Several good opportunities have come my way this week.
Opportunity #1: On Saturday, 6 Feb, a group of students, faculty members and "hanger-ons" (spouses) traveled to London for a day visit. It was a pleasant train ride into the city and lasted about an hour and a half. It also allowed me to spend some one-on-one time with my progamme director (Tony). He's a great guy, very supportive, and an expert on social contexts of death and dying. Anyway, we made our way from Paddington Station to Westminster Abbey where we received a private tour and got the low down on the historical coronation site. After hangin' with the remains of Edward I, Richard II, Elizabeth I and Mary, Newton, Handel, Chas Darwin, Charles Dickens, and others...
Note: I must admit it was a great deal of fun. I mean, I touched the tomb of Edward I!
Well, it means something to me.
we moved on to the National Portrait Gallery where we spent quite a bit of time in the Tudor wing. After analyzing some of the "ars moriendi"(art of dying) from the 16th and 17th centuries, it was on to the London Museum of Art. Lunch was held in Chinatown, but don't ask me where we ate.
*I certainly recommend a thorough tour of London. Everything is fairly close together and I'm sold on returning as soon as possible. Although only a brief taste, it was quite an experience.
The rest is all academic- but pretty exciting to me as I feel like I just passed GO and received my $200.
Opportunity 2: This Tuesday, I will assume the role as a undergraduate social science statistics tutor at the University of Bath. It's a nice gig and only requires an hour of my time every two weeks. It pays well too.
Opportunity 3: There is a conference at the University of Edinburgh in June where I can present one of my papers from this past fall semester. It's titled: Lost but not found: the case of the missing dead.
Opportunity 4: Tony has suggested that I further develop and submit another one of my essays to the Journal of Death Studies. Yes! This one is titled: Violent death: reconstructing the Colloseum.
Opportunity 5: Tony has asked me to write a 500 hundred word book review for publication in the journal: Mortality. This is a peer reviewed journal that is chair edited at the University of Bath via the Center for Death and Society (CDAS).
Opportunity 6: I became the student representative for my degree programme back in October and have upgraded to the Chair of its departmental committee meetings.
Opportunity 7: Tony just invited me to participate as a student reviewer for a committee designed to assess and evaluate the Masters of Science in Death and Society Programme in April. Every graduate programme receives a 5 year annual review by a committee composed of various administrative officials, external colleagues and prior students.
So things seem to be going quite well after my first semester and I have some nice opportunities that in all actuality won't take up too much time or overwhelm my schedule. Still, Sarah and I are looking forward to our upcoming move and visit to Rome. We're psyched!!!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Getting grades...hmmm....what the heck man?
Early in December, my first semester came to an end. I had three weeks to complete my written assignments and another three weeks to wait for their results.
The grading process here in the UK is a bit odd. Upon submitting my "essays", I had to provide two separate hard copies for review and grading. I was further required to upload each essay to the university's "elearning" database called: Moodle. This was so that essays can be run through a plagiarism detection computer program in the case that plagiarism is suspected by the markers.
Temporary Rant: Remember everyone, that you and only YOU can Prevent plagiarism. Plagiarism is BAD. It's like terrorism, butter on a sunburn, or taking off your space helmet on the moon. Is that clear! Apparently people don't get this! And now I have to put up with all of the !$&*?!.....I mean, appropriate bureaucratic procedures that will guard against the 8th deadly sin of plagiarism. It's a very serious matter that I wish less serious students would try harder to avoid. Thank you for your consideration.
Now the grading is not simply conducted by the course "convenor" or instructor. Rather, each essay is read by the instructor and an additional faculty member. This is to guard against the possibility of an instructor's inflationary bias. It also helps to moderate grading. For instance, some instructors might feel that marks should be determined with emphasis on originality of argument and evidence of literature review. Others may weight the written analysis more heavily. Either way, as long as there isn't any great discrepancy between the two separate marks (say, within 5 points or so), then the primary marker can negotiate/determine the final mark. Mark results are then sent along to the student as "provisional grades". At this moment, I have my "provisional grades"and they are right where they need to be in order for me to continue confidently towards the PhD. Phew!
What happens next? Well, on Wednesday, Feb. 10th (Oh excuse me. I mean, 10 Feb) my department will sponsor a panel of academics/experts from other universities, who will read through a host of written samples extracted from the students' essays. These readers will then have an opportunity to weigh in on the grades provided by the primary and secondary markers. As long as all goes well, I can rely on my now "provisional grades" to be documented on my student record/transcript. This process of "external review" is essentially conducted to protect university standards and to protect against institutional biases. But of course, it's really all a bunch of bureaucratic puckey because all of the professors know that an essay submitted at Oxford or Cambridge will not be assessed on the same standard with those submitted at lesser ranking institutions. I am happy to report though, that overall, Bath currently ranks 8th out of 117 universities throughout the UK. Again: Phew!
