I am a student of the blog....

Ok, before I get to my weekend I have exciting news! I think I have figured out how to make it so that you don`t need a google account to leave comments. Yes, I realize this news is mostly only exciting to me, but this is my blog and I can share my excitement if I want to :) Now I will see who my real friends are.... (just kidding).


Now, back to real news... Friday my regular lovely school was closed for snow, once again. And, no, we had not actually gotten any new snow, they just decided it was too difficult to go to school, so why bother.  I was looking at my bank account and looking at info on Geneva (apparently the 6th most expensive city IN THE WORLD) and was beginning to feel the twinges of panic... So I tried my best to make my agency feel guilty about my lack of work situation due to the inability of London to function in cold weather..? aaannnd SUCCESS! haha They found me a day of work! I went to a school way over on the East side, near Bow Station for those of you with a map handy. It was a nice little school with nice little children and nice, helpful TA`s and was overall a great way to end a hectic week! After work I met up with Angela in the city and we fought our way down Oxford Street over to Leicester Square for a nice Friday dinner.

Christine with amazing cake

This is a cake!!?

Saturday Angela and I met up with Josephine and Christine who had each won 2 tickets to a Taste of Christmas festival, and invited us to join them. We made our way to the Excel centre where they had this festival set up. It was basically a Christmas themed `home show`.  They had a huge arena-type area filled with stalls each selling their wares, and most providing samples :) Sausage, cheese, chocolate, fudge, wine, ginger wine, bread, brownies, chutney, salsa, jam, chips and dip..... It goes on and on. Needless to say we were full by the time we left and in a festive spirit!

Angela with another crazy cake

Jo with her ``famous`` chef friend :P

Cake sample? Yes please!!

Jo had not yet been to the Cologne German market near the London Eye and wanted to check it out, so we made a pit stop and walked through that market before heading for home.  After resting our feet and digesting our samples, Jo invited Angela and I over to their place to watch *gasp* TV!!! It goes without saying, that after 3 months without even an actual telly in the house we were excited to watch one that had cable too! So we got our warm socks and boots back on and walked over for a late night movie of Slumdog Millionaire :)

Sunday I actually motivated myself for a morning run, then spent most of the day relaxing at home. Another lovely weekend in London. Countdown is on to holidays and Switzerland :)

London Lights

our snowy home

So what do we think of the new background?? I'm liking the warm brown :) haha

Well this week started out a little rough. I was feeling a little run down, tired, fighting off a bit of a cold and with all the holiday stuff around started to feel a little homesick. I was warned about the 3 month mark being when homesickness can kick in... But I have some great friends from home who have kept in touch and after a few chats was feeling quite a bit better, made some plans for this weekend and things we really looking up after my ordeal of a day on Tuesday.

The London Eye

Wednesday was another snow day, many schools still closed. This morning I was booked to work and got a call in the morning that my school - and 10 others! - were closed for snow again. This time it actually did snow some more over night at least. I was told to jump back in bed, but keep my clothes close in case something came in. This basically meant, go back to sleep, you won't be working today, since most days they ask repeatedly "Ok, so you're all ready to go right? Ready to leave as soon as I call you with something right?" So back to bed I went.
It snowed on and off today as well, giving us a grand total of about 2 inches here!! I know, crazy times!!

Trafalgar Square tree

After going to the gym and relaxing most of the day I was feeling the onset of cabin fever (I could never make it in an isolated village!). I knew that the Norwegian tree in Trafalgar Square was being lit tonight and I have been meaning to get some night pics of the city, so I went upstairs to convince Angela to come with me. Turns out she was feeling the fever too and wanted to get out of the house!

Me & Ang with the tree :)

We headed to see the German Christmas market set up by the London Eye first. Then made our way to the lighting of the Trafalgar Square tree and then caught a bus up to Oxford Street to really take in all the Christmas lights we could! It was beautiful! Great night in the city :)

Big Ben

Houses of Parliament & Big Ben

Oxford Circus

Pretty lights :)

Booooooooo (yes, that's all I can come up with right now)

Some of the guards marching in - all wearing Canadian bear skin hats

What a terrible day!!! So to start off with something more positive I will rewind to the weekend.

