New Neighbors are NOT a Good Thing

Ok, this is weird. A few days ago, a caravan of trailers and people arrived on the grassy space across from the row. They are called 'gypsies' and for all intents and purposes, are basically wandering people who pull into open spaces to live. Now, I consider myself a very tolerant and politcally sensitive person, but the only name that I could come up with to describe this group of people are A Society of Human Warts. I'm going to go out on a limb here because it SO MADDENING!!

Let me explain before you make judgement on MY judgement. Yes, the term 'gypsies' sends connotations of poor vagrant migratory workers in your head. But, these, dear friends, are not the same species. These are people that drive BMW's, have brand new big-assed trailers, wear nice clothes and have expensive dogs. Yes, I'm still talking about the caravan that moved into the grass where neighborhood children play football and dogs frolic for fun.

Now, after speaking with different members of this precious community, we are told that this is fairly common! These caravans pull into public or private property, set up residence, work at temporary employment and basically live for free. They don't pay taxes, children don't go to school consistently and they think that this is their God given right!

So, a 6-7 week stint is usually what they can get on their new grounds before the legal documents are produced and they are evicted. But, we got lucky! Heavens! Their unsupervised nastyassed little purebred dogs bit 2 children that were walking home from school and therefore, they received an emergency eviction to leave DAMN QUICK! We watched as they basically let their children roam and piliage for fun, threw their garbage into the river banks and established a makeshift highway through the neighborhood's grassy play areas. I can't say how this troubles me. They have absolutely no respect for other people, feel that they have rights to be wanderers, leave a stinkin' shabby mess and drive cars that I know I will never touch steering wheels with in my lifetime.

When all of the police showed up, they organized themselves into a freaking 'leaf-cutting ant' trail and blew out of here, with the wierdest smirks that I have ever seen on human faces.

That has had an impact on me this week. What societal sucking human warts. Ok, I'm done venting. At least we got our grassy field back. I know tread marks will grow over, but the treads in my faith in human kind will take a little longer.

Okay, now on to more pleasant stuff. Had a great week with the Dundry gang! We are making animated movies of Beowulf and once again I find myself having to learn before I can teach. I've heard of Beowulf, but if you had asked me who he was, I'd probably have said that he was a buddy of Nosferatu. A human monster or something. Good thing I did my homework.

And then, only a handful of bust 'em up fights took place. Brave, brave Jenny! She's the wonderful Headmaster with patience and wisdom that I can only aspire to. Her dealings with the kids are heartfelt, honest and effective. This is definitately like being back at University again, except I get to sit on the real life sidelines and figure out why this way of teaching and disciplining is somewhat foreign to me. Don't get me wrong, differences are not negatives!

Rough points about the week--Emma and Brian got lost for 2 hours on Thursday night coming home from a science open house at Emma's school. Now I can honestly say that I know how my parents must have felt when I didn't come home on time. After the first hour, I moved to sit on the stairs, then at 10:00pm, I moved into the front porch, and in the last half hour I started to pace. Even the lovely Mousse was feeling my anxiety. Finally they got home, safe and sound. Of course, the first thing I said to them was 'WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN!!!" So much for missing them.

We also got slammed with a vagrant virus that us Canucks aren't resistant to. Bronchitis, flu, general blah-body hit last Sunday. Mostly we just got up to drink "Lemsip", our equivalent to NeoCitron. Did the trick.

Today we went to Wells. I love how the names of these cities are so very descriptive of what they have to offer. Wells, well, believe it or not, is built around a natural spring and runs underground throughout this beautiful town. It is also home of one of the few Medieval Cathedrals in England. We are SUCH tourists! We parked and then walked and came upon a beautiful church surrounded by lush green grass. I stopped to take pictures, and then realized as I looked above and beyond the tower, that there was another staring down upon that one, like it was a little buddy. Yes, I was only looking at a simple church (perhaps simple, but in Canada we'd drive big km's and pay big bucks to even see this one!). Stunning was the big brother that loomed overhead. Over 300 sculptures, the second oldest working clock in the world, and stained glass that would leave your eyes in a tizzy. And that was just the entrance. Check this one out, church lovers at http://www.sacred-destinations.com/england/wells-cathedral.htm. It's worth the techno-trip.