This week, I return to school to begin the spring semester and complete several unit courses entitled: Ethics in Research and Social Science, Dying and Mourning in Social Sciences and the Arts, and Dissertation Planning. Such courses should set me on my way to becoming more familiar with other faculty and should sure up my base for completing my first piece of substantial (an hopefully, original) research (i.e. my dissertation).
The grading process here in the UK is a bit odd. Upon submitting my "essays", I had to provide two separate hard copies for review and grading. I was further required to upload each essay to the university's "elearning" database called: Moodle. This was so that essays can be run through a plagiarism detection computer program in the case that plagiarism is suspected by the markers.
Temporary Rant: Remember everyone, that you and only YOU can Prevent plagiarism. Plagiarism is BAD. It's like terrorism, butter on a sunburn, or taking off your space helmet on the moon. Is that clear! Apparently people don't get this! And now I have to put up with all of the !$&*?!.....I mean, appropriate bureaucratic procedures that will guard against the 8th deadly sin of plagiarism. It's a very serious matter that I wish less serious students would try harder to avoid. Thank you for your consideration.
Now the grading is not simply conducted by the course "convenor" or instructor. Rather, each essay is read by the instructor and an additional faculty member. This is to guard against the possibility of an instructor's inflationary bias. It also helps to moderate grading. For instance, some instructors might feel that marks should be determined with emphasis on originality of argument and evidence of literature review. Others may weight the written analysis more heavily. Either way, as long as there isn't any great discrepancy between the two separate marks (say, within 5 points or so), then the primary marker can negotiate/determine the final mark. Mark results are then sent along to the student as "provisional grades". At this moment, I have my "provisional grades"and they are right where they need to be in order for me to continue confidently towards the PhD. Phew!
What happens next? Well, on Wednesday, Feb. 10th (Oh excuse me. I mean, 10 Feb) my department will sponsor a panel of academics/experts from other universities, who will read through a host of written samples extracted from the students' essays. These readers will then have an opportunity to weigh in on the grades provided by the primary and secondary markers. As long as all goes well, I can rely on my now "provisional grades" to be documented on my student record/transcript. This process of "external review" is essentially conducted to protect university standards and to protect against institutional biases. But of course, it's really all a bunch of bureaucratic puckey because all of the professors know that an essay submitted at Oxford or Cambridge will not be assessed on the same standard with those submitted at lesser ranking institutions. I am happy to report though, that overall, Bath currently ranks 8th out of 117 universities throughout the UK. Again: Phew!
This week, I return to school to begin the spring semester and complete several unit courses entitled: Ethics in Research and Social Science, Dying and Mourning in Social Sciences and the Arts, and Dissertation Planning. Such courses should set me on my way to becoming more familiar with other faculty and should sure up my base for completing my first piece of substantial (an hopefully, original) research (i.e. my dissertation).
Sunday, January 31, 2010
A January for the books.
I'm just thinking back over the last month and how utterly our lives have changed for the better due to the generosity and love of the people in our lives.
Some of the things that happened were small, and some not so small, but they've all added up to a drastic improvement in our living situation and possibilities for the future.
First off, obviously, is the amazing opportunity we have to move into the house in four weeks time. I cannot believe that we will be living on our own in what amounts to the lap of luxury after the past few months of living in someone else's space.
A second huge thing that happened this month (or maybe it was late in Dec. Either way, within the last 35 days) was that it is suddenly possible for us to come home for a visit. WHAT??? That's right. We're coming home, probably in September over our anniversary, but the dates are still up in the air. I'm really hoping that after flying for 7 hours driving for 4, and taking a 1.25 hour ferry, that people will come and see us on the island because I highly doubt we'll be taking many road trips (particularly after not driving for a YEAR!). So. Plan ahead. Road trip to Vinalhaven sometime in September. There's an awesome motel that you should all stay at: www.tidewatermotel.com. Massive reunion times, here we come! Wooo!! You heard it here first, folks.
Third huge amazing thing that happened in January: Chad has received two of his grades back on his papers. Now, before the drum roll, I feel like we need to explain a tad. EVERYTHING is hinging on these grades. He's been told over the course of his undergraduate career that his writing leaves something to be desired, so a lot was riding on his pulling it together and doing his best on these papers. They are the first grades that he has received back since we've been here, and our staying here for the next year has been hinging on his passing "with distinction" (i.e. 70 or above - I won't even go into the crazy UK grading system). So here it is folks: a 75 and a 78!!!! Let me emphasize that he did not have any feedback from any of his professors and that these were all done by himself (with plenty of blood, sweat, and tears, I might add), but I think I can safely say that he is officially an awesome writer. He's looking into options for publishing one in a journal and probably submitting one for a presentation at a conference in Edinburgh in June...field trip!!!
