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

UK News 6 June 2003

Geoff has found a fill-in part-timejob, paying cash, to tide us over until he finds a proper job. So that will be good practice for him, getting up and dressed at a respectable time of the morning, and remembering how to think etc! The job is helping someone redesign their website www.careersnet.com He starts that on Monday. Could be several weeks (or even months) of work.

It also means On the job front, Geoff didn't get the job at Law Laboratories (didn't want it anyway), but has been asked to attend a second interview at SCH. Excellent! Their shortlist is two people, for two positions. So there has to be a change there! Also, he is apply for a IT support position at a legal firm, which pays the same as SCH, but does not involve all that traveling around the UK.

On Sunday, we're going on a country walk with some interesting people we've met! It was quite a laugh - Thursday night after dinner, we thought that it was such a lovely evening (it is now light here until 10pm), that we should go for a walk. We have been given a book of country walks, and chose one that included walking through woods, over farmland, and along the canal side (Stratford Canal to Austy Wood). Got into the woods ok, the bluebells have 99% gone now - a shame. Very beautiful in the woods. But there were lots of paths through the woods, and we obviously took the wrong one! After pausing to see another deer, and then see a fox running away from us, we emerged from the woods to see what we thought was the farmhouse we had to walk to. Well it was miles out! The map in our book was quite useless, thank heavens I have a small compass (still can't tell where North is by looking at the sun). After walking for miles, and asking two times for directions from amused locals, we still couldn't find our way back to the canal.
'Twas now getting dark, and just before 10pm we decided that we had better ask for more directions (or phone up family for a rescue mission). Saw someone at her kitchen window, at a large house with lovely cars outside, and asked her for help. She immediately invited us in, to have a drink and join them. They were in the middle of a somewhat glamorous dinner party, about 14 people there. We were led into a huge dining room, with a long table covered in beautiful food and surrounded by beautiful people! To break the ice, Geoff said we left NZ 12 weeks ago, looking for Australia, and must have taken a wrong turn somewhere as we've ended up in their dining room! Laughter! After they studied our appalling map for a while, they worked out that we were had another four miles to walk, along dark country lanes, and that 'really - they insist' that they drive us back to our car. We gratefully accepted, after declining several more invitations to stay and share their meal - we were dressed in rough, dirty walking clothes and were covered in mud from the bridle paths, and this party was going to last for hours more (otherwise we probably would have stayed!). The kind soul who drove us (in her very nice range rover with satellite navigation & all the bells and whistles) then invited us to walk with them on Sunday - when they are having a charity fund raising BBQ for their local tennis club. So, all going well, we will join them, and will 'bring a bottle'. While being driven back, there were masses of bats flying around the country lanes we were to walk on...
(the area we were in was called Claverdon, Henley-in-Arden, Lower Langley, Upper Langley, Tattle Bank).
Ah, what an adventure this trip has been so far...   (and we have now purchased a proper map).

Funny thing about the ending of an era - especially when you didn't know that it had begun! I'm speaking of today's closure of the London Underground Mail Train. This is totally separate from the famous 'tube', having it's own tunnels, tracks, moving mail on small electric trains 20 miles from Paddington in west London to Whitechapel in the east. Suggestions are now being sought for use of this unique facility. Tourism?! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2422125.stm

Each Tuesday night, Chris is attending more art classes, with hopes for a fortune to be made in her retirement?! The people are so friendly. This week she met a women who looked like Sister Theresa who had spent 14 years working in Nairobi amongst the slums helping those with aids. mostly women and children. She was lovely. 

This week, her work also ran a team building session at a venue called Nutfield Grange, complete with its own helicopter pad for executive travel. All Geoff got was a couple of yummy chocolates from the afternoon tea. We expected to see Cliff Richard cos he is supposed to stay there but no luck!

Several times a week, we are having dinner at George's house. He just loves having us here, and seems quite disappointed on the nights that we can't come over. We are doing the gardening for him so it allows us to get our hands dirty there as living in the flat does not allow for that - which we have to say is rather nice in a way - we have so much time for other exciting things.

Saturday we helped Chris's sister Judy move house. Unfortunately her husband Terry's drinking problem has caused the marriage to fall apart, so she is now living on her own, with her son. She has been hugely stressed and has lost a lot of weight. It was great to be able to be around to help her.

