Trip to Wales

We just spent four days on the Pembroke Coastline in Wales, near the city of Cardigan. It was so beautiful- but cold, windy, and rainy for most of the trip. We wouldn't have expected anything else! We saw lots of early Christian monuments (crosses, stone carvings), and old churches. This part of Wales is really known for its concentration in early Christian historic sites (5th century +). We also visited the beach to explore some rocky caves- Quentin and Emil even did some impromptu rock climbing. Wales is full of prehistoric sites, too. We went to an old burial tomb that was erected around 3500 BC. All that remains is the entryway which is constructed of three gigantic monoliths, the same bluestone used in Stonehenge (over 200 miles away). The pictures of this site do not demonstrate to any degree how windy it was that day!

We stayed on a farm with six cottages, an indoor pool, farm animals, and a playground. We were really close to all the sites, too, but still felt like we were in a remote location. I would love to return to this exact spot, but there's so much to see in Europe before we move back to Richmond next summer.

The pictures of Wales are available, including several short movies at the end of the picture file. Enjoy!

By the way, it's snowing here in Nottingham as I write this post!

Remember, remember, the fifth of November

Sound familiar? I've heard that phrase before, but never knew what it was about. It's from a poem, or nursery rhyme (?), about Guy Fawkes Day, otherwise known as Bonfire Night. I had been forewarned by another American that this is a crazy holiday in England. She was right. Starting around November 1st or 2nd, the English begin celebrating the foiled plot to blow up Parliament in 1605, and continue celebrating for almost a week.

Guy Fawkes and a few other conspirators had intended on blowing up the Parliament building while King James I and his family were inside. At this time in England, anti-Catholic sanctions were restricting jobs, freedom of worship, representation, etc., and Fawkes thought if he killed the King, a new monarchy might be more sympathetic to his religious background. So the plotters accumulated a massive amount of gunpowder over several months and stowed it in some rented cellars under Parliament. (I actually read they had planned to dig a tunnel under Parliament, but decided to rent the available cellars when they couldn't figure out what to do with all the dirt...) An anonymous letter warned the King at the last minute and Guy Fawkes was arrested in the cellar with match in hand. Needless to say, he and the other plotters were dragged through the streets of London to where they were hung, drawn, and quartered as examples for their treasonous plot.

The English love this night, and it has thankfully evolved from the original anti-Catholic bonfire celebrations in Victorian Times to a community get-together. (I actually feel kind of weird about the whole thing in general). Apparently some bonfires in Victorian times featured the Pope on a Catherine Wheel, or other anti-Catholic demonstrations. That's all blown over, of course, and now you just have lots of random bonfires and fireworks. And usually some bloke running across the kindling dressed as Guy Fawkes before the lighting of the fire.

We went to a community bonfire that also featured kiddie rides and a half hour firework show. I was not prepared for the size of the bonfire- we're talking absolutely huge! It seemed really unnatural to be close to so much fire. And the fireworks display was a little crazy, too. I can't say I've ever seen a 4th of July show go on as long as this one did. We were so close to the staging area, too, that debris rained on us the entire time. Quentin and Mallory loved it.

The fireworks have been everywhere almost every night since. Tonight, November 10th, is the second night of Divali, the Hindu celebration of lights, so more fireworks are popping in the distance. My kids have gotten accustomed to sleeping through them, so it's not a big deal. I just feel like I'm in a warzone.

Halloween in an English village

I wasn't quite sure what to expect of Halloween here in England. Even though it developed here in Great Britain (All Saint's Day and All Soul's Day were inserted into this time of year by the Catholics uncomfortable with the pagan celebrations of harvest; Jack-o-lanterns evolved from an Irish story about a guy named Jack and the devil), it still seems very American to me. So I started asking around Quentin's school what people do on Halloween. Most people said it's not a big deal and occassionally some children will trick-or-treat in their neighborhoods. The stores had a few decorations and costumes, but no candy...yes, no ailes full of Halloween candy that we are used to. So I figured we would have a quiet night and trick-or-treat next year in Richmond.

Then I heard that a friend of ours, an American who has lived here 20 years (a "lifer"), has persuaded her small village over the last few years to organize a Halloween event. They hold a small disco early in the evening in the village hall with music and treats. After an hour or so, the children all leave the hall and trick-or-treat around the village. We knew we had to go!

We arrived after meandering carefully down winding dark roads (Sleepy Hollow-esque) to the hall which was appropriately across from a old dark church and graveyard. At the disco we danced a little, then made a few stops in the village.

Not all villagers were on board with this idea- some had "No trick-or-treating" signs in their windows, or the lights turned off. But several houses were decorated and gave out candy. One house gave out single gummies, unwrapped, and that was it- they need some more Halloween guidance. Another house gave out cupcakes (fairy cakes in England), unwrapped as well. That could of gotten messy. And my favorite: one house had a stuffed puma on the front porch. Creepy, but not in a Halloween kind of way.

But, overall it was just right for us. The kids left with a few pieces of candy, not the giant bag that one usually has to haul home after American trick-or-treating. And since the candy was mediocre at best, Quentin's bag is still hanging up on the coat rack barely touched.

Ordinary Life...

We went with some friends to a Country Faire (which means lots of camoflauge and dogs) at Belvoir Castle. Zoe is on the swings next to Quentin- her family is American and she goes to Quentin's school. Mallory wanted a turn, too.

Other than that, I can't say that we've done anything too exciting lately. We've been adjusting to school, work, and getting over the many illnesses that are going around. It seems we're going to catch everything since we're in the mildew capital of the world and all the germs are unfamiliar. Except for Quentin, who's around germs all day long, all week long, but has managed to escape the recent family epidemics.

