I'm alive!

I'm sorry that it's been over a month since I've last posted. I have done things, I've just been laaaazy! Since I've written, I've been to a Game Fair on the grounds of Belvoir Castle and to SCOTLAND! I'm still jobless, and I've signed up with several recruitment agencies that have found me... absolutely squat. I refuse to give up hope, though!

Luke's parents took me, Luke and his brother to the Game Fair. It's where farmers, hunters and fishermen from all around England demonstrate their equipment, their produce, their hunting dogs, their techniques, etc. You can buy a variety of different kinds of fishing pole, waders, hunting rifles, etc. My favorite bits were watching the gundog demonstrations and sampling all the fresh farm produce and game. I had a brilliant spicy venison sausage, a venison burger, tried cheese, fruit liqueurs, a honey Scotch whisky (so good!), jams, breads, and more! Delish! It was great walking around and seeing everything, I had so much fun and even got a free sample of strawberry jam!

Scotland was AMAZIIIIING! It's my new favorite place in the world. It is GORGEOUS, all crystal clear lakes, hills full of evergreen trees, hills and mountains, and everything is just fresh and pristine and natural. I felt very comfortable there, even though I kept falling down and hurting myself. I visited Stirling, Crieff, Callander, Doune (I went to downtown Doune Town, ha ha), Aberfoyle, Balquhidder, and we stayed in Strathyre. I sampled some Scotch whisky, climbed a very very tall hill called Ben A'an, fished on Loch Earn, and wandered around various Woolen Mills. Scotland is a beautiful, peaceful place and I encourage everyone to try to visit it once in their lives.

And now, at long last, pictures from France!!!

This is me after a deer burst out of a group of trees, scaring the poo out of me in the fields in front of our chateau in Millau.

The River Tarn, which flows through Millau. Look at the color of the water!

This is the Millau Viaduct, the tallest landbridge in Europe.

This is the Chateau!

Me at the Mediterranean Sea.

Boooored

Still no job. Kicking cheese in Oblivion, though!

I signed up with a recruitment agency, hopefully they'll find something for me next week, then I can start making some money.

I miss the States!

Yikes

I could have sworn I posted something about the trip to France! You know what, I know what happened. I've been waiting for AGES for Luke to find the nubby thing that connects his camera to the computer so I can upload the many gorgeous pictures of the trip, but alas, he hasn't located it yet.

First off, the trip to France took 14+ hours. We started off on Friday morning at 5am and arrived at Clermomt-Ferrand after 8pm, which was where we were sleeping. Then, it was another 2-3 hours to Millau. The problem going down was that we went through Paris. I enjoyed the drive through Paris, although I know it was because I wasn't driving in the horrible horrible traffic! Most of you know how I get in traffic! But because it was Paris and I wasn't driving, I was able to look out for the Eiffel Tower and the Sacre Coeur cathedral. I was very happy to be able to see them!

The hotel at Clermont-Ferrand was rather funny. It was like the New Atlantic Hotel I stayed at in London for a month while a student. It was VERY basic, with Luke and I having to share one pillow and one towel, and with no free toiletries. The continental breakfast, though... MM!!!! I do have to say that the French can do continental breakfasts like nobodies business. I can say that because I've eaten continental breakfast in TWO different hotels in France in my lifetime. Get me, I'm a traveled woman now.

Millau is located in the center of the Massif Central, a mountain range in southern France. Well, Luke wouldn't call them mountains, but they're big to a South Jersey girl! They are rolling green hills and rocky cliffs and plateaus, and it's an absolutely beautiful beautiful place to drive through. The towns are mostly built in the hillsides and valleys, and they are all made from terra-cotta, which gives them a pale to bright orange color. Everything is so colorful! We've had to drive through at least three tunnels dug into the mountain to get to Millau.

Millau is a really vibrant town! It's recently become an area of interest, since the Millau Viaduct was completed a few years ago, I believe 2004? Anyway, the town has a load of little shops and restaurants, and is situated on the Tarn River, which flows through the Gorges du Tarn. It is a fantastic place to walk around in, and I really can see myself finally learning French and living there. Unlike Paris, most people DON'T speak English there, so Luke and I had to do a bit of miming to get what we needed. How embarrassing to be THOSE people.

To those whom are Dan Brown fans, Albi, where the Albigensian Crusade against the Cathars was particularly targeted, is located about an hour away from the town.

