photos

As promised: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=42274&id=1029504841&l=5967337f07

frog

After wanting one of these for about 15 years, I finally have one--thanks to my wonderful husband. For more details, see:

http://www.timcotterill.com

Of course, the children have enjoyed the day, too. But I think it's fair to say I was as excited about my present as they were about theirs! We've enjoyed having family here (the Ayres side), as well. More to follow, after the hubbub dies down...

Merry Christmas!

23 December

...and we still have snow.

white Christmas?

The snow may melt yet--it's only Monday and Christmas is still a few days off. But there is plenty of snow on the ground--enough to make a snowman and have a snowball fight--and it's still here. Temperatures are still cold enough to keep Frosty from melting, which is fun.

The kids are enjoying having snow, and I am learning to drive in it (as if being on the other side of the road wasn't enough to deal with). Some Christmas presents has to be given early, since everyone needed those warm, waterproof gloves and mittens in order to participate in winter wonderland fun! So Father Christmas has one less gift for everyone's stockings--all for a good cause, though!

shepherds

There really ought to be pictures. There is a short video, which will be available on Facebook as soon as I can get through my last class at Durham University, tomorrow. 

Thomas performed in his first nativity play last Thursday evening--as a shepherd. One of the fun things about being in Durham has been Catholic school. (Because the school system is organized quite differently, the government supports religious schools; so we are able to have a free, Catholic education for Thomas. And, if we're still here, for Iain.) So the school Christmas performance involved the Christmas story, sung and acted by the 5-, 6-, and 7-year-olds.

It was every bit as cute as you'd expect, with the angel Gabriel played by the tallest girl in class (whom Thomas thinks he'll marry), with brilliant, dark red hair and just the right sort of wings. Mary wore the requisite blue dress and wandered around with Joseph in the usual manner, looking for a place to stay. And she didn't drop the baby, either. They sang 'Away in a Manger' and all seemed 'fit for heaven' already, as they sang the last verse. 

So this weekend it seemed appropriate to find the boxes of Christmas decorations, which we did. And get a tree, which we also did. This morning, I arranged the lights and rearranged the lights, until the two strands we had looked like enough. Then I wrapped our translucent gold garland round the tree, over and over until it hung just right. Lewis wandered in at about that time, and commented on its appearance, describing the garland as 'diaphanous'. 'You know what I mean?' he asked rhetorically. 'Yes,' I said, and a split second later Thomas chimed in, 'well, I don't.' 

I suddenly remembered why I like having children.

sick day

No, thankfully I am not sick: it's Thomas's sick day, so I have a day off as well. That means catching up on emails and paperwork for me, movies and sleep for Thomas. Works for me.

The weather outside makes sitting inside by the fire seem like the right thing to do: it is gray, wet and cold. I am working on my fire-building skills, not among the set I learned growing up by the beach in southern California. Today I managed it on the second try, and it's warming the room nicely, and I appreciate the cold properly.

Two more weeks until the end of the term, and I am looking forward to the break. Look for photos from the various events December holds!

Iain

The photo says it all: he's moving, he's happy. He tells elaborate tales and remembers the names of movie characters, friends at school, our parish priest back in Atlanta. He scribbles, and explains his drawings in detail. He asks his siblings what they did at school, and poses questions like, 'What did you have for lunch today, Anna?' At church last Sunday he said the Hail Mary with the rest of the congregation (despite usually fidgeting and refusing to say prayers at home), and paid attention to the Eucharistic liturgy, making observations that were astounding. He loves school, and is happy to get home again. He puts things away. (That may be the biggest miracle of all!!) He really does seem to be growing up.

...but he's totally uninterested in potty training. Oh well, you can't win them all.

Farm shop

We visited a farm shop a couple of weeks ago. Lewis is running out of charcoal for the Big Green Egg, and I wasn't keen on another day trip to the Edinburgh area--which is where we picked up the last lot. Not that I mind Edinburgh, of course. Not only is it a lovely city, but it has a Starbucks. Still, it is a long way to go even for charcoal and a latte.

So he found a farm shop on the far side of Newcastle that seemed to carry just the sort of charcoal he needed. (If you want to know, you'll have to ask him, or check out the Big Green Egg website. It's hard to say which would represent the Egg and its surpassing greatness with more enthusiasm.)

Of course the farm shop itself, though really lovely, was not the ideal place for Anna, Thomas and Iain to let off steam. The end of a rainy morning inside is a good time for a trip to a playground or a walk on the railway paths. A neat and rather upscale farm shop--not so much. Lunch was not our greatest success, either. But the thing about Thomas, Anna and Iain is that they like being outside as much as their parents do. A path seems almost magical in its ability to bring out the best in all three children (not to mention their exasperated parents). And there are Anna and Thomas, doing on the path what they refuse to do on those occasions when a simultaneous smile in the direction of the camera is required.

So much for the cute Santa photo: this is about as good as it gets.

first frost

A couple of Saturdays ago, I went out for a morning walk, and the trees and grass sparkled with frost. Amazing--the fall is slipping away and I still have to get busy with the Christmas shopping.

Part of the reason the time is flying is that I started a new job on November 2. It's only half-time, but with what I was already doing, it fills up my schedule pretty completely. So I have neglected the blog, all my friends on Facebook, and the housework. The kids have each had a bout of illness, too, which doesn't help. Fortunately, their bugs were extremely short-lived and not passed on to the grown-ups.

What we have been up to otherwise is, of course, a long story, covering the last six weeks or so.

We carved pumpkins:

And we took a wonderful family trip (with Tommy) to Hadrian's Wall:

...and we keep on doing the usual sorts of things--building towers out of Legos and blocks, creating ever-more-intricate railroads, walking on the railway paths and playing at the picnic ground.

The next few weeks promise to be busy with work, birthday parties (two next Saturday and one on the 29th of November), and a Thanksgiving celebration on the 28th--we don't have Thursday off! Just in case you're wondering, Atlanta friends: we still miss you! Look for a card, eventually, and send us your address if you think we may not have it. We'll send you photos and love across the ocean in time for Christmas (and Hanukkah), I hope!

