Chick, chick, chickadee...

So in class we now have an incubator which has been keeping more than a dozen chicken eggs nice and toasty warm. Most of the eggs have been "claimed" and we have been eagerly watching them all week to see when "our's" will hatch. On Wednesday a few chicks began to make the first little cracks in their eggs. Halfway through the morning my little chickie was really working away at that egg shell and it didn't take her long to free herself from it. By our second lesson she was free!




Wednesday night we had a few more hatch and by Friday we had five healthy chicks chirping away during our lessons (helpful considering most of the children already have problems with concentration). They are quite cute.....for now. I have to admit that I wasn't at all excited when I heard that we were going to be raising chickens this term but having an egg of my own and watching it hatch was kind of exciting. And as chicks they really are soooo cute. As soon as they pass the chick phase though I'm sure I'll return to my previous opinion of chickens.

In the style of keeping things simple I named her KD.

Well we did end up heading for the coast, St. Andrews, and we did indeed find some sunshine!!!
Check it out....

Monday evening. The Cathedral ruins.

Chasing this giant orange sun, trying to catch it before it disappeared.

Just barely.

Tuesday. Esther joined us Tuesday afternoon (she is behind the camera). Here we are, enjoying the sunshine and the feel of sand on our feet. :)

Kelsi and I wanted to make sure to stock up on pictures together.

Wednesday. More of the Cathedral ruins.

We climbed something like 200 steps to the top of this tower. Vertigo set in after about 10 steps but my fear of heights didn't stop me from reaching the top. I was quite proud of myself. Up on top I was actually fine but all the way up and all the way down I was shaking.

We had a nice view to the beach.......hmm, I like this.

On our way from the tower to the beach.

There it is!!

And again. I just want you to see how great this beach was. I couldn't believe that we were still in Scotland on this beach. I rather felt like we had flown to an island somewhere much closer to the equator. It was really so nice.

My quest for sun was successful. Mission accomplished.

This last week has been quite a bit more relaxed than the week prior. The school has been our base which has been great (and cheap considering I spent quite a few pounds in England and Wales, and that was just for food, travel and rooms). Tuesday and Wednesday we took it easy and stayed in Auchterarder. Wednesday we went for a nice walk toward the Ochil hills and then ate a tasty supper with Esther's parents and aunt. They made for us cheese spetzle, delicious. On Thursday we went into Perth where we did some shopping and Kelsi did some buying. Edinburgh has entertained us these last couple days with the castle, museums and shopping (of course). We were lucky enough to catch a ride into the city yesterday and only had to take the train back. Today David and Simeon and Simeon's friend joined us which was nice to have the extra company and also meant that we had a driver both into the city and back :). Good for us.

Tomorrow I think we will spend some time planning the next week. Maybe go to the coast for a couple nights. I'm looking to find some more sunshine than we have had here lately. I hope I can find some this next week. Cross your fingers and hold your thumbs for me!!

Whew!!

London, Brighton, London, Wales, London, Scotland............. 10 days

Saturday. Esther and I in Camden Market after taking the bus all night Friday night.

On our way to see Jason Mraz!! So excited!!

Jason !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Waiting for Jason.

There he is! I think he looked right at me!!

Taken by surprise.

Sunday, leaving London for Brighton.

Finding some much needed time to relax. Something with I didn't find much of during all of our traveling here and there.

Still Sunday. Walking from our cute B&B to the beach in Brighton.

Monday. At the Beach.

Kelsi's here!! Esther and I met Kelsi at the airport in London on Tuesday morning. You could say it was an emotional reunion. We cried......it happens.

We spent the rest of the day touring London a bit. Picadilly Circus, Covent gardens mainly.

Wednesday and off to Wales.

Thursday. Cardiff Bay.

Esther left us Friday from Cardiff and Kelsi and I headed back to London for a few more days. On Friday we wandered around Kensington gardens. This is Kelsi looking lovely with the setting sun and Kensington Palace in the background. While we were walking around the pond we past this guy on his bicycle belting out Wham, Wake Me Up Before You Go Go. I couldn't keep myself from joining him singing which I think he enjoyed.

Friday. Royal Albert Hall.

Saturday. The Tower Bridge.

The Tower of London.

Big Ben.

Still Saturday. Buckingham Palace.

On Sunday morning we went to Easter Mass at St. Paul's.......

and walked through Hyde Park,

stopping for a rest in Princess Diana's Memorial garden.

We finally found the Peter Pan statue in Kensington gardens.

Monday we spent in Notting Hill. We walked up and down Portobello Road even thought there was not a market. Then we tried to find the park shown on our map and instead we found this sign. I took the photo through the fence which was surrounding the whole park. I felt like Julia Roberts in the movie Notting Hill.

And it looked so nice inside!! There were loads of benches too where we could rest our weary feet. Poor us. :(

Monday night Kelsi and I again took the bus from London to Scotland. I must say that while I enjoyed our traveling, I was very ready to return to Auchterarder. I was ready to be away from the crowds of London, to be settled in one place and not jumping between hostels and hotels every couple of nights. Oh, and to sleep! Something I didnt' manage much of during our travels.

YIPPEE!!!

I came home from London today, checked my post and what was waiting there for me.....?

A big brown envelope containing none other than my long lost passport which now includes a residence permit!! I am now officially allowed to stay through July as a voluntary worker. Nice to have that stress over with only four months left here.

I was just realizing that since my last London trip I have only posted once (!!!). This is a fact that is new to me but I am sure it is one which you all are quite aware of. I am promising now that when I am next sitting down at my own computer it will be to post a new blog.

Today I am looking forward to my last day in London with Kelsi. For those of you who don't know, Kelsi is here visiting for the next couple of weeks. Yippee! It was a slightly emotional reunion which had us both in tears. It happens :) I will fill you in on all that we have been doing in my next post but for now I'll have to wrap it up as I'm paying for every minute here.

Take care and stay tuned.
Notting hill and a 9 hour bus ride home here we come!!