Wednesday 27 February 2008

Work and Walk

Uh - oh. I showed Kent how to update the blog... what have I done??!! In fairness, I've been pretty slack at keeping it updated, but we've been ever so busy re-learning how to say words like sAH-ven (7) and pAHn (pen) and to start conversations with "Alright?" that I've barely had a chance to turn the central heating down and pay the council tax, let alone do anything interesting enough to merit blogging....

I have a job. I don’t entirely understand what I am supposed to be doing. I have worked out I am teaching Maths and English. They call them “Application of Numbers” and “Application of Language” so it doesn’t sound too “schoolie” to the little darlings.
I teach the Horticulture Kids and the Animal Care (Wabbits and cute little fluffy things) Girls.
I also am doing a little bit of teaching the, um, what is the politically correct word? “special” students.
It has actually been kind of fun... especially when a kid asks you “how long does it take to get to Ispwich on the boat [from NZ]?” and figuring out that he didn’t know we would have airplanes or airports or cities or ambulances or pretty much anything else, bless him.

Anyhow.

Hiking. On Tuesday the 12th I jumped on the $200 train ride from Ipswich Town, home of the mighty “Tractor Boys” (for the uninitiated, that's the, ahem, fantastic local football team), to Sheffield to meet up with Rod and Thomas, then we headed the three hours to the Lakes District in Cumbria - home of Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit, William Wordsworth, Alfred Wainwright, John Ruskin and a couple of sneaky wee Nuclear Power Plants.

We started walking the first night at about 10:30pm. We just had a short hour and a bit up to one of the small lakes for the night.
The next morning we had a big climb up a cliff. I really enjoyed it thinking it was amazing and we should do it a couple more times. Unfortunately when we got to the top the view was a bit average.

Um, yeah, no. That’s not how it went. The climbing was scary as be-jesus but the view was amazing bar none... here it is - and if you click the photo there's a couple more of our adventure:

During the four days we climbed (wandered up, for those used to walking in NZ) four of the six highest peaks in the Lakes District including Scarfell Pike, the highest mountain (ridge) in England. We did about 35km across and about two km up cumulatively. There were a lot of really cool paths and views. Once we got above 450m we did not go below it again, so we didn't have anything more than one hour walking straight up.

The weather was as good as was possible for all four days, no rain and even very little cloud and wind... I know - England. Winter. Sunshine? I was as confused as you are.

Haven’t done any hiking for months now so it was nice to get out and into it.

And, yes the three of us slept in the luxury of that two person tent...cosy.

Kent and Eryn x

P.S. Eryn's Valentines Day present arrived finally. She thinks it is great, a very thoughtful and romantic gesture... well, as much as "Asterix in Italian" can be a romantic gesture.

Tuesday 5 February 2008

The Beautiful Game Part II

Hooray - we finally have a home phone and internet connection (we didn't think it would take so long either - they do love their red tape, these Brits!)... so we can update you on what we've been up to... Kent's decided he's dead keen on following our local football team, Ipswich Town... He has this to say:

"I beheld my first Ipswich Town game on Tuesday night. A beautiful night of 6 or 7 degrees welcomed the two teams to battle out the most exciting live football game I have yet seen.
After only six minutes on the clock they had already racked up four minutes overtime after the dynamic, ethnically-advantaged Danny Haynes bowled the AR into the wooden fence, making a noise that could be heard above the roar of the twenty thousand and ninety five spectators. He was on the ground for three minutes, before getting up and continuing. He lasted a further twenty minutes before subbing himself off.
The fourth official got a run, but the crowd didn’t much appreciate his input after a couple of dubious offsides, and his flagging for a penalty against us late in the second half. The penalty was given, and then saved, by Neil Alexander, who is being sold to Rangers.
The referee was OK; controlling the game well in the first half, but after warning one of Plymouth's defenders for his second poor foul he let him off the next time and then finally carded him after his fourth. Some would say that one could have been his second yellow.
I was sitting next to an old guy who has been coming to “Town” games since his first game when he was on leave from the army in 1938. He has had a season pass, on the same seat, for over 20 years now.
I had a great game, as did the old guy, the ref was OK, the fourth official was a wee bit pants. The End.
Oooh you'll want to know the score... Nil Nil"

Sorry bout that - he insisted on a full account of the game... and threatened to cut off my chai latte supply if I didn't let him publish it...

Talk soon
Kent & Eryn x