Watching the Rowing Blokes...I mean Boats!

Another week has come and gone here in Oxford. Seems like they continue to fly by! I had a lovely weekend. Friday night, I stayed in and we all seemed to have the same idea - quick, easy, tasty supper of pizza! Saturday was absolutely gorgeous, so I went for a bike ride up to Summertown (just north of Oxford city centre). When I got back, my roommates were heading out to a Cider Festival downtown, and invited me along. It was at a pub I hadn't been to yet, Far From the Maddening Crowd. A few of their friends met up with us as well and we spent the night socializing there. On the way home, we stopped to get some food. While I am taking in the British culture, and sacrificing parts of my culture, there are things that I just can't sacrifice - especially after living in Quebec the month before I came over here. For the past 2 Saturdays, I have started to bring some Canadian culture to the streets of Oxford. What is this culture I am introducing to the British folk, you ask? POUTINE! The unofficial food of Canada. However, I can't order it as poutine over here, yet. I have to say "Chips, Cheese and Gravy!" I don't think my roommates have quite hopped on the poutine culture train yet, nor has anyone else that I know of - but I am not a quitter. Back in September, when I was in Cambridge, we asked at a pub if they had poutine. The bartender asked us what kind of cocktail that was.

The Hobgoblin at the Pub last night

I spent the afternoon today walking down by the Thames into town. Had coffee at a little cafe, and (Catherine, cover your eyes!) applied for a few more PE Specialist positions in the London area. On my way back home along the Thames, there was some racing going on. Very exciting. Each boat had its own cheering section. The athlete in me was very jealous to not be part of that competition, but it was cool to be near it.



Tonight is Halloween, and we have already had a few kids to our door - not many though. We also changed our clocks back already - the British have to be the first at everything. Anyway, I am only 4 hours ahead of Canada for the next week!

I have been taking pictures of the gorgeous colours that fall is providing us with - the quality isn't great, as they were taken with my mobile, but enjoy!

Much love! xo

Fall is Fading...

Although the beauty of fall remains, I can see that is starting to fade. One of the trees along the Thames (on my walk into town) has lost all of its leaves :(...I am eager to see how I handle winter here. Back in Canada I always had snowboarding and ice hockey to look forward to when the cold and snow came. This year I will have to get creative! I was at a pub last night with a teacher friend and tried some mulled cider! Maybe that can be my winter thing...hmmm...I think I'm on to something!

I didn't get up to too much today - but I did start the important process of applying to full-time teaching jobs starting in January. None have been in Oxford, unfortunately. Most have been in Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire, north of Oxfordshire. A few in different boroughs of London - mostly south east London. It would be kind of a headache to move in January, but I think the pros would far out way the cons in that situation. However, we shall see what happens! My other option would be to stay in Oxford until July, continuing with my guaranteed work agreements (contracts) and find something long term for September 2011.

My mind is open to the possibilities and experiences that are waiting for me. I think in this kind of situation, it is best to be excited for what is to come, and try not to over think too much!

Half term is officially over - I had a good week, it was good to rest up. I am anticipating that work will be busy for me. About 6 weeks left of this contract, and then Christmas - already! Seems as though the time is flying by!

Off to bed - enjoy your weekend!

Much love! xo

Leaves and Leafs...oh and Castles!

Hello...half term is half over! I think teachers have a development day on Monday, and then I should start working again on Tuesday. It's been nice to have a week "off" though. I have started looking at full time work I can apply for in January. I enjoy the supply teaching, but I think I would enjoy the full time salary a little more :)

Yesterday I spent the day in Wallingford with Catherine and her lovely babies. We went for a beautiful fall walk along the Thames. What a gorgeous time of year! I love fall; mud, leaves and all!

Along our walk I had a pretty big nerd moment, as I saw the Wallingford Castle - or at least whats left of it! This was SO cool...just standing in the field where so much happened hundreds of years ago! I can't really describe how cool it was (I think Catherine could find a few words for how nerdy I was being...). Here is a pic of part of the castle -

Thought to have been built between 1067 - 1071 on orders from William the Conqueror

I had a lovely afternoon with her and Jessie. When Oscar got home from Nursery, we went for a play at the park and then to the shop, where Oscar counts out little "white mice" (candy) - probably one of the cutest moments ever! Lovely little boy that he is, he always makes sure to share with mommy and Emily :) Totally makes my day.

