Memories Wrapped Around Wood

T Minus 53

As with many of these blogs this started as a thought on the journey home from work. That thought germinated and grew into an idea which developed into this post 🙂

Weekly Photo Challenge: Contrasts (Technology)

A submission to the Weekly Photo Challenge: Contrasts

At the end of our Ratanakiri trek in Cambodia we stayed the night in a remote village deep in the jungle accessible only by motor boat. This was a village far from modern technology or so it seemed. Look closely at some of the shacks built on stilts, made from natural materials yet equipped with satellite TV dishes. A real contrast.

the stark contrast to the rest of the village exemplified below.

A Fair Exchange!

T Minus 54

When I look at our new house in Mwanza, I am excited and intrigued and have genuine anticipation. I think it looks fab. A number of others have told us that we’re “brave” – that word again! I think everyone has their own opinion as to what makes a good home and what they want from life. As someone brought up in the UK, I have generally followed the conventional pattern.

Finish education, get a job, get married, have kids, get promotion, move to a bigger house….etc.

There have been subtle differences though – 13 years ago I gave up Science Teaching full time for a short while and looked to becoming a web designer (which didn’t work out), retrained and re-entered teaching as an ICT teacher at a lower grade. This proved to be a good move and took me into my present job in my present school.

After 11 years, a couple of promotions and some fabulous experiences through school in Gambia and the Far East, I have felt it’s time to leave.
I am stepping off this particular “hamster wheel” and changing direction – this time it’s not the subject I’m changing but country and culture. As far as the UK way “I’ve been there, bought the T-shirt”, it’s time for something new. I know Anita feels the same.

For us this is the chance to explore and experience a new way of living. We are not exchanging a UK life for an equivalent one in Mwanza, we don’t expect things to be the same, that’s the point. We have no doubts there will be a lot we’ll miss in Mwanza, but we think we’ll be gaining so much more. There will be frustrations (life has frustrations built in) but we believe also so much more rewarding- look at the ‘Bucket List‘ for more of what we’d like to do when we’re out. We’ve not lived in a detached house since we both left home so this will be a first. The tropical garden with it’s trees and wildlife are a bonus. The life we are leaving behind is different to the one we’re going to but that’s the whole point and we’re both up for it. 🙂 🙂

Brass Bands and Birthday BBQs

T Minus 55 (just!)

A busy afternoon after a lazy morning.

Anita played in her last concert for Woburn Sands Brass Band. This is something she, along with the kids, have really enjoyed over the past few years. It’s strange to think that this will soon be a thing of the past for them all.

Then home for a Birthday BBQ With the whole family. Great to have M, Stephen, Fiona, Anita’s parents, Grandma and Sister’s family over. A good time playing Matt’s FIFA game as well as the real World Cup and a suitable birthday cake.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Contrasts (Jellybeans)

A submission to the Weekly Photo Challenge: Contrasts

In recent years it has become a Christmas tradition to get a large jar of Jelly Beans for the Festive a Period. The contrast here is the flavours. From Cinnamon to Cappuccino; Blueberry to Buttered Popcorn; Toasted Marshmallow to Tangerine.
As we will be in Tanzania this Christmas and won’t be able to, we have splashed out on a jar 🙂

What is your favourite flavour or combination?

Garden chronicles – Lavender, Rose and Hollyhock

T minus 55

The garden is beginning to burst forth in a variety of colours. For my own memories I am chronicling the various blooms which will soon fade into distance. Earlier this week I posted from the back garden. This post is taken mainly from the front,

Weekly Photo Challenge: Contrasts

A submission to the Weekly Photo Challenge: Contrasts

 

Taken on our trip to the Vendée in 2009 – a silhouette at sunset

Empty Corridors, Empty Rooms

T Minus 56

I work on two sites geographically separated by 2 miles. Lower School on one side of town has the first three year groups (Years 7-9) whereas Upper School has older students (Years 10 -13). Upper school is more spacious and green, whereas Lower school is much more compact and concrete.
By it’s nature therefore Lower School is more bustling and noisy. This is especially true in the ‘dog days’ of summer when the Year 11 and 13 students have left. I notice this particularly on Fridays, when I spend the morning at Lower and the afternoon at Upper. Most of the rooms are empty at this time of year- the place is quiet and the greenery provides some tranquility. Lower school remains unchanged, which sharpens the contrast.

My new school is single site but also many fewer than the 2000 plus students on both sites here (with 330 students in each year group). One of the big changes will be working in a much smaller community. The Isamilo Campus looks nice though.
It will be interesting to experience this different world after 11 years here!

Weekly Photo Challenge: Between Mountains

A submission to the Weekly Photo Challenge: Between

 

This picture taken in the Lake District at Kirkstone Pass  between the mountains in August 2013

This photo taken half way up Mount Snowdon in North Wales – between the bottom and the top in August 2011

 

Feeling Fatigued

T Minus 57

Time is ticking on. In seems that time is running out fast. There is still much to do and life remains busy for the foreseeable future.
We are now beginning the final stretch – we still hope to be able to move out of the house in early August so we need to start giving our  30 day notices very soon.However, the solicitors still seem painfully slow. When will we ever complete?

At work along with clearing out my office I am also engaged in timetabling as well as some forward planning along with my successors. On top of this I have Year 10 Mocks to mark. It’s all go!