On Thursday night I had my first 'couch surfer' arrive.  She is from Illinois and is spending a term in Ireland doing her student teaching. There are some sketchy people on the couch surfing website, but I thought "A teacher? Can't go wrong!" And boy was I right!! I had to work on Friday so I gave her some info about walking tours before heading to bed for the night. I got home from work on Friday feeling like I was going to be battling a cold - booo. She came home later in the evening and had done 2 walking tours that day! Talk about dedication to getting the full effect of London in one weekend!


On Saturday we had breaky and headed into the city to see the changing of the guards.  It was a decent day but very cold! The guards all marched in to the gates at Buckingham Palace, and we watched from a good vantage point across the street. It was cool watching them all come in and hearing the band play, but it started to get less exciting as they milled about in from of the palace and our feet started to slowly freeze off. So we ducked out a bit early in search of a good woolly scarf and lunch.

Westminster Abbey

After a refuelling lunch at The Spaghetti House (highly recommend), we went to Westminster Abbey to attend a service. We did not know that you can make reservations to do this? so we ended up sitting in folding chairs where we unfortunately couldn't see the priest or the choir, but only the reader.  This was all right though as the Abbey is spectacular with the high ceilings, statues, stained glass... So beautiful. And to hear the entire place filled with the sounds of the choir almost put you in a meditative state, so completely removed from the noise and bustle of the city. After the service we walked back up past Buckingham Palace to Hyde Park where there is a Winter Festival going on. Best way to describe this is as a winter PNE. It was full of little booths and food and rides, including an outdoor skating rink. It was also jam packed with people!! All in all great day, and a great new friend to spend it with. (We are already planning New Year's eve 2012 in New York!)

Santa!!  :)

Rides and beer houses (ok, a little better than the PNE)

Stalls everywhere - many selling toques, but they look at you funny if you say 'toque'

Now on to today.... My lovely Tuesday at with the Brethrens was violently snatched from me because they declared a snow day (at that point this morning we had about half a centimeter of snow, I actually thought my agency was kidding when I got the message). Instead I got called out to St Patrick's Primary. I was thinking "I go to St Patrick's church back home, this must be a sign of a good day to come!" WRONG!!!
I get to the other side of the city (my post code starts SW19, this school is SE18 - actual OPPOSITE side of the planet for me) and there is quite a bit more snow here. I slip and slide my way to the school and arrive at the same time as the teacher whose class I am covering. She gets them settled with some writing and leaves - no notes, no extra work for those who finish, just gone. After break she puts up a slide, points to it and walks out of the room. Thanks for the help! The TA is helpful, but soon leaves for her early lunch and the kids go nuts.
I survive and find my way to the staffroom for lunch only to be greeted with a glass of champagne to celebrate the head teacher's 60th birthday. Right on, this day must be about to turn around.
Nope! I get changed classes and end up in a 3/4 class. When I get there the TA is leaving for her lunch break, I ask what I am supposed to have the kids do and she says "Don't know Miss" and walks out. Awesome.
I find some vague note about similes and a poem on her desk with a note to be copied x31, but only one copy is there. Oh and did I mention they are doing construction on the school so this class is filled with noise from a jackhammer (so it would seem) being used on the roof. Only when I make up a simile about this, the kids have no idea what a jack hammer is.... grrr.
I kind of get the kids to listen for about 3 second bursts, then give up because they are seriously the most terrible kids I've ever met. A couple of fist fights break out. I am pacing the room muttering to myself "Two more hours, 55 pounds, this will pay my council tax bill". Finally god (or someone) comes in and tells me they are being dismissed early due to the weather conditions.


I make a run for it.


I finally make it home despite trains being delayed for weather, person under train, and signal disruption... and it is only Tuesday..... oh joy