Finally, last huge thing that's happened - Dad and Elaine have made their travel plans and will be here on the 16th of March!!! Super, super excited to see them and to have guests in our new place! Already planning what we will do and what I will cook ;)
There are all sorts of sweet, small things, too, though - like the surprise birthday party the girls at work threw for me. They took me out to a bar nearby and then to a club for salsa dancing. Even though it was not up everyone's alley, I think it was one of the most fun nights I've had since I've been in the UK, so that was pretty huge. Also, when it was all rainy and icy here just after Christmas, and my half marathon training was going by the wayside, one of the girls from work offered to let me use her treadmill so I could get back on track. Thanks, Claire!
The best things in life are often the gifts that keep giving. After Christmas, Chad started picking up his guitar now and then, but was mostly so engrossed in writing his final papers that it sat all sad and dejected in the corner. This month, though, after his papers were submitted, I've been able to once again bask in the background music glory of my husband playing around with a new rhythm. It's good to have it back. I've missed it.
Lastly, yesterday I auditioned for "The Fabulous Stockingtops", a women's singing group with an attitude that specializes in swingin' tunes - we sang "And All that Jazz", "Breaking Up is Hard to Do", and "One Fine Day", among others, and I even recognized a few of the women as customers from the shop. So I think I'll probably end up doing that, which will be a great way to get to know some more people. Chad and I are also looking at joining a karate dojo once we get settled in our new place. It's on Tuesday nights and quite close by to where we'll be living. Some friends in Bar Harbor do it together with their two sons, and it just seems like such a great family activity, not to mention great exercise, so we thought we'd give it a whirl.
So. That's our story and we're sticking to it. Thank you all for making our lives so full and joyful. We love you!!!!!
x
Some of the things that happened were small, and some not so small, but they've all added up to a drastic improvement in our living situation and possibilities for the future.
First off, obviously, is the amazing opportunity we have to move into the house in four weeks time. I cannot believe that we will be living on our own in what amounts to the lap of luxury after the past few months of living in someone else's space.
A second huge thing that happened this month (or maybe it was late in Dec. Either way, within the last 35 days) was that it is suddenly possible for us to come home for a visit. WHAT??? That's right. We're coming home, probably in September over our anniversary, but the dates are still up in the air. I'm really hoping that after flying for 7 hours driving for 4, and taking a 1.25 hour ferry, that people will come and see us on the island because I highly doubt we'll be taking many road trips (particularly after not driving for a YEAR!). So. Plan ahead. Road trip to Vinalhaven sometime in September. There's an awesome motel that you should all stay at: www.tidewatermotel.com. Massive reunion times, here we come! Wooo!! You heard it here first, folks.
Third huge amazing thing that happened in January: Chad has received two of his grades back on his papers. Now, before the drum roll, I feel like we need to explain a tad. EVERYTHING is hinging on these grades. He's been told over the course of his undergraduate career that his writing leaves something to be desired, so a lot was riding on his pulling it together and doing his best on these papers. They are the first grades that he has received back since we've been here, and our staying here for the next year has been hinging on his passing "with distinction" (i.e. 70 or above - I won't even go into the crazy UK grading system). So here it is folks: a 75 and a 78!!!! Let me emphasize that he did not have any feedback from any of his professors and that these were all done by himself (with plenty of blood, sweat, and tears, I might add), but I think I can safely say that he is officially an awesome writer. He's looking into options for publishing one in a journal and probably submitting one for a presentation at a conference in Edinburgh in June...field trip!!!
Finally, last huge thing that's happened - Dad and Elaine have made their travel plans and will be here on the 16th of March!!! Super, super excited to see them and to have guests in our new place! Already planning what we will do and what I will cook ;)
There are all sorts of sweet, small things, too, though - like the surprise birthday party the girls at work threw for me. They took me out to a bar nearby and then to a club for salsa dancing. Even though it was not up everyone's alley, I think it was one of the most fun nights I've had since I've been in the UK, so that was pretty huge. Also, when it was all rainy and icy here just after Christmas, and my half marathon training was going by the wayside, one of the girls from work offered to let me use her treadmill so I could get back on track. Thanks, Claire!
The best things in life are often the gifts that keep giving. After Christmas, Chad started picking up his guitar now and then, but was mostly so engrossed in writing his final papers that it sat all sad and dejected in the corner. This month, though, after his papers were submitted, I've been able to once again bask in the background music glory of my husband playing around with a new rhythm. It's good to have it back. I've missed it.
Lastly, yesterday I auditioned for "The Fabulous Stockingtops", a women's singing group with an attitude that specializes in swingin' tunes - we sang "And All that Jazz", "Breaking Up is Hard to Do", and "One Fine Day", among others, and I even recognized a few of the women as customers from the shop. So I think I'll probably end up doing that, which will be a great way to get to know some more people. Chad and I are also looking at joining a karate dojo once we get settled in our new place. It's on Tuesday nights and quite close by to where we'll be living. Some friends in Bar Harbor do it together with their two sons, and it just seems like such a great family activity, not to mention great exercise, so we thought we'd give it a whirl.