Anna draws

Anna didn't ask to watch television this morning. Usually, we have Dora, Diego and Maggie & the Ferocious Beast before school. But this morning, she began by brining in the magna-doodle and showing Lewis what she'd been drawing: faces. He offered her paper, keen to have some of this new work to post on his office door.

This is a real advance for Anna, who has been scribbling for years joyfully, tracing figures and copying them occasionally and with much prompting, and otherwise not being especially interested in forming shapes or coloring inside the lines. So today we were all smiles as she drew circle after wobbly circle and added eyes (usually two) and a mouth and nose. Eventually she added legs--just like Thomas used to when he first learned to draw people: a big circle with eyes, nose and mouth, and four appendages sticking directly out of the circle, for arms and legs.

The best thing about it was how pleased Anna was with herself. She's been watching Thomas draw--quite possibly his favorite indoor activity--everything from shapes to castles to houses with 'for sale' signs, and to write letters and numbers with increasing accuracy (and decreasing size). Now she can participate in that in a whole new way.

And Iain has decided he wants to join in the fun: today it was ovals. Thankfully on the paper, this time.

I speak English

No, not really, at least not as it is spoken around here. The children, however, are picking it up quickly. This morning, Iain announced that his 'nappy' needed changing. (I know: it's time he gave up nappies, or diapers, or whatever you want to call them. But we've been a little bit busy.) Anna's favorite part of school lunches (or dinners, depending on where you're from) is the 'pudding'. And no, in case you're wondering what flavor, that doesn't just refer to something you can make instantly with milk! She also looks for her 'diary' most mornings, checking to make certain it is in her backpack. (Nope, she hasn't started keeping one herself; she's talking about the calendar that goes to school and comes home again with notes from her teacher.)

And that's not all. Thomas has a new-found imaginary afterschool activity: rugby. I suppose it's not too unusual for him to pretend he has to rush off to rugby practice, given that one of his older friends plays tag rugby (which, as far as I have understood it, is a lot like flag football in the US). What is interesting is the way he says it: just like his friends who've lived here all their lives! Slowly, the children are beginning to say certain words and phrases that sound quite unlike their metro Atlanta equivalents.

Well, it is to be expected, isn't it? And I suppose it is my turn to be the one in the family who speaks English with an accent.

walking home

Alas, these last couple of weeks have been too busy to allow for the daily walk along the railway paths. Fortunately, the walk in to the University is pleasant, though a little bit long. From my front door to the office door, it takes about 40 minutes. Having only one car (though we've been offered another) means that I either pay £1.80 for the bus (which is ridiculous, by the way), or put on some comfortable shoes and get moving. Since the traffic yesterday was so heavy that I eventually caught up to the bus, I figured it wasn't worth the money, anyway. What I have found is that I don't mind a long commute to work, provided it's on foot!

Thomas goes to school about 8:15 and Iain goes along--always getting to his 'school' later than the 9.00 drop-off time. If we leave promptly (whichever of us is taking them), Thomas makes it to school on time. Lewis is courageous enough to drive up to Palace Green, the center of the University-Castle-Cathedral complex, and park there--we are fortunate enough to have a permit, and he has been lucky enough to find spaces!

About 8:30, the bus arrives to take Anna to school. I like the bus driver and the woman who helps the children on and of the bus. (I think they are brother and sister, which I find fascinating.) Sounds like a well-oiled machine, perhaps...but it isn't. The mad rush might make good reality TV some days, though, I suppose, if you like to see people slightly out of their organizational and motivational depth. (That is, trying to get the children interested in getting ready for school is beyond us: I turn off 'Maggie and the Ferocious Beast', which is a pretty entertaining show, and promise to turn it back on once everyone's ready. It's not popular, but it works.)

Once Anna is away, however, peace reigns again, and I am iPod-equipped and on my way. I enjoyed it so much going, I decided to walk home as well. I am addicted to the views and the solitude, the nobody-tugging-at-me and, of course, my own choice of music. (Just between us, I am losing my affection for the Wiggles and the Shaun the Sheep theme tune.) Durham is just hilly enough to make the walk good exercise and to allow for some pretty decent vista points.

Not surprisingly, I find myself suddenly resistant to the idea of a second car.

Saturday

Our Saturday castle trips have given way to adventures closer to home, now that classes have begun at the University. Since the kids went back to school in early September, things seem to be growing busier by the second.

Fortunately, the picnic ground just down the road is perfect for a Saturday romp. Thomas is ecstatic over his new football (that's a soccer ball, by the way, if you're in the US) and everyone likes throwing the frisbee, though none of us are especially skilled at it! A couple of weeks ago, in fact, we met some friends of friends in the park. The boys were kicking the football around, and Thomas's new friends' dad picked up the frisbee. Let's just say we weren't well matched! The poor man threw it with such accuracy, and there I was, hardly able to throw it as well as his 5-year-old!

But today it was just the 5 of us, kicking and throwing happily, and chasing the ball (or frisbee) as often as not. Iain took off for the tree, and has begun to climb: soon he'll be making it up to the lower branches and smiling down at me. I can't say that we've worked out all the kinks: we still end up late to school because of the unpredictable traffic, and the morning rush tends to make us all a little edgy. But it is starting to feel like home--in a bittersweet way, of course. We still miss our friends back in Atlanta, and wish we could meet for coffee and catch up!

Hop-frog pond

The tadpoles are growing up. What isn't quite visible in the cup is a tiny frog. We first spotted them a couple of weeks ago, finally! I imagine that the frogs don't hang around the pond much, once they can jump. Iain eventually poured out the water in the cup, along with the poor, terrified frog, into the muddy bottom of the wagon. I rescued him (her?) and returned him to the pond, only to capture him again at Iain's request.

