where to begin ...
June 22, 2007 at 1:30 PM
by Ashleigh
Did you know artichokes had purple stamens? I didn't!So much has been happening that I don't know where to start so I'll just choose some things in random order and go from there.
I just did the mid-thirties career-switch. I am now training to be a florist. I had interviewed for this position and was called back for a second interview, but the idea of working in an office filled me with dread.
When I was offered the chance to go on the payroll at the florist, I phoned my mom.
She said very succinctly, 'But Ash, don't you remember how much you hated working in an office?'
I was like, 'oh yeah, I did, didn't I?' and so, with that, I changed my mind and took the job. What's not to like about a creative job where I can do something with an actual physical result at the end of the day.
In the autumn I will start my training at the Boerma Institute in Aalsmeer. Even if I decide I don't like it after all, it will have still been a great experience.
I passed my tests for my Dutch class. I now have level 5 for reading and level 4 for everything else. Six months more and I should have 5 for everything. Then I'm done. I need level 3 to pass my NT2 exams so I've already exceeded that. I want my Dutch to be perfect though so I may be studying for a long time yet.
Seb passed all of his Groep 4 tests with A's! He goes forward to Groep 5 after the summer.
Joe passed all of his Groep 1 tests and goes forward to Groep 2 after the summer.
London was horrible. The hotel was incredibly overpriced and somewhat crap. We were originally quoted 70 pounds a night but when we arrived it was somehow increased to 132 pounds a night. Because it was the grandparents choice and not ours we couldn't exactly argue over the bill so we just paid it. We had stayed at another London hotel previously for 70 pounds a night that I thought was crap for the price, but this one surpassed that one about about 200%.
London was also dirty, crowded, everyone seemed so driven and everything is so expensive. It was worse than I remember it from last time. One thing that's better is the buses. I liked the ease of use. We had bus-saver tickets which make the buses much simpler to use than the Underground. We took the kids to the Science Museum where they really enjoyed the Launch Pad.
Chelmsford was wonderful. We had such a great day with our friends. Gill made some wonderful food, specially the burgers, barbeque relish and special chocolate dipped strawberries, and Ian barbecued everything to perfection. It was wonderful.
Easyjet was actually quite easy this time. We only had an hour's delay on the way back which was better than expected. The kids are bigger now, which means we have no baby buggies, and before we got to the security gates at Stansted I caught myself thinking, 'you know, we could actually do this again.' After an hour of standing in that security queue I wasn't so sure. 3 hours of checking in and waiting to spend 35 minutes in the air seems pointless. Vacations with the car are the way to go.
Now I'm going to make the most of my unexpected child-free time (both kids are at friends), and go and read one of the books I bought in London.
Comments
Sorry London was kind of a bust, though your visit with friends sounded pretty super. The "rush" always strikes me when we're in the US, too.
Once again, congratulations on your new job! :)
Hey Ash, we could have shared a coffee or two together, in the 7 (!) hours I had to spend in Heathrow last Sunday I could have gone to Stansted and back!
Yep BA heavily overbooked, next flight terribly delayed by 1.30 hours... Gosh did I have fun all by myself!
Congrats on yr new job, Boerma institute is great, have looked into it myself a couple of years ago when I had vaque plans of starting my own workshops.
The new job sounds great! Sorry the London trip was icky.
I'm sorry to hear that London was a disappointment. When I was there this spring I fell in love again with the city... it was wonderful! But I suppose it depends on the weather/season/etc.
Congrats on passing your test!
Well done on passing the tests. Dutch is supposed to one of the hardest languages to learn, isn't it?
The career-change sounds a really exciting, positive move.
I'm sad you had such a horrible time in London. Yes, it is expensive, it can be dirty, and crowded, and depending on which part of the city you're in, people do seem to focus on just getting to where they want to go - now! It's not like that everywhere in London though and I wish you'd had a different experience. Glad the kids enjoyed the Science Museum, it's a favourite of my girls too.
Hi Ashleigh,
Congrats on the career change. It takes courage to leave the relative security of an office-based job but I think the tradeoff in allowing your creative side to 'flower' (no pun intended) is well worth it.
Fantastic too that you, Seb and Joe are making such headway with the Dutch language.
Am sorry you did not enjoy London that much. I must agree with you about the hotels there though - the last few times I went over before my sister moved there I stayed at hotels (principally around Bayswater/Lancaster Gate) and for the price I thought they were incredibly grotty and rundown. That said, I rather enjoy the busyness of the city when I visit. Makes a change from the pace of life here, and as an onlooker only I find it quite exhilirating.
As to Stansted, I avoid this airport now. Ever since the additional security measures were implemented flying through this airport has become a nightmare. Heathrown and Gatwick are somewhat better though.
Hi there,
Goed gedaan! Ik ben een Nederlandse in New Zealand. Gelukkig is Engels geen probleem voor de meeste Nederlanders. Leuk blog ik kom zeker weer eens kijken.
Groetjes Eva
I thought I'd keep it simple so you can read the above :-)
I have just stayed in a really bad London hotel too. I felt embarrassed that all the tourists staying their must have such a bad impression of England. It was a real Fawlty Towers place on a grand scale.
I sampled the worst food I have ever tasted. Even the melon in the fruit salad was fermenting.
I'm so pleased that you had a good time in Chelmsford.
Yay for your new career! It sounds wonderful. Judging from your allotment blog, you have a way with plants.
June 22, 2007 2:56 PM