So. That's our story and we're sticking to it. Thank you all for making our lives so full and joyful. We love you!!!!!
x
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Premature excitement is my middle name
Hello all! Here's hoping 2010 has been treating you as well as it's been treating us!
So a few of you know the new and exciting news in our world, but for those of you who don't, get ready - it's a doozy!
Two Tuesdays ago, I received a completely random message in my e-mail inbox from a woman called Gillian who said that she has a three bedroom house to rent in Southdown, an area of Bath that's about a half hour's walk from the city centre. I brought it to the attention of my manager at work and we looked it up on the web, realising that it's about a five minute walk from her house. It was advertised on a property agent's website, which included several photos of what looked like a gorgeous, fully furnished house, complete with landscaped backyard and patio (and compost!!!), as well as a field about a hop and a skip away where we could walk Nugget. Rachel and I twittered excitedly about that for a few minutes, but I was determined not to get my hopes up as they have been dashed so very many times whilst here so far. I e-mailed Gillian back saying that we would be very interested in chatting with her about it, and gave her our budget, which was a full £200 less than what it was advertised for commercially...which did not include bills. I fully expected not to hear back from her as I was sure she could find suitable renters who could afford quite a lot more than us.
Imagine my surprise when she called the evening she said she would to arrange a viewing a couple of days later. I emphasized what our budget was and she seemed to take it all in stride, saying that we sounded perfect and would we like to see it in a couple of days time?
Well, a couple of days came and went and go to see it we did. It was all we could have asked for and more, not counting the fact that Gillian seems totally awesome as a person. It turns out that she stayed in Rockland last year on her way to Bar Harbor, and may well have stayed in the house where Chad had his first job as a landscaper! Basically, she's looking for someone to love and take care of her house and garden. She doesn't want to rent it commercially because she'd have to move all of her stuff out, get crazy insurance, etc., and wouldn't have the opportunity to choose who the tenants would be. She loves her house and just wants it to be taken care of. And she has chosen us to do it.
So, without further ado, here is our new house, where we will be moving to on the 28th of February (these are photos from the letting agent that I pilfered from their website).
This is a view of the living room from the kitchen. As you enter the house, there is a small entryway with stairs in front of you, leading to the second floor. Directly to your right is the door that is visible in this photo.
As you walk through the living room, through the vantage point at which the previous photo was taken, you enter the kitchen, fully remodeled last summer, complete with washing machine (all washing machines seem to be in the kitchen over here). It's evidently also fully kitted out with all modern kitchen accoutrements as well, which will be a welcome change from our current rent, where the kitchen is outfitted only with the very basics.
If you carry on through the kitchen, you find yourself in the conservatory (feel free to make as many Clue references as you like). This was a new south-facing addition to the house last summer and evidently gets so swelteringly hot during the summer that you can't leave candles on the table because they'll melt. Just imagine all the tomatoes I will grown in this room (shudder of pleasure). It's a bit chilly out there now as the heat hasn't been installed yet, but it's a seriously lovely space.
Last but not least is the terraced garden, complete with barbeque and seating area, perrenial flower beds, and bench swing. The compost is that thing in the back right corner (yet another shudder of pleasure). I am very much looking forward to getting my hands dirty in those beds and am already trying to work out when I can start planting lettuces and other cooler-weather crops.
So a few of you know the new and exciting news in our world, but for those of you who don't, get ready - it's a doozy!
Two Tuesdays ago, I received a completely random message in my e-mail inbox from a woman called Gillian who said that she has a three bedroom house to rent in Southdown, an area of Bath that's about a half hour's walk from the city centre. I brought it to the attention of my manager at work and we looked it up on the web, realising that it's about a five minute walk from her house. It was advertised on a property agent's website, which included several photos of what looked like a gorgeous, fully furnished house, complete with landscaped backyard and patio (and compost!!!), as well as a field about a hop and a skip away where we could walk Nugget. Rachel and I twittered excitedly about that for a few minutes, but I was determined not to get my hopes up as they have been dashed so very many times whilst here so far. I e-mailed Gillian back saying that we would be very interested in chatting with her about it, and gave her our budget, which was a full £200 less than what it was advertised for commercially...which did not include bills. I fully expected not to hear back from her as I was sure she could find suitable renters who could afford quite a lot more than us.
Imagine my surprise when she called the evening she said she would to arrange a viewing a couple of days later. I emphasized what our budget was and she seemed to take it all in stride, saying that we sounded perfect and would we like to see it in a couple of days time?
Well, a couple of days came and went and go to see it we did. It was all we could have asked for and more, not counting the fact that Gillian seems totally awesome as a person. It turns out that she stayed in Rockland last year on her way to Bar Harbor, and may well have stayed in the house where Chad had his first job as a landscaper! Basically, she's looking for someone to love and take care of her house and garden. She doesn't want to rent it commercially because she'd have to move all of her stuff out, get crazy insurance, etc., and wouldn't have the opportunity to choose who the tenants would be. She loves her house and just wants it to be taken care of. And she has chosen us to do it.