Oddly, the frog seemed pretty content to sit in my hand. Even my cold fingers were warmer than the chilly pond water, and I held the frog up for Iain to see, which meant keeping it in the sunshine. But the frog was not about to hop into Iain's little hand, and moved away from him quickly every time he reached out. At last I put the little amphibian back into the pond, on a small, partly-submerged stone near the edge, in the sunshine. And there it stayed. I felt oddly pleased at having found a place the frog (who was frantically trying to get a foothold on the slippery black plastic pond-liner when we originally caught it) seemed happy to be. Some days it really is the small things.

My own little tadpoles are growing up, as well. Anna celebrated her 8th birthday in September; Iain was 3 on Monday, and Thomas will be 6 next week. So far, though, none of them seem especially anxious to leave the 'pond'. Most of the time, I am glad, though they do have their trying moments. Today, though, I was happy to be with my three-year-old in the garden. He was ecstatic about the frog, and quite spontaneously commented that the frog lived in 'hop-frog pond.'

Yes, I suppose that's not a bad name for our miniature body of water: Hop-frog Pond, a place many a tadpole still calls home.

fall

The days are getting shorter: when Anna, Iain and I first arrived in late June, the pre-dawn light began before 4:00am. A little over three months have elapsed, and the days have become much shorter very quickly. Soon the early light (about 7:30 am in the photo, I think) will not be early any more.

Anna and Thomas are enjoying school, and Iain likes his 'school' as well. We celebrated Anna's birthday in September, and she had a small party at school as well as cake and presents at home. Iain's birthday is next: he'll be 3 on Monday. (Three years old! I can't believe it!) Thomas finishes up our round of fall birthdays, turning 6 on the 12th.

By next year, we'll be up on the birthday-party customs, which seem to differ slightly here. For now, we're just all glad to be here, and settling into our various occupations. Teaching begins in the Department of Theology and Religion at the end of next week--finally! It seems we've been here an awfully long time now without having any students!

Look for birthday party pictures here in the days to come...

Hadrian's Wall

One of the great things about Durham is how close we are to a range of interesting historical sights. Besides the generous sprinkling of castles in the area, we are within easy striking distance of some Roman ruins along Hadrian's Wall. I remember seeing the Roman ruins for the first time several years ago, and being overwhelmed by the double-digit dates. The oldest house in my hometown was built in 1910!

The small Roman soldier with whom I am sparring is not, in fact, Thomas, but a friend's nephew. We spent one Saturday in September visiting Housesteads and Vindolanda. Housesteads is quite extensive, and ranges over a hilltop. Although the sun shone brightly, the wind blew pretty cold, and I was happy to descend again for a picnic lunch. Not quite having had our fill of Roman sites, we headed on to Vindolanda, which is still being excavated. There Thomas, Fergus, Iain and I staged some mock battles: I was the invading army. Mostly it involved a lot of running around to no particular purpose, which was good for all of us! Afterward, we went to Chesters--one of my favorite spots along the wall--for ice cream. (For information on Housesteads and Vindolanda, including photos of the sites, see http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/hadrian_gallery.shtml.)

Eventually I will do more than run around and climb over ancient stones, and learn something about the history of the wall--when Thomas develops an interest in archaeology.

arachnophobia

Yes, that's a spider. In England (and presumably in Scotland and Wales), house spiders come only in L and XL. By comparison, American house spiders are pretty small. Of course, what spiders in the US often lack in size, they make up for in venom. Georgia boasts both brown recluse and black widow spiders, and England cannot compete with that. However big and scary, British house spiders are not deadly.

Did I mention that I don't like spiders? I really, really don't like spiders. But I am improving. Six weeks ago, having to kill a spider of that size would have induced nausea. Really. But after dispatching several in the last two weeks, I find it a bit easier. And I know they aren't fast-moving until you strike the first blow (so aim well!), thus I knew I had enough time to snap a photo before bringing the flat-bottomed wooden salad bowl (the really big one) down on this unsuspecting arachnid. Splat!

No, it didn't actually make that noise. The children, fortunately, have not inherited my phobia. Iain often says he's scared of spiders, but he isn't. He and Anna spotted the first one, a few weeks ago. Look, Mommy, it's a spider! Let's just say I wasn't thrilled at the discovery. and it's supposed to be a 'good' year for spiders--that is, if you want lots of them. So said our parish priest last evening, helpfully.

In other news, though, the tadpoles are becoming frogs. Really, really cool. Amphibians are much more my style. I wonder if they like house spiders?

railway paths

I wish I could attribute my failure to get lost while out for a run to my own knowledge of the way around. When Anna, Iain and I first arrived, it felt like being on vacation. Now, however, I have no time to get lost! Fortunately, the railway paths are enough. I have learned a couple of routes...not as exciting as the 'wonder where this goes' of late June, but perfectly satisfactory.

I don't always run, though. In fact, I walk most days--though fewer now than in the summer, when the sun came up early and nobody had to be anywhere in particular. Partly I go out, whether walking or running, for the exercise. I needed to do something to replace the gym. What I discovered, and what keeps me getting onto the path, is how much I love being outside.

The mornings are quiet and peaceful. Except for the iPod, of course--but not too loud. I think about my work; sometimes that's the only time I get to 'work' all day. I wish I could say it sets the tone for the day, that I carry the peace and quiet with me. Some days the peace and quiet ends abruptly as soon as I walk in the front door. Other days it lasts longer, but it's hard to hold onto in the midst of chaos. But I keep going.

Lakes II: Brougham Castle

Back to the beginning: it is not so much a desire to begin at the beginning to offer a narrative of our trip to the lakes as to comment on how nice and friendly the AA guy was...

On the way to the Lake district, we stopped at Brougham Castle. (Photo to the left is Thomas' work.) It was lovely, which was really good, because we ended up spending the better part of a day there. Lewis made the fateful error of remarking that he thought we were making excellent time. 'Better than I expected' he said. So we stopped at the castle in high spirits, ready to begin our adventure.