Luke and I stayed at La Cadenede with about 20 other people: Dave, Lisa, their two sons, Matt, Sian, Alfie, Nigel, Lucy, Barry, Amie, Ellie, Andy, Ness, Lynn, Nigel, Carrie, Gary, Nat, Charles, and Dave. La Cadenede is an actual honest to goodness castle, with a courtyard, three kitchens, about 14 bedrooms, and towers! It's located on a hill, overlooking the town of Millau and the viaduct. It has a huge pool and one of the kitchens is an outdoor kitchen located right in front of the pool. One of the towers was built in 1289, the rest of it built up over the next 820 years. The current owners are still working on it!

The vacation itself was astounding. The weather was consistently 90-100 degrees, and the sun shone most of the time. Luke and I spent most of the vacation by the pool, although we did go to visit a cave called Aven Armand, went to the Mediterranean Sea for a swim, walked around Millau, and visited Montpelier (which isn't that nice, really). Luke and I ate out a few times, and found a favorite French cafe called La Square, which has the nicest French waitress ever. She was genuinely helpful!

Unfortunately, I got sick during our vacation and couldn't do all the things Luke and I wanted to do. It's ok, though, everyone else stole our ideas and did it for us! Ha ha.

So, honeymoon was awesome. Luke's parents have booked a cottage in Scotland for Luke's birthday in August, so we have another exciting trip coming up soon!

In other news, I'm still job hunting. I went for two more interviews: the professional librarian one, and one for another library assistant job. I didn't get the professional one, which is supremely frustrating as it was essentially my old job. I'm still waiting to hear about the library assistant job, I'm keeping everything on my body crossed hoping I get it. I NEED SOMETHING!!!!!

I'm still applying for more jobs in the meantime. I didn't think it'd be this hard!

More problems

One of the pitfalls to moving to England is that I need to use my home bank account for awhile, until my Natwest bank account sends me my account information and bank card in the mail.  This means my bank charges me a little extra for any money taken out of a cash machine, not to mention dealing with the absurd currency exchange rate.  One English pound is equal to $1.61 at the moment.  So I am forced to do math before I make any kind of purchase, and you KNOW I'm not a math person!  I've signed up for online banking with my home bank to ensure I can keep a constant eye on my spending.  This has been going well... until this week!  

A few days ago, I was trying to purchase some items from the convenience store down the street, and my bank card was declined.  Slightly panicky, I gave them my credit card, paid for my junk, and went home.  Yesterday, the same thing happened.  I checked online to see if my account was blocked and the site didn't say anything about it.  I called my bank in the afternoon, and the woman informed me that they'd deactivated my bank card!  Why would you do this, I asked the woman.  Because I didn't tell them I was leaving the country, she said.  "Did it not count when I walked into your branch the day I left and said, 'I'm moving to England tonight, do I need to do anything?'"  Apparently not.  So I have to wait 24 hours for my bank card to be reactivated, which should be around 2pm my time.  What the heck?!  Why why why why?!  Did they decide I don't need money while I'm here?

Tomorrow, Luke and I are going to Melton Mowbray, the land of the meat pie.  His parents live near the area and they've set up their pool for the summer.  Squee, at least I won't be completely without water this summer!  I'd like to take a walk to the castle, too.  Ooh, that reminds me, I need to check and see if there are any fairs going on at the grounds over the summer:)

I've been watching a lot of Top Gear reruns, a funny car show starring Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond.  Yesterday, they had Sir Ranulph Fiennes on the program.  I've never heard of him before, but he is absolutely fascinating!  He climbed Everest in May at the age of 65!  He's been to both Poles, ran seven marathons immediate after having heart bypass surgery, and he was in the SAS (Special Air Services, kind of like our SEALs or Marines, I guess) until he was kicked out for helping his friends explode the dam Hollywood built in Castle Combe for Doctor Doolittle.  I'd suggest trying to find one of his books.  And in case you're wondering, he is the third cousin to Ralph and Joseph Fiennes.  He looks a bit like Ralph, and kind of like Luke's dad, too.

Bike ride and boredom

Hey dudes and dudettes:

Luke and I went for a bike ride in my brand new bike the other day.  He decided that it would be an excellent idea to go to the lake, Grafham Water Centre, which is about 3 miles away from our place.  That's not a bad ride so I agreed and we prepared a lovely little picnic lunch and rode off through the English countryside (well, we passed a nature reserve and wheat field, so that counts!).  We arrived at the lake, which is the biggest manmade lake in Europe (so Luke tells me).  It's 10 miles in circumference, so it is pretty darn big.  Anyway, we found a grassy knoll, parked out bikes and ate our sandwiches.  The lake was beautiful, a dark blue, reflecting the rays of the sun.  Sailboats were floating, windsurfers were windsurfing, and many others were having picnics as well.  It was just gorgeous and I enjoyed it greatly.  Afterwards, Luke and I were going to get ice cream at the lodge, but Luke is extremely impatient especially when stupid touristy people are involved, so he decided to take me on the nature trail, which passes the ice cream shop.  I thought "sure, why not" and did not know that the nature trail is TEN MILES LONG!!!!!!  On dirt and stone trails!!  With hills!!  I struggled, needless to say.  To add insult to injury, the ice cream place was closed when we got there.  