So, without further ado, here is our new house, where we will be moving to on the 28th of February (these are photos from the letting agent that I pilfered from their website).
This is a view of the living room from the kitchen. As you enter the house, there is a small entryway with stairs in front of you, leading to the second floor. Directly to your right is the door that is visible in this photo.
As you walk through the living room, through the vantage point at which the previous photo was taken, you enter the kitchen, fully remodeled last summer, complete with washing machine (all washing machines seem to be in the kitchen over here). It's evidently also fully kitted out with all modern kitchen accoutrements as well, which will be a welcome change from our current rent, where the kitchen is outfitted only with the very basics.
If you carry on through the kitchen, you find yourself in the conservatory (feel free to make as many Clue references as you like). This was a new south-facing addition to the house last summer and evidently gets so swelteringly hot during the summer that you can't leave candles on the table because they'll melt. Just imagine all the tomatoes I will grown in this room (shudder of pleasure). It's a bit chilly out there now as the heat hasn't been installed yet, but it's a seriously lovely space.
Last but not least is the terraced garden, complete with barbeque and seating area, perrenial flower beds, and bench swing. The compost is that thing in the back right corner (yet another shudder of pleasure). I am very much looking forward to getting my hands dirty in those beds and am already trying to work out when I can start planting lettuces and other cooler-weather crops.Alas, I don't have any photos of the upstairs, but here's the basic rundown: When you alight on the second floor, directly in front of you is the bathroom. To your right is the first bedroom, which has a window overlooking the back garden and seems very quiet. There is also a huge, wall-to-wall built in closet. Down the hall are the other two bedrooms, one a mirror image of the first with the same closet, and the second a smaller, single bedroom currently used as an office space...which is probably what it will remain so Chad has a place to write his dissertation.
As for the area, as we mentioned earlier, there is a "city farm" about a three minute's walk from the front door, which it takes about 40 minutes to circumambulate (thank you, Dad, for expanding my vocabulary), and evidently it's where all the cool dogs hang out. About a five minute's walk away is the little downtown area, including a small chain grocery store, a small independent green grocer, a butcher, an Indian takeaway, and evidently quite a good bakery. I'm sure there's more as well, but we just did a quick drive through.
So. There's our exciting news. This is all very premature as we haven't signed a lease yet, but have a verbal agreement with Gillian, who, strangely enough, seems just as excited about us moving into her house as we are about moving there. We're meeting up to sign paperwork and work out the nuts and bolts of our agreement soon, but until then, please keep your fingers crossed for us! We're giving our notice to our current housemates tomorrow, which I think they'll be pretty bummed about since we all get on pretty well, but I hope they'll be happy for us. It really is a plum opportunity.
I'll let you know as things progress, but for the time being, if you're going to be in the area anytime during the next year, after March 1st, you've got a place to crash.
Love to all,
Sarah and Chad
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Remain calm.
I am continually amazed by the mediocrity the British are willing to live with - pathetic water pressure during a shower where one feels as though one is being spit on, consistently tardy trains, poor quality goods (the coat I got for Christmas is already splitting at the seams and the wellies I got less than two months ago have also split. Le sigh).
The latest in a string of inadequacies struck the country last week, causing the proverbial squealing of breaks and bringing most of the country to a standstill. Snow. But not just any snow....wait for it...three inches of snow. Dear Lord! What will we do??? Panic ensued. Sheer panic. The grocery stores were packed as though Armageddon was upon us. Canned goods and bottled water were flying, literally, flying off the shelves. Ready meals were carted off by the, well, cartload. Schools were cancelled for DAYS before the snow even started. DAYS, I tell you. At work on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, Bath was like a ghost town. Intrepid shoppers came in looking dazed, telling us we were the only shop open in town. By that point, there was no snow accumulation at all in the city of Bath. All three inches of it had been cleared away, and yet, it was utterly deserted.
Evidently, it snows pretty much every year with this result. I would have thought that a Plan B might have been thought of, or at least the mass hysteria wouldn't be quite so massive or hysterical. But no.
I was struck by the dogged determination of the English, though. As no one was able to go to work lest they get their feet wet, snowmen were erected that rivaled some of the cathedrals in the area. Mind you, I have no idea how one constructs a 7 foot plus snowman with less than three inches of snow, but construct they did, and with gusto. The specimin in our front garden has not only a generous three-ball-body, but a full head of hair and various accessories, and she was voted best dressed in the neighborhood. Sophie, our roommate, scraped up almost all the snow in the garden to create her, with the odd result of a snow(wo)man sitting in the middle of a green lawn.