And then Anna needed a change of clothes. (I won't give details, but anyone who has potty-trained will know the frustration of 'I don't have to go' being followed by certain evidence that the child did, in fact, need to go. But never mind) Suitably distracted, I returned to the car, and brought the clothes leaving my other bag (with sunglasses in it) behind. Big mistake--I ended up having to go back yet again for the sunglasses. Drat! Thomas came along, and as we were heading out the gate, I caught my hand, pinching it so that I thought, 'oooo, I'll have a bloodblister there'--except that I hit it slightly too hard for that, and just got the blood. Fortunately, I recalled, the first aid stuff was all in the car. I congratulated myself on being so well-prepared and continued on. We got to the car, retrieved my sunglasses, and I looked up to see...no Thomas. I called to him, and finally spotted him in the distance. Apparently he got bored and headed back to the castle. I fumed silently, at the same time being a tiny bit pleased that he had achieved some measure of independence. He got back to Lewis safely, and I was free to treat my little wound in peace, which I did. Then I closed the back hatch of the car and reached for the key to lock the door. But the door was already locked. And the key was inside.

Ooops. I could SEE the key from where I stood, but that wasn't much help, except that it catapulted me instantly to the zen state: you know, when the last possible thing has gone wrong and you realize there's no point in worrying about it any more. I went back and called AA on my cell phone. (Lewis' was in the car.)

It took about 45 minutes longer than they said it would, but eventually a very nice man with a van full of tools arrived to help. Fortunately, he was able to get the door opened, and I retrieved the key. 'You know', he said to Lewis conspiratorially, 'it's usually women who lock the keys in the car. But it's usually men who put the wrong fuel in the tank.' (That is, they put unleaded into a car that ought to have diesel, usually.)

Knowing both how expensive the latter mistake is, and that Lewis had once put almost a liter of unleaded into a tank that should have had diesel, I felt suddenly better. And, anyway, we really did enjoy the castle.

Lakes II

...just a link to the photos (click here). stay tuned to find out how we spent the first day and why Lewis had to drive back to the B&B immediately after we arrived home...

Lakes I

Since we've been back more than 10 days already, I feel no obligation to offer any sort of historical narrative of our time in the Lake district. In fact, starting at with the last place we visited seems somehow appropriate, especially because we visited it again last Saturday. Partly we did so because it was the perfect length walk for the kids, complete with a waterfall that was well worth the short hike. Partly we chose to spend our Saturday going to and fro because I left a few (!) things behind....like the headphones for my iPhone.

The photo on the left says everything about what Iain enjoyed most about the Lakes: plenty of muddy puddles for splashing, and sticky, gooey mud to stomp in. He also discovered how difficult it can be to lift a half-submerged boot out of thick English mud. Iain's other noteworthy puddle experience was even more dramatic, occuring as it did on a chilly morning on a windswept hill, in the middle of a stone circle. The views were incredible--if the stone circle itself wasn't interesting enough--but all he wanted to do was to run through what can only be described as a pond-full of rainwater. Of course he fell over, and made another important discovery: deep puddles on windy hills are cold. I would like to see Castlerigg one day without all the fuss.

Anna's favorite aspect of the trip was the abundance of dogs. Honestly, I think she thought we went out every day in search of friendly dogs for her to shower with affection. The up side of dogs' magnetic force was that Anna 'introduced' us to loads of people. I personally preferred the people to the dogs (mostly), and enjoyed having conversations with other adults without the worry about where Anna was. As long as there was a dog present, I knew where to find her. She did some great walking, too, for a girl whose idea of a long walk is from the kitchen to the TV.

stay tuned

... for photos and commentary from our short holiday in the Lake District. Internet access at home has been intermittent, so I am behind. Sorry!!

st cuthbert's

I should begin by saying that I like St Cuthbert's. A lot, actually. It is quite different from our old parish in Atlanta (how could it be otherwise?), particularly in the total absence of a nursery. Of course this means that the children, who (with the exception of Thomas) are not used to being in Mass, have had to learn how to behave (lol!) in church.

A priest I hadn't seen before appeared a couple of weeks ago to fill in for our own, who was away. One never knows quite what to expect. But I almost burst out laughing as he intoned, 'Let us pray, with our minds fixed on Eternal Truth.' As I wrestled (as discreetly as possible) with Thomas to keep still, I couldn't help but think that I wasn't really the sort of parishoner the priest had in mind. My own thoughts were not exactly 'fixed' on the prayer, and the main truth I was grasping was far more earthly than eternal: the difficulty of keeping the children quiet during the Liturgy of the Word. The Eucharist is much easier: there is always something for Thomas to watch, and Iain falls asleep sometime between the gloria and the end of the homily. (Usually he drops off during the homily.) If we can keep Anna from climbing onto the pew in front, or exploring the contents of someone else's purse, it doesn't go too badly. I usually nudge Thomas during the Lord's prayer, so he joins in at about 'hallowed be thy name', and I have to remind him when we say the Hail Mary, whispering, 'you know this one.' So, no, I have to admit, I do not do very much contemplation of eternal Truth during the Mass.

Still, it has its moments. Last week, Thomas turned his face up to me as we sang the gloria, and said (in slightly too loud a whisper), 'I know this one almost by heart.' And when Anna stopped to kneel before turning to leave the church, it all seemed worth it.

No, it's not actually a photo of Anna and me in our bathroom here--that's Atlanta, a few months ago. It represents something Anna really enjoys doing, though: helping me with the everyday personal care. I suppose in part, she enjoys brushing my teeth (really! I know it sounds odd), for example, because she always has help brushing hers. Maybe it gives her a sense of empowerment, or of capability.

Whatever it is, she had a lot of it this evening. She was especially resistant to hair-washing and teeth-brushing, and the boys were occupied downstairs, so after we had done her teeth, I asked her if she would like to help with mine. Delighted, she took the toothbrush in hand (an electric one) and gave my (front) teeth a good clean. She even sang bits of the little toothbrushing song I made up for them a couple of yeas ago. (Sung to the tune of 'Good King Wenceslas'--don't ask.) Then, since I had put her through the terrible ordeal of having her hair combed, I offered her mine. At first, I said, 'just comb the ends of the ponytail'. She immediately started at the crown, forcing me to take the ponytail out. Oh, well. So much for the boundaries. I knew that my hair would end up looking like I had stuck my finger in a light socket, but then I was only going to bed anyway.

