Christmas in April, a 21st party, and Anzac Day

First week back at work and I can already tell that this term is going to be fantastic, simply because the weather has been amazing and I get to spend most days outside so hopefully i'll get a bit of a tan!! (ever the optimist I am..)

Because it's the summer term the sports have changed so no more netball, and instead the kids are doing cricket and rounders, with a little bit of athletics on the side. The changing of sports has actually been quite educational for me! I've learnt how to play rounders, and I've learnt some of the rules of cricket (tho the scoring still confuses the heck out of me). I also now know how to throw a javelin properly – and while learning to do it properly I have realised that i'm not as terrible at throwing one as I always have been!

Okay, so for those in New Zealand, you will understand me on the next bit. With the weather here getting warmer and the mornings getting lighter, I wake up and the sun is streaming through my bedroom window and my room is all warm and nice. It feels like christmas. The only thing is that here, sunny weather doesn’t mean christmas. So on wednesday morning when I went down to breakfast with a massive smile because it was proper warm weather and everyone asked me why I was so happy at 8am, and I replied saying that it felt like christmas, I got some very odd looks. They just don't get it!

The weather on wednesday meant that for the first time I wasn't freezing at forrest school, and I really enjoyed it because the kids all made bread and then cooked it on the fire, so of course I had to make some too (and god it was good!)

The forrest actually looks alive now! And it smells very strongly of garlic, because that's what all the greenness is. 

That night for whole house night we had a barbecue on the field and it was soo nice (again, it felt like christmas... in April..) and then after everyone had eaten, the kids all played a game so all I had to do was supervise – basically I sat on the field and talked to the other members of staff..

Thursday I wasn't quite so lucky with the whole evening games thing, because I somehow managed to get roped in to a game of football. Now I am shocking at football, and the kids here are crazy good, so I spent most of the game trying to stay away from the ball to save myself from the certain embarrassment that would follow my trying to play. This strategy would have worked if the other teacher hadn't realised my plan and then ruin it by passing the ball to me every chance he got..

I know I said the weather was amazing, but this is England after all... Thankfully it fined up in the afternoon for cricket

Friday was an interesting day for me. It started off just like normal, but when the afternoon/evening rolled around my facebook and instagram were full of posts about anzac day. Up until then I had pretty much forgotten about it, and it was just a weird feeling that no one else knew about it. Saturday was even stranger because it was the first Anzac day in years that I didn't wake up for the dawn service, simply because there wasn't one. However despite the fact that I was on the other side of the world from my home and from everyone that knew all about Anzac day and what it means to New Zealanders and Australians, I had never felt more proud of my nationality. A couple of members of staff asked me about it because there was a bit on the news about it, and It felt so odd to have to explain to someone what Anzac day was, because back home everyone knows exactly what it means, and what it represents.

That afternoon I caught the train down to Weymouth for George's 21^st party, and I spent the evening eating way too much food and laughing at all the embarrasing photos (I dread to think what will reappear at my 21^st...) And because I sound funny to everyone here, I was asked a lot of questions about New Zealand and sports there, and if I knew the words to the Haka. It kind of made me realise just how much culture New Zealand has, and how people here have no idea what a Powhiri is, or a waiata or things that I didn't even realise were so unique to New Zealand until I left. The thing that really astonished me was that in England, and apparently everywhere else, mince and cheese pies are not a thing. How can they not be a thing!? They're the best type of pie and they seemingly dont exist anywhere but New Zealand!? It blows my mind!

The birthday boy blowing out the candles.. This was the only photo I took hahah

After less than 24 hours in Weymouth I was dropped back at school by Rob, and I pretty much spent the rest of the weekend in my room on my laptop watching Netflix...
I was also a good daughter and skyped the parents for nearly an hour and a half (we had a lot to catch up on apparently..) And then that was my weekend over..
This morning I had to get up early (the horror!) because it's school photo day, and the only photo I was needed for (the boarders photo) was at 9am.. So I got up and had a bacon roll for breakfast which made me a little bit happier, but only a little bit..