All in all, the Brits are an odd bunch with some pretty bizarre priorities...we're fitting in just fine.
xxx
The latest in a string of inadequacies struck the country last week, causing the proverbial squealing of breaks and bringing most of the country to a standstill. Snow. But not just any snow....wait for it...three inches of snow. Dear Lord! What will we do??? Panic ensued. Sheer panic. The grocery stores were packed as though Armageddon was upon us. Canned goods and bottled water were flying, literally, flying off the shelves. Ready meals were carted off by the, well, cartload. Schools were cancelled for DAYS before the snow even started. DAYS, I tell you. At work on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, Bath was like a ghost town. Intrepid shoppers came in looking dazed, telling us we were the only shop open in town. By that point, there was no snow accumulation at all in the city of Bath. All three inches of it had been cleared away, and yet, it was utterly deserted.
Evidently, it snows pretty much every year with this result. I would have thought that a Plan B might have been thought of, or at least the mass hysteria wouldn't be quite so massive or hysterical. But no.
I was struck by the dogged determination of the English, though. As no one was able to go to work lest they get their feet wet, snowmen were erected that rivaled some of the cathedrals in the area. Mind you, I have no idea how one constructs a 7 foot plus snowman with less than three inches of snow, but construct they did, and with gusto. The specimin in our front garden has not only a generous three-ball-body, but a full head of hair and various accessories, and she was voted best dressed in the neighborhood. Sophie, our roommate, scraped up almost all the snow in the garden to create her, with the odd result of a snow(wo)man sitting in the middle of a green lawn.
All in all, the Brits are an odd bunch with some pretty bizarre priorities...we're fitting in just fine.
xxx
Friday, January 1, 2010
No way!
I know, I know, two blogs in ONE WEEK? REALLY? But I have a few minutes to spare and had such an...interesting day yesterday that I just wanted to pop on and say hi.
First off, my DAD has a blog, about which I am super psyched because he's walking around the island (not all at once - in bite-sized chunks), and I get to read all about it, keepin up with someone I looooove and keeping up with a place I looooove...all from across the ocean. Isn't technology amazing? I am so inspired by the idea that I'm trying to figure out where I can do it around here. Clearly, there aren't any islands to walk around, but there are beautiful walking paths through farmland that criss cross the whole country and I might just find one each weekend and see where it takes me...or maybe I'll just talk about it, as per usual...either way, yay Dad! Way to be!
So yesterday, New Year's Eve (oh yeah, Happy New Year, everyone!)...I went to look at a flat in Bath and thought it was really amazing - good price, good size, furnished, allowed a dog, AMAZING location, etc etc etc. Chad was totally on board and it was a really exciting prospect - to have our own place. So with all that on our minds, we headed over to Tara and Bas's for a New Years Eve sleep- over with SHRIMP BALL!!!!!! For those of you who don't know what shrimp ball is, I really pity you...although I think it's really me who is pitiful when I think about my complete addiction to it. I had also made shortbread (from my new "Great British Food" cookbook) with caramelized apples, but very successfully left it on the table as we hurried down to the train station. Over the course of the evening, Nugget was extremely well-behaved, especially considering how many yummy foods were laid out on the coffee table, exactly at her nose level, and everyone fell madly in love with her. It was such a lovely evening, involving good conversation, easy and delicious food and wine, and lovely company. We realized that "meatball" is probably Nugget's favorite word in the whole world as it is comprised of two of her favorite things in the world - meat and ball, and all had quite a good laugh about that. We watched the countdown on the TV, which culminated in a fabulous fireworks display eminating from the "London Eye", a huge ferris wheel near the Parlaiment in London.
Over the course of the evening, I realized that, for various reasons, it did not make sense for us to rent the flat, which put me in quite a morose mood, as I've been spending 7 and 1/2 hours a week and £66 a month traveling to and from Bath. This morning, though, we awoke to a new day, a new month, a new year, and Chad reminded me to say "rabbit rabbit rabbit" before I was fully awake...quite an auspicious beginning to ZOLO (as my friend, Kit, calls it). After a most delicious breakfast and an invigorating walk back down to town with the Nug, I came home and, determined to get back on my training schedule, ran 4 miles, found a bunch new leads for possible accommodation in Bath, and Skyped with another of my favorite people in the world, my Mom. So, all told, an excellent start to 2010 after a slightly dodgy ending to 2009. Here's to a magnificent new year! Much love to you all, and keep an eye out for a possible new food blog!!!
s
First off, my DAD has a blog, about which I am super psyched because he's walking around the island (not all at once - in bite-sized chunks), and I get to read all about it, keepin up with someone I looooove and keeping up with a place I looooove...all from across the ocean. Isn't technology amazing? I am so inspired by the idea that I'm trying to figure out where I can do it around here. Clearly, there aren't any islands to walk around, but there are beautiful walking paths through farmland that criss cross the whole country and I might just find one each weekend and see where it takes me...or maybe I'll just talk about it, as per usual...either way, yay Dad! Way to be!
