agg!! I just have to make it through next week with school, then I can go crazy with the gifts!

Rochester, twice in one weekend...

Friday night I went with Chris and Jenny to see the second Bridget Jones movie. I've heard good and bad reviews, all-in-all it was a good film. Mostly, everyone just said that it was "more of the first." And that it was. I still love Mark Darcy, though, and hope I can one day meet someone who will love "all of my wobbly bits" and love me "just as I am."

Enough sap. Moving on...

We drove to Rochester to see the flick - nice town not far from where I am. It was a new area that has been built-up and looks quite familiar to many complexes I've seen in Knoxville, Charlotte or any other American town. There was a Mexican restaurant, an Italian restaurant (advertising its 'American Italian' cuisine) and the movie theater.

Saturday, I took the train to Rochester for the Dickens Christmas Market, described as:

An hour south-east of London, this compact city beside the River Medway,
celebrates its links with Charles Dickens - he lived and wrote there for years -
with a Dickensian Christmas celebration. The free annual event includes a High
Street parade of his fictional characters, with top-hatted gents, ladies in
bonnets, chimney sweeps and the ultimate Dickensian character: the street
urchin. There are also carol singers, ice-skating, roast chestnuts and mulled
wine to enjoy.

It was nice. Historic Rochester is beautiful! The old streets and buildings were amazing. There is even a castle, right in the corner of town! I'd love to go back and explore more, but as for the Dickens Christmas Celebration, it was too crowded to really enjoy too much. There were lots of people dressed up and lots of people selling mulled wine and other treats. There were carnival rides one the grounds in front of the castle and there was fake snow drifting around in the air. They even had a night-time parade where everyone sang carols and carried candles. With the 'snow' and the candles, it really was magical.

I've heard really nice things about Rochester, even as a place to live it is supposed to be very nice. I am impressed with how there is plenty of old stuff, even with the amount of new stuff that is being built-up in the area. The reason I haven't made it to see Rochester until now has to do with the fact that they've been doing work on the railway since January 2004 and that you have to take the train to Higham, then a bus from Higham to Strood (that's the part of the tracks they are working on), then catch the train from Strood to Rochester. It was not horrible, but I think I will wait for the train to start running again before I attempt to explore the rest of Kent. Guess Canterbury and Dover will have to wait until the tracks are fixed and running again...

I'm off to daydream about meeting my own Mark Darcy... You never know, it could happen.