It's the final countdown!

One week until I'll be in the heat! I can't wait for my trip with Barret to the Canary Islands! To be honest, it hasn't been all that grey here lately - the sun has been shining, but the temperature certainly is dropping. Still, can't wait for the sun and sand!

Speaking of travelling, over the weekend there was a travel show that the guys and I went to. There were tons of good deals on all kinds of trips across Europe and elsewhere. Barret and I booked our Christmas holiday! Last year was great having my sister Ali here and spending time with family friends, but this year I think will be just as memorable but totally different. Barret and I are doing a week long tour in Ireland over the Christmas holidays! I have always wanted to go there and I can't wait to be singing Christmas carols all over that country! There is a special cosy (leprechaun!) pub on the west coast near Dingle that we will be spending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at where we will have a lovely 5 course Christmas dinner with wine and everyone else on our tour. Also, apparently there is a tradition to go swimming in the peninsula Christmas day...we'll see about that one! I am REALLY excited!!!

We are also talking about maybe doing a "sail Croatia" tour in the new year sometime. I know, I know...my seasickness might be the veto... but we are still considering it. Apparently Croatia is one of the most beautiful places with an amazing coast, so we want to go check it out! There was also this train that took you ALL over Asia, through many stops in Russia and everywhere south - appropriately named the "Vodka Train". I think my motion sickness might also veto that one, plus the name makes me nauseous already. Anyway, there were tons of good deals at that show and I'm glad we went. If only the bank accounts matched the plans!

Mallory was here again Sunday after her trip to Paris. Poor girl - she had some serious bad luck on her trip! Her and her boyfriend Brent planned on going to see Vimy Ridge and any other war places they could, but if you've been watching international news, you know that there are mass transit strikes going on in France right now. Well, Mal and Brent planned on taking the train out to Vimy... obviously that idea was shut down. They tried to rent a car as well, but they were all sold out, and even if they could it was going to cost them 300 euros or something ridiculous for one day. Well, Mallory - that just means you have to come back and try again! Anyway, she left yesterday morning and is safely back in Sault Ste. Marie after her trip - it was SO good to have her here! Love you Mal!

I realized I have to start packing this week! We come back from our trip the evening of Sunday Oct 31 and we move the morning of Tuesday November 2, both of us working Monday. That doesn't really leave a whole lot of time to pack between the trip and move-in day! It will be good to go through the stuff I have accumulated whilst living here. There is a massive clothes/goods donation bin not too far from home so I am hoping to fill it with clothes I've wrecked at work (I thought teaching nursery was bad, being covered in gunk from school... well...being an art teacher is 100 times worse!) I'm getting so excited! I walk by our new flat every day when I get on the tube from the gym... I just keep thinking...aw...I'd be home already! Even as a newcomer Blair has already realized what a crack pot we currently live in and how upbeat and fresh our new location is. The move in day shouldn't be too bad, but there is rumour of yet another tube strike that day. If that's the case, things won't be that easy and we may have to get cabs (no way on God's green earth could we take the bus!) I have to work in the afternoon of the moving day, but both of the guys have taken the day off so we will get it done somehow. It's not too far from where we are so we should be able to figure something out!

I'm going to toot my own horn just a little bit right now. Yesterday while I was doing some planning I watched a cooking show (30 minute meals by Jamie Oliver!) and was inspired to do steak, roast potatoes, carrots, yorkshire pudding, and homemade gravy for the guys and I. I bought expensive steaks (that were on sale - 1/2 off - so totally justifiable!) and doubled Jamie's time (actually just under an hour, but really only because I had to wait for an egg from the grocery store). Lo and behold...I DIDN'T SCREW IT UP! It was actually really, really, good! One of my best of anything so far! SO, Dad, my days of poisoning people with Greek Souvlaki are OVER! HA!

Anyway, I have planning and other things to get done so I better be going. Have a lovely week everyone and if I don't blog again before my trip I will definitely do so upon arrival back in the UK.

Love,

amy

We're off to see the wizard!

Two weeks without blogging. So what.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you back in Canada enjoying a turkey dinner - Barret is exceedingly envious of all of you and the only way to get him a turkey here was to go to a farm and pick and pluck it myself. Sorry B - maybe next time.

Anyway, it's been a great and busy two weeks! Work has been insane, but in such a good way! I was able to take my year 5's to the Tate Modern to see an exhibit on the French painter Gauguin. I had to forewarn them about the possibility of seeing some paintings portraying some, ahem, females au natural... needless to say, as far as 10 and 11 year old boys go, they were very mature and made sure to snicker whilst not in my view or ear shot! It was great to take the kids to a gallery and watch how well they behaved in public (something new in my experience!)

Friday night I was prepared for my friend Mallory's arrival from home. However, Air Canada intervened and said we were not destined to meet until a day later. After some plane troubles she arrived in one piece yesterday morning. She came with a 2kg jar of Kraft peanut butter (THANK YOU MOM!!!) and a few other lovely things from home, including some maple leafs and a picture lovingly coloured by my 2 year old nephew Gabe. Thanks for all of those things Mom, Erin, and to Mallory for delivering! After Mal got settled and had a good nap, hot shower, and good meal we all headed out to see the "Best West End Show" of Wicked. And yeah, it was wicked! It's the story of the witches in the Wizard of Oz and how they got to be the way they did, as well as the lion, the scarecrow, and the tin man. It was so interesting and a fabulous show! We, the girls, loved it. The boys, however, did not fall asleep, so that means it was at least decent! When I say boys I mean Barret and our new flatmate Blair from my year at teacher's college. Now, I knew that Barret and Blair would get along... but it's kind of scary. Let me just put it this way - I've nicknamed them "Blairret".

Today the 4 of us went out to Windsor and Eton Riverside and paid a visit to Windsor Castle. I learned so much today. I was first excited because I thought the Queen was in because the Union Jack was flying high - however - that is only the case at Buckingham Palace. At the Queen's residence if the Royal Standard flag is flying then she is in, otherwise, she is elsewhere. We enjoyed the town as well and Mallory and Blair had their first traditional Sunday Roast. It was fantastic! I suppose it was as close to Thanksgiving dinner as we are going to get in this country and so it was good enough.

So, back to Blairret for a second. I have enjoyed having Blair around and I know that Barret is more than happy to have someone to talk to about sports. They've taken over the living room and it's finally persuaded me to buy a gym membership. So, all good things are coming out of this arrangement! We are scheduled to move into the new flat on November 2nd (I swear I wont let them make me carry any heavy boxes on my birthday!) and I can't wait. It should be a really good place for us all and I am happy to be getting out of the ghetto. I have made it about 9 months here and hopefully I will survive the mere 3 weeks I have left. Which, really, wont be that long because two weeks Tuesday we will be in the Canary Islands! Yeeehaw!

Well, that's the update for now.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone back home - our love to you all!

amy