Half Term
Trip Start
Apr 20, 2008
1
57
69
Trip End
Ongoing
London,
England,
United Kingdom
Friday, October 24, 2008
Can't remember if I mentioned or not in my last entry about the job, I was finally offered the permanent position which is nice. I went in to school today just for a staff training day. It was really good because I got a chance to get to talk to some of the other teachers, normally they're all running aorund like chooks with heads cut off and don't really have time for anything. Everyone in my department is really nice and really helpful. We had computer training all morning and then meetings in the afternoon. I asked a million questions in my geography meeting and had no idea what the constant stream of acronyms being used were. The other geo teachers, a lady from NZ and one from Holland both came up to me afterwards and told me not to worry about taking everything in now and they would help me whenever I needed.. I also got my time table which consists mainly of geography, some history and a religious studies class. I also have my own desk now which is really nice. I also get a pay increase although it does mean I have to do marking and preparation!
So half term, Saturday I stayed homemost of the day and helped Maja (Rebecca's Danish flatmate) cleanthe apartment.
Proof of the snow
I also went and sorted out mobile phone issues, ie. going onto a plan which is much cheaper than the pay as you go I had been on, and I got a free phone with skype on it! I also booked a return flight to Australia so I am coming home for Feb and March next year which I am quite excited about now. Sunday was a horrible grey rainy day which I spent at the national gallery (big art gallery). I got lost, as in I couldn't find the entrance I came in which meant I couldn't get my coat from the coat check! I also spent a bitof time online trying to source a mattress and getting carried away looking at all the free stuff people are giving away!Monday morning I went to look at a mattress I found online, the reason I need a mattress is that I am moving in with Jo at the end of the week. I was the first one there and they had seven they were giving away so I got them to hold the best one for me. I then went to Oxford street to meet Jo who needed to return some shoes etc. I had got up way early not realising that day light saving was ending so it was still quite early when I left Jo to go to Holland Park, a nice park near Notting Hill where I walked around and ate my lunch I had brought with me! I then attempted to walk to Notting Hill tube station, having come in at Holland Park station and got hideously lost as I tend to do. Eventually I got on a bus which took me to a completely different tube station but at least I could find my way from there! I headed to the museum of natural history which, being half term was packed full of kids! Especially the dinosaur room which had a line up of about 100 people coming out the door! It was a really good museum though, very well set out, interesting displays and loads if interactive stuff! Again it was huge and I didn't see half of it.
The day after the snow
All the museums and galleries here are free which is brilliant and there's so many so I'm trying to make use of the time I have off now. Lastly I went to Westminster Cathedral at 5.30pm to hear the choir sing. That was really nice but then I left as soon as teh mass started.Tuesday I went to Jo's in the morning and hung out there for a while. After lunch we went to the Museum of London. It was very useful as being a history teacher here I thought perhaps I should learn something about the history of England.... what? Henry the V111, who's that? Went back to Jo's and cooked up a bit of a feast before going to Hammersmith where I met Betty who borrowed her Dad's car to help me transport the mattress. No now I have a somewhere to sleep at Jo's place and it's all read for me to move in on the weekend.
The rest of the week was spent in much the same way, visiting museums (Royal Albert and Victoria and the Maritime Museum at Greenwich) Walking and picnicing in nice parks going to see cheap movies and getting a haircut I loathe. It's really really short with a fringe. It's a good haircut I spose but just not on me. Everyone keeps telling me it looks nice etc but I hate it it just doesn't suit me. It's not that it doesn't suit my face so much more that it doesn't suit my personality. It's just too...... sophisticated..
The hair cut was on Sunday actually and I was extremely hung over. I had been out the night before in Camden with Rebecca and her housemate Stefan and his boyfriend Owen. Sunday evening I moved all my stuff to Jo's ready for the start of school on Monday.
