Hiya mi Lasses and Lads! You are alright?
My last month in Leeds was all about surprise visits, sightseeing, talks about the weather and sad goodbyes…
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| Loco and I in British Summer Gear |
Well, starting with something quintessentially British: the weather. It has been to put it mildly, not that great during my last weeks in Britannia…However, it seems as if over the course of last year, I have adapted to the local conditions, because when my brother visited me, I responded to his complaint about the shitty weather: “It is not too bad,” “At least it is not raining,” “It seems like a quite decent day today”. Obviously we dear continental Europeans are not used to the foggy, rainy weather my lovely EUROPEAN islanders ;) are so used to, which is not all an unrounded stereotype. It can be truly depressing, but you’ll have to make do with what you get, now back home on the continent, I am oh so well happy – baking in the sun, exposing myself to the danger of being “lobsterfied”, because my dear skin has become all white and British. I am now back for less than a week and it has paradoxically been hectic, but also relaxing.
Let’s recapitulate my last days on the island, to give this blog a summary of “chapter one”, not something that has no ending. Even though, it seems as if it will be a never ending story anyway, but more about this at a later point!
My last weeks at school were really good – got lots of nice cards and presents from my pupils and mentor teachers (bracelets, tea sets, etc.). Some of my sweet A-level students even baked me a cake and bought me a chocolate heart – how sweet of them!!! It was so sad to say goodbye to all of them, I was on the brink of crying, even though I knew it is not the end of the world… but oh well, it was a bitter sweet goodbye. End of another chapter of my life, but the next is to follow.
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| busy busy bee |
Apart from lots of “goodbye dinners” I was mega busy, going down to Reading for a job interview as a MFL teacher trainee– which to cut it short I got in the end. I was allocated a school in Birmingham, where I can start the training to reach the QTS (qualified teacher status) in September…Oh well,…
My dilemma was until an hour ago – “Spain or England that's the question?” – should I go to Sevilla, where I could work as a language assistant, or should I take that extra step, which will push me personally and professionally…it was hard, and I did not want to decide (those who know me well know how difficult I find the act of making decisions), even though I have already made the decision, by leaving loads of my stuff behind in Leeds…but I just didn’t want to give up this dream to go to Spain – gosh, how much I wanted that…but then I am convinced that this year I should take up the challenge of Britain, and try it again another year. I know for sure that I’ll go back to Spain though – I have to ;)
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| yummy Spätzle or as Chris would say "Spatzl" ;) |
Apart from interviews and life-decisions, how dramatic, June was a great month... Kathrin and I decided to make an Austrian dinner – “Spätzel mit Putengeschnetzeltem and Mohnnudeln mit Zwetschkenröster” yum yum yum - to show our dear Brits how lovely Austrian food is! We were cooking away, when suddenly Chris stood in the doorway with a blond girl. All of us stared at her, I thought “The new gal looks like Shannon”…until I realised it was Shannon. Sweet crazy sugar muffin surprised us all by popping by for a week. What a great surprise. She just came in time for some lovely food and some hiking.
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| Shannon - sweet sugar plum |
After various attempts to go to the Lake District, to climb the highest mountain in England, called Scafell (mind you 978 meters high), we finally managed to do so in June. Various times before, rain destroyed our plans. Once, instead of hiking, we decided to visit Wakefield and go to the new Hepworth Art Gallery – conclusion: impressive building, the exhibition not that exciting though. Nonetheless, something I took with me was Barbara Hepworth’s approach to art. This local Yorkshire artist, after whom the gallery was named, stated that her art tries to engage the eye in seeing. With her sculptures, the brain realises that we are consciously seeing, the idea is that it then transcends our perception that we maybe look outside of the normal and try to find extra meaning. In my opinion a good approach to see things that happen to us and that in the first instance don’t make any sense. Easy to say so nonchalantly when everything is good, not so easy when bad things happen, I suppose. But well, it is one of those phrases that I might try to remember at a later point…
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| reunited in the Lake District |
So finally, we all: Álvaro, Kathrin, Chris, Shannon and I climbed Scafell – what a great experience. The countryside in the Lake District is just amazing!!! We had a marvellous day. For an Austrian it might seem easy peasy – but god now, it was not that easy! ;)
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| amazing countryside in the Lake District |
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| yes this is where we are going!!! |
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| on top of Scafell |
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| the girls made it!!!!!!!... well some later than the others ;) |
While I was in Reading, a friend of mine – Edi – decided to visit me. He spontaneously booked a flight and came over to Britain! It was great to catch up and we had a big night out in Leeds with some yummy BBQ, went to Saltaire and went walking in Ilkley. What a great time!