Then, we wandered through markets and eventually drove to...brace yourself shoe lovers...the Clark's shoe Village. The actual shoe factory and wholesale store. I've told people here that Clarks in Canada, are only sold in expensive speciality shoe stores. So, beads of sweat formed. My heart raced and I turned to Brian said--I'll BE BACK. Two sets of shoes and 2 hours later, I returned, smiling at my accomplishment of buying not one, but two pairs of shoes (as compared to the measly one pair that I could afford in a year in Edmonton.)

Well, that would be it for this week. I would like to publicly say THANK YOU to Darren, Ben's friend who lent us his SatNav that led us in all of the right directions this week. That in itself is worth taking him on a cruise to Alaska or something.

Oh, and no one knew the answer to the yellow door--except Ben who can't win a Yorkie Chocolate bar because he's from England. It's Johnny Depp who lives there.

New question: What do you do with your conker? (No naughty answers please!)

Cheers and until next time.

beth

PS. Just leaving you with a few candid shots.

Emma and Bonnie on the SS Great Britian.

Me in a corset at the fashion museum. I'm not smiling--I'm grinning in pain as they tied me up too tight!

This is a funny shot of Emma in the Wells market. She found this pile of slushy ice and said, 'Look! They have snow!' Then, she picked it up and squished it between her fingers. I laughed though knowing that this snow came from the fish market behind her and I told her to smell her hands!

And of course, what would it be...without the lovely Mousse!

ON THE COUNT OF THREE, SUBMERGE

OI! I've learned that this is NOT the polite way to get someone's attention. If a child comes up to you and yells this, I think that it is equivalent to you saying "Yo Buster!"

I'm starting this week's blog off with something that has had quite an impact on me. That is swimming lessons here at Dundry School.
First we all load onto a very nice coach with overhead bins. Man, why can't yellow school buses be so nice? Then, we turn and wind our way down to the pool. Great views of sheep grazing lazily on the thick green grass! I'm used to cows, but 'furry bums' are SOOO much cuter. So, we arrive at the pool, and my blessed teacher's assistant helps me figure out what's happening. We get the girls changed in the dressing rooms, and then to the poolside.
Well, if I've never seen fear instilled so quickly! And, I'm so damn glad! Swimming with 9-11 year olds can be a frightening experience at the best of times!
The instructor who marches out to the deck is an awesome sight. Suddenly the whistle sounds and children are asked to line up in an order. Some are confused and I look into their eyes, knowing that if they step into the wrong lineup, that they will never be the same.
She shouts in decibels that are foreign to my ears. LINE UP!!! JUMP IN ON THE COUNT OF THREE!! SUBMERGE ON THE COUNT OF THREE!! SWIM ACROSS ON THE COUNT OF THREE!! Well, swimming does not mean splashing around and moving about. It's fierce, it's controlled and it works. Suddenly I am supposed to teach the least experienced swimmers. I fear for them and me. And, to boot, I'm not allowed to go in the pool, just instruct creatively from the deck. I'm thanking my dear parents for all of those years of swimming lessons. I do believe that this is the moment that I was planning for.

Right then, back to our week. I've been getting to know the class better. They are a colourful group, full of vivacious energy, similar to that of a crowd just before a game in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Love 'em and still can't get enough of them saying...'But Miss, we's just doin' what you asked'. Then there's the boy who is ADAMANT that in England they do write 'Me and my Mum' and not 'my mum and I'. But, Miss, that's how's we say it in England! Hey, I thought that England is where English originated! And then, the dear little Sammy, from the neighborhood asks if our clocks tell time backwards and if women have babies out of their stomachs in Canada!

Emma has been doing Netball afterschool, joined the Roal Dahl quiz team and the science club. They will be making gunpowder and dissecting things. I guess then she'll be blowing up cow eyeballs!

Here's a picture of us travelling our lanes and our hangin' with our neeeigh...bor, Lady!

This week has been very fun. I figure, the Monday to Friday stretch is dedicated to my first priority here--teaching, and then on the weekend, we'll be tourists.

So, last Sunday, we headed off to the Bristol Gardens Zoo. There are many animals that we've never seen and their exhibits make the zoo in Edmonton look like a cheap habitrail. Here's a beautiful female Asiatic lion and a fruit bat. The bat enclosure was just an open place where you could walk into. Imagine this beauty with about a 2 foot wing span. I wonder if they let you have them as classroom pets.

