Winter is coming.

I had been so lucky with the weather down here in Kent until this week. It had only rained on 3 separate days in almost 7 weeks here until Sunday (I know that the lack of rain isn't good, but it was nice and warm). On Sunday the heavens opened and have pretty much remained open since.

So far this hasn't affected any of this weeks activities at work, but it does make the place look a little less welcoming and enjoyable. The centre is truly beautiful, and this is accentuated in the sunshine, but with most places it just looks cold and gloomy in the rain.

Last week was considerably better though and I really enjoyed my second school week. Everything felt a bit more natural and the children were a delight. We went on more trips than the previous week and had a lovely day out in the local village of Woodbridge and another day trip to Bodiam Castle, which I was particularly looking forward to. The day did not disappoint, the castle was brilliant and the children really enjoyed it. 

There was a video on a loop in one of the rooms and when I was watching it, I spotted a few people that I recognised, as some of the footage was of a battle re-enacment by the society to which I belong. The children, when they finally believed me, thought I was some kind of superstar knowing the people in the video! (Hi Wallers and Ruperts regiment!) I also had a hilarious ongoing debate throughout the day with one of the members of staff, on the topic of whether he would make a good knight. That was a bloody good laugh!

After the castle we went to archery. The kids asked if I had done it before, to which I replied yes.   BIG mistake! They then expected me to hit gold every time, it had been 2 years since I'd shot a bow and arrow... luck was on my side and although it wasn't gold every time, the kids did think I was pretty good. Oh and I beat the teacher that was thinking he could be a knight.

Mice Update: All out warfare started on Saturday, the house has been thoroughly cleaned and traps have been set. During the cleaning we discovered where the mice had been getting into my room...

With a bit of excellent DIY, my boss has replaced the floorboards and my room is now safe!

In other, other news, The Boyf now has a car! No more picking him up from the station each time he wants to visit, more equal driving when we're both at home!

Time to go and light a fire and read Game of Thrones, yes, the title of this was a reference!

Mice, Board Games and the First School Group.

I have to be honest, I am rather loving the Kentish lifestyle. It all seems just a little bit slower than either the Rural Uni or Sub-urban Industrial Town type that I am used to.

Trips to town are pleasant (cleaner) and new places to explore are quite wonderful. And we have better* weather. It's also very nice living with a Kitchen Garden on site (partly because I don't have to tend to it) and being able to eat fresh fruit (not me so much, bad as it is) and veggies each day is brilliant.

There is a downside to this country living though... Mice. the mice and I are falling out, big style. Currently we seem to have 2 Living Room mice, 1/2 (can't work it out) Kitchen mice and at least 1 under-the-floorboards-and-in-the-walls-right-next-to-my-bed mouse. He particularly is my least favourite and has a distinct lack of understanding that I am diurnal, unlike him.

These mice and I have been having various battles of 'block up the mouse holes' and capture-release-recapture. To no avail. They keep coming back time and again, and are really starting to piss me off. Living Room mice keep on chewing holes in the throws on the sofas and doing expeditions across the living room floor (which I'm getting used to now, The Boyf had the shock of his life last night though). Kitchen Mice are meaning that I have to be super tidy, constantly, which isn't a particular skill of mine and U-T-F-A-I-T-W-R-N-T-M-B Mouse is keeping me awake. Unfortunately, he is the one I will not be able get at. Regardless of whether the boss buys a semi feral cat, or provides me with proper mouse traps. Bastard.

In other country lifestyle news: I now have to add 5 minutes on to my journey, purely due to the pheasant poults that are too stupid to just go straight to the side of the road when I drive up/down the drive, no, they do panic dancing which is mildly amusing but also annoying and time-consuming. Oh the joys of all the land around you being part of a shoot.

The Boyf is here this weekend (experiencing his first mouse-y weekend) and we seem to have developed a habit of Board Games, this new house came fully equipped with two Board Games of which neither of us had seen before. 

The first 'Streetwise' is basically Trivial Pursuit of London, which is rather good (and snazzy) but our own knowledge of London varies greatly, in the form of him being rather good and me being rather crap. This was a sore point until we decided to have a go at Where Is Moldova. This game is FAB (well, if you're a geographical board game geek like myself), supposedly this is one of only about 50 sets, as a small company in Tunbridge Wells (mid Kent) ploughed lots of money into making the game and it didn't take off. It's a shame really but I can see why, the board is huge and doesn't fold so the box is big, the game isn't complicated, but does have many options and things to do, and also, there are many cards that do different things and this can get a bit confusing. I personally though am a fan, and keep winning.

I feel I'm going to end up as one of those families that insists on family board game evenings for no real reason. Gah.

Finally, my first school group came this week just gone. They were a lovely bunch of 26 (to start with) but due to various events (one planned, one unplanned) the group left with 24 at the end of the week. As The Boyf arrived on the Thursday evening, we offered to help them with their campfire which was a roaring (sorry) success and we toasted marshmallows on sticks (actual ones from trees, so there, health and safety) for everyone and sang campfire songs, it was all rather wonderful. 

I will not ever forget my first week here, it was wonderful and I am very excited for the rest of my time here now.

Until next time, keep well!

*better being sunnier, this isn't necessarily good for all and the farmers are less than happy!