SEPT 7 – RAIN BLOG #5
We just had some serious rain (and flooding in certain parts of the UK - west and north), but it didn't last too long and was mostly overnight. Everyone carries on. I see people cycling in the rain, apparently quite happily, including the postmen!
It always made me laugh in LA when people scurried indoors at the slightest drop of rain, and were incapable of driving in it. I used to think; do they think if they get wet they're going to shrink or something? Call me weird, but there's actually something really invigorating about being out in a downpour - as long as you are properly dressed, welly boots. waterproof hat and all – and preferably not going to an important meeting!
I was out with the dogs the other night, after a rainstorm, and a huge frog literally jumped out from the side into a deep puddle in the road, with a splash, right in front of our Scottie dogs' noses. Saint's eyes almost popped out of his head and he lost it, barking like a mad-dog and pulling me along with undreamt-of strength, as he desperately searched for it.
Last night we drove into London to have dinner with friends who live in Holland Park (Notting Hill area). Lovely, classic, higgeldy-piggeldy Georgian houses around a private green square. Then we all took a taxi into Soho to see their son (my godson) in a National Youth Theatre play called "The Sick Room". It was very funny and edgy, basically a string of sketches based on life in doctors' offices and hospitals. Apparently BBC3 has already sent scouts to check it out and to see if it can be developed into a sketch show for TV.
When we left the theatre at 11pm, the London streets were humming with life – people in cafes, bars, restaurants, clubs, walking, and public transport running very late, sometimes 24 hours. It's an exciting city. I loved living there when I did, but was ready to try a different pace.
We're going to the Stevie Wonder concert at the O2 stadium on Thursday. T gets to stay over at school and pretend to be boarding.
Did I mention that our mail delivery man (postman) cycles round, and is wearing short navy shorts and a peaked cap? I swear, he looks like Angus from AC/DC!
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Summer in Sandhurst
END AUG/SEPT 3 BLOG #3
T officially started at his new English school, this morning. Smart in his simple uniform of navy cord trousers, crisp white shirt and red tie, he ducked through the hedge opening at the end of our garden, waved goodbye, and disappeared into the copse, through to the cricket pitch and the school beyond it. From our garden, or with the kitchen windows open, we can hear the children laughing and playing in the fields between our house and the school,during their breaks..
T’s class teacher this year is Mr Edwards, and T is in the “Harriers” group (they all have bird names: - Kestrels, Merlins, Kites, Ospreys are the other groups). There are about 5 full-time boarders in his year, and the children come from the UK, Spain, Japan, India and Italy. There's also a family that just moved back here from Alaska.
The boys are playing football (soccer) first, then rugby and hockey in the Spring, and finally cricket and tennis in the summer. All year they do athletics and swim (as they are lucky enough to have a covered pool - being refurbished next year, but fine for them now).
T will be plunged into French lessons (we have done an introduction to it over the summer together) and Latin, as well as all the usual subjects, plus Comparative Religion, which all the schools here seem to teach.
We have to go to a wedding in New York in October, and Tristan will get to board at the school for 5 nights! Should be a lot of fun for him. Very Harry Potter - he wishes!
We heard a screech owl last night. We are lucky that there are many very tall oak and pine trees at the end of the gardens in the road, and the houses are divided by thick, high hedges, which harbour masses of wildlife. We see foxes almost every night, sometimes deer venture into the garden, and we currently have dozens of little green frogs, and large frogs and toads, of tan, brown, beige colours, with all kinds of interesting patterns. It has been wet lately, but there are underground springs all along the road under the houses and gardens, plus a large lily pond by the school.
There are a couple of friendly robins who visit us every day too and are very keen when I do any digging or grass-mowing. It’s unusual to see two, as they are very territorial, but one appears to be older, with slightly greying and scruffy head feathers.
We don't have the wonderful lemon and orange trees in the garden that we had in LA but we do have apples and pears to be picked, and blackberries growing wild everywhere you walk.
