Aliens Have Landed for a Cuppa

Happy Belated Easter! Thankfully, the Bunny made an appearance for us all in Exeter! We were going to spend a quieter 5 days at home, but at the last minute decided to hit the trail for an adventure. We drove down to Exmoor National Park, supposedly home of the wild ponies, but ended up in Dunster. This is a beautiful Medieval village with a castle that looks high over the edge. When it was built, it was actually on the coast line, but hundreds of years later, as the water's edge receeded, it is 2 miles inland. It used to be a main port for wollen trading.

Then, we toured through the park looking for ponies--never seen Bonnie so quiet on a car ride before! But, we only saw herds of horses wearing their coats. We ended up in Exeter which is a lovely place of about 100,000 or so. Funny, because when I was reading up on it in our England book, it said, Be aware of sudden changes in weather as it is on the coast. Well, that's no exaggeration as we were in sunshine on one side of the road, and then in dark ominous clouds and sudden gales on the other. The fury of the downfall sent us into a great pizza place though! The waiters accidently made a mistake with our order, so we took one whole pizza out and subsequently fed it to the swans as it would go to waste otherwise. I didn't know this about swans, but they can be rather territorial and one in particular was more interested in showing off his big wing formation instead of filling up his stomach. He would fly off, land in the River Exe and then put his propellar like feet into rocket mode. Then, he'd curl up his wings and blast into the pizza eating crowd! It was spectacular! I would like to be able to hone in on this technique for educational purposes.

Then, we spent the next day shopping and sight seeing. Exeter has a beautiful cathedral--one of many that we've seen, but I still am humbled upon entering each and every one of these glorious buildings!

Below is a picture of the Snow Queen in Exeter. She was a lovely princess, very Disney! As she wandered around handing our treats, a few flakes of the precious stuff started falling from the sky. Suddenly I heard a uproarious conversation behind me. OH, WE'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE SNOWMEN!! IT'S A BLIZZARD! The Canadian in me wanted to say something about YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHIN' HONEY!! Come to Canada, but I bit my tongue. A few flakes does not make a snowman--maybe a snow aphid?

Now, onto the wonders of a cuppa. This is what is offered to you when you sit down for a break. I would like to dedicate this entry to all of the tea bags in England who have so selflessly sacrificed themselves so that we may enjoy a moment of calm and serenity. I bet you'd never have thought you'd hear THAT from a Starbucks drinking coffee addict from Edmonton. But, alas, it has happened. Slowly and deliberately, just like the emergence of a butterfly after a long metamporphosis. I really didn't think it would happen to me. I would not be proselytized into the cuppa culture. But, who can resist a hot civilized cup of tea with milk that you can wrap your cold hands around. As well as warming you up, it creates a space of peace around you that no one else is allowed to infringe upon. It's as if you suddenly have a sign on your back that says 'Do Not Disturb'. And the great thing about it is that most people, even some unruly students, will respond with respect. No problem is too great to disrupt the tea drinker. Comfort comes in many forms. For example, have you ever seen a cat sleeping in its prefered spot, one that is covered with cat hair, indented just to the dimension of the feline that occupies it? That's comfort. Or perhaps, that once in a very long time that you can actually stay up later than everyone else in the house, crawl under a warm blanket and finish the novel you've been working on forever? That's comfort. Just like a cuppa. It brings civility to the world around you. Thank you England, for handing me a warm cup of tea.

Easter Sunday was certainly enjoyeable! We were graciously invited to Helen's father's home in Wantage (15 miles from Oxford). What a delightful place! After having a cuppa with him, we headed down to 'The Lamb' for Sunday roast. Amazing as usual in terms of food, frolic and fun! As we were sitting there, a pair of very distinguished ducks came dawdling down the sidewalk outside the window. Very cleverly, they walked, stopping every so often to check out the business of the town!
That is the wonder of Easter! Everyone deserves a peaceful break to appreciate what they love the most!

Mr. Barnes is so kind! He had us into his lovely home, which is a flat attached to a seniors residence. He helps out with the services at the chapel as he is a retired vicar.