Now because I spend nearly every day in a tracksuit, everyone was quite surprised when I rocked up to the photo wearing a dress (!!!!!) its quite funny because now when I wear jeans and chucks, it really feels like I'm dressing up...

And that's this week done! I do apologise for the lack of interesting outings and brilliant photos (I do realise just how modest I sound) but now that I'm back at work it's back to the not-so-interesting posts!
So until next week then!

Train problems and back to reality

It seriously worries me just how fast mondays seem to come around.. I swear it hasn't been a week since the last post...
So on Tuesday Jo took me around a local town which was insanely pretty (and being the amazing blogger that I am, I have forgotten the name of the town, and I didn't take any photos while we were there. Sorry..)

However I can tell you that while we were there we had an amazing lunch out where we ate incredible salads (I know, I chose to eat a salad!) and the best carrot cake I have ever had!

What's not to love about a view like that?!

That evening we went for a walk around the farm, and it was stunning. The sun was setting and the flowers were out and it was quite nice to be able to walk somewhere and not hear horns going and the constant noise of traffic that you get in London.

On Wednesday Jo took me into Cambridge and we were proper tourists for the day. We walked around the little streets, went into the chapel at Kings College, walked along the banks of the river watching the people punt (nowhere near as skillfully as I did it ;) and all of this was in 25degrees. I think I have actually forgotten what warm weather is like because I couldn't really function in that heat! It may have been the perfect weather or the amazing tour guide (thanks Jo) but whatever it was, I completely fell in love with Cambridge. (brace yourself for an overload of photos..)

I can't imagine going to a University that looks like that. I'd never get anything done!

After the excitement and heat of wednesday, I decided to do nothing on Thursday and Friday. Now before you go on about how I'm a typical teenager and all that jazz, I might add that I was up before 9 on both days (!!) and I did go on a run. But for the rest of the time I sat in front of the TV talking to friends back home via the life-saving Facebook messenger (seriously, without it I would be lost).
In the afternoons I went on the school run with Megan, and I also went to the supermarket with Jo (where we had lunch in a cafe that was IN the supermarket! Genius idea!).

As Saturday rolled around it was time for me to go back to London, so three trains and a ridiculous amount of stairs later I made it back to Nunhead with my suitcase (which I fear may not last much longer..). After a short catch up with Sarah and Martin, I made my way back into London to meet up with Adele. We decided that shopping would be a good idea (when is it not) so we made plans to meet at Shepherds bush, which is usually really easy to get to. However luck was not on our side because the tube stopped three stations before shepherds bush, and didn't go any closer because of maintenance or something. So, off the tube and onto a bus right? Oh no! Because that was everyone else's idea too, so every bus that went past was full of people, so they didn't stop. So rather than wait ages to stand on a crowded bus, I decided to walk the 2 miles to Shepherds bush, and thankfully the weather was nice because otherwise I would not have been happy..
When I finally made it to the mall, I had to wait for Adele, who had managed to get on a bus, and was stuck in traffic (she eventually gave up and walked, which was faster than the bus anyway).
After the amount of effort it took to get there, we made the most of our time there. While we shopped we caught up because we hadn't seen each other since we went to Paris, so there was a lot to talk about! After a solid three hours of shopping, we decided it was time to head back (mainly because my arm were hurting from all the stuff I had bought) and so we left. It was a lot easier getting back than it was getting there, and we were stoked when we got on the right train (I think the locals were found our excitement amusing).

