Malawi & More

  When I first moved to London everything seemed so far away and big and impossible. These last few days in and around London I am struck by just how little it is. I guess living in such a fast continent for a bit has allowed me to see it that way. I love being able to jump on a bus, to pop on a train and amble to a tube.  My weekend was lovely, out to the pictures with Edgar to see a very good film, that was a hard watch but very well done. Called 'The Son.' We had a Greek meal in a lovely pub with an 18th birthday party above and traditional live music in the next room. So loud but delicious.  My Sunday morning started with a dog walk with Phil and then a tube to South Kensington to head to the science museum with my pal Sharon and her not so new man and his nephew, Sharon and I mainly chatted and did not really worry about any of the display, we had a lovely meal later that day, Lebanese this time. The weather is warming up and the sun shone and it was almost too warm ...

 I spent a lovely morning with Joe, bacon sandwich included and later that day Edgar and I went to the theatre for a matinee performance of 'the winner's Curse' at a newish theater in Finsbury Park, this was followed by a meal with one of Edgar's friends, a very pleasant day.  The next morning I packed up a small suitcase and got a bus then long walk to get the prescription for my hydrocortisone, the Dr had no real clue what VHL was but I had my scan request letter that showed I didn't have any adrenal glands, so after a bit of googling and a call to someone he felt knew more than he did I got it. A few stops then to Liverpool street to have a quick cup of tea with my wonderful Rosie who happened to be in London that weekend with her beautiful and clever daughter Anna and then a longer than normal trip back to good old Norfolk.  My sister had cooked a beautiful sunday roast, ably assisted by her husband with delicious gravy and yorkshire pudding. The chicken was so ...

I didn't get the job that I came here for, sadly I didn't make it through to day two. But I did make a new friend and I have been able to enjoy London and catch up with a few great friends. Bliss.  On the way out the flight was long, and lots of bits but Addis is nicer than it used to be and despite one mad dash to the gate, oh the wrong gate, oh, not this one either - phew made it to the right one, I got my bag at Heathrow and my wonderful pal Joe was ready and waiting for me. The grin on my face said it all, I thought it couldn't get any bigger and then he produced a flask of tea (which I didn't know how to open) but just what I needed. A hug and tea.  I was full of energy as I arrived at Edgar's and hungry so after another welcome cup of tea we went out for brunch. I thought I was going to go for a wander but then the exhaustion hit and we headed back to his flat where I had a very nice nap. Given that I had all day Monday to pre...

 I do love London, I'm feeling like a country mouse and excited by the wonder of this city, its diversity and the variety of each part of it. 

  The rain hasn't been quite as relentless this week and so I took the chance to have a swim on Saturday, it was so lovely I must do it more.  I was able to catch up with 2 good friends at the weekend who have come back to Malawi for a couple of weeks to do some training. It was so lovely to see them, especially as Jess brought cheese and crumpets!  I started a selling stuff group too. It's time to begin getting rid of things we won't need, little and often I hope - although no one seemed to want the first offering of an old pair of walking boots.  The working week was good, it was Chiradzulu's charity week for 'Girl up' my favourite of all the school charities, so we were able to give away two large bags of things to them which not only felt good but cleared some space up in the house. We got some good news coverage on it too. My lessons were lovely, a very funny and bad run through of a yr 12 piece but we have a plan to make it better. And one hard conversatio...

 I managed to get A and me off site on Sunday, we went to the same venue but didn't sit anywhere near each other. Both of us with other friends. Then, when we got home, I had a chat with an executive head and it went well. I liked him and the ethos of the school. I'll apply.  Feeling the buzz of a good conversation I got ready for frisbee and had my best game. Getting two goals and feeling like I'd played well. That evening we had a front room full to watch the arsenal V Man united game. Nice to have them around I made a very nice risotto.  The working week was mostly good, I was able to get around lots of classes and did my, now usual, talk to the A-Levels biology students about VHL.  We had a slightly less awkward meeting about the school show, mainly because the member of staff who is not doing what needs to be done wasn't there. And then later in the week I was able to tell him we won't be using the band.  Parents evening, and I was teacher and, when possibl...

  A lazy long weekend, food, frisbee and company. We had a  braai and I spent most of it cooking while the rain fell hard around me. I was unsurprised by the amount of chicken cooked and consumed but that's what happens when your guest list is expat and Malawian. Very few vegetarians to worry about.  Because we didn't have face to face school last week, that meant a busy week, with parents evening, life skills day, whole school meetings and more. It has been an odd week. Feeling like lots and nothing happening at the same time. Ria set off on the Tuesday and we had peace once more. BigA appears to have filled his week with coffee station antics and sport, and work and more work, me with not quite bringing myself to apply for more jobs, having had another couple of rejections.   But work was its usual mix of lovely students, kind staff and some annoying ones. One of the highlights was no doubt the talent show. The atmosphere was so supportive. I am always im...