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.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Aug Sept and dog bite
DOG BITE STORY SEPT 3 BLOG #2
A friend in LA complained to me that they have no life, it’s all work, work, work. I know what that's like. I did it for 20 years and part of why we moved back was I really wanted a change of pace, and different priorities. It's all fine when you are young and have no family. Then all sorts of things come in and tug at your priorities, and it gets very stressful.
The story of the dog bite I suffered in France a couple of weeks ago: I went down, from the terrace, into the garden of the house we stayed in with our friends (near Cahors) to shoo off 3 dogs who had wandered in and were trotting around, peeing against bushes and generally putting their noses into everything. We had left the doors open to the bedrooms in the converted barns, AND we had young children staying ,so I didn't want dogs pooing on the grass or getting in the rooms. I had had a glass of local rose, so maybe would have thought twice if I hadn't, but I had not noticed, from up on the terrace, that they were pit bull mixes.
As I waved at them (from about 20 feet away) and shooed them, one of them turned around and started barking and snarling and advanced towards me, head lowered, followed by the really big dog. I knew I couldn't turn and run, but I also knew this wasn't good! I tried to stay calm and not look them in the eyes, but they circled me and the smaller one lunged at my leg, grabbed it, made me lose my balance, and I fell down. I screamed out, and A. had started down the steps at a full run, yelling at them. Luckily for me, they turned and ran out of the property and he chased them all the way to the street. He knew that if HE stopped they would do the same thing to him. I had by this time limped to the house with blood pouring down my leg, knowing it was bad. But I was SO lucky. Between A, the guardian angel looking over me, and the fact I was wearing baggy floaty linen pants. So the dog couldn't see my leg, and when he lunged, he got a mouthful of pants and slashed about 4 inches of my calf with his teeth, but didn’t get his jaws around the whole leg.
Anyway, ambulance, emergency room at the hospital in Cahors, stitches, tetanus and then police report the next day, followed by the mayor of the village visiting to apologise. It was "The Incident of the Dog"! The whole place was abuzz, and it turns out that those dogs have been aggressive with several people before, just not bitten them, so they want the owner to fence them in or get rid of them - or move. I'll be Ok, with an ugly, ragged scar, and I can't walk properly, or very far yet, as it's in an awkward place to heal easily, and I cannot put much pressure on it .
Oh well. Much excitement! Of course A. just says it was completely my fault for going down when there were 3 dogs (i.e. a pack). Always so sympathetic, my husband!
That's my news!!!!
Other than that I am setting meetings and networking like mad for possible work...
It's unfortunately not all leisure, as the house needs much finishing-off work (no shelves, closets etc, so we have to find carpenters, painters, electricians, plumbers) and we cannot unpack everything until we have somewhere to put it all. The result is that the rooms and garage are STILL piled with cardboard boxes. We have been doing some work ourselves, which is very time-consuming and hard!
In between I have been on the computer and phone and setting up meetings and have gone into London a dozen times and met with some great people. Doing the rounds...
A friend in LA complained to me that they have no life, it’s all work, work, work. I know what that's like. I did it for 20 years and part of why we moved back was I really wanted a change of pace, and different priorities. It's all fine when you are young and have no family. Then all sorts of things come in and tug at your priorities, and it gets very stressful.
The story of the dog bite I suffered in France a couple of weeks ago: I went down, from the terrace, into the garden of the house we stayed in with our friends (near Cahors) to shoo off 3 dogs who had wandered in and were trotting around, peeing against bushes and generally putting their noses into everything. We had left the doors open to the bedrooms in the converted barns, AND we had young children staying ,so I didn't want dogs pooing on the grass or getting in the rooms. I had had a glass of local rose, so maybe would have thought twice if I hadn't, but I had not noticed, from up on the terrace, that they were pit bull mixes.
As I waved at them (from about 20 feet away) and shooed them, one of them turned around and started barking and snarling and advanced towards me, head lowered, followed by the really big dog. I knew I couldn't turn and run, but I also knew this wasn't good! I tried to stay calm and not look them in the eyes, but they circled me and the smaller one lunged at my leg, grabbed it, made me lose my balance, and I fell down. I screamed out, and A. had started down the steps at a full run, yelling at them. Luckily for me, they turned and ran out of the property and he chased them all the way to the street. He knew that if HE stopped they would do the same thing to him. I had by this time limped to the house with blood pouring down my leg, knowing it was bad. But I was SO lucky. Between A, the guardian angel looking over me, and the fact I was wearing baggy floaty linen pants. So the dog couldn't see my leg, and when he lunged, he got a mouthful of pants and slashed about 4 inches of my calf with his teeth, but didn’t get his jaws around the whole leg.
Anyway, ambulance, emergency room at the hospital in Cahors, stitches, tetanus and then police report the next day, followed by the mayor of the village visiting to apologise. It was "The Incident of the Dog"! The whole place was abuzz, and it turns out that those dogs have been aggressive with several people before, just not bitten them, so they want the owner to fence them in or get rid of them - or move. I'll be Ok, with an ugly, ragged scar, and I can't walk properly, or very far yet, as it's in an awkward place to heal easily, and I cannot put much pressure on it .
Oh well. Much excitement! Of course A. just says it was completely my fault for going down when there were 3 dogs (i.e. a pack). Always so sympathetic, my husband!
That's my news!!!!
Other than that I am setting meetings and networking like mad for possible work...
It's unfortunately not all leisure, as the house needs much finishing-off work (no shelves, closets etc, so we have to find carpenters, painters, electricians, plumbers) and we cannot unpack everything until we have somewhere to put it all. The result is that the rooms and garage are STILL piled with cardboard boxes. We have been doing some work ourselves, which is very time-consuming and hard!