The continual activity has been wearing and both Anita and I are feeling somewhat drained, tired. It’s been great having Mum down for the week helping us out with some of the “run of the mill” chores.
Sorting is still a big part of what we are doing although now it is more about dumping and storing than selling.

However, tonight we need to do a big clear up ahead of this weekend’s birthday celebrations with family. Looking forward to that!

Garden Chronicles – Yellows and Purples

T Minus 58

Following on from earlier posts a look at our garden in June as Knapweed, Verbena, Buddleia, Fuchsia and more. Yellows and purples predominate amongst the green leaves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Travel Theme: Shine

A submission to this weeks Travel Theme on the topic Shine. All taken in the period from Late December 2012 through to Mid February 2013.

Christmas Lights at Shining at Oxford Street and Shiny Baubles at Coventry Garden in London

Ice Palace shining an eerie glow at Hyde Park, London

New Year’s Fireworks shining out over Horse Guards Parade in London

Sun shining over Caldecotte Lake in MK

The shiny polished metal bottom of the Cutty Sark sailing ship and a view across to the lights shining out from Canary Wharf in Greenwich, London

The glow of candles shining from
My birthday cake 🙂

Light shining through wooden slats at Kew Gardens in London

Finally light shining through a Snowdrop at Anglesey Abbey, near Cambridge.

What’s the Point?

T Minus 58

It’s 5am and I’m awake unusually early this morning. No idea why but I’ve tried getting back to sleep. Perhaps it’s the fact that it’s midsummer and already bright outside, but here I am and wide awake.
I don’t really think I have ever chronicled the reason for this blog. I reckon this post should probably have been written at the beginning but it wasn’t so here it is.

Endings

T Minus 59

Today is my son’s last day at school in the UK. This week is his birthday. The last of our family’s birthdays on UK soil.

Today was my last Heads of Faculty meeting. Today also was the last test I will set as Year 10 took their mocks. There are 4 weeks exactly from today until the end of term.

I realise I am watching my last UK Wimbledon – not sure how much coverage of the Tennis Championships there will be in Tanzania.

Endings are coming thick and fast now as we move into the final stretch. Looking forward to some beginnings though they must wait for The move abroad.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Between Me and the Beach

A submission to the Weekly Photo Challenge: Between

 

These Thrift flowers perched on the clifftop above Chapelporth near St Agnes in Cornwall lay between me and the beach below.

 

 

 

Along the coast some other yellow plants (Bird’s Foot Trefoil) at Trevaunance Cove.

 

No Rest For The ……Emigrants

T minus 60

As we move within two months of departure we are both feeling thoroughly exhausted. Life goes on as normal (both of us still at work, today I’m dropping the car off for a service, hence a slightly later start) and yet at the same we are planning our escape from the UK ;-). The house and garage whilst gradually emptying are still remarkably full. A lot now is going to the dump.

. We have boxes of stuff for the charity shops.
Now we are factoring in goodbye events at work, church and locally. We’re looking forward to these but they are taking up time. We also have a birthday celebration for my son (this week) and an early birthday / goodbye for my daughter to organise. It’s all go! Luckily my mum is down for the week so it’s great to have some help. I could just do with a duvet day – I can’t remember the last time I had a “Do Nothing Day“.

Oh well better get off to the garage – time waits for no man.

Last night’s Barbecue – a short respite!

Cutting Back and Measuring Up

T minus 61

This afternoon has been spent in the garden. Cutting back the Wisteria and clearing the deck. It’s been several weeks since we’ve had the chance to get out there and we needed to. Especially as our garden tools are going this evening.

Meanwhile Anita has been measuring up the furniture (table, shelving, piano keyboard) prior to putting up for sale.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Between (Buildings)

A submission to the Weekly Photo Challenge: Between

Streets are the arteries that run between our buildings in our towns and cities. I could have chosen streets from any number of places I’ve been to, but decided to showcase one town on one island in the Mediterranean.

These pictures of the narrow picturesque streets of Sartenne in Corsica. They have recently been scanned as part of digitising our lives in preparation for our move to Tanzania.

I took these photos way back in 1989  in an era where I didn’t journal at all so the memories are vague. The photos are definitely Sartenne as I have postcards to back them up 🙂

The Longest Day!

T Minus 62

So today is the longest day – the longest day of the year and the longest day for many years to come.

Life in Mwanza will be different, not least in the regularity of sun rise and sun sets. Twelve hour days and twelve hour nights, day in day out. My experiences of The Gambia and The Far East found it a strange thing for it to be both hot and dark in the evening. In the UK that never happens – long dark nights mean winter, long bright days mean summer. Equatorial living is something I’m just going to have to get used to!

Evening Meal in Serekunda, Gambia

Ho Chi Minh City at Night

What’s In Store For Us?

T Minus 62

I’m writing this from Lincoln where I am up for the day. It’s a chance to visit Mum and to bring her back to stay with us for the week, but there is another purpose to the visit. I am here to drop off some items for storage.

In recent weeks Anita has been frantically scanning all of our photo albums. These are now fully digitised (she was up until 5:45am and has stayed home to sleep). So these albums are boxed and ready to store. These are accompanied by our Vinyl records and the DVD cases emptied of their contents which we will pack.

Another milestone on our route out of here!