tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24095765669302589222024-03-13T05:56:32.004-05:00The Wandering TeacherThe story of a woman who rarely stays in one place long enough to grow her hair!Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00385894170644666733noreply@blogger.comBlogger176125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409576566930258922.post-31228207464517276892013-02-03T10:40:00.000-06:002013-02-03T10:40:03.459-06:00The Last Post....
It's been a long time since I posted on this blog and I haven't officially closed it, so here is my last post.
I don't do much teaching now, although funnily enough I've been engaged to teach some young people next Wednesday morning.
So thought the Wandering Teacher didn't describe me anymore. I've been taxi driving for the last year, for instance. ;-)
I now have a new blog over at Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00385894170644666733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409576566930258922.post-40563865085323072912011-09-20T19:46:00.000-05:002011-09-20T19:47:26.579-05:00Eulogy for Una Beryl Willmot<!--StartFragment-->
How well
do we ever know our family and friends? Everyone here will have known a
different aspect of the character of Una Beryl Willmot. And no two assessments
will be the same. Even her children have different impressions of her. This is
very likely because we see other people through our own eyes, which are
coloured by our personality, and our own experiences both with, Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00385894170644666733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409576566930258922.post-63490236741395223852011-09-05T16:21:00.000-05:002011-09-20T19:22:39.782-05:00Caring For My MotherAfter caring for a number of elderly people, I'm now caring for my mother.
I've been living here since January due to not having anywhere else to go and have been planning to move on throughout the spring and summer. However all my plans came to nought and I came to the conclusion that somehow I was not meant to leave. I realised that my mother at least needed me to be near but now she actually Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00385894170644666733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409576566930258922.post-55759430410646498342011-01-23T09:25:00.000-06:002011-01-23T09:25:03.417-06:00Moving on....I remember when I first took this job in Wookey Hole, I remarked that I wouldn't want to become an enemy of my employer S....
Before Christmas there were quite a few days when she couldn't hold her stall at the market due to bad weather. However I still looked after her mother while she worked at home.
Since Christmas I've noticed a change in her attitude towards me. She has been curt and Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00385894170644666733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409576566930258922.post-67336021052556410472010-12-15T13:19:00.001-06:002010-12-15T13:20:30.203-06:00The Fairy CarI promised to show you the car I have the use of and here it is!
It's a good job I don't get embarrassed easily! I certainly need to drive considerately and carefully in this because I won't be anonymous especially in this small community. It's a good job I usually do, because when I'm driving I forget how conspicuous it is.
The owner, my employer calls it the Fairy Car. They have two other Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00385894170644666733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409576566930258922.post-13799856424635198682010-11-22T13:19:00.002-06:002010-11-22T13:22:03.494-06:00So, What's Positive About This Job?Quite a lot actually.
Let me list them:
A Car
I have the use of a car. A small economical-to-run one. Mostly mine. May be used occasionally by S, she says, but they have another car and a van. This car deserves a short blog post of it's own - with a picture.
Countryside
I love the countryside and this bungalow is surrounded by it.
Even in November it's very green around about. I love the green Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00385894170644666733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409576566930258922.post-52697474789751759352010-11-18T15:47:00.002-06:002010-11-18T16:35:12.282-06:00Another New AdventureI was collected by my new employer this morning. I took with me much more possessions than I took to Hong Kong - more books, more yarn, material, a sewing machine and warm winter clothes.
My job is to be a companion to an elderly lady who I'll call L.... in this blog. She has gone to live with her daughter S.... and son-in-law M.... who run a business. They sell aged balsamic vinegar and Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00385894170644666733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409576566930258922.post-87692119415219201352010-11-09T16:50:00.000-06:002010-11-09T16:50:18.318-06:00Leaving Hong KongLast Friday I arrived at Heathrow airport with a single air ticket because the woman who engaged me for the job was buying one because they wanted me to stay a long time. I asked her if I needed a visa and she said no. She's employed several teachers for this family so I thought she knew what she was talking about.
