feeling poorly

We have both been struck down by symptoms of the winter flu and are in short feeling "poorly". They really do say that here. But there is no such thing as felling betterly as I said to someone recently. Still the most common response to anything we say is "sorry". I don't know if they want me to repeat what I said more slowly or are apologising for the weather. Both perhaps. Right now I'm waiting for the phone to ring for some work. What is it about a watched phone never ringing or is it a watched kettle never boils. You know what I mean! I'm secretly hoping it doesn't ring as I'm poorly at the moment....

feast or famine

After volunteering to work in a local school on Monday I have been getting paid work at that school for the rest of the week. I've also had offers of work from other local schools. We're both exhausted and can't wait for the weekend. Jan & family leave on Monday and have been introducing us to all their friends this week so we are experiencing Yorkshire hospitality... and they're not as reserved as they first appear.

Romans, Vikings, Normans, Saxons, Tourists

Spent a memorable weekend learning about the tumultuous history of York, dating back 2000 years. Roman walls stand next to Starbucks and McDonalds. It looks a bit like a theme park but its all real. For 2000 years this place has changed hands every few centuries. The Romans did the best job ( what have they ever done for us....apart from the aqueducts, running water, sanitation, education, roads, law and order etc...you know the one). They loved walls and built them everwhere and they were built to last (no throw-away society then). After that it was all downhill and the worst time to live there was the medieval period... a mere 500 years ago. (apart from today perhaps). Its a tourist trap now but well worth a visit, if you can cope with all the others on the same mission.

red tape

....there's lots of it here! Not satisfied that I am a law-abiding citizen in Oz they want to run a police check on me to see if I have commited any criminal offences of note in the last 4 weeks. (give me a chance). And...they would like me to pay tax!! Bastards! Despite all this I have been invited by a local school to do a day's work next Monday (half paid - half voluntary). This is fine as I volunteered to do a days work gratis (out of character I know) to get a foot in the door. I am tempted to seek work outside of the education (assessment?)system but we'll see how this goes first. Lorraine leaves home each morning in the dark and damp and returns in the....dark and damp. Its nothing if not consistent. There is a fraction more light each day (at the end of the tunnel!). Spirits remain high in this household despite the gloom outside.

Meeting the locals

Yesterday we experienced some Yorkshire hospitality, having lunch with some friends of Jan & Parvin, after a long walk or "stomp" on the Dales. I managed to lock the keys of the car in the ignition and we had to rescued by the AA (not that AA, the equivalent of the NRMA)who were very obliging.

Leeds

Spent today in Leeds which is 15 minutes away by train. It lives up to its reputation as the gitzy shopping centre of the north with lots of up-market retail shops and street culture. We even came across Quiksilver and O'Neill surf shops!! Then met up with Grace, an exchange teacher from Melbourne who is living in a small town nearby, for lunch. We indulged in some retail therapy then downed a Guinness or two before returning home at what seemed like midnight but was in fact 6:00pm!

sorry sarah

Thanks Luke

Hey...thanks for the comments Luke. It's great to know that you are following all the action!?

the real work begins!

Lorraine has now been at work for 2 days, one doing home visits and one with the kids. She seems to be setttling into the job without too much difficulty. I am tired of home duties after 2 days and have an interview today with a teaching agency in Leeds. Spent the day yesterday in Bradford, a much maligned city (unfairly I think). It has a great film and television museum and IMAX cinema. Also nearly all of the old cobbled streets in the CBD are pedestrian only. We have already planned the first weekend away to York. Our exchange partner has the all-clear now but will not leave till late January.

Back in London

Yesterday we drove back to London from Shipley (through light snow falls) to attend a "conference" of all Australian and NZ (there was one) teachers who have just arrived in the UK to do the same as us. All our suspicions (fears?) about the UK education system were confirmed! Still we carry on... The other people were an interesting bunch and a network is forming. Another day in London tomorrow then train back to Shipley on Sunday ready for work on Monday (then we start planning the next holiday).

okay I admit it's cold

To all those who said the weather sucks here...you were right. Today we had all our clothes on and were still cold. When you go inside you take off three layers. Yesterday we had a history lesson ie Bronte home in Haworth and today we had....another history lesson ie Saltaire which is a world heritage site and just down the road from the house. Photo is of me standing outside the house.

the lolly shop

The picture below shows Lorraine, Tori and Dan outside the lolly shop in Haworth, famous as the home of the Bronte sisters, ie Charlotte, Emily and Anne. The village is only about 20 minute drive from Shipley in the Yorkshire Dales