My wonderful day off...and tomorrow is December 1st!!

Hey everyone, so yesterday was my day off!! I had decided that I would go for a long walk to Oldbury Church also known as "the little church on top of the little hill". It's about 3 1/2 miles from Thornbury, and a beautiful walk through country roads. I felt like Eliza Bennett walking through the mud and sunshine today, I really got a chance to clear my head and do a bit of thinking. When I got to the church I was so excited because it over looks the river Severn (divides England and Wales)and it was such a nice day so the view was amazing and I wasn't too cold up on the hill. So I thought I might share some great photo's of the river, the view and what I saw along the way..:)
I'm doing very well, super excited for my upcoming holiday which I will share with CC and her wonderful family. I can't wait to have a Norwegian Christmas and explore CC's city (or is it more of town?). Tomorrow is Silke's birthday so we are all giving her a framed group photo of us, so that she can remember the short but great time she had with us. We are still very sad about having to move, but we don't have a choice really, so we decided maybe change is good. Except one thing, we just found out that it's very likely Shamick will be leaving us to move to another house here and we are getting Martin instead. We all like Martin very much, but it will be such a hard thing for us not to have Shamick in our house. He brings so but light and laughter to our lives, all the children do, and we don't want to have this change. It's not for sure yet, but more than a 50% chance, so when I return from Norway I think I will have a lot of readjusting to do.
I'll let everyone know in about two weeks what will happen, hopefully it's a good change not a bad one.
This weekend it's also the Start of Advent, so Sunday we will have an advent spiral in the hall for the children and their families (I'll try and get photo's!) Sunday is also Manuel's Birthday, so Saturday night we are all going to Bristol to celebrate!!! Another thing is that yesterday we started rehearsal for the Christmas school play, and I'm Eve (I really get to eat an apple, funny I know!). It's a very funny/ fun process because everyone is involved and the children are so cute!
I'll make sure to get photo's and share them with you!
Well got to go, I'll keep giving you updates and you keep tuning in!

cheers,
and well wishes
-Ilaria
P.S. sorry it's not a long post, I'm just very tired but happy!








Moooo...

BIG NEWS!!!!

OK so I thought I should let everyone know that last night we found out we have to moving to a new house here in Sheiling. Silke has decided and was also told it was time to take sometime off after 30 year (god bless her!).I understand, but I'm very sad because me and my other park Lodge co workers are getting a new house mom and new rooms, and we just got comfortable here...I'm very happy at park lodge (even if my room is tiny) and I don't want to move to Tyndale (smells funny...)!!! I'll give you more of an update soon, and we will move in three weeks, when the children leave for the holiday. I'm so sad now.....miss everyone!
cheers,
Ilaria

Sorry It's been so long...I have loads to tell you all...

Hello everyone,
Sorry it's been about three weeks, but I've been so busy.
Well first off, I'm sick again, they tell me it's a sinus infection (Fun...). I'm over the worst and was back on my feet today after two days stuck in my tiny room (as to contain the infection I'm told, is it not contain already? in my bleeding head, lord help me.)Although I did finish one book and started another one, so I guess I can't be mad, Silke is like temp mother, and thank god she tells you to drink your tea and stay in bed (otherwise I wouldn't...).
So second thing: Last week I got very lucky and on my day off joined the wonderful class 7 for a day trip to Bristol to see the S.S. Great Britain.
I had so much fun with them all just exploring the old ship and taking loads of photo's. All together it was Pankaj (their teacher, and the worlds most awesome at that.) David Jones (Welsh, Awesome, the woodwork teacher and the driver + tour guide for the day, bless him.) Ryan, Afsarah, George, Kathryn, Anna, Paula (our new co worker, but only here till December 14Th) and I. It was a great group and the day turned out beautiful, and I was so glad I spent the day with them all.