Quentin is on his "half-term break" which is a week off of school after about eight non-stop, crazy weeks. Since children go to school around here until late July, they get several week-long breaks during the school year. I love it. I think American children would benefit from this kind of schedule. Basically everyone parties like crazy for the six weeks between school years. It sounds just right to me.

The school where Quentin goes is a typical state-supported primary school. He wears a basic uniform everyday, and changes into indoor slippers when arriving. There are no school buses, so everyone walks or drives. I love this part of the English schools: there's such a sense of community when you see the same parents every day. It promotes school involvement, too.

This school (Edwalton Primary) is pretty unique, however, because it boasts the only working farm of any primary school in England. Children and adults look after the many animals daily, including two Kune pigs, six goats, one old sheep, and a dozen or so rabbits. The school will soon have chickens (which means fresh eggs!) Honey bees are also raised, but on a secluded part of school property, so fresh honey is always available to purchase. Edwalton has received several environmental awards due to their recycling and composting efforts. Children and adults are also encouraged to have a garden plot- there's a vegetable area, wildflower area, and various spots for children to tend on their own. Recently the cafeteria served corn from the vegetable plot.

This may sound like a state of the art, modern school, but really it's a small campus with average resources. And many walks of life are represented at this school. It does have its problems, like any other school. A few kids have been bullied, including Quentin when he tried to join in a soccer game during free time the second week of school. He was just trying to find a niche, and it broke my heart that he was rejected in such a horrible way. He's also friends with an American girl in another year 1 class and they have been taunted for being "lovers" by older kids. But these problems have passed and Quentin has found a really good friend in his class named Reilly. They are perfect for each other. I'm really glad that he chose a positive friendship over some of the not-so-good characters he was hanging around at first.

But overall, given the other school choices, Edwalton is the right school for us. I like that there are many clubs available to children; Quentin joined the soccer club which meets for an hour once a week just to play soccer. His class also goes to an indoor pool once a week (this has been really good for Quentin, but he still doesn't like to swim!) Last week the school held a "disco" fundraiser. "Fancy dress" was optional- I found out later that means costumes- and a DJ was on hand to entertain the kids. It was so much fun. Mallory went, too, and cut the rug with Quentin and friends on the dance floor.

The English schools are really different in how they are so laid back. For example, the children are just dismissed at the end of the school day. It's just assumed that if there's no grown-up for the child, and the child doesn't walk home usually, then someone will notice. There's just this assumption of best intentions by everyone. And the children are given three playtimes each day, one of which is after they eat school dinner (lunch). They can go anywhere on the school grounds with minimal supervision. (The school grounds include two large green fields, the animal pens/gardens, black top, and small wooded area. No playground except for monkey bars and a tunnel through some astro-turf. Lots of little niches in between trees, bushes.) This was confusing for Quentin at first- he got lost on the first day of school and reported to the office for help. But now he has the hang of it and really enjoys it. The kids get to pursue what they like during this time; in fact, some school clubs meet during these times for those who are interested. I like this attitude that children need "down time" and aren't over-scheduled. Quentin has utilized this time to be the ultimate Pokemon trader champion and he's made many friends this way.

Quentin's teacher, Mr. Jaycock, has been really supportive through this transition. It's been hard for Quentin, although he definitely likes school, to adjust to an all-day school with 250 students. His class alone has 30 students, some of whom have been to school for a year and a half. His class is a combined "year1/year2", so if we stayed here next year, he'd still be in this class with this teacher. (In England, you can enter reception- or kindergarten- the September or January after you turn 4. And Quentin has never been to kindergarten because of his November birthday. He's going to school for the first time although he's turning 6 in another month). So you can imagine that the other students know the routine! Quentin's doing great, but he's pretty exhausted and over-stimulated by the end of the day. I'm incredibly proud of him- I know he can do anything!

As for Mallory, she's pretty happy. She just turned 2 in September, and definitely acts that way! We attend two playgroups a week for toddlers and caregivers. One of them is at a church that was founded in the 13th-century! You can still see the original 13th-century walls! Next week she'll start two mornings per week in a playgroup for 2-5 year olds. (Not with caregivers.) I'm so excited- mommy needs a break! And she's ready, she just doesn't know it yet. She's so funny- and loud!- I wish you all could see her. You probably can hear her. She's definitely related to my side of the family.

Emil's staying busy at work. We're hoping that he can take a week off in November so we can travel. For Christmas we'll spend a week in a furnished apartment within the medieval walls of York. Then it's home for the kids and me! Yes, I'm coming to the states in early January for about two weeks. Most of the time will be spent in Lynchburg, but I am definitely going to come to Richmond for a little bit. I'm going to shop, shop, shop, because things here are SO expensive and a few things are hard to find.

I'm feeling homesick for my family, friends, and house, but I do like it here. We just need better parking, longer hours for shopping/services, and few more restaurants that are child-friendly. We've made friends and live in a good location. I did have mouse poop in my laundry recently- my laundry room is separate from my house- so I could do without the critters, but even this house is turning out to be a good thing.

Much love to everyone!

Not to worry

We've not been sitting idle, and we've got many more pictures and tales to share. Just been busy!

We've been out to Chatsworth (gorgeous ducal estate in the Peak district) and Clumber Park (lovely National trust park with a small gothic church weirdly plopped into it's middle. Also home to the longest lime tree avenue in the world. In case you were debating that at dinner.)

Anyway, more to come!