So yesterday, New Year's Eve (oh yeah, Happy New Year, everyone!)...I went to look at a flat in Bath and thought it was really amazing - good price, good size, furnished, allowed a dog, AMAZING location, etc etc etc. Chad was totally on board and it was a really exciting prospect - to have our own place. So with all that on our minds, we headed over to Tara and Bas's for a New Years Eve sleep- over with SHRIMP BALL!!!!!! For those of you who don't know what shrimp ball is, I really pity you...although I think it's really me who is pitiful when I think about my complete addiction to it. I had also made shortbread (from my new "Great British Food" cookbook) with caramelized apples, but very successfully left it on the table as we hurried down to the train station. Over the course of the evening, Nugget was extremely well-behaved, especially considering how many yummy foods were laid out on the coffee table, exactly at her nose level, and everyone fell madly in love with her. It was such a lovely evening, involving good conversation, easy and delicious food and wine, and lovely company. We realized that "meatball" is probably Nugget's favorite word in the whole world as it is comprised of two of her favorite things in the world - meat and ball, and all had quite a good laugh about that. We watched the countdown on the TV, which culminated in a fabulous fireworks display eminating from the "London Eye", a huge ferris wheel near the Parlaiment in London.
Over the course of the evening, I realized that, for various reasons, it did not make sense for us to rent the flat, which put me in quite a morose mood, as I've been spending 7 and 1/2 hours a week and £66 a month traveling to and from Bath. This morning, though, we awoke to a new day, a new month, a new year, and Chad reminded me to say "rabbit rabbit rabbit" before I was fully awake...quite an auspicious beginning to ZOLO (as my friend, Kit, calls it). After a most delicious breakfast and an invigorating walk back down to town with the Nug, I came home and, determined to get back on my training schedule, ran 4 miles, found a bunch new leads for possible accommodation in Bath, and Skyped with another of my favorite people in the world, my Mom. So, all told, an excellent start to 2010 after a slightly dodgy ending to 2009. Here's to a magnificent new year! Much love to you all, and keep an eye out for a possible new food blog!!!
s
Saturday, December 26, 2009
And to all a good night
Wow! Really? It's been a MONTH since I wrote??? How is that possible. I'm a wicked blog-slacker. Grovel grovel and what not. OK, on to the update.
Happy Christmas to everyone!!! As much as I was dreading it, Christmas has been a pretty amazing experience here in the UK. Chad and I chill out very well together, and yesterday was the epitome of our chill-energies merging. We slept in a bit and made coffee and lounged around for a little while while pecan sticky buns were doing their thing in the oven. After a leisurely walk with the Nug, we came back to eat said sticky buns and open our gifts. THANK YOU to the many of you who sent cards and gifts! It realllllly made our day to have care packages full of mementos from home (but are sorry for the HUGE postage charges! Jeez!). Chad hit the jackpot this year with a new guitar and a sweet pair of boots to replace the Keens that got a bit waterlogged this autumn. I scored pretty hard with a new coat, a jewelery tree, and not one but TWO new cookbooks. My sister also totally rocked the house by sending us an enormous amount of pb cups (one of the things from home we've been missing - the English are not fans of pb and chocolate together). We had a few Skype dates with family and ate a huge meal of steak and Yorkshire pudding, and topped off the day with the newest Harry Potter film. All in all, it was a totally excellent day. Apart from a few twinges of homesickness, I was really really really happy to be spending the holiday with my favorite person in the world, cooking, and generally vegging out, especially after a particularly hectic week at work. So, surprise, surprise, Christmas rocked this year. Sigh of relief.
So today, as many of you know, is my birthday. What you may not know, however is that it's also a national holiday here in Britain. Yay for the whole country having my birthday off! Seriously, though, it's been yet another awesome day. So far today, I've slept in, eaten pb cups for breakfast (thank you, Kt!!!!), gone for a mini run (my first in over a week since I got struck down with the stupid sleep-stealing cold from heck), and finished Wally Lamb's new book. In the works for this evening is artichoke heart and carmelized onion pizza, brownies with ice cream, and the new Wolverine film. I'm already planning Bloody Marys and a huge brunch for tomorrow. Ahhhh, holiday.
There aren't any huge updates in life since the last post. We're still living in Keynsham, I'm still working, and Chad's still studying. His last class of the semester was last Friday, so now he has until the 14th of January to finish his three final papers - upon which his cumulative grades for the courses will be based...but no pressure, Chad! He's actually doing magnificently, having finished one paper completely (topic: violent death in "media" through the ages), completed about half of another, and researching the third (topic: the missing body - how to memorialize the dead when there are no remains to bury or cremate). If it was me, you can bet I wouldn't even be starting them until January.
