Walk and fair

Hello all!

First of all RIP Phil Walsh - the news broke as I went to bed last night. How absolutely horrible :(

Last night when I got home I had a look at my bank accounts and literally cried. Yes - cried! Before I left I had quite a bit of savings saved up and now...London is expensive!! So I decided I would go on a walk of the city to remind my mind why I'm here. 

So I got the bus to Waterloo bridge and walked around the Eye and Big Ben as the sun set. I got a frozen yoghurt atop a double decker bus too along Southbank!! It was exactly what I needed! Still can't believe I'm doing this sometimes. One day I'll be telling my kids that mum travelled the world and lived in London for 6 months, and right now I'm here. Think I need to focus on the fact that money isn't everything and life experience is far more valuable. 

Today wasn't great. I wore my pies hat due to our afternoon walk, that was one of few positives!!! It was hot, Friday, nearing end of term and we had the school walk. So the kids were unsettled to say the least. 

Basically they were loud all day and didn't do very good work. I had one kid lose a tooth, one cry at various intervals throughout the day and one making up tales to try and get out of class. 

The walk itself went well. It was one of my more stressful teaching experiences though. Our class paired up with a year 5 one and walked a 3km circuit up to the Thames and back. It was hot and the kids got tired, so whilst trying to keep them off the road I kept them entertained with stories about my 42km Inca trail walk earlier this year which they loved. 

After the hike (3-5pm) we had the school summer fair. Jess convinced me to stop being a stresshead and get an ice cream. So we did. We enjoyed our ice creams and chatted to parents and soaked up the sun. To all the people who told me start of year that the sun never shines here, you're wrong. I've hardly had any rain. Probably the same amount as Melbs - so HAH!

Tonight instead of going home and watching the footy alone (homesickness alert) I went to Alisha's with Jess in Wandsworth Town (not too far from school) and we had a couple of drinks and danced to lame poppy music. I watched the first quarter of pies vs hawks and then we headed out. 

We met Alisha's friend Andy in Brixton and went to Pop Brixton - a small complex full of bars with shopping containers as small stores. It was really cool!!

Now I'm headed back to watch the rest of our game against hawthorn. I've managed to avoid the scores all day. God I miss the footy - I'm itching to get back to the G and scream my head off in a close game. Oh well! Next year!!

So happy it's the weekend. Let's go pies!

Love to all

Claire

Xoxox

PS: this time six months ago I was on my plane to Chile. January 4, 2015. I cannot believe how quickly this year is going. How far I have come since the terrified girl leaving Tullamarine and crying at Auckland airport alone! So proud of myself this year. So much growing up done and so much more to go. I've come a long way!! Watch this space.