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| cow and calf in ilkley |
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| BBQ @ Archeries |
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| saying goodbye! |
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| but first let's daaaance |
He then left and my brother came. It was wonderful having my brother over. To be honest, until we booked the flight, I did not believe that he would really come – but he did and it was heaps of fun.
Apart from having a picnic in-between two fairly busy streets, sleeping in a 4-bed dorm, climbing up a mountain, Max also realised how many “butterflies” there are in the UK ;) and how chilly British summer can be.
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| looks like a lovely green spot to eat...BUT |
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| not so much if you turn around... |
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| Manchester United!!!!! |
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| Newcastle |
He spent 10 days in the UK and we visited 9 cities – crazy us. I took him on my standard tours – Saltaire, York, Manchester, but also to Liverpool (which was nice to finally see in the sunshine), my favourite city Newcastle and to the Dales. Chris, darling he is, planned a perfect last weekend.
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| ready to go caving |
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| massive Yorkshire Pudding |
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| Pennygent, yes this is where we are heading |
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| on top of Pennygent |
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| just climbed a mountain! |
We had some lovely home-made Hartnell spac-bol on Friday and went to the Dales the next day, where we went caving and then climbed one of the three peaks - Pennygent. Max had the possibility to try some really hearty Yorkshire food – a Yorkshire pudding with chilli, gorgeous Seven Spices curry and a real fry up, which Chris cooked up for us on Sunday. A Heart Attack says hello.
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| Loco's first British fry up! |
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| yum yum yum last seven spices! what a treat |
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| Saltaire |
It was great to revisit all these different parts of the North and to show him my favourite spots. So of course, how could it be different, we went to my favourite café in Manchester where we had the best scone on earth (I am sorry, but I have to say dear ‘Betty’ your scones are nothing compared to those), we had tons of coffee (it turns out Max is as much a coffee junkie as I am – a perfect combination), we walked on the city walls of York and we chilled out at the Archeries.
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| Coffee time in Manchester |
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| mmmmmmhhhh BEST scone EVER!!!!!!!!! |
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| getting ready for some pole dancing, Shannon?? |
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| on York's city wall |
It was wicked to spend some time with Chris, Olly and Álvaro before I had to leave. In total, it was good to have my brother over, so I could not get all dramatic when saying goodbye. I was so busy that I did not have time to let it sink in, because on Tuesday we were off to London to spend our last two days there.
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| bubble tea in camden town |
There, I finally managed to drink my so-longed for bubble tea (which I tried for the first time in California, recommended by my friend Khizar) and we spent a lovely day in Camden town. I managed to see some parts of London which I’ve not seen before, and despite the extreme business of this city, I absolutely love it, and could definitely see myself living there for a bit. I more and more understand what my dear southern friends miss so much in the north – because there are heaps to do in this thriving capital!
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| lovely London |
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| Loco and I in front of Big Ben - "must see" every time when I'm in London |
Now I am back in Austria, busy planning lessons and meeting up with friends. It is good to be back home, to be able to read a book in the garden, to eat tons of mum’s food and to relax. But, again, my weekends are planned and I am not going to be here for a very long time. I decided today that I’ll go to Birmingham for a year (who would have thought that I’ll live in the city of Brum ;), I for sure didn’t when I visited it a couple of years ago). However, it is an amazing opportunity which I’ll have to seize, and then who knows what is going to happen. I’ll work tons in Austria, try to have some hols as well and try to prepare for September, horrible how fast time is running by!
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| sun in Britain |
So you’ll hear more about my adventures in the land of Brum…but for now I’ll leave you to it!
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| Kiss Kiss xxx |
Ta-ra!!!!