As for me, working retail at Christmas has been...um....well...interesting? You can bet I'm going to be much nicer during shopping trips from now on. I'm really loving the girls I work with, and being a busy shopping season has kept things hopping in the shop. Plus, we've been giving out Lindt truffles to our customers (read: forgetting to offer them to customers and therefore eating them ourselves). So life isn't so bad ;). For our Christmas "do" at work, we all got dressed up and went out on the town for tapas and dancing...all of this in the midst of my heinous, sleep-stealing cold, hence the need for a super chill holiday. We also did a very good job at indulging in pretty much everything we felt like eating over the last week or so, so now that I'm back to almost full health, it's time to get running again. I can't believe how fast my stamina slackened after now running for a week! I felt every step of those 2 miles today after running 11 a couple of weeks ago!
I hope all of you had a simply amazing holiday. I've been planning a fun food update for the blog, so look for that soon, and I promise to try to keep on top of things. We've got some fun (and chill) plans for New Years Eve, and we're looking forward to a trip up to Shrewsbury sometime in January. Late Feb will find us in Rome, followed by the half marathon in early March, and possibly a visit from my Dad and Mim in early Spring! So lots to look forward to, lots to think about. Love to all of you and hope you all have super celebrations of the new year, in whatever way you choose.
Happy Christmas to everyone!!! As much as I was dreading it, Christmas has been a pretty amazing experience here in the UK. Chad and I chill out very well together, and yesterday was the epitome of our chill-energies merging. We slept in a bit and made coffee and lounged around for a little while while pecan sticky buns were doing their thing in the oven. After a leisurely walk with the Nug, we came back to eat said sticky buns and open our gifts. THANK YOU to the many of you who sent cards and gifts! It realllllly made our day to have care packages full of mementos from home (but are sorry for the HUGE postage charges! Jeez!). Chad hit the jackpot this year with a new guitar and a sweet pair of boots to replace the Keens that got a bit waterlogged this autumn. I scored pretty hard with a new coat, a jewelery tree, and not one but TWO new cookbooks. My sister also totally rocked the house by sending us an enormous amount of pb cups (one of the things from home we've been missing - the English are not fans of pb and chocolate together). We had a few Skype dates with family and ate a huge meal of steak and Yorkshire pudding, and topped off the day with the newest Harry Potter film. All in all, it was a totally excellent day. Apart from a few twinges of homesickness, I was really really really happy to be spending the holiday with my favorite person in the world, cooking, and generally vegging out, especially after a particularly hectic week at work. So, surprise, surprise, Christmas rocked this year. Sigh of relief.
So today, as many of you know, is my birthday. What you may not know, however is that it's also a national holiday here in Britain. Yay for the whole country having my birthday off! Seriously, though, it's been yet another awesome day. So far today, I've slept in, eaten pb cups for breakfast (thank you, Kt!!!!), gone for a mini run (my first in over a week since I got struck down with the stupid sleep-stealing cold from heck), and finished Wally Lamb's new book. In the works for this evening is artichoke heart and carmelized onion pizza, brownies with ice cream, and the new Wolverine film. I'm already planning Bloody Marys and a huge brunch for tomorrow. Ahhhh, holiday.
There aren't any huge updates in life since the last post. We're still living in Keynsham, I'm still working, and Chad's still studying. His last class of the semester was last Friday, so now he has until the 14th of January to finish his three final papers - upon which his cumulative grades for the courses will be based...but no pressure, Chad! He's actually doing magnificently, having finished one paper completely (topic: violent death in "media" through the ages), completed about half of another, and researching the third (topic: the missing body - how to memorialize the dead when there are no remains to bury or cremate). If it was me, you can bet I wouldn't even be starting them until January.
As for me, working retail at Christmas has been...um....well...interesting? You can bet I'm going to be much nicer during shopping trips from now on. I'm really loving the girls I work with, and being a busy shopping season has kept things hopping in the shop. Plus, we've been giving out Lindt truffles to our customers (read: forgetting to offer them to customers and therefore eating them ourselves). So life isn't so bad ;). For our Christmas "do" at work, we all got dressed up and went out on the town for tapas and dancing...all of this in the midst of my heinous, sleep-stealing cold, hence the need for a super chill holiday. We also did a very good job at indulging in pretty much everything we felt like eating over the last week or so, so now that I'm back to almost full health, it's time to get running again. I can't believe how fast my stamina slackened after now running for a week! I felt every step of those 2 miles today after running 11 a couple of weeks ago!
I hope all of you had a simply amazing holiday. I've been planning a fun food update for the blog, so look for that soon, and I promise to try to keep on top of things. We've got some fun (and chill) plans for New Years Eve, and we're looking forward to a trip up to Shrewsbury sometime in January. Late Feb will find us in Rome, followed by the half marathon in early March, and possibly a visit from my Dad and Mim in early Spring! So lots to look forward to, lots to think about. Love to all of you and hope you all have super celebrations of the new year, in whatever way you choose.
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