Sunday was another relaxed day (it was the last day of the holidays so don't judge). Once again I sat in front of the TV watching awful reality shows until Adele came around and we ignored the TV and just talked for a good couple of hours. for the second time this week I had the terrifying realisation of how old we are getting (I know you may laugh but when you realise that you are going to turn 20 next year, you freak out a little bit). Adele went off into the city to do a bit more shopping, and I was good and didn't (maybe because my suitcase is very full and I do not have the packing skill or the muscle to get it across London..). That night we had a roast, and I decided I love the whole Sunday roast tradition because they're just so darn good! And then we sat in front of the tv and watched movies. I stayed up past everyone else because The Vow was on and I love that movie a lot, but by 10.30 I was nearly falling asleep (I know, crazy 18yearold right here) so I called it a night half way through the movie and went to bed.

And so we're back to Monday! I haven't done a lot this morning other than do some washing just so I don't have to do it when I get back to school, and pack my suitcase (and yes all my new clothes do fit! Thank god...)
At 11.30 I headed into London to get the train back to school, and as usual I arrived stupidly early for the train. What I thought would be the usual simple journey of nearly three hours took much longer, because my train was late to arrive in Bath, which meant I missed my connecting train to Frome. Needless to say I was not happy at all. Turns out it wasn't such a bad thing because I had a quick walk around Bath while I waited for the next train (which arrived TWO HOURS later..) and the weather was so lovely and sunny which made me a little bit happier about dragging my suitcase around. When I finally arrived at school I unpacked my suitcase and shoved it into the wardrobe – three weeks of it was too much. The rest of the day was spent catching up with everyone and reading letters that I found in my pigeon hole! Such a nice surprise!

And once again that is all for this week!

One of the nicer views from the train. Its just so yellow and summery and things finally look alive!

Bath is quite pretty and I want to go back very soon.

Dog walks, farm visits and punting

So after I left you last week, the whole family went out for an amazing meal at a pizza ansd pie resturant. The view at dinner was so pretty, and it was so nice for everyone to be together for a nice meal out. There isn't much else to say about monday other than that we all ate too much, and then came home and ate even more when we saw the easter eggs... I spent the rest of the night in a food coma on the couch, but I don't regret a thing!

The view with dinner. Pretty pretty right?!

On tuesday the weather was amazing, so Rob and I took Monty into town and met up with Sue (who was at work, and not too pleased about being stuck inside on such a nice day). We all went to the beach and had a sandwich sitting in the sunshine. While it was a lovely day, I wouldn't say it was hot, however some people seemed to think it was tropical and dressed accordingly. No one should have to see that much paleness on a single day..

Because of the lovely weather I spent the rest of the day out in the back garden soaking in the sunshine (and desperately trying to get a tan – no luck)

Yes, that's a cannon ball lodged in the side of a building that was fired in the civil war in 1645.. Lil' bit o'history for you there

Wednesday rolled around, and guess what we did... Took Monty for a walk! Bet you didn't see that one coming!

We dropped Lucy off at her work, and then took Monty for a walk along the beach (we tried to take him onto the wharf but he shook so much it wasn't worth it. Though it was quite hilarious!)

We stopped off for a piece of cake at a cafe on the hilltop, and ohmygod it was amazing cake! (I can't remember what it was called, but it had apple in it and it was divine)

Monty managed to get about 2 meters along the wharf before the shaking got so bad it wasn't  worth it anymore..

Pretty good lunch spot amiright?

 Now Monty has some issues getting into the back of cars because he can't jump very well, so he has to use a ramp. A ramp which he hates to use, which makes it very interesting, and quite amusing when he has to use it. That afternoon we had to pretty much push him up the ramp, and even doing that it took me and Rob a good 2 minutes to get him in the boot. It was such an effort that when he finally got in two people who had been standing next to their car behind us applauded when he finally got in. It was quite embarrassing..

That night Rob had a flashback to his childhood when we watched Calamity Jane. We watched it because one of the songs was in Lucy's show, so we thought we'd take a trip back to 1953 and their amazing green-screen effects. It was quite amusing.

By thursday morning the lovely weather had disappeared and it was replaced by a thick fog. Despite this we took Monty for a walk over some hills near the coast, and then down to a beach. We had cheesy chips for lunch at a cute little cafe near the beach, then walked through a field which had recently been home to a large number of cows (you had to be very careful where you walked)

Apparently you should be able to see Weymouth, but clearly (or not so much ;D ) the fog was in the way

I just thought this was the cutest little gate so ovbs it had to be included.