Class 7:



Fourth thing, and the most important, today is THANKSGIVING.
OK so I had the best day ever, I got up early feeling much better, had a nice big cup of coffee and some Swiss Muesli. Then Tracy showed up about half nine and we started cooking. I must say it was really the best day off Ive had so far, it was Anna (sike's daughter and now a very good friend)Tracy and I all the kitchen for three and a half hours straight. We made Turkey (of course) gravy, Grandmas Cornbread Stuffing (which I made all by myself.) green beans, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes (with Cream cheese, mmmm yummy) rosemary carrots, and red cabbage salad. It was such a nice meal, and I don't think I've ate that much in the past two months. It was a U.S. Thanksgiving with an English Twist, and the stuffing was the best part, everyone loved it and I was so happy because I had to improvise with the cornbread (bloody Tescos doesn't know what cornmeal is.). In the end it worked and I was very pleased with myself, the whole meal was a success really thanks to Tracy and Anna.
Etta came to lunch as well, and she was born in the states and knows what it's like to miss you family at this time and brought me some beautiful white roses as a thanks for making a "wonderful" meal. It was nice to share a family tradition with other, and to share it with someone who understood it as well, so I had a wonderful mini Thanksgiving. Although I with I was there today with everyone I love and miss so much , but I don't think I shall ever forget this, because it's the first year I made my own Thanksgiving meal, Turkey and all.
So I hope everyone is having a lovely day, enjoying each others company, good food and laughter. I decided that this year I'm grateful for the love and support my family has provided me with while I'm over here, and that with out them I would not be here. So a very huge thank you to my large and loving family back home, I miss you all.



The Fiest:



The Stuffing I made...mmmm...Yummmy!


Don't you just want to eat it?!



So I also had a nice weekend, Heath was back in town so we all went to Bristol Saturday night to go clubbing. For those who don't know who Heath is he is the son of the house parents from Thornbury Park. He is crazy, but way awesome and a blast to be with, so you can see why we had to go out?. It was a great night, and we went to this tiny Greek pub on Park Street, and danced the night away, it was a wonderful night and it was so nice to get out after two weeks of straight work.
I took so nice photos of Anna (the German one and also a great new friend) and I :



So other then my annoying cold that is slowly going away, Ive been great. The past three weeks have been very enjoyable and the next holidays are just around the corner.
The weather is mostly cloudy and rainy, but other days it's sunny and clear and frost covers the ground. On these days I walk with Joe to town all bundled up in my warm jacket and my hands shoved into fuzzy gloves, it's nice to get out and get a bit of fresh air.

The Feild I see out my bedroom window...all frosty!



Well I got to go, but I hope you are all in good health and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Miss you all very much,
Kisses to my friends and family
Cheers,
Ilaria

P.S. I also forgot to mention that Me and Joe are getting on great, not yet smooth as honey but getting there. We go for walks to town, chat, watch movies, and even bake beautiful cakes, he really is one of the most clever kids here!

Back to the daily grind....

Well, this week it was back to work for us co workers, we had a lovely holiday filled with relaxation, beautiful weather, yummy food, and traveling! So as much as we love the children, we were sad to leave our new routine, but we did sign up for this after all! The best part was Shamick coming back, Sunday afternoon he and his parents arrived, and Anna and I ran outside yelling "Favorite!" and "we missed you!" He really is a sweet boy and so funny! The hardest part is waking up at 7 am again, I was so used to sleeping till half 11 or 12! Today however because it was my day off I slept till 11, and had a nice late breakfast of a bowl of Muesli with soy milk, one rye cracker with organic Australian honey on it and a nice hot cup of coffee mmm... yummy my favorite!
I'm not up too much just working hard, and I'm feeling wonderful, I really like it here! England is so amazing, extremely beautiful and Thornbury is such a cute town and everyone is so friendly!
This week has been a bit tough, mostly because the children have been out of routine for the past two weeks, and are therefore more difficult. Shamick is very nervous (almost pulled Jana's hair again), and Bella is being very naughty, always late for meals and very moody! Hopefully by next week things should be easier and less exhausting for us all. The biggest thing that happened this week was that the school (not the houses) had an inspection, this I think also effected the children, because they pick up emotions very easily! So all the tension in the air (which ended yesterday, with rave reviews from the inspectors!)along with having to go back to a routine has made for one crazy week around here. So I'm very exhausted but happy as well, it's nice having everyone back (co workers and students)makes life just a bit more interesting!
OK well tomorrow is Marks birthday ( a co worker from Germany, and very sweet!) so Anna and I are going to make him a cake, and bring him balloons tomorrow!
Not much else to report, but id anything happens I'll let you all know!
Miss you all,
Cheers,
Ilaria
P.S. Can people please send me letters? I would be so happy :)