Saturday night we returned to the Hippodrome theatre, to see the Miss Saigon show. We persuaded George to come with us, so we took advantage of their half price tickets for people in wheelchairs, and for their companion as well! So three tickets for the price of two. The seats were 'up in the gods', but so easy to get to - no steps at all. The show was extremely polished, professional. Stunning voices that didn't miss a beat. The sets were predictably clever and exciting, including the famous full size helicopter coming in to land on stage! All in all, a great show.

Sunday. This just has to be the most wonderful day we've had since moving here! We arrived at the meeting venue, which turned out to be a rather large and lovely house in the countryside, at Claverdon. We were very warmly welcomed by the members of the tennis club, most of whom had heard the story of our being lost in their countryside the previous Thursday night and were all keen to chat with us. We set out on the 2 1/2 hour walk, accompanied by two springer spaniels, two yorkshire terriers, one golden setter, one Labrador, and about thirty fit people. The day was stunningly beautiful and warm, and the company was absolutely lovely. A group of very interesting, intelligent people. Most retired. We had some great conversations and really good fun. After the walk, we returned hot and worn out. 

We arrived to find that our hosts husband Tony had prepared a most beautiful lunch, including BBQ eye fillet steaks-to-die-for cooked on two large BBQs that look like steam engines. We all opened and shared the wine and champagne that people brought. (Tony and Sue own several pubs, and did own over a hundred until recently).

Also tried Pims for the first time, the favourite poison of Sally and the Colonel - born in India, now retired, whose career included the Congo, Singapore, Kosovo and many more places. Very pleasant and great fun. They are planning a NZ trip soon, so we will assist them. Richard and Beverley may enjoy meeting them. Also met a guy who is the quality manager for Cadburys, had been to Dunedin, and remembered Ian Priestley. Our hosts, Sue and Tony,  have also been to NZ for a month, and loved talking about their trip with us.

Most beautiful food, salads and puddings! The English summer pudding was wonderful, made with bread and berries. Then, Pavlova with kiwifruit! And later, coffee with a huge glass dish about a foot wide and high full of chocolates. Yum!

It was so nice to meet a lot of new people, they were all so intelligent, motivated and conversational. A very NZ style of social day - a BBQ and meeting new friends. A few people asked for our phone# so that we could get together for a meal - wonderful, we have made our first friends?!

Went and had a look at Sue and Tony's their new campervan - a 32 foot luxury van from America. One press of a button and the sides of the van expanded outwards, to make more room in the kitchen and bedroom. Satellite TV, air conditioning, more buttons to open huge awnings and another button to extend the steps from the door. Several TVs including one with a view over the rear of the van, to assist parking. It's own generator and a place at the back for motor scooter.

Geoff visibly drooled when the neighbors (both eye surgeons) drove up in the brand new Mercedes 500SL sports car. Only $200,000 worth (and worth every penny I say!).

We're so much looking forward to meeting some of the Claverdonians again soon, and maybe we might like to live in that area. It certainly feels nice to have found a group of people we enjoy spending time with. Must make the most of that before the winter sets in...

Wednesday night, we picked up our untrusty guide book, and went on another walk. This one was around the little village of Lapworth. Didn't get lost this time, but Geoff did fall into a badger hole! 

Friday. Thank god it's Friday. Chris's work is frantically busy. They have just finished their Commission for Health Improvement review, which produced a phenomenal workload.

We're cursing the ignominy of the Brits at the moment. Chris has been sent a form by her employer, asking for her 'payroll number'. You'd think they know that! So we have a look at one of her payslips, and nowhere on it is a 'payroll number'. There is a PAYE reference, a personal number and a national insurance number. Best phone them for clarification, but on their letter they have whited out the last 5 digits of their phone#. And the letter has been horribly photocopied, all crooked and spotty. Groan. I think we entered this state of mind last night, while watching the local version of 'fair go'. What is amazing is that they set up hidden cameras to watch dodgy tradesmen, paid them for their shoddy work, and then did nothing about seeking recourse. Perhaps there is absolutely no consumer protection law here? Best be careful.

One of Geoff's NEON software users sent over £50 to assist our 'rest and recreation', so we'll spend that wisely, probably joining the wonderful Spice Club! Thanks Hamish!

We are hoping this weekend will be quiet - but saying that because its Friday - by tomorrow will probably be ready for more. But tonight a video or TV and a couple of glasses of something cold. We have taken to the English beer and both like Shandy of all things!! - however the champagne is still my favourite (Chris). Lindauer Brut is £7.99 per bottle (Geoff). Cheers!!!

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