T attended a week-long day camp on the nearby lakes. He learned to sail, and tried windsurfing, kayaking and canoeing, as well as raft-building. They all wore wetsuits and, although it rained quite a bit and was quite chilly at times, they were getting wet in the lake anyway, so it didn't seem to matter and they all had a great time!
They say it has been the wettest August since 1902 or something, but frankly it hasn't been THAT bad, so if this is the worst, it can only get much better! The rain is often in showers, between sunny spells, or drizzle, and it really hasn't stopped us doing anything. You learn to “read” the skies, smell the air, and of course look at the weather forecast! One thing I notice is that people here are so thrilled when it's a nice sunny or warm day that there is a palpable atmosphere of overt joy, with everyone outside, appreciating the nice day. The parks are full, people bike everywhere, or walk, and it's quite festive!
We have become avid users of the local library, to which we can cycle within 10 minutes. We have lots of books out, or on order. It's so convenient, especially as I have time to read them for the first time in years.
T officially started at his new English school, this morning. Smart in his simple uniform of navy cord trousers, crisp white shirt and red tie, he ducked through the hedge opening at the end of our garden, waved goodbye, and disappeared into the copse, through to the cricket pitch and the school beyond it. From our garden, or with the kitchen windows open, we can hear the children laughing and playing in the fields between our house and the school,during their breaks..
T’s class teacher this year is Mr Edwards, and T is in the “Harriers” group (they all have bird names: - Kestrels, Merlins, Kites, Ospreys are the other groups). There are about 5 full-time boarders in his year, and the children come from the UK, Spain, Japan, India and Italy. There's also a family that just moved back here from Alaska.
The boys are playing football (soccer) first, then rugby and hockey in the Spring, and finally cricket and tennis in the summer. All year they do athletics and swim (as they are lucky enough to have a covered pool - being refurbished next year, but fine for them now).
T will be plunged into French lessons (we have done an introduction to it over the summer together) and Latin, as well as all the usual subjects, plus Comparative Religion, which all the schools here seem to teach.
We have to go to a wedding in New York in October, and Tristan will get to board at the school for 5 nights! Should be a lot of fun for him. Very Harry Potter - he wishes!
We heard a screech owl last night. We are lucky that there are many very tall oak and pine trees at the end of the gardens in the road, and the houses are divided by thick, high hedges, which harbour masses of wildlife. We see foxes almost every night, sometimes deer venture into the garden, and we currently have dozens of little green frogs, and large frogs and toads, of tan, brown, beige colours, with all kinds of interesting patterns. It has been wet lately, but there are underground springs all along the road under the houses and gardens, plus a large lily pond by the school.
There are a couple of friendly robins who visit us every day too and are very keen when I do any digging or grass-mowing. It’s unusual to see two, as they are very territorial, but one appears to be older, with slightly greying and scruffy head feathers.
We don't have the wonderful lemon and orange trees in the garden that we had in LA but we do have apples and pears to be picked, and blackberries growing wild everywhere you walk.
T attended a week-long day camp on the nearby lakes. He learned to sail, and tried windsurfing, kayaking and canoeing, as well as raft-building. They all wore wetsuits and, although it rained quite a bit and was quite chilly at times, they were getting wet in the lake anyway, so it didn't seem to matter and they all had a great time!
They say it has been the wettest August since 1902 or something, but frankly it hasn't been THAT bad, so if this is the worst, it can only get much better! The rain is often in showers, between sunny spells, or drizzle, and it really hasn't stopped us doing anything. You learn to “read” the skies, smell the air, and of course look at the weather forecast! One thing I notice is that people here are so thrilled when it's a nice sunny or warm day that there is a palpable atmosphere of overt joy, with everyone outside, appreciating the nice day. The parks are full, people bike everywhere, or walk, and it's quite festive!
We have become avid users of the local library, to which we can cycle within 10 minutes. We have lots of books out, or on order. It's so convenient, especially as I have time to read them for the first time in years.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Autumn and Paris
SEPT – Change to Autumn BLOG #4
We are loving this change to autumn, with the hint of winter in the air.
