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!