New Beginnings

I know that it has been far too long since my last post and that this poor page of mine has been hopelessly neglected since I left San Diego about 9 months ago. So, in order to set things right I will now post from my new home in Bristol, England. Since I am so far away and know no one, as of yet, I thought that it would good of me to keep my family and friends apprised of my goings on here across the pond, in a non-technologically demanding, cheap and easy way. (I also have Skype for those of you who have that).

My first day in Bristol was spent running around getting things to make my new apt (aka closet) feel a little homier. Though my work on this front is no where close to being done I have made some necessary purchases, and am learning how to do monetary conversions in my head so that I do as little over paying as possible (fixed income and all). Here are some of the pictures of my apt prior to having unpacked some of my things (when my bags are unpacked I will post more pictures).

I have would have also included a sound bite of the church bells that go off for disgusting amounts of time today but the way to post sound bites is far to complex for me to want to attempt it currently. You would think that they would make it simple since they already have images and video, but they don't, oh well. The precise hours of their commencement and conclusion I am sure I will know by heart very shortly. There are three churches with in 2 blocks of where I live, at least that is all I have seen so far, but I swear there are a lot more than that, at least it sounds as though there are. Bristol blocks are not like San Francisco city blocks either so when I say 2 blocks convert that into about 1/4 a S.F. city block and then you will have a better idea. Bristol Cathedral is the largest and is the farthest away from what I can tell. There are two churches just to the left of the backside of my building, aka pretty much two buildings from my window. So, to say that I hear the church bells is a serious understatement. I used to say in San Diego that it sounded as though the ambulances, on their way to the hospitals, were going directly through my apartment. Well in that same vain, it seems as though someone has deposited bells in the middle of my ceiling on the hour every hour for about an hour during the daylight times.

Other than that, my apartment is rather quaint. It is very small but rather sufficient for one person. Though it is nothing like the palace I lived at in San Diego, it is fine for me. The street I live on leaves something to be desired and I would not as of yet chance walking along it at night by myself; filled with bars and clubs and theatres that should be in the in the overly artsy sections of San Francisco, by the look of some of the costumes. The rest of the area is nice though and one will never be in need of a place to eat unless the have no legs and can't walk about 600 feet. There is a seemingly endless supply of restaurants and pubs, I even saw a Subway (there you go Dad, now you know that you won’t go hungry. The mall with all the shops that you could ever want is about a 10 min (Katie speed, 15 to 20 for the rest of the world) walk away. They have everything from clothing to conveyance shops and there is an outdoor market on the way up to "The Mall."

The city itself is crawling with people, around the university you have students ranging from 12 or 13(Bristol Primary school is just on the far side of the University campus) to 30, though most do seem to be around the early 20's mark, as it should be at a university. There are stores on the far side of the city that you would be familiar with, Costco and IKEA are both here and you would never believe what I saw at the Heathrow airport on my way to catch the bus out to Bristol (saw another one on my way in, disgusting) KRISPY Crème donuts, just when you thought that you got rid of them all they show up in foreign countries.

I have decided that the best people to ask for directions are the people who work in Flower shops. I think that they are so cheerful because they get to work around lovely, wonderful smelling flowers all day and that makes them nicer people. You would be happy, or maybe a bit disappointed, to know that the UK shows our televisions programs on almost every channel. From Friends to Scrubs to the Apprentice, and even One Tree Hill (even though they have their own version of the Apprentice they still show ours...oy), they have got a good smattering of them. I was shocked really, I watched Friends most of last night before I went to sleep at the B&B I was staying at, which is supposedly in the nicest part of Bristol. I am not sure about that but it was much less busy that is for sure. Here, next to the University, the streets are filled.

Anyway, that sounds like a pretty good assessment of things from my end for now (I will just need to get ear plugs for the church bells. Thanks for the suggestion Vicki). I will post more pictures and write a bit more when I have something new to report. I have all of next week to play with then the following week I am off to Exmoor with my department for a 4 day all expense paid field trip. Chat with you all later, and remember I am just a Skype call or e-mail away! (Long Live the Internet!!!!!)