...though I'm still of half a mind to crop out the people at the bottom.

This is one shot of downtown. More of 'em can be found here. Yes, this means that I've successfully organized and re-sized a bunch of photos (including learning how to use Photoshop to do batch processes), thus accomplishing another useful task. I am so productive! (silly grin!)

As you can see, downtown Bromley, like Aylesbury, is a mish-mash of architecture from different eras. Yet, unlike Aylesbury, it is blended together fairly artfully so as to appear "quant" as opposed to "tacky." Bromley is much greener than Aylesbury, too.

Today saw me in London for two walking tours and a bit of a look-see through Chinatown. The first walk, starting at two, was titled "Somewhere Else" London and basically consisted of a two hour jaunt from Embankment Station, over the Thames, along the south Embankment, and, finally, into an area with what is described as truly Dickensian architecture. I didn't see a whole lot that was new to me, but I got some interesting bits of info and it was a good enough excuse for a long walk in lovely weather.

The next tour was at 7:30, so I walked from Embankment Station to Chinatown (near Leicester Square), pausing briefly at an aquatic sports outfitter to pick up a waterproof carry bag for all my miscellaneous stuff (like wallet and keys) for the next time I head to the beach. I may have to pick up a second (they're cheap), as I've just discovered that I can operate my camera for semi-reasonable shots through the bag, making shallow depth aquatic photography possible and, at the very least, allowing me to take my camera to the beach without worry of sand, salt or sea air doing it damage.

In Chinatown, I looked through a bunch of shops trying to find red lanterns for imapunkin, who desperately wants one (she's into all things Chinese). Unfortunately, I was disappointed by the selection; most were quite tacky. I also couldn't a shop that sells sweet and sour pork buns (a favourite of mine). The greatest tragedy, though, is the confirmation that the Tuk Tuk Noodle Bar is truly gone, leaving me to despair as to where I can find a decent laksa (let alone the heavenly mango and cream pudding that I've seen nowhere else).

London Chinatown, sadly, is quite disappointing in general. Given the size of London, one might expect a really large Chinatown, but this one is maybe two to three times larger than Victoria's. It certainly pales before the sprawling scape that is Toronto's. Visually, even Victoria's wee Chinatown packs in a lot more visual impact. I would have taken pictures to compare, but the view is currently downright unappealing, courtesy of the massive road work taking place. Still, it is a serviceable Chinatown and, more to the point, the only one for quite some distance (do they exist in other parts of Europe?).

I nearly decided against the last walk as I was getting a bit tired, but I was glad I didn't! This was the quite popular Jack the Ripper Haunts tour and it was made especially entertaining by the exceptional story telling talents of the tour guide (the same one from the Ghosts of the Old City tour I did with ekatarina a while back).

All-in-all, it was a great day out with plenty o' (semi)fresh air and exercise.

I was so worried because the realtor hadn't called by the end of the month to tell me that the place was rented out, so I phoned him today, thinking that the latest bid to do so had fallen through. But this time I got great news! The new lease holder has already taken possession of the apartment and it is no longer my responsibility! All that remains is to have it checked out and get my damage deposit back.

That means more £££s for me this month! I can now purchase the Canon Powershot A700 I've been dreaming about for the last couple of weeks. Yay!

On mionemione's suggestion, I finally got a Photobucket account. Let's see if I can actually directly link images like it says it can.



This was a shot of the CN Tower taken yesterday after my return from Ward's Island. Someone let me know if you can see it.

‘Tis been a while since I last wrote. The last month has been particularly hellish. I’ve had worse thrown at me in the last few weeks than anything I encountered during my practicum. Events have occurred that have caused me to question my own fitness to teach. And I have been feeling like I have been coming apart at the seams. Last Friday I even began checking out what courses were available at UVic for me to take during the upcoming spring semester; I was that ready to come home.

But I have endured and I am still here.

