Red, White and Blue

 "No flag, No Country, You can't have one! Those are the rules..."  Eddie Izzard, Dress to Kill

I've always considered the Union Jack to be a trendy logo of mod fashion - David Bowie and Pete Townsend both sported Union Jack styles, not to mention the Sex Pistols sartorial send-up. So I've been looking for a little red, white and blue, and on the evening of September 23rd I found it in abundance!

The Friends of Bliss Charity School hosted a Murder Mystery Night and the theme was patriotic.  Union Jack banners decorated the hall and the tables all had tri-color, paper-flower arrangements.

                        Abbie and I celebrate in style!

                Waiting for the murder mystery to begin!

                     One of the Friends of Bliss chefs

The Union Jack was designed in 1606. A symbol of unity, the flag signifies the Union of the countries of Great Britain - Wales isn't included because apparently they were already considered part of England (sounds like the start of an argument to me!):

St. George's Cross, the flag of England	St. Andrew's Cross, the flag of Scotland

St. Patrick's Cross, the flag of Ireland

    The cross represented in each flag is named after the patron saint of each country.

                          Union Jacks were everywhere

            And even some other red, white and blue flags!

         Jenny and Julia, two of my co-workers at Bliss

                         I loved this man's vest!

It was a wonderful evening and the Friends of Bliss managed to raise quite a bit of money for the school.   And I'm ready with my dress for July 4th!

Recalculating

“Recalculating, recalculating….” The British woman’s voice on my sat nav is calm, but my sixteen year old daughter is not so sure.  

“Mom, we are totally lost!”  I reluctantly agree with Abbie as I look around and realize that I'm driving down a cow path in a field, with pheasant walking across.  Just another adventure in our new life in England!  

This week's good thing is my new car.  Driving in England is a bit of a challenge, but the freedom of driving again feels so wonderful that I'm quickly overcoming my fear of the dreaded "roundabouts" (US translation is a rotary) and taking to the open road.

My neighbor, Steve Guglielmi, is the guy who helped me find my lovely 1987 BMW 318i.
Click to find out more about:   Steve G's company

As a race car driver and luxury car mechanic, Steve is used to dealing with people who are much more discriminating in their automobile requirements than I am - my basic requirements are that a car runs when I put the key in and it doesn't stop until I put it in park. And I've discovered that it doesn't matter what country I'm in, I still need to move the seat up to reach the steering wheel!

                                My driving mantra!

And I'm not sure even Steve realizes all of the incredible things my car can really do:

Click to see:  Highlights from my car

If I could have added this helmet to my graphic of Speedracer I would have done it!

Happy New Year

 

I'm not sure who gets more excited and nervous about the start of a school year, the teacher or the students! Getting a classroom ready for a new year always reminds me of my days on stagecrew, getting ready for opening night.  All the preparation, making sure the props are in the right place, waiting for the curtain to go up on a new year of learning.  This year has been especially exciting as I prepare my classroom within a new school in a different country.

           One side of my classroom

               Maine bulletin board

            Nether Heyford bulletin board

           Blueberry sponge painting

            Life cycle of a blueberry


The Bliss Charity School is a beautiful building.  The school was established in 1674 by a grant from William Bliss, a local who made good in the wine trade. The "new" building was constructed in 1880 and includes a bell tower and vaulted ceilings.  The school bell is rung by pulling a rope in one of the classrooms and a child is responsible for ringing the bell before school and at the end of break times.  The school day starts at 9:00am and ends at 3:15, when parents walk from all over the village to pick up their children.  There are no school buses at Bliss!

                    The 400 year old school bell

     I get to ring the bell on the first day of school!

When my students arrived on the first day of school they had two enchanting things in their favor right away.  First, they were all dressed in uniforms, so they looked adorable.  The Bliss school color is a light blue and all of the children wear some form of sweater or sweatshirt that has the school crest on it. Secondly, when they opened their mouths these cute little English accents came out.  It is endearing! If you look to the end of this video (made by some visiting foreign students) you'll hear Bliss students singing:
Bliss video
(School song is at 2:15 on the video)

         With Claire Byrne, my fabulous mentor!

Outside of Claire's classroom, in the old part of the building

I am teaching Class 4, Years 3 & 4, Keystage 2. What that means is that I have the fourth classroom in the school. And in the morning I have a class of twenty 7 and 8 year olds (year 3's) and in the afternoon eleven more students ages 8 and 9 (year 4's) join us.  Keystage 2 refers to the band of curriculum I am teaching as designated by the government according to the UK Education Act of 2002.

 Maine flag, courtesy of Meredith Strang-Burgess, and lobster pot on loan from Mr. Tony Ponts - a Fulbright exchange teacher from the UK to Maine in the early 80's

 The original headmaster's desk- 300 years old?

To learn more about the Bliss Charity School you can visit their website:
Bliss Charity School

York

 "The history of York is the history of England"
                                               - George VI

                                   York Minster

The sense of history in the UK is still hard for me to fathom.  This week Abbie and I visited York, a city once known as Eboracum to the Romans, Eoforwic to the Saxons, Jorvik to the Vikings......a few Norwegians show up in the mix but don't last....until finally William the Conqueror and the Normans show up in 1069.  Phew!  Everybody wants this place!


Abbie and I toured the Minster, a beautiful Cathedral that contains elements of all of these cultures, including Roman ruins in the crypt.  The twelfth century stained glass windows are stunning.  And amazing to a mom who has seen kitchen glasses go in less than a year!

Abbie and I climb the tower of the Minster for a fabulous view!

Detail of the Choir screen that features all of the kings who reigned during the building of the cathedral, from William the Conqueror to Henry VI.
For more info and pictures of the Minster check out this website:  York Minster


This ancient city is surrounded by a wall, and some of the original gates (or 'bars') still exist.  Walmgate bar still has the barbican structure with a portcullis and inner doors to trap invaders. 

           Abbie running along the city wall.

          The barbican of Walmgate.

Above the barbican is the original gatehouse.  It now houses a very cool coffeeshop!

                        Abbie at York Castle.


York also has some fabulous shopping.  There are narrow, cobble streets that wind from one walled gateway to another, lined with little shops.  

The "Purpleman" - a famous living statue in the shopping district.


York is also known as the birthplace of Guy Fawkes, famed conspirator in the Gunpowder Plot of the early 1600's.  His effigy is burned on November 5th to commemorate his failed attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament.

Guy Fawkes home - a picture for the "V for Vendetta" fans!


But our favorite thing about York was visiting our friends, Adrian and Ann Bradley.  I first met them on a trip to Key West with my sister Sue a few years back and we've kept in contact through Facebook.  They are the gracious hosts at the Barbican House Bed and Breakfast, a beautiful Victorian era home just outside the city wall.  We had a wonderful visit with them - and their adorable Jack Russell Terrier Alfie!  

                    Enjoying a night out with Ann & Adrian! 

                     Barbican House - Ann & Adrian Bradley's B&B