Surprisingly gently, she combed a couple of sections of hair. After she had done a bit, I asked her how it looked.

'Nice,' she said. 'And tangly.'

little explorer

It is a sad fact that my children had to move to the UK to become fans of Dora the Explorer and her cousin Diego. Instead of learning their Spanish phrases in Atlanta, where they might have found opportunity to use them, they are picking up bits of (Latino, not Castilian) Spanish here, where the language they are likely to need next is French. For a real summer, I have come to understand, Britons go to the south of France. Next summer, we will too--if only because Lewis has a conference at which he has to give a paper. Time to figure out how to say all those things I now only read and spell. (The language exam given to PhD students doesn't have an oral component, though perhaps it should.)

The little explorer wielding 'binoculars' in the photo is not Dora, of course, but Iain. I never realized that the most useful skills I would acquire in my teens and twenties would come not from a university, but in the course of endless vacation Bible school experiences. Lewis throws away the cardboard tubes inside toilet paper rolls--or at least he used to, before we moved to County Durham, where we recycle that sort of thing. I hide them, so he won't, and so I can use them for a rainy day activity like making binoculars. I did not have especially high expectations, I admit. And I must confess that Anna was totally uninterested in the project. Thomas and Iain both colored the cardboard tubes and waited patiently for me to tape them together. (When she saw the finished product, Anna decided she wanted some too, of course.)

Iain then totally blew me away. He took the 'binoculars' (which I wasn't sure he'd ever seen before, even) and immediately took them out to the garden. 'I see pears!' he exclaimed, as though the pears were not visible to the naked eye. And so around the garden he went, 'discovering' with much enthusiasm all the things he saw yesterday and which weren't especially interesting then. Go figure. (Eventually I will post the video to Facebook--videos don't work well on the blog. So stay tuned.)

Needless to say, I feel totally justified in hoarding those bits of cardboard.

(By the way, this one's for you, Craig.)

pond life

Anna, Thomas and Iain find it nearly impossible to stay away from the pond in the garden. Iain chiefly enjoys the sound the stones make when he drops them into the water from various heights. (A budding scientist, maybe?) Anna and Thomas are more likely to splash each other, or to water the plants with the pond water--whether they need it or not. No matter how often (or how loudly) we repeat the basic pond rules--no splashing, and absolutely no throwing stones into the pond--somehow all three children manage to forget.

So on Saturday, in a desperate attempt to make good out of the pond situation, I suggested to Thomas that we name the tadpoles. The pond is full of them, and I had just noticed an unusually large one, hovering near the surface. "I think we should call that one Oscar," I said, pointing to it. Thomas immediately joined in, offering names like Daisy (for a tiny one), Baby (a very small one), and Macgregor (one of several "medium" tadpoles we named). At one point, Lewis looked over my shoulder at the list. (Yes, I wrote down the tadpoles' names. Don't ask.) I explained that we were naming the tadpoles. His expression said quite clearly, "have you lost your mind?" I just shrugged--Thomas was enjoying himself, and we weren't splashing, bailing, or throwing stones.

Besides, now we have a pond full of pets that don't require special food or trips to the vet.

local color

Iain's comment about the event to the left: 'I fell in the puddle'--indeed so. He did 'fall' in the puddle, but only in the course of running through it. Although he had been asked to stay out of it, once he was soaked there didn't seem much point in keeping him on dry land, so I got the camera. We were having a picnic just down the road from our house, and Iain was distracted from lunch by the pond-like puddle. Eventually the temptation proved too much for him! Someone observed that some wellies might have helped, but boots would have filled up with water--even before Iain fell--since the puddle was so deep. His crocs were just the thing!

We don't have to go far, though, to get into the water: the pond in which Thomas is 'fishing' is in the back garden. The children all love throwing things into the pond and splashing each other, both of which are strictly prohibited. Of course these rules are difficult to enforce! The pond is teeming with tadpoles, but we have seen only one frog so far.

By far the most popular local attraction is the ponies, who live behind the B&B a few houses down from us. Anna especially loves to visit the ponies, and--if they're close enough to the fence--to feed them. During the summer holidays we have plenty of opportunities to see the ponies and take the long way home--down the railway path and back through the field.

We're hoping to spend a little more time with some new friends. One of our colleagues in the Department of Theology and Religion has two daughters, aged 2 and 4. The 2-year-old will be three just a couple of weeks after Iain, so they play well together. Friends have been the missing element, of course, of the summer holidays so far. Today, however, we're off for a day out, headed north to Tynemouth on the recommendation of a local. Let's go!

walking

One of the great things about our new place is its location: very close to the walking paths that connect Durham to Ushaw Moor, Bishop Auckland, and Lanchester--just to name a few of the nearby towns. The morning walk is wonderful, especially with the sun rising so early. By eight, the sun is high, if hidden by clouds.

Summer in Britain is not hot and sunny. Mostly it is cool, often cloudy, and one can never depend on having a rainless day. But one can depend on great foliage, interesting skies and a ruined castle to visit on a nice afternoon. To the right is Prudhoe castle, which we visited a couple of weeks ago. The moat has been converted into a path around the castle, which was just the right length for the kids to walk. And we finished just in time to beat the rain back to the car.

jeans in july

My least favorite thing about summer in Atlanta was putting my jeans away, knowing it probably wouldn't be cool enough to wear them again until October or so. I know, native southerners can wear jeans all summer long. I don't know how they do it.

Durham, England is another story. Yesterday I was walking along Palace Green and saw a group of what looked like first-year university students heading toward the Cathedral. As it began to rain, I watched them don raincoats and put up umbrellas--and noticed that more than three-quarters of them were wearing jeans. And so was I. It did feel a little strange, to be honest. My expectations for July, having lived in the southern half of the US all my life, involve weather that is generally too hot for me.