Then, last Sunday, we went for a Tudor History walk in Old Bristol. The guide was dressed in era costume and along the way, people would jump out and be role playing the parts of vintars, merchants and rat catchers! Loved it! Emma and Bonnie are so kind...they gave an old beggar women all of their King Edward coins, even after the guards told all of the kids to not give money to the ragged street urchins!

And then today, ahh, today, we went to Bath. Just the sound of this should make one feel like they are sinking into a warm bubbly tub of relaxation. What a marvelous place the Roman Baths are. We were awestruck at the beauty and ingenuity of the Romans to create such a magnificent and complicated place. Over 1 million litres of hot water bubbles through this oasis daily. And the museum had personal audiophones to carry about, even equipped with a child's version of the history. This is almost as important accomplishment as the baths themselves, because not once did Emma or Bonnie complain about being bored! The next cat I get is definitely going to be named after the Roman goddess, Sulius Minerva--goddess of the Baths.

I don't think that the girls really comprehend the amount of time that has passed since people actually bathed here, but they did enjoy the pigeons that were refreshing themselves in the two thousand year old facility.

Then, we wandered through the narrow streets, exploring the goodies to be found like cornish pasties (still not as good as my grandmother's though), a rugby match, an Abbey, and century old trees.

Now, I must add this week's quiz question. Here is a picture of the only yellow door on the Royal Cresent in Bath. It belongs to a famous movie star. If you know who it is, I will send you a postcard of the Roman Baths.

And of course, what would be a post without a picture of the lovely Mousse! And, she has caused us some alarm today she got her collar off. Just to let you know, her cat door is activated with a little magnetic mouse on her collar and that is the only way she can get through the doors. Funny though, because it takes 2 people to get it back on her. Helen tried, I tried, then we finally succeeded by catching her up in Bonnie's poncho.

By the way, the Marko girls in Edmonton won the Cat's Eyes prize. They should be receiving their prizes in the next few weeks!

Now just to leave you with a little double decker bus car sickness, watch the video!

Well, hello there! Yes, we've made it through 'back to school' week and I think it deserves a celebration. Perhaps we'll crack open that bottle of champagne that Helen left in the fridge. Wouldn't want it to go to waste now!
That, my dear readers, was certainly a journey! Reminded me a little of the white water rapids trip we went on once. Slightly scary at first, then suddenly you are in big, damn raging rapids with little chance of surviving, and then pull into shore with the old expression of 'Let's do it again!' The whole range of human emotions been touched upon this week.
Let me start by saying that the girls have adjusted swimmingly. Maybe we could call it 'kid resilience' or some divine intervention--I think my mom has something to do with this. But, Emma and Bonnie went into the unknown and came out the other side with smiles on their faces!

Emma is certainly enjoying her beginnings at St. Katerines. She came home excitedly to tell me about all of the levels given for good behavior and also bad. One can almost attain sainthood if they achieve enough 'P's' and on the contrary, one can achieve a sorry state of exclusion if you follow the steps down the list of consequences, known as 'C's'. Of course, I'm allowed to be a bragging mom and proudly state that Emma has gathered 3 P's during the week!
Then, Bonnie, has joined me in Dundry Primary. I'm trying not to see her as my daughter whilst (an English word) I'm teaching, but every so often I look at her and think 'Thank God she's here to give me strength!' Here's a picture of her in front of the school on Day 1.
So, first impressions. Well, the students seem much more intense than Canadian kids. They need to learn fast and hard. I think they are used to a much more structured delivery of curriculum than I am used to. When I taught them how to do Chinese box origami, they seemed to find it distressing. And, the Canadian dodgeball game that I attempted to do in 'the pen' became a bit too competitive for my comfort zone, so I ended the game and a few eager young boys said, 'But Miss, we's only trying to play the game!' The faces and voices of these sweeties are going to be engrained in my brain for a long time to come! Much like those kids from a teacher's first year--you remember everyone because they made the first impression on you.
Yes, I think I must tone down my exuberance. I'm used to being a bit more free in my teaching, but I think that the big difference here is the structured lesson format. It will certainly teach me how to behave myself!
Last night I went to London for a conference of all Canadian teachers on exchange in England and Wales. In fact, it was actually strange hearing all of those Canadian accents! There were people from Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and BC. Now the surprising thing is that I even met a teacher from Richmond, BC. that teaches in the same school as my sweet neice!! What a coincidence.
We had a great day comparing notes about our new lives. We all had things we needed to share, both bad and good, but after the day was said and done, I realized that I am very fortunate in this exchange! A very supportive school, great people around and I CAN DRIVE!!