In between I have been on the computer and phone and setting up meetings and have gone into London a dozen times and met with some great people. Doing the rounds...
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Back in the UKKKK
JULY BLOG #1
We are living amongst 200 boxes and trying to have shelves and hanging space built so we can unpack everything. We do have beds, a couch, a table and chairs though! We even bought a barbecue (very optimistic of us).
The hot weather we were having unexpectedly suddenly broke, and now we have mixed weather - gorgeous today but cooler, and yesterday it drizzled and we are having the famous UK "scattered showers from the West".
T. is a little at a loose end right now as everyone seems to have gone away on holiday. He is really missing his LA friends and is quite emotional, especially at night. It's been a big disappointment for him that one of his best friends hasn't come over to visit as was promised...hard to explain to him that people have a lot going on in their lives and plans change. He'll be a lot better when he is on a schedule and back at school.
Neither A. nor I have jobs yet (it's early days and also slow here due to the summer, and everyone away), but we are looking...I have had some really good meetings and there are a few possible things to follow up on, but nothing definite yet.
A. is just back from a week in Oxford, studying for and taking his UK law exams - as back-up in case he wants to go in-house at a law firm. He said that the other students taking the exam were mostly 45 year old New York lawyers!
T. was at a day camp last week at the lakes nearby (Horseshoe Lake). They learned windsurfing, sailing, kayaking, canoeing and raft-building. He had a great time and got wet every day either from the lake water or the rain!
I drove down to the south coast (Dorset - 1 1/2 hrs) see my father last weekend. It's a huge plus to be able to do that frequently. He is preparing for a big Roman weekend (with his legion - exhibitions, battle reenactments etc) in Dorchester on the last weekend of August, and this time we'll be able to go. Check out www.theromansenator.com.
We bought bikes and are cycling around everywhere. It's really pleasant, as there are many bike paths and so much forest and heathland, and protected areas. We have 2 villages within 5-15 mins' walking or bike, and 2 local train stations. It's about 1 hour from our door to central London.
The wildflowers in the fields and along the roadways have exploded into colour and are shoulder height in some places. There are butterflies everywhere - you have never seen such giant buddleia - it grows as a weed here!Of course it is light still until 10pm, but that is to be replaced in winter with agonisingly short days.
Made a quick trip to Paris/EuroDisney with T, and met up with my sisters, and T's cousins, from London, Paris and Spain. It was the first time in 7 years that all 4 sisters and the kids had been together, and we had a lot of noisy fun.
It was pretty amazing: London to Paris in under 1 hour on a high speed train.
Eurodisney wasn't bad, either. I expected to hate it but didn't at all. T made me go on some of the rides and I lost my voice from screaming.
We spent the last half day in Paris wandering around to see the Eiffel Tower and banks of the Seine.
It's a beautiful city still. The streets are just full of sidewalk cafes and restaurants. It's been 25 years since I lived there!
Soon I really will have to get back to work, but I am loving this summer basically off...
We are living amongst 200 boxes and trying to have shelves and hanging space built so we can unpack everything. We do have beds, a couch, a table and chairs though! We even bought a barbecue (very optimistic of us).
The hot weather we were having unexpectedly suddenly broke, and now we have mixed weather - gorgeous today but cooler, and yesterday it drizzled and we are having the famous UK "scattered showers from the West".
T. is a little at a loose end right now as everyone seems to have gone away on holiday. He is really missing his LA friends and is quite emotional, especially at night. It's been a big disappointment for him that one of his best friends hasn't come over to visit as was promised...hard to explain to him that people have a lot going on in their lives and plans change. He'll be a lot better when he is on a schedule and back at school.
Neither A. nor I have jobs yet (it's early days and also slow here due to the summer, and everyone away), but we are looking...I have had some really good meetings and there are a few possible things to follow up on, but nothing definite yet.
A. is just back from a week in Oxford, studying for and taking his UK law exams - as back-up in case he wants to go in-house at a law firm. He said that the other students taking the exam were mostly 45 year old New York lawyers!
T. was at a day camp last week at the lakes nearby (Horseshoe Lake). They learned windsurfing, sailing, kayaking, canoeing and raft-building. He had a great time and got wet every day either from the lake water or the rain!
I drove down to the south coast (Dorset - 1 1/2 hrs) see my father last weekend. It's a huge plus to be able to do that frequently. He is preparing for a big Roman weekend (with his legion - exhibitions, battle reenactments etc) in Dorchester on the last weekend of August, and this time we'll be able to go. Check out www.theromansenator.com.
We bought bikes and are cycling around everywhere. It's really pleasant, as there are many bike paths and so much forest and heathland, and protected areas. We have 2 villages within 5-15 mins' walking or bike, and 2 local train stations. It's about 1 hour from our door to central London.
The wildflowers in the fields and along the roadways have exploded into colour and are shoulder height in some places. There are butterflies everywhere - you have never seen such giant buddleia - it grows as a weed here!Of course it is light still until 10pm, but that is to be replaced in winter with agonisingly short days.
Made a quick trip to Paris/EuroDisney with T, and met up with my sisters, and T's cousins, from London, Paris and Spain. It was the first time in 7 years that all 4 sisters and the kids had been together, and we had a lot of noisy fun.
It was pretty amazing: London to Paris in under 1 hour on a high speed train.
Eurodisney wasn't bad, either. I expected to hate it but didn't at all. T made me go on some of the rides and I lost my voice from screaming.
We spent the last half day in Paris wandering around to see the Eiffel Tower and banks of the Seine.
It's a beautiful city still. The streets are just full of sidewalk cafes and restaurants. It's been 25 years since I lived there!
Soon I really will have to get back to work, but I am loving this summer basically off...
Friday, May 23, 2008
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