Something I thought I'd never do but chalk one up for me! You would think, a little thing such as having the steering wheel on the opposite side of the car would not be that big of a deal - WRONG! I mean, you just do everything opposite, right? It's incredible how, after 33 years of driving, I managed to hit the curb (spelled kerb over here) several times and not be able to reverse or parallel park for anything. As it's been several years since taking my driving lesson in the U.S. I have no idea what they teach now. Here you have to "feed the wheel", which is a series of turns of the wheel with your hands never leaving it. Also, certain preliminary procedures must be followed on the actual driving test in order to pass. Get in, close the door, adjust your seat, then your mirrors, seat belt on, car in gear, hand brake down and go. Coming to a stop remember to slow down, stop with handbrake on, look both ways, when light turns amber (in anticipation of it turning green), handbrake down and off you go. The stop lights change from green-amber-red-amber-green. And you have pedestrian crossings known as "puffin crossings" and another crossing with things that look like lolipops on either side called "belisha bekins" - which I always think of as a porn star's name. There's nothing like taking a nice little practice run on the country roads that have no middle line to guide you. I have often found myself wondering why the guy coming towards me was on my side of the road! Obviously, old habits die hard. And the ROUNDABOUTS!! Need I say more?? Actually, they are all right, just remember to get in the correct lane if you want to leave it otherwise you'll find yourself going round and round aimlessly, looking somthing like "Little Black Sambo" turning into a flat pancake (that is how the fable goes, doesn't it?). At any rate, I have a driving lesson tonight and my theory part of the test (done online now) is scheduled on August 5th. So please remember me in your prayers.
I ventured into the city on Saturday (driving again of course) and had a day shopping. I met a friend for lunch near the market place, which is more commercialized these days (the market, not my friend). They have old buildings of course which no one seems to pay attention to, but I, on the other hand, am constantly finding myself asking Roger how old they are. He dutifly answers "oh not much - 'bout 500 years old" . Even the church we had our blessing in is 1000 - can't beat that. My friend had been to Afghanistan in June to help her friend do ministry work. She spoke of wearing a birka and meeting secretly in different locations every night. She even was taken to a house in the hills where supposedly Bin Laden has hidden out at one point. I would never have the guts to do what she did!
On Sunday I met another new-found friend for lunch. She is a 27 year old Methodist Minister from Missouri and it was great to speak to someone from the "new world". We met at a pub/restaurant called "The Cock" (no comments please). She drives too, in case you're wondering. She has 4 churchs in various parts of the area but the problem here is that there are mostly senior citizens who attend. The British public in general seem to have no interest in it, which I find surprising. So, how does one get a younger crowd attracted then? Better yet, how does one attract eligible singles? She has her work cut out for her. I had to duck into the store before meeting up with her for bbq items/food as it was then 3pm and all the stores here close at 4pm on a Sunday. A far cry from the States where everything is 24/7, yet still rather quaint.
So after enjoying 2 bbq's over the weekend we have also had french doors put in and plastered walls as well as scraped layers of tiles off the floor. Lovely blue and white checkered lino - I told Roger we could have a game of checkers on it. He didn't laugh.
Oh yes - last night we ate our very first home grown tomato off the vine!
Well, after watering our yard for nights on end, as I currently look out the window I think I can safely say...
tut tut, it looks like rain. :)
Jill
posted by Jill @ 6:15 AM
1 Comments:
Keep it blazin!
Holla!
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