Can this be July? O happy day!

shutterbug

Thomas and I took a walk yesterday. Iain was soaked from running through a puddle almost large enough to qualify as a pond, and the picnic lunch was over. So Lewis drove home with Anna and Iain, while Thomas and I explored Broompark Woods. The weather cooperated beautifully, although clouds had threatened earlier in the day.

Since my iPhone takes decent photos, I often record family moments or interesting views--as I did on our walk yesterday. Thomas was desperate to take some pictures, so I showed him how to use the iPhone camera and offered to be his first subject. He wasn't much interested in me, to be honest, but dutifully used the camera's guide (a square frame that helps you to compose the picture) to place me in the middle of the photo. Then he wanted to try photographing some scenery. This is the shot he took on the way home: "I want to take a picture of those two clouds in the sun," he said.

Not at all bad, really.

An English Day

Yesterday we had the first truly rainy day. It rained all day, the wind was cold, and we had a fire in the fireplace in the evening (for the second time this week). Anna, Thomas and Iain went off to their respective schools in the morning, and I headed out to do some errands in and around Durham's market square. With the kids taken care of and the weather discouraging, I thought it would be a great morning for shopping.

My first discovery was that the Monsoon half-yearly sale brings people (mostly women, some children, and a few bored-looking men obviously there for their packhorse skills) out no matter what the weather. My second discovery was that whatever my style is--and I am not sure I have one--Monsoon doesn't carry it. For babies and girls, though, the clothes cannot be beat--expensive, but beautiful. By the time I found something I might buy, the line (sorry--the queue) was too long for me.

I headed on to my most important errand: buy some good walking shoes. I found myself in Cotswold, a store that looks like a smaller version of REI. I breathed a huge sigh of relief--home. Maybe there is somewhere to buy clothes, after all. Not only that, but I had a conversation with someone in the shop--two someones, actually. I made my third discovery of the morning, which was that there is a fitness culture

in Britain: the other customer looking at shoes told me about a sprint triathlon he was doing on Sunday. Unfortunately, even over here triathlons seem to involve bikes with skinny tires. Oh, well. It's not like I was going to start training today--it's just nice to know that it's out there, and it will be there when I get there, whenever that might be.

Anna and Iain had their last day of school on Friday; Thomas goes until Wednesday of next week. Then the summer stretches before us, without a pool, camp, or vacation Bible school.

We'll be exploring the local woods and having picnics whenever the weather permits. On rainy days, I see lots and lots of arts and crafts happening over the next 7 weeks. Mostly, we'll be missing our friends in Atlanta, and remembering fondly afternoons by our pool with everybody. Oh, and we'll be sending you all postcards. Lots of them.

Sports day

Anna's school had sports day (as far as I can tell, it's the equivalent of field day in US elementary schools) last week, and she didn't enjoy it much. Too much noise, too many parents and kids, and far too much of the 'do this now' that cramps her individual style. (It should be noted, though, that the child who hated sports day is the same child who came in first in the 50m for her age group in a special olympics event in May!)

Thomas, on the other hand, had a blast. He got a first in one race, even, and a second and a third in others. He was so enthusiastic and determined to participate that he substituted for some less eager kids from his class. My grasp of the way these things work is hardly complete, but from what I could gather, the school was divided into four teams: blue, red, yellow and green, with children from each grade level on each team. Thomas' team came in first, I think, though I don't quite know how they calculated that! The important thing was that Thomas enjoyed the day thoroughly and succeeded at a school event, which pleased us all.

Next week the nitty-gritty of Anna's school assessment begins. She will be evaluated by the educational psychologist on Monday and be seen by a member of the pediatrics team at the local children's hospital on Tuesday. We don't expect anything earth-shattering; the local educational authority (which seems to be like a school district) simply wants to make its own assessment of Anna to accompany the information provided by her school in Atlanta.

Summer holidays begin the 17th of July. It is strange having the kids in school so late into the summer! We are planning some day trips rather than a longer vacation away from home. Durham still feels sufficiently away from 'home' that yet another new place seemed unnecessary. It was a hard choice, giving up the week we usually spend at the beach, though. Spending a day at Tynemouth just won't be the same!

monday

For most people, Monday means heading to the office. I didn't get to spend much time in my office yesterday, but today I actually did some work there. Iain went to nursery around 9:00, and I headed up the road, then up the stairs (three flights) to my new-to-me office. This is one thing to love about it:

It's on the top floor of one of the buildings (5 The College) in the cathedral close. While it's not especially close to Abbey House, where the Department of Theology and Religion offices are, the 5-minute walk isn't too terribly far to go to check my mailbox and get a cup of tea.

quite a day

1. How not to get lost in County Durham: (a) ask for directions; (b) retrace your steps. Today, since there was nobody around, and because it was less than two hours until the start of Mass, I chose option (b). Of course, I only resorted to option (b) after I had tried the public footpath that went through the stream and then in a direction I was pretty sure was wrong. Back through the stream, up the hill (squish, squish, squish) and onto the road, then back along the bike path, down the hill and up again to the picnic tables I ran (and walked some), and then noticed the sign telling me that the path I had wrongly chosen almost three-quarters of an hour earlier headed to Bishop Auckland. Oh, well. I suppose trial and error isn't necessarily a bad way to get to know a place. I saw a peacock and what appeared to be his mate, and ran past a farm that must have had a bull, judging from the sounds coming from the barn. All in all, not a bad morning. And we weren't even late for church.

2. After church, Anna had her own walkabout through the streets of Durham. Although everyone thought she had headed upstairs, continuing her exploration of the residence at St Cuthbert's, she had taken herself for a walk. Even Fr Tony got involved in the search. Fortunately Anna's guardian angel is really on the ball, and she was fine. Even found a new playground we'll try--together!!--some Sunday after church.

3. Not surprisingly, the search and rescue mission threw our lunch plans into a bit of a tailspin. Since the weather was nice (still! it's amazing!), we decided to try out the picnic area. After all the fuss, it was nice to spread out the blanket in the shade and have a bite to eat together. The kids actually sat (well, Iain wasn't stationary for long) and enjoyed the experience; then they climbed the tree. Lewis and I had a brief conversation, even. Imagine that! So the day ended beautifully despite my wrong turns and Anna's worrying, if brief, disappearance.