I check in and am told I either need a return or an ongoing ticket in order Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00385894170644666733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409576566930258922.post-24533738161627289092010-11-05T05:08:00.008-05:002010-11-09T16:35:15.323-06:00Life in Hong KongPollution
I think the air is a little polluted as I've not seen a proper clear sky since I've been here. When I first arrived each day started out hazy, but cleared a little as the sun struggled through the haze to shine on all.
The last few days however, it's been hazy the whole day and today it looks like we're living in a rain cloud.
Some people go around the streets wearing breathing masks.Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00385894170644666733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409576566930258922.post-54933474840024244392010-11-01T11:40:00.001-05:002010-11-09T16:33:27.479-06:00Royal Ascot in Hong KongThe father told me that he had persuaded the maid to move into the small room so I could move into her old room. Actually it looks more like a cupboard, with no windows and I'm sure she won't be able to stretch her legs.
So he came to get me from the hotel. His apartment block has a luxurious entrance and is called Royal Ascot.
This is because it overlooks the Hong Kong Jockey Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00385894170644666733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409576566930258922.post-4576764588621051502010-11-01T11:21:00.000-05:002010-11-01T11:21:52.296-05:00Tai Chi and the Roar of the TrafficThis morning I woke up to the sound of pleasant Chinese music being played over a PA system outside. I looked out and in the courtyard below there was a group of people doing Tai-Chi. Then more groups gathered in different spaces between buildings and trees. It was quite beautiful to watch. I'm sorry I didn't think to take a photo of the Tai Chi, but this was taken on Sunday.
The roar of Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00385894170644666733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409576566930258922.post-75878477537469400602010-10-31T06:37:00.000-05:002010-10-31T06:37:39.805-05:00Wandering About AgainI came back to England on 1st September and am starting a job on 1st November. I've never been out of work so long before. I did wonder if I was looking for the right work (housekeeper/nanny/carer jobs), so I applied to become a bus driver. I know I would enjoy the public service, meeting people and being cheery to brighten their day. However, before they could reply, i got a job as a nanny/tutorPatriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00385894170644666733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409576566930258922.post-36349992397155610642010-10-16T11:27:00.000-05:002010-10-16T11:27:21.085-05:00Childhood MemoriesElderberry tree at the bottom of the garden,Climbing and falling into the nettles,Surreptitious foray into the orchard beyond,Bitter, unripe apples,A just punishment for stealing.Guilt
The den under the old plum tree,Shared with slugs and spiders,Made cosy with dolls blankets,Dashing to the back porch in the thunderstorm,Dashing back again for the sheer exhilaration of it. Danger
Sitting on Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00385894170644666733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409576566930258922.post-48015348784029771882010-08-28T22:01:00.000-05:002010-08-28T22:01:17.793-05:00Reflecting on the Past - School and HospitalsGoing Home from School
When I was six my mum stopped collecting me from school. She had to push my younger sister in the pushchair on the two miles round trip. So she stopped doing it. My brother walked with me to school each day and when it was fine weather I walked home on my own. But when It was rainy I had to wait across the road in the junior's cloakroom for my brother for half an hour. My Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00385894170644666733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409576566930258922.post-33082928029050058862010-07-02T16:31:00.000-05:002010-07-02T16:31:45.610-05:00Just Keep SwimmingAfter the evening when the pool was as hot as a hot bath, and not really conducive to swimming, especially after a meal, the weather has been cloudy with rain for a few days. I've managed to swim in-between the rainy periods and each time, the pool has been cooler.
