Well, it is the middle of January and it is hard to believe that it is winter. No snow, the birds are chirping, and the streets smell of dirt. It seems so odd not to be battling sub-zero temperatures and mounds of snow. I have to say that although I do miss the sunshine (which we really don’t get a lot of) I don’t miss Canadian winters. They are so wearing. Boots on, undershirt, t shirt, turtleneck, sweater, double up on the socks, and ensure little skin as possible is exposed. I would feel like Randy in the Christmas Story. And that was just to take the garbage out!
Rick often jokes about how green things are here and just the other day said, “It’s time to cut the grass again.” Well, obviously, it is too wet to do that but the concept alone that the grass continues to grow even in January is very amusing to us. People still have flower pots at their doorsteps and hanging baskets on porches. The market sells bulbs of hyacinth and primrose and English Ivy continues to thrive along fences.
Apart from the differences in weather, we seem to be adjusting nicely to our new life. Rick comes home less freaked out than he did in those crazy early months as a new teacher. He laughs and jokes more than when he first started his job and he tells some terrific stories of his antics at the school with students. His new year’s motto is “Don’t get mad, get even.” And for those of you that know Rick well, he is brilliant at that!
Now that I am working, I have established a routine, which is always important to one’s mental health, as far as I am concerned. Having a purpose for the day is what helps me spring out of bed. I was feeling so incredibly lonesome and isolated without a job. This time alone, however, was a very positive experience in that it made me appreciate the work that I do every day. Not that I didn’t before when I was working for the school board. It is just that this is so different. Working in another country and in the private sector with so many different cultures is such a treat. It has been a mind altering experience for me. It is also a confidence booster in that I have been able to take my past experiences and skills acquired in my life so far and apply them somewhere else and be successful. I know I shouldn’t doubt my abilities, but hey, who doesn’t have pangs of anxiety over making a huge leap outta the comfort zone and into unchartered territory?
Well, Chan maybe. He’s a star, really. No complaints from him. As I have shared with you before, this transition has been practically seamless for him. I admire his keen sense of self at such an early age. I wish I had that at 15. His friends are great boys and stop by to meet him as they head off to Bluewater (one of England’s largest shopping malls) to hang out or see a movie, go for a workout at the local fitness club, or head to a party only minutes away from our house. He loves having his independence and this is due to the fact that the bus is at our doorstep and he can come and go without having to rely on us to taxi him around.
This has also meant that Rick and I finally have more time as a couple. How nice is that?! Just today we headed out to Greenwich to see an exhibition on the history of the sun at the Planetarium. We took our time because we could and had a lovely stroll through the park and talked about couple junk. With the house being maintenance free and so easy to clean, and Chan doing Chan stuff, we have time to enjoy some touring and sight-seeing and focus on us.
