We're Back!

Above: Big Ben and the Thames through the Eye's spokes Top of the London Eye

Looking down to the banks of the River Thames: all those people are gathered around a street entertainer

London skyline: top right you can just make out the Gherkin.

In America, would it be called "the Pickle"?

We actually didn't go anywhere; things have just been busy. Good busy. I hope you haven't given up on us...

We've had a good few weeks -- I started my job and have been really enjoying it; the only downside is the feeling of being temporary. James started temping for HBOS (Bank of Scotland) on Friday, which is great, too. Again there's a downside... I had gotten used to coming home to find dinner made, the house clean and the washing done. Ahhh. Nice. James makes a far better stay-at-homer than I ever did/will. (And right now is a great example; James has gone to meet a friend he hasn't seen for ages and I'm supposed to be picking up the house... but blogging really is far more important, isn't it?)

Anyway. We are both grateful to have jobs! But things get better... On Friday James and I met in town for lunch, and I had to tell him some unfortunate news... That my contract runs out next Wednesday. Bummer. Right?

NO. Because I start PERMANENTLY the following week! Yippeeeeeeeeee! And -- in the role that I had originally applied for and didn't get! So they basically took me on in a vaguely "administrative" capacity for a few weeks to check me out, and I passed. It's still dependent on references, but I think I should be good to go a week on Monday. It couldn't be more perfect really; the role is Web Content Editor and so basically I will be overhauling and improving the States' website over the next few years. Feel free to go check it out -- and then come back in a few years and it should be unrecognisable! It really is pretty poor at the moment. In looks, content -- and spelling and punctuation. Ugh. I love it!

But wait, there's more. James and I finished our lunch, and called his dad to tell him the good news (Dave also works for the States, and is even in the same building!)... and then James got a phone call. A JOB OFFER! He starts at an accountancy firm as a Trainee Accountant in May (and will continue to temp at HBOS until then) -- which is perfect. They'll pay for his qualifications (and even give paid study leave!) and it should take three years for him to become fully qualified. He's pretty excited to work for a smaller firm and see how it differs from a Big Four way of working.

So Friday was a good day -- we both got permanent jobs. We feel very, very fortunate; especially with people around us losing their jobs at a scary rate. I also get to cash in on a silly bet James and I made in our last year of university; that I would earn more than him one day. Well, even a few pounds counts. That aside, we truly are just so amazed at how things have worked out.

And just to top it all off -- we have an automobile at our disposal! Actually, we have an SUV which is fairly ridiculous on the Island (at least we're car pooling, right?) although it's not exactly ours. Our landlord had a small incident involving a whiskey too many, a trip to the corner shop, and a breath test. He lost his licence for a year and we gained a car for 12 months. It's ideal really; we can take time to decide what we want and save until then, borrow a vehicle in the meantime, and our landlord gets to keep his car running.

Last weekend I went to London with James's sister, his mum, his granny and his aunty. It was Mother's Day weekend and we hung out with James's other uncle and aunty who live in London, did some touristy things (like getting lost on the Underground and irritating the grumpy London businessmen by stopping dead in our tracks on the pavement to take random photos) and generally had a nice time. I hadn't really been to London since I lived there in 2000-2002 and it was really interesting to see it by car -- I only ever got the Tube (work, home and play were all centred around the Tube map), so it was funny to see how things connect above ground. Lots of places are much closer together than I ever thought... The photos are of and from the London Eye. I hate flying/super-high heights, but this was fantastic. I don't know why I never did it when I lived there -- probably because I thought I'd freak out. But really, I was scared for about three seconds before I got too absorbed in the view to care that the people on the ground beneath us were the size of pinheads. Afterwards, we walked along the River Thames and watched the street entertainers (a better word for most of them would, indeed, be pinheads. They were cringe-worthy, but still managed to sucker the real tourists in.).

It's Sunday afternoon now and James and I came back from the Hash run just a few hours ago. Fantastic trail today -- right up on the north coast, clear views of France and lots of cliff paths and tracks through fields. The Jersey cows are calving and the little ones are so very cute. It's nice to think that they have a life of being milked ahead of them rather than the butcher's block! Lucky things. Even the males won't end up on your plate; they just get to go and procreate. The run was great, and we've certainly had an active weekend. Yesterday was the Hash Bike Bash -- basically just a Hash on wheels. Poor turnout though -- it was James and seven women! Ha, he loved it of course (there was a reference or two to Joseph Smith). We did a good 18 miles or so before ending at a pub for the day. Talk about hard work -- I hadn't been on a bike for two years! The country lanes were beautiful, views were great and the drink stops were well-earned. I woke up this morning feeling mysteriously able-bodied; of course, there may be a delayed muscle freeze come Monday morning. I'm sure I should be sore.

So there's the last three weeks in a (large) nutshell. We're still here, things are going well, and the plan is to start blogging again in earnest. In fact, James has mentioned that he never gets a word in -- so expect to find him here the next time you drop by.

I better go do those dishes. Hmmnph.