Well maybe that heading isn't exactly accurate...the adventure began awhile ago, but now we are finally both here and settling into the rhythm of being here. We are in an area that is kind of suburban, kind of rural...we look out the bedroom window to see horses, cows, goats, sheep. It is pastoral! All those movies of English countryside?--they are accurate. Mary and I went for a walk last week and ended up in the cutest village, all stone houses, , fields and farms, middle-aged women with dogs hiking through the fields wearing their Wellies. I guess at some point I will get used to it all but I am walking around with my mouth hanging open, just loving it.
Mary has a commute to the university, and bus service at night is sparse...but traffic during morning and evenings is total gridlock once you get close to Bath. She's still trying to figure out the best time to leave and get there, but it seems to be coming together. She is liking her program but hasn't had the greatest communication from the university...she just found out that apparently 1200 graduate students had not yet registered for classes and it was the second week of school, so the university was all irate and threatening to cut them off from email access. Well, duh, that's the only way they can register. Makes my college look like the height of efficiency!
We had a belated Thanksgiving dinner last night and invited one of Mary's classmates, who's Finnish and is here for three months studying prior to returning home. It was great to socialize...I imagine we will have a lot of time on our own, but that feels fine. I insisted Mary turn the heat on when I arrived--she kept telling me you get used to the chill, but now that it's on, she finds the house more comfortable. And then the temperature warmed up and we're having some lovely fall days. I don't know what winter will be like here, but hey, it's only this one time, and if it rains a lot, that's certainly something we're used to in Vancouver!
The roads here aren't very well signed--we went into a nearby town to get groceries, and got there fine but it was really confusing to figure out how to get home. I guess they figure you should already know where you're going. but the town (Midsomer Norton--I just love these names!) had FIVE charity shops (AKA 2nd hand stores) so we got some good bargains. It is amazing to me that hauling my luggage over, I kept thinking, I have too much stuff, I should have brought less...and as soon as I got it in the dresser and closet, I thought, I don't have enough stuff!
Well guess that is long enough to begin with...we will keep you posted. I hope to post some pictures once I figure out how to do that. there are just so many systems and transportation issues and money to figure out, I am trying to take it a bit at a time.
Hope all are well!
Karen
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