All Things Welsh

Okay, these photos have been ready since the weekend. Ever notice how things just happen like that? Life, stuff, etc. I'm in a rambling state of mind, so this may be a bit of a ramble. I also happen to be avoiding schoolwork. Yes, it's still crazy at school. I feel like Sisyphus - every time I feel that I'm beginning to get a handle on things, I roll back down the hill. Now, I don't mean to sound so glum, all is not difficult! But, I must admit, it is quite the challenge... and to think that I bitched and moaned about how scripted Open Court is!
Cricket - they actually do play it here! My students are ardent about the game, especially a group of the boys. They take it very seriously. Here is Hammad pitching, except I don't think that it's even called "pitching" - I'll have to check. As you can see, he's a whiz. Fortunately, Amanda knows the rules to all of these games and we've had Games together the past two Fridays, our scheduled time on the yard. Her class is on the wall, waiting to bat, while my class is fielding. Do I sound like I know what I'm talking about? All of those cliches, you know the kind that talk about how little you realize you know whenever you learn more, well, welcome to my life right now. Anyway, I'm sure that I will learn the rules to not only cricket, but netball, and maybe even rugby, that national sport that everyone seems gaga over. I'm trying to plan to watch a game soon with Bev, although that may be football, not to be confused with American football. Can you begin to understand why I'm feeling so confused? Now, I don't want to be repetitive (oh, the pressure to entertain my followers), so forgive me if I repeat myself.
The school is in a bit of a state. We are to be inspected this spring, and let me tell you, we have nothing like this in LA, at least nothing that I can remember. A team will come to the school, sit in classes, observe, examine, and go through everything, and I mean all of it. Papers, plans, online planning, etc. A perfect time to host a bewildered American teacher, huh? It is very intense. So many things going on at once. Construction, a new curriculum, grade level changes, and me. So, I ask questions, and try not to make everyone else even crazier than they already feel. It is a challenge. What doesn't kill you...
Ah, but thankfully there are weekends, even here in Wales. So, feeling a great need to get out on Friday night, just do something different, I texted Louise and suggested dinner. We managed to pull it off and made our way to City Center for an evening out. Started at a pub with a glass of wine, on to tapas nearby with more wine, then to a local club for dancing to 70's music! It all feels so different for some reason. Hard to explain. Much smaller city, more of a mix of ages, very relaxed, not clubby at all. Somehow it feels more innocent, even with all of the kids getting totally drunk to the point of throwing up in the streets every weekend, which I absolutely did not do. Those days are long gone and only lasted for a millisecond, anyway.
After waking up Saturday morning, very surprised to have a bit of a headache, a stiff neck, and a sore knee - damn, I'm getting older - to gorgeous weather, realizing that it may not last that long, I decided to venture out to a Cardiff site of interest, Castle Coch. (Don't even attempt to pronounce that little nonthreatening name - appearances can be deceptive. Imagine trying to clear your throat... enough said.) It is very close to home. A ten minute drive, and I didn't get lost - triumph! A sweet drive through a very picturesque village with a lively corner pub absolutely jammed with bicyclists (how will they ride after a pint?), up a winding green road to the Folly, as I've heard it called. It was originally a 13th - amazing - century castle, rebuilt in the mid-1800's by Bute, a major figure in these parts. He and his family played a great role in the development of Cardiff, helping to make it a shipping center, bringing coal to the harbour. Anyway, he had it rebuilt adding lots of Victorian whimsy to the interior decorations.
It is now a lovely place to visit on a sunny afternoon, with beautiful views of the city and a park surrounding the castle. Now, this my friends, is history. The sense of TIME is tremendous here. When I think of US history and then the history of where I'm living, it's rather awe-inspiring. My home is 150 years old. There are original Tudor homes in the city. Puts it in a different perspective...
Then, after my serene afternoon - I even met a family with their three dogs, reminding me of my Zoe - I headed over to Bev's house for tea. Now, another new thing. Tea is not actually tea. Let me explain. You know how you picture a cozy little tray with teapot, cups, a jug of milk, scones, maybe little watercress sandwiches with no crusts? Well, if I'm invited for tea, or asked, "What are you having for tea?" I've found that it means what I can best interpret as supper. It was David, Bev's son's, birthday and his favorite is - you'll never guess - McDonald's, so tea was my lovely home cooked Welsh meal of McDonald's! Of course, I ribbed Bev and her husband John a bit about that, but we did have tea and pudding (meaning cake!) afterwards.
A lovely time was had by all...