board77

Rotten weather here this week. But Spring is on its way. I promise.

Thanks all! I shall report back as soon as I can once there.

It is meant to be cold and wet in Germany tomorrow and it may even snow again. At least it seldom ever snows in Bath. It's meant to be spring, damnit! As long as the flight isn't canceled or delayed too long, I don't care.

I got to Bath all right, though I landed with a 2h delay due to technical problems. We were already on board and heading towards the runway when it was noticed, so we had to return and sit around on the plane the whole time. In the end we took off at the time we should have landed already. The flight itself was good though - it wasn't fully booked, so I had space next to me and we got a lot to drink to keep us happy and busy. Mark picked me up in Bristol and we got home at 9 PM (should have been there at 7).

On my first day we went into town because I couldn't wait to see it again. Little has changed though there is a bit of construction work going on, some of which had begun last year when I visited. I signed the new tenancy agreement so I am officially living here now. There is some official business I need to take care of, but haven't done yet.

I've met two of Mark's friends by now who invited me to their wedding. I was happy to see they were very nice and fun people. We will get along just fine.

The weather isn't too great at the moment, cold, grey, wet and windy. Germany isn't any different right now, however.

I'm looking forward to my first weekend here now. We have no plans yet, but I am sure we will find something to do.

That's so great to hear, Silwen! I'd love to see pictures of your new neighborhood if you get a chance to take some. Bath sounds like a wonderful place to live.

Hey elsha. I have some pics I took last year when I was here so I will look them up soon. I also took some today though they are nothing special. Ah, here we go: the pics from last year. The first few are scanned, but the others are digital. Enjoy!

I do envy you, Silwen....

Oh, yesterday I found a book at the book store - "Fish and Fritz" by Wolfgang Koydl. He's a journalist, working for the "Süddeutsche Zeitung", living in London. I just started to read it and it's quite funny. I bought it because I wondered if you would get the same feelings about moving to Britain....

What kind of things does he mention? Now I am interested in that book!

Don't be scared of offending us if some of his comments are critical Areanor. We are enormously thick skinned about outsiders' opinions of us and are happy to laugh at the ridiculous stuff. It often takes a view from outside to see things clearly.

So you don't mind if I say the English are all big fat poopyheads?

That sorta fing?

Ah, you've read the book.

My job hunt is in full swing and I found a great job at for a position I would so love to have. It is just what I am looking for - assistant editor in Bath (children's publishing department). There are two other such positions available elsewhere too, but the job ad already put me off because it was unformatted (a big no-no for publishers, if you ask me!) and didn't soudn particularly inviting either. I shall think it over and might still apply anyway just in case my first impression is wrong. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Bath is the natural home for this fellow so I invoke him to give you luck:

Thank you.

Speaking of ducks, I am hoping that this year they have a rubber duck race like they did last year. I missed it then and would love to see it this time if there is one.

My full time job is switching me to part time next week, so I've been looking for another part time job. I sympathize with you. Looking for jobs is no fun.

(actually, I don't mind looking, it's the actually applying and interviewing that's no fun )

Yes, the interviews are the worst bit because you have to basically show off. I am not comfortable doing that. Still, it's got to be done. Good luck, Rebecca!

Good luck!

I've now applied for both jobs I saw advertising the same position. In fact I am wondering if it isn't the same job anyway.

Last weekend Mark and I went to Homebase to find something like a chest of drawers and plants to make the flat more home-like. Didn't find an affordable chest of drawers, but we knwo what we are looking for and where to find out, so we are just waiting for some good offers so we can strike then. I bought us two foliage plants and am praying we remember to water them! They are lovely - a fern and a palm-like plant we named Fern and Trevor. They really make the place seem more alive and lived-in already. I want more plants though, and big ones too.

The first thing I saw at Homebase though was a desk chair I fell in love with immediately. I sat in it because my feet were aching after a long walk through the city and it was so amazingly comfy! I just had to have it. Mark and I are sharing the cost and will go buy the chair on friday when we can get 15% off. I wants it, preciousss! Here is a pic of a similar one: ours is the same except that it is closed at the back.

Looks comfy!

Good luck with the plants! Do you have any bit of land outside of the flat that you can plant flowers in or anything?

Sadly, we don't have a garden. I would like to have a little herb garden on the window sill at some point though. I have always wanted one. I've also put the cotton yarn you and Freddy sent me to use by making a tea cosy and a kitchen towel. There is still a lot of yarn left and I may well make another towel since you can never have enough of them, especially in a household with no washing machine.

Looks like I am becoming increasingly domestic. If I say that I want to be a housewife at some point, please thump me on the head, okay?

No washing machine. Ugh, that's not nice at all.

Do you have a balcony?