Again, you should be able to see Weymouth

Once we finished our walk we went to Aunty Irenes for a cup of tea in the (partly returned) sunshine. When we left monty had more issues with the ramp. He doesn't seem to be getting the hang of it.

Friday morning I was dropped off in Dorchester while Lucy had an appointment. I wandered in and out of the shops and got very excited because all the clothes shops were filled with summer clothes, and it was sunny and warm outside and it was just perfect.

This was the only photo I took in Dorchester. I think I may have been a little  bit hungry..

That afternoon I had a two and a half hour train ride back to london. I don't usually mind train journeys but when its amazing weather and you're stuck on a train, it really sucks.

I spent Friday afternoon doing nothing interesting, because I was suprisingly tired from the train (I did have to drag my suitcase across london. I hate London public transport when you have a suitcase. But on the positive side it is a good workout because there are never any lifts!)

On Saturday I headed out reasonably early to Lewisham. I spent a good 30 minutes in the post shop trying to find the right size envalope, waiting in queues, filling in boxes that don' leave enough room, and finally posting a parcel home. After that effort I decided I deserved some shopping time, so after I attacked the shops at Lewshiam, I got the DLR to Bank, and then the tube out to shepherds bush where I spent the afternoon in a state of pure happiness. When I had finally finished there I headed back to Nunhead and, wait for it.. I went for a run! It was such a nice afternoon and I had just bought some new runnung gear, so off I went for a jog around the cemetry (again nicer than it sounds). I might have gotten a bit lost in the cemetery, and when I finally found an exit I my have turned left when I was meant to go right, but I eventually found my way back to Sarah and Martins where I spent the rest of the evening relaxing on the couch, eating dinner, and watching Wallace and Gromit.

Sunday morning I woke up early (for me on holiday) and skyped Mum and Dad, Nana and Grandad and Nanny and Grandad. It was so nice to see my grandparents because I hadn't seen them since I left NZ in December. We all had a good old chat and Dad taunted my with apple and fejoa pie. After I finished talking to them, I had breakfast (pancakes with nutella. Heaven.) and then we all got in the car and headed to Surrey Docks farms. Charlie went off to do some outdoorsey farmey things, and Sarah, Martin and I got the ferry across the river to Canary wharf, and spent the next hour and a half wandering around there in the sunshine.

I spent the afternoon playing sous chef because Charlie cooked us an amazing sunday roast. I was massively impressed because I wouldn't have a clue how to cook a roast and she was whizzing around the kitchen in full chef mode. She even made a berry tart for dessert (pastry and all!) so I was well impressed.

We pretty much chilled for the rest of the day, Charlie got a new toy and if I played the guitar I would be very jealous.

Keira the shetland pony apparently has some anger issues. I thought I'd play it safe and stay on the opposite side of the fence..

This is my kind of animal. Unable to charge at you and no risk of stepping in something nasty. Perfect. (Can you tell I grew up in a city?) 

Charlie's roast. The dessert didn't last long enough for me to take a photo of it...

Charlie and her new toy. I think it's safe to say she was thrilled.

And we're back to monday! All I have done today is made my way to Liverpool Street station, and caught a train to Cambridge to stay with some family friends.

Once I arrived we went into the centre of Cambridge and wondered around. We got a boat and punted up and down the river – I had a go at driving(?) it and I was pretty alright! I didn't crash it, and I didn't fall in (though there were a couple of scarily close moments).

After we had returned the boat we wondered through the city, went into some shops (I didn't buy anything! Shock, I know!) and then we went back to their house and had a full on taco feast!

Photographic evidence. See, I'm vertical, dry and in what seems to be complete control #pro. I must say it's a hell of a workout!

And that's all to report! So until next week then..