Brian, Nick and Mr. Barnes at 'The Lamb'

The interesting thing about this pub is that last summer it was under water. Some parts of Wantage fell victim to oodles of water and subsequently, this pub was soaked through. It has been refurbished since and thus, the saying above!
We had to take a picture of the Pudding Menu! At home, we call the sweet delights after main course, the dessert, of course! But, Puddings are a serious thing here as some are served as another hot dish. I had to ask Andrea what she thought 'Spotted Dick' was and she replied that it is a cake with raisins, originally called 'Spotted Richard'!





All patrons of The Lamb are asked to Leave Quietly, even the ducks!



Nick and Andrea did a fabulous job of designing an Easter Egg hunt for the girls. After they had found all of the chocolate eggs, Nick would run ahead and rehide them! I totally cracked up when he just emptied the bag onto the ground and told the girls that they would find the jackpot if they looked hard enough! They kept walking by, not noticing the giant pile laid before them. Of course, they eventually found them and we divied them up. The Chapel at Mr. Barnes' home

Smooshy Moussey!

I have this wierd feeling about grass here. Lawn! Not any other kind of grass! In any case, Helen's lawn has been green all winter. The rain has rung, the sun has shun, and the grass did not grow at all! I wish we had this in Canada! But, yesterday, I decided to head out and mow it anyway. Of course, the girls had to get involved in this. So, out came a stack of bamboo sticks from the shed, a couple of garbage bags and the half marathon foil cape that they insisted on keeping! Within minutes, a teepee that wasn't too shabby, perhaps even by North American Native Indian standards was erected. It looked maybe a bit more the lunar module with incoming aliens though! The girls wanted to spend the night in it as we sometimes do in our backyard back home, but I declined. IT'S STILL FLIPPIN' MARCH for Heaven's sake! Anyway, we had our warm pudding in it after dark, with Mousse and a torch. Then ran the hell inside as it is STILL March. Must be that green grass that is fooling us!




Gale force winds blew in half Helen and John's fence. Brian made the not very politically correct joke that now Mousse can fit through the fence!

I've noticed that all church towers are all on hills that look over the villages and cities, for the most part. Upon asking, I found out that they acted as beacons for travellers by land and sea. The Dundry church tower is about 500 years old. Then, the school, which was essentially built by the church is now 150 years old. We've been busy planning all sorts of celebrations for the upcoming last term of school. The assembly hall will host an exhibition timelines, facts, treasures and histories of Dundry. A school party is planned and all students are going to dress up either in Victorian clothes or WW2 children and we are even going to have a jumpy castle hopefully! Then, for the finale, the whole school is putting on a performance (yet to be written by our wonderful selves) of decades of Dundry. Should be a blast, not doubt an awful lot of work, but what an amazing chance for me to be here at this time!

Dundry school children all marched up to the church for Easter service, which was lovely! Especially because we came up with a fool proof plan to get my class to sit nicely and listen. The Year 1 teacher, wonderful Ms. Butler, suggested that we get each of my students to walk up with one of her infants. I told my kids that this was needed in order for the little kids to sit nicely and she told her infants that the big kids needed them to demonstrate good behavior--you get the idea. Well, I have one young student who loves to engage in conversations with anyone and anything that passes by. So, we lined her up with a sweet little infant and plopped them in the pew in front of me. I kept my eye on them, but had to laugh when she finally turned around to me and said in a loud voice, My, 'ees a cheeky monkey int 'e, Miss!!! I guess he kept pretending to slide off of the pew and she couldn't get him to sit still.

