Winter in Wales

Where to begin... lots of catch-up. Winter, a time of hibernation, reflection, busy-ness, holidays. Many, many photos included here to give you more of a taste of the flavour of my life these days. I've come to realize that this year is almost more about self-discovery on a personal basis, rather than professional. Of course, I am learning and growing as a teacher, but this time so tests and requires introspection of who I am in the world. It is amazingly challenging and exhilarating at the same time...


The winter fair at school, singing, food, selling of student projects, henna tatoos... families, teachers, students, all having fun. My class made and sold orange and clove pomanders for our Tudor unit.















A Welsh fashion show put on by the year 4 pupils - it was a blast!







My beautiful students...

















This is my very funny attempt at a Channukah menorah. I obviously did not have one, so improvised in a totally ridiculous way. A slice of bread, some birthday candle holders with birthday candles - I thought that I was very clever until I saw that letting the candle burn down by themselves also allowed the candle holders to completely burn down and integrate themselves with the bread. So, burnt blue bread. The project was abandoned after the second night...




Christmas at Severn Primary - our holiday concert and party. The children dressed as snowmen, elves, reindeer, Santa, the 3 wise men, etc, very clearly demonstrated the lack of separation of church and state in Great Britain.
















Lovely Dolores and Santa, available for Christmas photos with the kids.




























































My student, Alamin, as Santa, for our rendition of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" - an American theme.






































Partying chez moi. Importing my tradition of open house, I scaled down and invited my friend Louise and some people from work over for drinks and appetizers. This was not a
pot luck! Didn't know how that tradition would be received here.









Shopping at Tesco over the holidays, all signs in both English and Welsh.









The local Splott market, a source of truly cheap buys! Produce, a wild meat auction, and inside an enormous airplane hanger type building, tons of "stuff". Louise and I try to go Sunday mornings to stock up on veggie bargains.






















Waj, a friend from school, created an amazing henna tattoo for Louise for a special holiday dress. A work of art...
We were also lucky to be fed an amazing curry lunch!











This is my little Christmas tree. I am an equal opportunity holiday celebrator. If it's festive, I go for it. Some of my ornaments were little straw trinkets that I brought back from Prague.

Cardiff at Christmas, the whole town is decorated with lights and is simply beautiful. I love passing by the Castle daily on my way to work.






Christmas dinner was next door with Louise, her two lovely daughters, Danielle and Stephanie, Steph's boyfriend Stewart, and my old friend, Barbara, who flew in for the holidays from Los Angeles. We had a feast and could barely move after an incredible meal, Christmas pudding with custard and all!



Snow, snow, snow! Yes, all that has been said and written about the storms here is true. We've had extreme weather and it is very beautiful. I actually prefer it to the grey rain.


Morning. Waking up, looking out the bedroom window, going out the front door, watching it accumulate and wondering if school was on or not.



















Yes, we were going to make an attempt to open school, so I trudged down the empty, white streets to meet Bev, my ride, since I didn't trust my little car on the icy, slippery streets.












After arriving at school and finding out that many, many teachers could not make it in, (2 students showed up and were turned away) we were set free, told to go home! I felt like a kid, a day of freedom ahead of me. Spent the day nesting and catching up, with a brief adventure of a walk into the village of Whitchurch. Errands, the library, a shop or two, and an invigorating walk home to my cozy house...

Tonight, frigid temps and lots of ice. School tomorrow?