16-3-2015
Well, it is Internet day, and as yet (4:30pm), no internet is to be found. Can’t say I’m surprised, there seems to be a certain amount of slowness or negligence surrounding getting much done around here. I can definitely feel the American ‘now isn’t soon enough’ mindset that we American’s are known to have being challenged. I can’t imagine how frustrating it will be if we were to ever apply for a license or loan or anything of that sort here. While being held hostage to being technology-less, I’ve accomplished some reading, a little crafting, and rewatching the same movie twice in one day (three times)… Yeah, I know, accomplishment isn’t exactly the right word there.
As the money transfer service decided to take our money hostage on Friday, rather than transferring it quickly (as they have always done before). We had to abandon our weekend plans of going to London and to the British Museum and a traditional tea service at St. Martin of the Fields’ Cafe in the Crypt. Maybe next weekend will work out for it, we’re more likely to have our discount train tickets by that point anyway. Instead, we spent Saturday shopping, dog walking and starting a puzzle of an antique map of Great Britain. We then spent Sunday doing all of the same things, except in a different order and instead of getting started on the puzzled we got far enough to get stymied by what remains of it. We shall see how much more progress we will make on it before one or both of us gives up.
In graduate school, I made friends with Karyn by offering her my campus map after she mentioned feeling lost – she did all the work after that, and I suppose it is ridiculous as well as lazy to hope that making friends will ever again be that easy. Of our time spent out and about in Wantage, people have been polite and friendly, but also not terribly open to starting a conversation. I suppose that is the stereotypical British reserve you hear about, but I do hope we find a way around it and a way to make friends here, beyond the couple of nice neighbors we’ve met – who, don’t get me wrong, are lovely – but are not going to be game-night or pub-going companions. Perhaps Matt will make friends through work, and despite the commuting to different cities each night, there will be some hope for a social circle. And, perhaps once the damn internet is in place I can look for more social activities, as well as work, in the area. Either way, I just hope we don’t end up as isolated as we were in California. Somehow it’s so much easier to make friends when you’re in school… Or just in Fort Collins, perhaps… Must be something in the Poudre. ;P
In book news, I’ve just finished Shadow of Night, the second in the All Souls trilogy by Deborah Harkness, this afternoon and while I await a used copy of book three to arrive I’m going to work on some crafting (we need some art in this house, particularly to cover the lavender room walls) and tackle Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States – one of only 5 physical books I brought with me on move. I’ve had it since the Book Bin and never read it – because, obviously, non-fiction – but now seemed like the perfect time for it.
Observations: Fairtrade is a big thing here, but also very commonplace, they don’t make huge deal about it, like they do about organic or gluten free in the States. I think it is more prevalent than Organic or Local, as far a consumer catchphrases go.
More to come.
– alaina