Dundry school with church tower in the back

Back at Cerney Lane, across the street, the council has decided to build another set of homes. So, on a walk with Maxine and her two border collies, she told us all about it. The thing that I found interesting though is that around the perimeter of the area, they have put up this green plastic at an angle which leans outward. Now, my first thought is that it had to do with the rain, but in fact, it's a wildlife catcher! I guess that they can't continue to build until all of the wildlife is rehomed. How it works: During the day, the machines and workers make noise and trouble for the creatures. At night, the creatures all gather together to look at their options. Most likely and hopefully for the builders, the creatures decide that it's best to pack up and hit the road. So, they wander to the perimeter of the space, only to hit a slippery green leaning tarp. Trapped! But, to their delight, they find a pile of peat, soft dirt and comfort. So, they set up camp there. Then, in the morning, the workers have to go around and collect anybody along the tarp. They then move them to new homes. Now, just for your information, the creatures are slow worms--legless lizards, frogs or all shapes and sizes, salamendars, newts and maybe even a few adders. I wonder if the green tarp would hold back cougars and bears in Alberta?

And just to end today, I am including Bonnie's Easter poem that won her the year 5 award for poetry--and a little stuffed bear.

Easter Treats

Chocolates and Sweets are the yummiest treats,

that you find on Easter day.

A chick and a bunny are always so funny,

that you find on Easter day.

Looking for eggs to put in our bags,

is the best thing on Easter day!

And, to answer last week's question: A twitten is a small pathway, but this word is mainly used in Suffolk.

So, two more weeks and we're off to the grandest aventure de tout! To France for two weeks with Mari, John, Lizzie, Dad and Deirdre. Can't wait. So, until then,

Happy thoughts!

beth

Red Badgers and Running Man

Yahoo! Woweee! You're almost there! It's just around the corner! Yes, that was me and the girls screaming frantically at Brian as he was rounding the last bend at the Bath Half Marathon! So, there I was yelling and cheering at every poor soul covered in sweat, slobber and nipple bleed, remembering my experience of being at the near end of a race. But, I was the only one really. It seems that British people just are more reserved about yelling and screaming in public. They mostly commented to themselves saying things like, Well, now, look at those blokes! Oh well, lemme make an ass of myself again. No one will remember me in 8 months! I certainly enjoyed the fellows wearing the G-Strings in the pouring rain though! Talk about exposure! I'd like to see them run a half marathon in Edmonton!

I figured something tremendous out though as I screamed Brian on through the finish. A race like that is akin to beating all the shit that has burdened you for, well ever. Awesome job, Brian! You've gained hero status!

Brian waiting in line for the loo.

Brian coming around the last bend.

The rain came a down, down down. Nearly flooded the Avon river in Bath!

A picture from a few weeks back. Girls in a capsized boat. After that, we all went on the bridge and played Pooh sticks!

Last week was crazy! And amazing! We went to Barton Hall camp for a week with Class 4. We, being the Class 3 teacher and a very brave supply teacher named Mr. Smith who, like a martyr, joined us. It all was supposed to start on Monday, March 10, but amidst the fury of many storm warnings that were to hit the Devon/Cornwall area, we had to postpone departure for one day. Can you imagine, 22 kids who have been waiting for 2 years for this experience, finding out the night before that gale force winds and hurricane like rain were interfereing with their plans? The only right thing to do on this fine and blustery morning, was to have a 'Storm Party'. So, I brought in the movie 'Snow Day' that I'd brought from Edmonton. It's about school kids who pray for a school closure from snow and all of the adventures they have. Plus, it was filmed not too far from our house in Edmonton! Then, we made snowflakes, had hot chocolate and marshmallows and basically tried to get through the DAY OF DISAPPOINTMENT!

Barton Hall

Tuesday was better, still windy though. Only the fence between Helen's and John's house blew down. The drive was rather calm and tolerable.

As we approached Devon, I saw what is now a frequent sight. A dead fox on the road. I think I'll just be a road kill observer as I don't think these animals actually are ever seen otherwise! But, Belinda, our dear and kind Teacher's Assistant/Minibus driver Extraordinaire, said that No, that was a badger. It couldn't be though because it had red fur. Well, it turns out that the earth around the camp is red. Rusty red dirt and lots of it. Thus, the coat of a normally blacky grey badger is like a bad dye job.

