And I recognise this winter...
It rained and now the snow is gone. Everyone around me is breathing a sigh of relief - turns out they're almost as unused to snow as me, but they have experienced enough that they find it annoying. For me (and the children) however it is a bit of a let down. Snow has never been something I'm all that interested in. I don't like winter. I don't like the cold or the wet... and nothing much seems to make up for the irritants that winter brings.
It turns out that snow is really awesome.
However, now it is gone the weather is cold, wet and grey - much like winter in Auckland, just a bit colder.
Still, there are at least 6 weeks of winter left, so who knows.
I have a Smart Board in my classroom, which I have been unuable to use until today, because I didn't get my laptop until Thursday afternoon (I only work M-Th, relief teaching some Fridays). So I spent a chunk of yesterday designing power point lessons, which I could combine with the interactive whiteboard. I am very much in love.
Parent interviews are on Wednesday. So far I have six spaced over two hours. :/ It is not something I am looking foward to, but I will grin and bear it.
I think I will go to London on Saturday (I am working this Friday, but don't have to be in at school until 9:30 :D) - back to Piccadilly Circus and in and around that area, possibly to Soho and take in the sights. This time I intend on playing tourist, rather than doing much in the way of shopping. So I will take pictures - hopefully lots. I know haven't actually posted any pictures yet, but I will I swear.
I debated going somewhere new this time, but I thought I'd explore one area properly (or at least better) before moving on and missing something important. I have so many plans, I hardly know where to start. I want to go so many places, but I think I want to save some of them until the weather warms up a little (I really am not a fan of winter, and right now I am missing not just the warmth, but the freedom of wearing lightweight clothing). Only I don't know that I can wait that long! :D
I am missing summer, but not as much I thought I would. that could be, because I am trying not to think about it too much. Everyone keeps asking me if I am cold, and the answer is 'yes, but not as much as you might think'. All of the buildings are kept warm here, and when I go out I invariable have at least one layer of merino on, not to mention a coat and scarf. Sometimes I enjoy being out in cold after being stuck somewhere that is hot and stuffy.
On Saturday, the one just been I moved into my new home - finally I am somewhere permanent and within walking distance of the school. The dog here is very unsure of me, which I am not used to, usually I don't have any problems getting to know animals, particularly cats and dogs. At the house I stayed last week, there were two dog who just went to sleep at my feet, or on my lap if they could get on it. But this one, if she goes too long without seeing me, whe seems to forget about me and then starts barking when she sees me again.
A list of things I currently miss:
Family (goes without saying really)
Friends (ditto)
Summer clothes
Summer food
Auckland water (the water here is very hard, and even the filtered and bottled stuff doesn't taste quite right. I'd kill for a bottle of Pump)
My maths resources (I am gradually getting used to the ones here, but there are still days when I want nothing so much as an AWS or Figure It Out, or even on occasion a Maths Matters)
Buildings (this is the thing that makes me the most homesick - go figure - but they are all wrong)
Dont' get me wrong, I love being here - I really, really do.