In fact today it got down to a temperature where it took me a little getting used to before I immersed myself this morning! It's Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00385894170644666733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409576566930258922.post-21986869598742753852010-06-27T21:35:00.002-05:002010-06-27T22:05:25.978-05:00Looking UpI've started swimming twice a day now. I went at 3 pm the other day, and was outside for 30 minutes and got sunburned! So I won't be doing that again. It was cooler than normal for 3 o'clock due to the rain in the morning, but still the concrete was too hot for bare feet.At 8 o'clock in the morning the temperature is the same as a hot summer day in Britain. Very pleasant, but the concrete is too Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00385894170644666733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409576566930258922.post-7794725016373158332010-06-24T12:55:00.003-05:002010-06-24T13:10:14.942-05:00SwimmingDuring my first week at Thurloxton Manor the weather was quite hot and the owners invited me to swim in the outdoor pool they have at the bottom of the garden. The thought was infinitely more lovely than the deed, due to temperature of the water. It took me a very long time to immerse myself, and I couldn't swim for long because my feet went numb. I'm told the water gets hot by August if there's Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00385894170644666733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409576566930258922.post-50885207016298255772010-06-22T21:44:00.002-05:002010-06-27T21:34:11.858-05:00Redundancy[I've changed the title of this post from "Being Let Go" to "Redundancy", because I'm told the former phrase means being fired. As far as I recall, I've never been made redundant before, and hadn't matched the word in my head to the event.]My job started out part time. My main shifts were Saturday and Sunday 8am - 4pm, then 6pm -8pm. But I also did 3:15 - 4pm and 6pm - 8pm on Mondayd and Fridays.Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00385894170644666733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409576566930258922.post-63870082030970738182010-06-22T21:43:00.001-05:002010-06-22T21:46:25.331-05:00Looking After GraceThe owner's mother, Grace is dying, although I'm not sure she knows it. I was there one month and I noticed a great deterioration in her ability to care for herself. When I first arrived she managed to get herself to her toilet with only a little difficulty. Then she started needing help getting there, then she needed help with her hygiene, then she could only use the commode if it was near her, Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00385894170644666733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409576566930258922.post-24841092115517329972010-06-22T21:41:00.002-05:002010-06-22T21:46:47.822-05:00Thurloxton ManorI wrote a blog post on the first day of my new job in May but for some reason i didn't post it. so here it is now. My first morning in my new place - I bring the curtain rail down as I open the curtains. My room is a little dark because there is a clump of trees outside my window. It's lovely to see the green. The old, rambling manor house is surrounded by green. The house has been extended Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00385894170644666733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409576566930258922.post-72009280628881281532010-05-09T18:12:00.008-05:002010-06-22T21:48:54.011-05:00The Power of FeelingsHere is a video that is well worth watching. Gregg Braden, in his illustrated interview 'Miracles of Healing', gives evidence of how our feelings can change our physical bodies and the world around us. He says "We must feel the feeling as if the prayer has already been answered, and in that feeling, we are speaking to the forces of creation, allowing the world to respond to us." "The words aren'tPatriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00385894170644666733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409576566930258922.post-81077169447619170872010-05-05T18:19:00.004-05:002010-05-05T18:47:30.643-05:00Shannon the Cat Before I leave this house I must post about the cats here. Well actually they are kittens. They are posh kittens in that they have certificates of pedigree and cost a lot of money. Because of their cost they aren't allowed outside in case someone steals them. The cats didn't know they were missing anything and never attempted to go outside, until they were taken away on a fishing trip. I don't Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00385894170644666733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409576566930258922.post-87916970658770741082010-05-02T19:28:00.006-05:002010-06-22T21:50:04.331-05:00Moving On AgainToday I was offered a job. I hadn't applied for it - well, I had applied for it at the beginning of February and hadn't been given an interview. I was disappointed. I was told my frequent job changes had been against me plus I was overqualified for the job. They thought a teacher would not be content with a housekeeper/cook job. The person they appointed is leaving. She has been given a chance ofPatriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00385894170644666733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409576566930258922.post-4084194846720972172010-05-02T14:31:00.004-05:002010-05-02T15:42:30.248-05:00A Voting DilemmaFor the first time in my voting career my vote in these parliamentary elections may actually count!I've always lived in an area which has been a safe Labour seat. This time, although the sitting MP is Labour, it isn't a safe seat. I usually vote Conservative because they are the only party, as far as I can see, who is as keen on personal responsibility as I am. I have never voted Labour and neverPatriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00385894170644666733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409576566930258922.post-90892847345689430292010-04-06T17:08:00.002-05:002010-04-06T18:33:28.213-05:00EatingClaire asked if I wanted to visit the wholefood shop she goes to and loves and of course I said yes, especially as they serve cooked food in a cafe there. I was amazed to see it was a Whole Foods Market that I know and love from my time living in the USA. There isn't one in Bozeman, Montana, but they are most everywhere else in the country. I had heard there was a branch in the centre of London Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00385894170644666733noreply@blogger.com