Just 8.00 and they're all asleep. We really did have quite a day.

sheep in the night

For a native of a small, southern-California coastal town, the bleating of sheep still comes as a surprise. Lying in bed at night (not in the darkness--we only have a few hours of that in July), with the window open, I hear sheep. Sitting out on the patio in the afternoon, I hear sheep. Taking a walk along the bike/pedestrian path, I hear sheep. 

Not only that: yesterday I found myself offering information about our local sheep, who occupy a pasture across the street. Lewis hadn't seen them in a few days, I suppose, and thought they still wore their thick winter wool. No, I said--they've been shorn. He looked at me quizzically. 'I saw them this morning,' I explained. 

It's a strange combination, sheep and seagulls. But it seems to be working for me.  

the weather

The rain seems to be working only part-time this week. Although we had an absolute downpour yesterday evening (complete with the lightning and thunder so common in the Southeast US), today began brightly, with warm sunshine and pleasant breezes. 

As I walked the footpath that leads to the disused railway line, I felt oddly at home. It is odd, partly, because I certainly don't look like I am at home. And it is odd because I have not lived anywhere this lovely in such a long time that I can't help but think I must be on vacation. Finally, it is odd because I am from somewhere that doesn't look remotely like the North of England.

And yet there's that sunshine--strange as it is for Durham--coupled with the cooling breeze. If weather were my only guide, I might guess I was back home in Manhattan Beach (in which case the seagull I spotted this morning would have served as evidence as well). The landscape says otherwise, of course. There are no sheep-strewn fields in my hometown, or stone-built houses; there were no Roman ruins to visit on a Saturday, and not a single medieval abbey or castle to see. 

No, this is definitely not 'home', not in the exterior particulars. Fair skin and nothern accents, hedgerows and good, thick mud, tea shops and newsagents--all these things tell me I am somewhere I don't belong. Not really. But then, a short girl with curly-crazy brown hair and poor volleyball skills didn't seem like a Manhattan Beach native--I have been told I don't 'look' like I am from California. But I liked it there, and I like it here, and I suppose that's what really matters.

almost lost

...but not quite. Today I went for a little run, after the kids were off to school. Or so I thought. We have a lovely path behind our house--it used to be a railway line, and now is used by runners, walkers and cyclists. It runs for miles, and I thought I would explore it a bit this morning. So I headed out in the direction of Ushaw College, where I will be doing some teaching this fall, which is only a couple of miles down the road. I knew I wouldn't get all the way there and back this morning (being somewhat out of practice), and I knew that the path intersected with a road that would lead me back home.

Or so I thought.

I headed up the road confidently, expecting that I would soon see the familiar sights of Broompark to reassure me. Instead, I saw a sign welcoming me (and safe drivers) to Ushaw Moor. No problem, I thought, I'll just carry on and then head back toward the path; that should get me back to the B6302 (the road that runs in front of our little neighborhood). I ran up, and up, and up, gradually realizing that I was headed away from the B6302, and from Broompark.

Perhaps at this point I ought to have turned around. Or asked for directions.

Instead, I carried on, trusting in my innate sense of direction (really, I did well running in Paris, Austin, and a random town in Ohio--just ask Kelly). Eventually another sign welcomed me to Bearpark. Now Anna has a friend from school whose family lives in Bearpark, and I had intended to visit. But not this morning. At least I knew that Bearpark's main road headed back in the general direction of Durham, and how to get back to Broompark from there. 

Only it didn't. At least not in the way I thought it would. So I took the next public footpath (these things are great, if not signposted in great detail) that looked like it headed in the right direction. By this time I had been gone about an hour, and was a little concerned that Lewis might be worried. Since I was still on the map, so to speak, and recognized place names, I wasn't worried. When I came to the crossroads-of-sorts, I had to choose a direction: toward Bishop Auckland (to the south) or Durham city centre. Since I know how to get home from the city, I thought that made sense. 

Maybe so, but the road didn't look like I expected it to. I spotted a woman pushing a baby in a stroller, and thought I would swallow my pride and ask for directions. She looked a bit (ok, maybe more than a bit) suspicious when I stopped and said, 'Excuse me.' Who could blame her? I was outfitted for a run, and would have looked a lot less out of place on the Strand in my hometown. So I cut to the chase: 'I am completely lost,' I said. Turns out that's a pretty good way to disarm a stranger. 'Right,' she said. 'Where do you want to be?' 'Broompark,' I said. She directed me to continue on, down the hill and up again, until I saw the sign for Bearpark (yes, Bearpark), and take the public footpath...

well, I did. And she was right. How was I to know that at that crossroads-of-sorts I was supposed to take the lane that looked like it should only be used by tractors?

Durham, finally

Well, here we are. Anna, Iain and I arrived last Saturday. Fortunately Amanda, our longtime babysitter, was able to accompany me across the Atlantic. Although the flight was uneventful, Friday was incredibly busy and crazy. Thanks to lots of help from friends (one of whom we met by sheer good luck just after passing through security), we made it!

Anna is settling in, and enjoying her new school. She still misses her friends from Coralwood, and mentions them daily. Thomas has been in school since the 1st of June, and has made friends. Even Iain had a wonderful first day at nursery school! This week I have meetings about my job, and we are continuing to get our house in order. We'll post pictures as soon as I can get my own computer up and running!

cheers!

...and they're off!

Lewis and Thomas, that is: this afternoon, they left for the UK. I am still waiting for my visa (and my passport) from the British consulate in Chicago. Iain and Anna are staying behind to keep me company and help with all the unfinished business here in Atlanta. There's always so much more to do than there appears to be when your departure date is still six weeks away. Fortunately, I will have help from friends--Iain and Anna will probably undo more than they will do to help.

