We've been in the UK for 1 month now and lots has been happening...
Our time here has been a mixture of amazing, fun, tough, exciting, adventurous, and thoughts of - have we done the right thing?! It has been fun to visit new places and meet people, but because we are living here the so called 'simple things' are so different over here. Some of which are funny and some frustrating.
Anna and I have both been into our new schools and had the run-down. There was heaps to take in and the days were so exhausting! We felt overwhelmed with everything to do and learn. The schools are in Reading and my school is called St Mary and All Saints and I will be teaching year 5. Anna's school is Ranikhet Primary and she will have reception which is 4 and 5 year olds.
Life here has been a bit up and down - some things are very tricky such as getting car insurance - yes we've bought a car (1998 Ford Mondeo). Older cars are very cheap here as there are so many around for sale. I had to obviously sort car insurance for it (which was not easy at all). 5 hours on the phone and 6 companies later - we have it! It did cost more than the car though! We had decided that buying a car was a good option and bought one sooner rather than later as getting around will be easier, especially since we have our packs to take with us and all. Getting on the tube at peak time with a huge pack is not an easy thing to do, and it really upsets some people - lots of sighs and frowns :-( And we have also decided to go on a camping trip around the UK.
CAMPING
It's now Saturday 13th and we've been camping for a week now. Ahhh, summer camping in England... grey skies, rain, leaky tents, layers of clothing to bed... not quite the same as a camping trip away mid January in NZ!!! However, we do get to experience rolling English countryside and explore the most gorgeous and picturesque little villages scattered everywhere. We've made our way up through the Peak District, the Yorkshire Dales and now the Lake District, and have also invested in a bigger tent, so we are both enjoying the camping experience even better now!! Next stop is most likely somewhere up in Scotland, which we'll explore for a week before heading back down to Reading to start getting stuck into setting up for the school year starting in September. (I can't believe we've been on holiday for over two months and still have a few weeks to go!!)
For those of you who don't know, we have found a lovely little flat to live in. It is in a cute wee village called Burghfield Common outside of Reading. After arriving in Reading, we quickly realised that living in the town is not what we are after (lets just say it isn't the nicest place in England!) So we are very pleased to get the flat at The Bolt Hole Farm so we can enjoy the countryside, and the alpacas and horses that live outside our house! We will most definitely post up some photos when we move in. Although it isn't until mid September so until then we will be living in temporary accommodation somewhere.
We've been really lucky to make some great friends, Emily and Fraser, who we met in Scotland at Holly's wedding, and who live in a village near Reading. They are great fun and have been very welcoming. We've missed all our friends back in NZ (yes, you!) so it has been so good to get to know these two, although we only have the pleasure of their company for a few more months as they are planning a move to NZ in November! We are trying to convince them to head Wellington way.
Right, it must be time to head off exploring now. More later. (And yes, we have been terrible at posting photos I know. We need to track down our camera cord... so hopefully some more photos soon.
Love,
us xx
Our time here has been a mixture of amazing, fun, tough, exciting, adventurous, and thoughts of - have we done the right thing?! It has been fun to visit new places and meet people, but because we are living here the so called 'simple things' are so different over here. Some of which are funny and some frustrating.
Anna and I have both been into our new schools and had the run-down. There was heaps to take in and the days were so exhausting! We felt overwhelmed with everything to do and learn. The schools are in Reading and my school is called St Mary and All Saints and I will be teaching year 5. Anna's school is Ranikhet Primary and she will have reception which is 4 and 5 year olds.
Life here has been a bit up and down - some things are very tricky such as getting car insurance - yes we've bought a car (1998 Ford Mondeo). Older cars are very cheap here as there are so many around for sale. I had to obviously sort car insurance for it (which was not easy at all). 5 hours on the phone and 6 companies later - we have it! It did cost more than the car though! We had decided that buying a car was a good option and bought one sooner rather than later as getting around will be easier, especially since we have our packs to take with us and all. Getting on the tube at peak time with a huge pack is not an easy thing to do, and it really upsets some people - lots of sighs and frowns :-( And we have also decided to go on a camping trip around the UK.
CAMPING
It's now Saturday 13th and we've been camping for a week now. Ahhh, summer camping in England... grey skies, rain, leaky tents, layers of clothing to bed... not quite the same as a camping trip away mid January in NZ!!! However, we do get to experience rolling English countryside and explore the most gorgeous and picturesque little villages scattered everywhere. We've made our way up through the Peak District, the Yorkshire Dales and now the Lake District, and have also invested in a bigger tent, so we are both enjoying the camping experience even better now!! Next stop is most likely somewhere up in Scotland, which we'll explore for a week before heading back down to Reading to start getting stuck into setting up for the school year starting in September. (I can't believe we've been on holiday for over two months and still have a few weeks to go!!)
For those of you who don't know, we have found a lovely little flat to live in. It is in a cute wee village called Burghfield Common outside of Reading. After arriving in Reading, we quickly realised that living in the town is not what we are after (lets just say it isn't the nicest place in England!) So we are very pleased to get the flat at The Bolt Hole Farm so we can enjoy the countryside, and the alpacas and horses that live outside our house! We will most definitely post up some photos when we move in. Although it isn't until mid September so until then we will be living in temporary accommodation somewhere.
We've been really lucky to make some great friends, Emily and Fraser, who we met in Scotland at Holly's wedding, and who live in a village near Reading. They are great fun and have been very welcoming. We've missed all our friends back in NZ (yes, you!) so it has been so good to get to know these two, although we only have the pleasure of their company for a few more months as they are planning a move to NZ in November! We are trying to convince them to head Wellington way.
Right, it must be time to head off exploring now. More later. (And yes, we have been terrible at posting photos I know. We need to track down our camera cord... so hopefully some more photos soon.
Love,
us xx