Arriving at this place was quite a sight for strained eyes! On camps in Alberta, you pull in on a treaded dirt road, over a few rocks, and stroll up to a log cabin. But, here, the iron gates open upon arrival and you drive up the pavement to the 'Big House'. Yeah, more like mansion! Turns out, this facility used to be a Holiday House for families. You and your loved ones could rent a site for the week and participate in all sorts of activities, have your dinners made for you and retire to a quaintly furnished room after a little nightly entertainment in the hall. Seems a bit like the movie 'Dirty Dancing'.

In any case, we had a section of rooms to ourselves-teachers had TVs and Coffee! Bless their hearts! The kids had great rooms with bathrooms and they all opened to the great outdoors. This was a problem though at 2a.m. as we caught a few out with their torches looking for foxes (or red badgers).

The whole organization is run by a company called PGL which stands for Parents Get Lost to all children and leaders. What an organized and smoothly run place! Activities were exciting and challenging.

Two of my students abseiling.

We didn't do this, but it was the ski hill. Made of plastic mesh. And, the skiers were pretty good considering that if you fell, you'd be left with imprints on your face like you get when you wake up in a car!

We also went wall climbing. Yes, that's me climbing a wall in wellies. Don't ask.
We also zipped down lines, orienteered, fenced, did archery, problem solving, rope courses, shelter building in red mud and A DISCO! Did you know that Dances here are called Discos?

And the food was good for the most part. Children here eat spaghetti o's for breakfast, on toast!

I thought I might be getting hard of hearing. Students talking is hard for me to understand sometimes. Especially when they are chattering amongst themselves like little chickens, which is quite often. But, this one particular conversation made me stop. That's it! I'm not going deaf. I just didn't understand this colloquial banter with one student and made her repeat what she said. But, Miss, she said, we's only, gert, putting on make up for the disco! What the heck does 'gert' mean? Are you choking on a rubber? Turns out, 'gert' means, like, well, like! Bristol valley girl talk--like you get it?

After all children were soundly sleeping we'd clandestinely make our way up to the library as the PGL staff took over supervision for an hour or so. Man, talk about a well deserved pint! Mr. Smith is quite the consummate fly fisherman when he's not supply teaching. His main spots are in Wales, as he is Welsh, and he explained the in's and out's of the Wye and Usk rivers. I didn't know that it is illegal to fish with worms, prawns or shrimp with a coarse rod! I guess it is too easy to catch salmon this way so you can only use a fly fishing technique. That'd be similar to asking Ollie to come with a raw 4 lb. roast.

Two weekends ago, we had a glorious time at Ben's parents' home in Kenilworth. It's only about a hour and a half drive. Rosemary and Barrie took us on a tour of Kenilworth Castle which was most impressive! This is what I'd always imagined an old castle to look like. The girls loved exploring it, especially since we let them buy wooden swords to battle each other with.

The girls sitting in an old stone oven.

After some very pleasant walks, we returned home for tea and a scrumptious birthday cake baked by a neighbor girl named Hetti. Seems she has a little baking business on the side of her studies, and by all tastes, should pursue it as a career when she's older!

Every so often, you feel like you deserved to be spoiled a bit. But let me tell you, I was not prepared for the wonderful spoiling that we had with the Wiggins! Rosemary and Barrie made such incredible food--Roast lamb, mashed potatoes, pork pie, delightful salads, cheeses, homemade breads, chicken casserole...need I go on or are you salivating yet? And then the wine, and the homemade beer! Barrie walked me through his beer making techniques, showed me where his hops grows, and the malts, etc. That was very interesting!

Their house is lovely, with 3 floors, a curving staircase up to the 2nd an 3rd floor. And, in Canada we say 'yard' for the space we plant things in every spring. But, I can see why it is called a 'garden' here. They have 2 ponds, oodles of big overgrown trees and lush flowers. All I can say is that we were truly in the lap of luxury and I'd like to thank them for the gracious and amazing hospitality!
A funny thing happened on the way to the pond...Barrie told us that a few frogs had arrived to spawn and left a whole bunch to froggies-to-be. The girls were fascinated by this and watched for quite awhile, the fishes and eggs. Later after supper, I heard some creaking. I asked Barrie if the two frogs might be back and could we go look. He laughed and said, Sure go have a look, full well knowing that there would be more than two! When we went out to the pond, this is what we say.
There were at least fifty in the frog frenzy! Well, the girls didn't come back in for a good hour. And then after we finally got the girls to come in and go to bed I was sitting in the living room when who happened to hop by? A giant green frog! It must have come in with the girls...hmm..that or they were trying to hide it in their wellies to take home.

