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