I have been assured that the next term will be easier, even with just that the half term will only be six weeks long, as opposed to the eight and seven weeks of the preceding two. I have been offered a lot of help and support and it has been made clear to me that, whatever failings I have suffered during the last term, I am still wanted here, by both staff and students (I got 19 Christmas cards and three boxes of chocolate from my students!).

Last weekend marked a turning point for me; I finally shed a lot of concern over a few things that have been causing me a lot of stress over the last term. I am no longer worried about my application to remain in the UK. I will submit it as best as I am able (despite not having a number of answers to some potentially important questions (I can’t get any answers out of my agency and the immigration office is virtually unreachable)); they will either accept or not and I will stay or leave accordingly. I also discovered that it will cost a lot less for me to join a teacher’s organization (very possibly nothing) and I have finished sorting out issues with assorted student loan bodies to reduce my monthly payments to a more reasonable level; I will still be able to afford a reasonably enjoyable lifestyle, complete with fortnightly trips to London for whatever purposes I deem worthy at the time (methinks I may catch a showing of the musical production “We Will Rock You,” which is based on the life and times of the musical group Queen).

A renewed sense of purpose enabled me to deal far more effectively with the remaining day and a half of classes I had earlier this week than I had over the last few. The last few were quite productive, in spite of class wide expectations that the final classes were supposed to be “fun.” And, in retrospect, I can actually see an improvement in the behaviour of most of my “Hell 9s”; they’ve actually had a very productive half term and met all the coursework objectives. Aside from a few die-hard trouble-makers, most seem far more willing to behave and get to work. Classes at the school let out at noon on Tuesday. The year tens still have some growing up to do, though.

Last Sunday, I also crossed off one major item on my life long “to do” list; I made a trip to Stonehenge! Though, due to extenuating circumstances (that included an accident on the highway and heavy rain and sleet at the site the evening previous), I was not able to experience sunrise in the circle, nor enter the middle of it, I did get to touch the stones and consecrate a number of my spiritual tools with water from pools formed on some of the fallen ones. I also took a lot of great photographs (many of which are now on my photo page, for those who know where it is) thanks, in large part, to the new 512 Mb memory card I purchased for my camera with the Christmas money my folks sent me (thanks Mom and Dad!). I would have been very frustrated by the measly 32 Mb card that came with my camera. The tour also included a trip to Salisbury. And, yes, I also have some lovely photos of the very beautiful Salisbury cathedral.

Wednesday also quite pleasant; I went to London to meet with a group of London pagans. We went on a tour of the Egyptian and Greek exhibits at the British Museum (photos to come). The Egyptian statuary was particularly awe-inspiring. I got to lay hands on a number of statues of Sekmet, the lion headed goddess (and one of my favourites of that pantheon). We also did a walking tour of a number of Pagan friendly shops in the Convent Parks area. The evening came close to ending (much later) with dinner, drinks, and much pleasant conversation at a pub in the area. I made a number of friends that day and I look forward to the monthly events that this group hosts.

I say the evening came close to ending, as, after leaving the pub, I took a side trip to Trafalgar Square to take some pictures of the Christmas tree that was given to London by the city of Oslo (in Norway). They have sent one annually for the last sixty some odd years in recognition of the help that Norway received from Britain during the first World War. I met with a little disappointment at the end of the photo shoot as I had found an incredible shot, but, just as I was getting my camera ready to shoot, they shut the fountains off (at eleven, dammit). Ah well, such is life for a would-be photographer.

And, after reviewing my finances, I still have a bit left over to be mildly indulgent over the rest of the break. Methinks part of that indulgence will include another trip to Trafalgar Square for New Year’s Eve. It certainly included restocking my supply of Strongbow cider and picking up a bottle of Bailey’s (over ice is very nice) as well as number of fine pre-made meals.

I’m still dealing with a bit of depression over being away from home this Christmas, and I’m not looking forward to all the work I have to do in preparation for the next term, but, still, this will be a reasonably pleasant and laid back holiday season for me.

I hope yours will be, too!

Happy Yule and much holiday cheer to all!