One of the Queen's pets. Also, Barrie told me that people can bury relatives in their own backyards if they want to. He said though that it sometimes impedes the process of resale.


Shakespeare's birthhouse.
Stratford-Upon-Avon is about half an hour away from Kenilworth. We did a tour on Sunday and it was very interesting. Emma was really excited as she has studied Shakespeare in school here in England. I have to admit, I've only really digested Hamlet in highschool but I am certainly now more motivated to submerse myself in it. Especially after seeing this! Now, when was the last time you kissed anyone with this much passion! I took this picture outside of the Royal Shakespeare Company, from a poster.


We went into another theatre to explore and there was a Henry V play going on. It was being televised in the foyer, so we watched for awhile. Suddenly some of the actors ran off the stage and came blasting out into the foyer in their costumes. Well, if you could have seen the expressions on Bonnie's and Emma's faces! Not only that, one rather dapper fellow, proceeded to strip off his clothes in a hurry, oblivious to all of our wandering eyes! Then, a costume clerk started helping him into his fighting gear. Glorious!
A few actors in costume

Shakepseare's gravesite. This is on the alter of the church and curiously, Shakespeare was able to be buried here because he did maintanence work for the abbey on his days off.

This is me with 'potman' in Barrie's allotment. Barrie and many others, have a strip of land that one can rent and grow vegetables on. We had an informative walk through the field of allotments, talking to people who were all busy doing their spring planting. I didn't know that pigeons liked to eat cabbages? But, they do!

Barrie's allotment

Interestingly, Barrie and Rosemary have two little grandsons who come to visit them often. They apologized for not having any girl's toys, but after about an hour, we could hear the girls giggling upstairs. I wandered up to see what the deal was, and they had taken ALL of the soldiers and lined them up neatly at the top of the stairs. We were under attack!

In this priory ruins near Rosemary's church, there was a great assortment of fresh flower bouquets. I was a bit surprised about this, but found out that since it had been "Mothering Sunday" the week prior, many of the graves had flowers.

A street near the Wiggins' home. Some of the houses had thatched roofs.
This particular house had recently been rethatched and the company who does the thatching always leaves some thatched birds to mark their work. I guess these birds can be up to 20 years old in some cases.

Nice Doggie!

Just a few little things before I go. A few weeks back, when the Marko family was here, we were in Bath and went into an art gallery. There was a special exhibition in the back of the gallery but it had an entrance cost. The girls could go for free, so I sent them in and within a minute they came rushing out to drag us in! How can you say no to girls who are excited about art?! In any case, it turned out to be a microsculptor and his work. Now, I imagined small things, but these are MINUTE!! In fact, with no exaggeration, they are microscopic! You could only see his sculptures with a microscope. It looked more like a science lab than a gallery. But it turns out, Willard Wigan, an artist with dyslexia, creates these mini-masterpieces. He's from Birmingham and is able lower his heart rate through a meditative state. He carves with shards of diamond and paints with a hair from a fly. He told me that it takes him about 3 months to do one scultpure and he usually works at night because noise vibrations can break his work. I asked him if he has ever lost one, as they are so tiny. He said that once, after completing one that took months, he accidently inhaled it. Here's the Statue of Liberty in the eye of a needle.

Heeeerrrrreeeee's MOUSSEY!

A Happy 12 year old!

Also, the answer to last time's question: The first car going into Dundry had to go backwards because seeing that it had to climb that big hill, all of the petrol would pour into the back of the car if it went forward and the car would essentially run out of gas.

This week: What is a 'twittens'?

Well, as always, it's been a pleasure!

beth