End of term. 4 months in the UK
Trip Start
Aug 28, 2009
1
10
15
Trip End
Ongoing
Manchester, England, United Kingdom
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Greetings from Manchester!
Had many responses to Geoff's new e-mail notification so thought we would send a message to update our 4 months since leaving home.
The best way of following our lives as tourists is on our "Travel Pod" which we set up for a diary for ourselves. It’s turning out to be a really good record of visits to places far and wide.
http://www.travelpod.com/members/geoffrhonda
At this stage it says 3 countries, which we assume is Australia, United Kingdom and Czech Republic. We are listing 5 countries as we are counting Wales and Scotland! It’s great fun being able to drive to another country.
Travels
Our midterm break to Prague and London was a real highlight so far but we have enjoyed the amount of sightseeing we can do within an hour or 2 of Manchester. 4 hours to Scotland has been our longest drive and another unique experience.
Work
Geoff – The school, apart from music, could not be any more different than any other school you could imagine. Unique is not really the best description. An amazing focus on music; many unique characters, both staff and students, who add to the, sometimes bizarre, events at the school. It has been a challenge to adopt a new curriculum for 4 year levels. My largest class is 15 students so classes are manageable from that respect. Form 1 (very enthusiastic students and they are an absolute scream; I really enjoy teaching them) Form 5, studying the development of the symphony and recording in the recording studio (amazing set up with full desk and pro tools), Lower 6th (perhaps my favourite group) and Upper 6th (a different challenge). A change in the dynamics of the classes is apparent when you have senior classes that are streamed in ability groups and a compulsory subject. In the last part of this term many of the students from the U6 are absent due to auditions for music colleges. Throughout the term students also miss classes due to concerts, rehearsals and lessons. There is an obvious focus on examinations and I feel students are looking for 'answers’ and not that interested in ‘studying’ topics.
It is no surprise that I miss the involvement with ensembles. My form 2&3 choir is a great group who are very keen. Boys changing voices adds an element of difficulty to finding suitable repertoire.
I have enjoyed the teaching and the challenges but much prefer a balanced load of classes, ensembles and lessons if given a choice.
It’s nice that Rhonda and I work at the same place. Some days lunch together and then off in to the city for a coffee. Manchester is not as big as Melbourne or as busy but it does have some lovely old buildings and a bit of character.
Rhonda- After my initial fear of a new working environment I really feel settled and happy. I think the basics of Admin work is pretty much the same wherever you go and you just need to get a grip on the little quirks of each department or staff member. The two other ladies in the office are just wonderful and we feel we have been friends for a long time. Everyone is very supportive and keep making sure I have everything I need or if there is anything they can help with. I feel I have built on the skills I already had and have gained some new ones - Who said ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’!! I rather enjoy just being able to walk across the road to catch the bus. Means there’s no real time pressure in the morning because they run very frequently during morning peak so if I miss one only have to wait 5-10 mins for another. It’s still a novelty to catch a double decker! At the moment my job at Chetham’s is only until Easter but I would love it if something else came up for me there but if not I’ll be looking for something else. So who knows what I’ll be doing after April.
Accommodation
Our new abode, the flat, is small. No surprises there. It has taken some time to get used to it. Hard to say that it feels like home yet but it did feel good to get back after our week away. Easy to keep clean, warm now that we need the heating and all very simple. I don’t miss the gardening, but it would be nice to be out under the pergola for a BBQ or just to have breakfast or a coffee. Withington and West Didsbury have a sort of community and bohemian/student type atmosphere. We enjoy being able to walk to pubs and restaurants and the bus is 50 feet across the road. Geoff has joined the gym which is also just across the road. A noticeable difference here is the congested roads and living space. Bound to happen when you squeeze such a large population into a small space.
Weather
We think the main “cultural” points of interest seem to be weather and food. I don’t think a day has gone by without a comment about the weather and how we must be missing the summer. Frankly I can do without 30+ weeks when I am working. Now at the start of winter days are getting colder, it is dark before we finish work but the rain has been minimal. There is promise of worse weather to come. So far so good.
Food
Baked beans, mushy peas and puddings. The English love them all. Even offered “Pudding Wine” in a restaurant!
It has been a real advantage to have lunches supplied. Geoff has been having breakfast most days after riding in to school. It is easy to find a lot of bargains in the large supermarkets. ASDA is our friend and also 2 for 1 deals in local pubs. We have become fans of Indian food at the ‘Great Kathmandu’ just down the road. We are yet to venture into ‘The Curry Mile’ or what Geoff calls ‘Curry Vegas’.
Other
The Christmas Markets (German style) are a great attraction starting late November. All types of food and drink on offer plus many stalls with Christmas decorations. It has been great to hear the Halle Orchestra and Bridgewater Hall has a magnificent acoustic.
Christmas Break
We are really looking forward to the 3 week break at Christmas after such a long term and so much on. Lee and Shane arrive on the 17th, Christmas music in the Cathedral on the 18th and then off to Liverpool for a Christmas Beatles night in the Cavern Club. On Christmas Eve we will head down to Bugbrooke for Christmas with the Causebrooks. It will be great to be there and hopefully we will get some snow. On Boxing Day (after watching the cricket at about midnight) Shane and I will head back to Liverpool for a ‘football’ match. Back to Bugbrooke and then off to Paris for a few days. New Years Eve with Lee, Shane and Teagan, then to Vienna and Salzburg. Should be a great trip.
Further ahead
Just finished some travel agent work for Jenni and Lin for their visits in February. It will be great to see them over here and they will enjoy a jam packed 2 weeks. Judy will be over sometime in July and there are proposals from some other friends later in 2010 we hope.
We are enjoying our ‘new lives’, missing family and friends a lot but looking forward to all that this time will enable us accomplish.
Comments
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Louise Brown
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