Geoff & Chris in the UK    Letters & Photos: Previous  Next

17 March 2003

Hello everyone - Chris here. It's 7pm on Monday night, we've just eaten dinner, and we're snuggled in on the couch, ready to watch Coronation Street.

Our attentions are also on the war. I see that Saddam has now admitted to his country that he 'had' banned weapons, but no longer has - wonder where they went?…

Some MPs are resigning their seat so Tony Blair is struggling. It's all a bit like parents struggling to know how to deal with a criminal child. Some want 'tough love', others don't. Hope it's all over soon.

Anyway, on a more cheerful note, we have had a most glorious sun filled blue sky days. Spring is here! It's cold but glorious. Spent Saturday walking around the village of Birkswell with Lynda & Dave from Reading. Had a drink in the 'nook' of the very old village pub - a huge roaring fire, lumpy floor, ancient ceiling beams, and a ceiling height of under five feet in places! Went to the Church where someone who had did of a broken heart had his headstone placed near the Church door, so the woman who caused his pain could never forget! A long walk around the village and across the fields. Later that night, we went to a Spanish restaurant and had 'Tapas' for the first time. Delicious!

We are more settled into the flat now. Still need a rug and a desk for the computer - but we are waiting for my first pay. However I still struggle with all the appliances. It's seventh heaven for Geoff who likes all the gizmos i.e. there are four different remote controls! So far I have only managed to make the toaster and kettle to work properly. But the washing machine, drier, dishwasher, cooker, microwave, central heating, telephone, gas fire, DVD, stereo, TV, video, sky, power shoer, alarm system and the video intercom continue to bamboozle me! Even the iron dripped all its water all over the floor. Guess I will get there. Geoff assures me that the '1/0' symbols are international codes for 'on/off'.

He's been busy - bought a car on Friday. It's a purple Ford Mondeo. It has a small dent in the left read wheel guard and tatty hubcaps, but the rest is in good condition.

Two agents have offered to put him forward for positions, one in Dublin and another in Wolverhampton. He thought Dublin really was a bit too far to commute… The Wolverhampton job is training computer users for Pitmans (they do more than shorthand & typing tests!), something he really enjoys doing. It doesn't pay very well, but he will go thru the process in order to experience an interview.

My job is going very well. I am finding it easy and not at all hard work. In fact, it may prove to not be challenging enough to keep me interested - will wait and see.

Some of the local 'wild life' is interesting… Quite a few interesting sights for 'red nose day' on Friday. Plus there was a lad at the bus stop with a real 'the bee knees' smug look - he had shaven head, even on the top of his head her had five blue plastic cones glued to the top of his head. Just had to burst into laughter when I saw it.

Geoff & Chris in the UK    Letters & Photos: Previous  Next