Thought you might enjoy this lovely picture of the scary staircase in the hotel in London. Top floor, 4 flights and this was the last one!

I love these little kids around here. Sammy, a little sweet redhead who comes around on her bike is like a story book character. She was going to walk us to see some horses and then said that if we're lucky, no one would catch us climbing the fence. I guess sometimes though, they get caught and yelled at. But, she said, 'It's worth it because you can smooth them! (the horses, of course!)' That's definitely the first time I've heard that expression! Now, Emma, Bonnie and I walk the paths to find animals to smooth.

Also, there is a farm in our estate. Yes, a full fledged chicken, duck, goat, horse and African Grey Parrot farm! We've been bringing Lady the horse some carrots and apples daily--but have learned the hard way to wear socks. Stinging nettle is NOT something to be messed with. We decided that you could play some pretty nasty April's Fools day tricks with that stuff.

Then, Myrtle the goat, the chickens, and the ducks all just graze around behind this big stone wall. The parrot though was quite the surprise! While we were 'smoothing' Myrtle, we heard the phone ring. Well, it was the bird of course. He has quite the reperatoire of songs, and interesting noises, especially living with all of those farm animals!

So, we're off to the zoo today. Thought we'd burn through all of the sites here in Bristol before attempting to go further. We'll post some zoo pictures later!

Cheers!

P. S. Sadly, there were no correct answers for the mystery item. It is a little pin that you use in the cricket game! All of your creative answers were impressive though! Maybe I will use it as a foot massager because I'm sure I will never play cricket!

Here's a new question that could win you a postcard or a can of mushy peas! What are cat's eyes?

And, of course, what would be a blog without a lovely picture of Mousse!

Holy Moly Kites

Well, one week and it seems like we've been here for a month because everyone is so kind. I've noticed that one really take your basic needs for granted when getting around safely isn't an issue, so driving has been the BIG one this week. Actually that is going quite well. They have these speed cameras that take your picture every km or so, but the funny thing is that they give you a warning about a block ahead so you can slow down. Then, of course everyone speeds up right after. Talk about effective.

We've been busy getting the girls ready for school, and me too. Dundry school is absolutely incredible. I will post pictures next time. I can't really believe that I will get to teach there for a whole year. The thing that strikes me as being the most different is the fact that the school is SOOOO old (in Edmonton years) and yet has so much technology. Bonnie will be in my classroom we've decided as it works out best for everyone. I know that she will fit in very well.

And, to make my life even more heavenly, we only have report cards once a year. That in itself is a good reason to set up permenant residence here. Little does Ben know that he's stuck in Canada FOREVER. Actually, there are wonderful things about both places, England and Canada, that one couldn't possibly have together.

So, we went to the International Kite Festival today. First, I must tell you that Emma and Bonnie were quite alarmed that the cupid kites came equipped with all essential parts. I told them that this would have been a good place to learn about the 'birds and the bees'. Of course they were appalled and gave me the 'Oh MOM...' look. I better stop embarrassing my children in public. But, I have never, in my life seen such amazing flying objects. Huge, colourful, engaging and outrageous. There was even one kite controlled by a fellow from Holland, that would chase you around, poke you, then dive at high speeds, just to stop at your throat with you dropping dead of fear.

We were surprised that it 'just happened to be a windy day' but I guess that's why Bristol hosts this, because there is mostly a gentle breeze every day. I liked the giant flying purple octopus the best but they also had people that would fly group kites in sinc to music and this was something to see. You have to be an Olympic athlete to be able to do that I'm sure.

A busy week ahead. Everyone is off to school for the first time and the routine begins. I know it will be hard to carry on a mundane existance in a place where exploration and discovery are mandatory, but we must carry on.

Brian and I have this saying 'Should I be worried?' and when we ask that to each other, we've been pleasantly given the answer, 'No.' So far so good.

Finally, Emma and Bonnie have let me take a picture of them with their new uniforms on. Man, they actually look cleaned up...

And of course, what would it be without a picture of the lovely and beautiful Mousse...

Cheers to all.

beth

PS. Here's a quiz for you. If you can guess what this object is and be the first write it on the comments blog, (and be a Canadian), I will send you a postcard (or maybe even a Mars bar muffin from Connie's Corner).