We plan to follow next Sunday, provided my visa arrives in time. In the meantime, Lewis and Thomas will be exploring Durham, buying a car and numerous other items we'll need as we settle in; I will be here, sending a couple of stray boxes, packing light for travel with my two high-maintenance travelers, and cleaning the house thoroughly for our new tenant, who will rent the house from us for two years. 

I realize now that far more friends will be keeping up with us via the blog, I will have to be much more faithful in my posts--especially photos!! 

update

It has begun: our belongings are making their way across the Atlantic now. We will follow in a couple of weeks, provided all the documents are in order. The house is nearly empty, and will soon be occupied by our renter! We were lucky to find an interested (and reliable friend) who was looking for a new place, and thought ours would do. 

Perhaps the big news of the day, however, is Anna's 2nd place finish in the 50m at the Special Olympics today. I wish I had been able to cheer her on in person. (Unfortunately it happened to be one of the few days on which I had another obligation: giving the final for my class!) We hope that she continues to enjoy Special Olympics events once we get settled on the other side of the Atlantic, and that we have the opportunity to share in the fun!

We do have a new address now, which I will happily send upon request. Eventually, we'll get around to sending out an official 'we're moving' email, most likely when it is in the past tense! It's all happening pretty quickly now!

Thomas' 4-leaf clover

I doubted such things existed. But there he was at the back door, brimming with excitement. Finally, all that clover, which we think of as a lawn menace, makes good. Thomas was really pleased with himself, and we had fun with it.

As we plan the details of our move, moments like that aren't simply and straightforwardly delightful. I realize how much Atlanta has become 'home', even for a native Southern Californian who almost melts away in the heat and humidity. The children were all born here and have made their first friends here. Thomas has a best friend in pre-K he'll miss, and he's still set on marrying his 'girlfriend'. (A couple of days ago we had a conversation about what 'engaged'--to be married--meant. When I explained, Thomas said, "so it's like when I ask Ellie to marry me and she says yes." Pretty much.) Anna misses school every break, and even Iain has his friends in the toddler group at preschool. 

We do have a date: 24 May 2009 is our departure date. We have a moving company and will have a ship date within the next couple of days. We have rented a house in Durham. We have a renter for our house, committed to two years. Classes at Candler/Emory finish this Friday, and graduation is May 11. The kids' last day of school is May 22, and things for them are winding down. We have numerous going-away events planned, for us and for the kids. And yet, it is difficult to imagine leaving and making a home somewhere else.  

Of course the last several weeks have been busy, and the next several weeks promised to be equally so. I will try to get some pictures up soon, so don't give up! In June we plan to take a trip to the Lake District! There will be photos, I promise! In the meantime, we are anxious for the prayers of all our praying friends, and grateful for all the good wishes sent our way. 

40

yep, that's right: I have been around for four decades now. Anna chose a birthday card for me with a kitten on it, and insisted on writing inside. Lewis translated: "Mommy" and "Anna." Thomas offered a card that doubles as a crown, which reads "Birthday Queen." (See photo.) And Iain liked the card he scribbled in so much that he didn't really want to give it to me. I can't blame him: the little lion on the front was pretty cute. 

no news on the home-sale front. we have had a quiet week, with no lookers at all. I admit, though, that I do enjoy having the house clean and neat all the time, just in case. 

lapsed...

so much for my good intentions. although I have failed miserably to update the blog, we finally got the house on the market last weekend. We have had some interest, but no offers. 

Bigger news, however, is that Anna was recognized this week for outstanding progress by the Council for Exceptional Children. 

She was very pleased--I can't remember when she last cooperated with a photographer. And of course we were very proud of her. She has come a long way in her years of preschool, from hardly talking at all to offering descriptions and requests, and expressing feelings. 

I will endeavor to post more regularly; certainly when there is news about the house, I will make it known!

Thomas' latest thing

Thomas announced today that he has a girlfriend. So far, the main activity in which the two of them cooperate is playing during "centers" in their pre-K class. I found his declaration that she would "always" be his girlfriend amusing and a little scary: Thomas remembers everything, and holds fast once he has set his mind to something! At least I can say that I am pleased with his choice! 

 

selling a house

It's something I have never done before, and it seems a little strange. Thomas is having a difficult time getting his head around the concept of someone else buying our house. He alternates between talking about living in Durham "forever" and coming back "home" to Atlanta. Probably the most difficult moment so far was hearing him talk about going in the pool this summer. 

We won't be going in the pool this summer. Of course, I didn't say that: Thomas is still at the age of the monologue. He's happy to do all the talking as long as he's pretty sure you're listening. I was definitely listening. It is sad to think that all the fun family times we enjoyed around the pool are over, and that sense is not totally overwhelmed by the anticipation of the sorts of things we are looking forward to doing together once we are situated in England. None of this is particularly surprising--though that doesn't make it less true. 

The big news of the week is the visit: Lewis' parents are in town, and--since they won't be reading this until after the fact, I can say--we'll be taking them to Tybee Island, along with Cedric and Sara, over the long weekend. Cedric and Sara's arrival and the trip will be a surprise for Lewis' dad, who celebrates his 80th birthday this month. Anna, Thomas and Iain are rejoicing in having a set of grandparents with us, to read and play--and to listen, in Thomas' case! I went to retrieve Iain after his nap this afternoon, and was greeted with a question: "Where's Grandad?" I see how it is... 

Beach means pictures, and I will post them. So far (Cliff and Evelyn only arrived on Wednesday evening), I haven't taken any pictures--I am swamped this week with work. That will change, of course, as the weekend gets underway and I get away from the desk! I know that the photos of the kids are the main attraction here, so I will stop now, and make a mental note to keep the camera to hand tomorrow.

superbowl?

It's impossible to believe that my last post was in November, and it's Superbowl Sunday. We are moving along slowly with the preparations for selling the house and resettling in Durham, but we plan to have the 'for sale' sign in the front yard in a couple of weeks. The next two weeks will be busy, as Grandma and Grandad Ayres arrive Wednesday the 4th and will be staying until the 20th. I do have some photos from Christmas and New Year's. And you can expect more regular posts as the transition gets underway.