Oh yes! I should also share with you that I had an early Christmas!! Catherine and Gareth recorded the Leafs game for me!!! I was beyond excited! Not being able to play this year is hard enough, but I didn't realize how much I would miss even watching it! I never realized how much hockey was a part of my life until I don't have it at all! I even went the entire day on Wednesday NOT checking tsn.ca for the score, so that I could watch the game and pretend it was live.

Ok - off to do some laundry and that sort of fun stuff. The weather is kind of blah today - not raining, but not sunny. The fall colours are something to be admired though!

Much love! xo

Luck Runs Out...Why Not Rain?

We have enjoyed a long run of SUNNY and reasonably warm (to a Canadian) days here in Oxford, which means it must come to an end. Today it did. Gross, wet, windy, rainy, bleh!

I had a good lie in today - although will not share the time I woke up with you. I spent the day relaxing, cleaning and did some groceries. (Thanks mom for the umbrella! - it had been so nice here lately that my umbrella actually got to dry out!)

Not to worry though, I have some more great shots of Bath for you to take a look at! Truly great city!

Bath Abbey & a cool looking corner

Downtown Bath & Art Gallery


Pulteney Bridge
(designed by Robert Adam in 1769 - has shops in it!)

Royal Crescent
Designed by John Wood (same guy that designed The Circus)


Within the building there are 30 individual houses, 1 hotel and 1 museum!

Such a cool day to experience this city.

Off to make some tea...or dinner!

Much love! xo

Bath Perspectives

I couldn't resist - I woke up, the sun was shining...of course I had to do some major seizing! I decided I would do Bath today (the city, not to be confused with the act of bathing).


It was a £10 return train ride to Bath (from Oxford), so VERY cheap...took less than an hour and a half to get there - pretty quick.

There isn't really much to say to explain the pictures...I visited all the big spots:

Bath Abbey
(since 1499!)

Roman Baths
- dates from the first century AD

Christ Church

The Paragon
Very unique Georgian Architecture

Much to see and do in Bath - especially shopping! It is a great day trip destination - extremely glad I seized the day!

River Avon




The Circus
Designed by John Wood (Sr & Jr), 1754-69

There are so many pictures I want to share with you, so I will do a Bath - Part 2 posting tomorrow!

Tomorrow is another day! Excited to see what kind of adventure it will hold for me.

Much love! xo

Cambridge Visitors

I have had a very lovely weekend, both weather and company wise!

Kendle & Meaghan came up on Friday, around 1pm. We walked for a bit, saw Christ Church, the Botanical Gardens, St Mary the Virgin and then walked back to my house along the Thames River. Check out some pictures from our weekend!

The girls had their packs, so it was short tour on Friday. We made some supper and headed out for the night to the city centre to check out a few pubs. We went to 2 - Checkers and Turf Tavern...both very old and full of character. Sitting in the Turf Tavern was very cool, it actually felt like we were back in the 1600s. I can't really even describe it, you would just have to be actually in the atmosphere.

On Saturday I took the girls to the Oxford Castle Mound. It costs a pound to climb it, but its worth it. Its the cheapest way to view the city.

After that we toured around to Broad Street, saw The White Horse pub and Blackwell's Bookshop (2 historic staples in Oxford).

The Museum of the History of Science. It was a very cool museum to check out. Lots of neat artifacts and tools!!

We then continued our tour to New College Lane, Holywell Street, Catte Street and High Street and found the following sites: Radcliffe Camera, St Mary the Virgin University, All Souls College, Bridge of Sighs, and the Sheldonian Theatre.

A lot of the buildings in Oxford are centuries old. As you can see, people were MUCH smaller than they are now - and some of the houses are quite crooked.



Something very cool I wanted to make a special note of, was this picture below of the chalk board. It was on display in the Museum. Einstein actually wrote that problem out on the board when he was invited to Oxford - how neat is that!

This week is half-term in England - which means I have the week off! Some of my plans include going back to Blenheim Palace, visiting the city of Bath for the day, spending a day with Catherine, Oscar and Jessie in Wallingford, taking my bike for a tour and getting involved with a sports team of some kind - I am looking into Korfball.

Have a great Sunday evening.

Much love! xo