We have had 2 weeks of glorious weather; cold in the mornings and nights, and slightly misty, but really warm in the sun later, and blue skies with scudding clouds.
I notice that people here really rejoice in and appreciate whenever it's a nice day, and that is so lovely. To have the countryside so green, you have to have rain! It's the trade-off.
T likes his new school and seems to be settling in well. They have "flexi-boarding" so he's a day student, but can stay overnight if needed (like when we have to go on a trip).
Even though London is easy-access via the train, it's still an hour each way, and I am thinking how great it would be to not have to go in EVERY day!
I have been meeting with loads and loads of interesting people; all good meetings and I feel I am sowing seeds for the future, although no actual jobs have come out of all this - yet! Without exception, people have been very welcoming, open and positive.
I do feel hopeful, but it will take some time to find the right fit.
You'd love all the birds! We have the large ones:blackbirds (black-brown with yellow beaks), jays (pinkish brown heads and backs with black wings, turquoise-blue flashes and a distinctive white circle on the wings), crows and wood pigeons. Then there are many little tits of all colours, and a pair of orange-red-breasted robins who visit us every day and are very keen when I do any digging or grass-mowing.
It's all very Laurel Canyon - but a lot wetter and greener!
We don't have the wonderful lemon and orange trees in the garden that we had in LA but we do have apples and pears to be picked, and blackberries growing wild everywhere you walk.
We are often out on the heath-land, walking the dogs. It is sandy, gently hilly ground aflame with purple, lavender and pink gorse and lilac heather, with small clumps of pine trees. It is really pretty.
(Of course I get to notice and enjoy all this in so much detail as I am not working yet! Making the most of it. Now that the summer is over, I can really ramp up the job search efforts.)
It's lovely to have my family on the same time zone and all of Europe so close: 2 hours and you're in the south of France, or Spain, Italy...
In fact I am off to Paris today for a long weekend to visit my sister there and to attend a big birthday party of a very old friend.
We are loving this change to autumn, with the hint of winter in the air.
We have had 2 weeks of glorious weather; cold in the mornings and nights, and slightly misty, but really warm in the sun later, and blue skies with scudding clouds.
I notice that people here really rejoice in and appreciate whenever it's a nice day, and that is so lovely. To have the countryside so green, you have to have rain! It's the trade-off.
T likes his new school and seems to be settling in well. They have "flexi-boarding" so he's a day student, but can stay overnight if needed (like when we have to go on a trip).
Even though London is easy-access via the train, it's still an hour each way, and I am thinking how great it would be to not have to go in EVERY day!
I have been meeting with loads and loads of interesting people; all good meetings and I feel I am sowing seeds for the future, although no actual jobs have come out of all this - yet! Without exception, people have been very welcoming, open and positive.
I do feel hopeful, but it will take some time to find the right fit.
You'd love all the birds! We have the large ones:blackbirds (black-brown with yellow beaks), jays (pinkish brown heads and backs with black wings, turquoise-blue flashes and a distinctive white circle on the wings), crows and wood pigeons. Then there are many little tits of all colours, and a pair of orange-red-breasted robins who visit us every day and are very keen when I do any digging or grass-mowing.
It's all very Laurel Canyon - but a lot wetter and greener!
We don't have the wonderful lemon and orange trees in the garden that we had in LA but we do have apples and pears to be picked, and blackberries growing wild everywhere you walk.
We are often out on the heath-land, walking the dogs. It is sandy, gently hilly ground aflame with purple, lavender and pink gorse and lilac heather, with small clumps of pine trees. It is really pretty.
(Of course I get to notice and enjoy all this in so much detail as I am not working yet! Making the most of it. Now that the summer is over, I can really ramp up the job search efforts.)
It's lovely to have my family on the same time zone and all of Europe so close: 2 hours and you're in the south of France, or Spain, Italy...
In fact I am off to Paris today for a long weekend to visit my sister there and to attend a big birthday party of a very old friend.
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