It wasn't bad, I managed to get home without any injuries, although I was a bit exhausted and dehydrated.  My legs and butt still hurt, but I feel confident that I'll be strong enough to make the ride again soon:)  I'm going to explore the village via bike today.

I hope everyone is well.  I'm pretty good, just bored from unemployment!  The professional job's application process ends Friday, so I should hear soon whether they want me in for an interview.

Le Sigh.

This update is a tiny bit sad.  I did not get the job at Cambridge Central Library, although I did get an adventure in the Cambridgeshire bus system and in the city of Cambridge on my way to the interview.  Also, Luke realized that Nellie the MGB will not be ready in time for France, so we're taking his wonderful mom's car.

There is some happy.  I have three other applications to libraries in the air at the moment, and Cambridge Central will be hiring again in the near future, so I could always try again.  I think they liked me, I hope they did!  Another happy is that Luke's mom and dad bought me a bike as an early birthday gift (I should probably really try to call them Mom and Dad, but it's hard as I don't even call my stepdad "dad" and... well... it gets confusing).  The wheel is a bit wonky (i have the same problem with every bike I ever had), but other than that, it's awesome.  Luke and I are going on a bike ride today and taking a picnic lunch with us:)  I also don't have to feel cooped inside the flat all day, or wear myself out exploring by foot.  I tried that a few times and I have about 5 blisters on my feet at the moment!  

The biggest happy of all:  FRANCE IN ONE WEEK AND A HALF!!!!  Ho ho, je voudrais du fromage!

Two small tiny extra tidbits:  Cambridge is a darn fine city, and Heffers is THE best book store I've ever been in thus far in my tiny life.

Yeah yeah, late, but with good reason!

Hello!

I know I promised more information on Tuesday and it's now Thursday, but I had wandered around town all day Tuesday, taking pictures of Brampton and Huntingdon to post on here, BUT my wonderfully organized husband lost the doohickey that connects the digital camera to the computer.  I waited a day and a half for him to find it, but in the end, we both gave it.  It'll appear when it wants to, I suppose.  Until then, I'll just regale you with my words!

Brampton is a lovely tiny little village.  It won "Best Kept Village" in 1990 or something like that.  There are thatch-roofed houses here, and several newer homes.  I live in the newer area.  Walking down Miller Way, there are loads of cute little brick houses with nice little gardens.  I quite like it.  Down the road, about a 15 minute walk away, are the fish and chips shop, the convenience store, a knitting shop (squee!), a tea shop, and the post office.  Pretty much anything I need is within walking distance.  Tesco and Sainburys are in town and only reachable (to me) via bus, bike or Luke's car.  Not walking that walk again!  Luke made me do it on Tuesday and I thought my back was going to break.  It's not bad, but it does take about an hour to get from Huntingdon to our house!  I'd rather wait to get a bike.

Huntingdon is kind of the center of the immediate area.  The shops are there, the district offices, the library.  I peeked inside of the library, which is currently being refurbished, and was a tiny bit disappointed by the size of the children's department compared to the rest of the library.  There is a cafe in the library, though!  The grand reopening is in two weeks, so I'll stop by and get Luke and myself library cards.  There is a farmer's market this weekend, so I'm looking forward to that!  It's not a pretty place, but it's definitely useful.  I'm taking the bus there this afternoon, or I'm hoping to!  I don't want to get lost!  I need to open a bank account here, stat.

On the job front, I've currently applied for four jobs:  Three library assistant jobs in Cambridge Central Library and St. Neots, and an adult stock and program manager position in Huntingdon.  If I can get two library assistant jobs, I'd be working 4-5 days a week, which is good.  If I get the adult stock manager job, that's a full-time professional job and I'd be working 37 hours a week and making a salary.  Obviously, the professional job is preferable, so cross your fingers for me!  I have my first job interview for a library assistant post tomorrow afternoon in Cottenham.  I'm mostly nervous about finding the place!

Well, that's everything up until this point!  Luke's been spending his evenings working on the MGB.  France is in just 2 weeks, and he's feeling a lot of pressure to get the car ready by then.

See you all soon, hopefully with pictures to post!!!