This is the start of what promises to be a very interesting 6-months of travels.
My goal is to keep family & friends informed of my adventures - I won't document the boring days!
I arrived in Hilton, Derbyshire last Friday; flying from LA to London, then by bus to Derby. This was a 24-hour trip made interesting by two women sitting either side of me on the plane.
Travel tip:
One of the women was travelling alone as her husband's travel pouch was stolen from the security area! All of his travel documents, credit and debit cards, and military ID were taken. BE AWARE the 'Security Officers' are not interested in your security, so don't let your belongings out of your sight!
The village of Hilton is my home for the next two months; it is in South Derbyshire, only three miles from the border of Staffordshire. This may not mean alot to most people; however, my paternal grandmother's family came from Litchfield, Staffordshire. A day-trip is planned to the church to do some geneaology research. These counties are known for manufacturing: pottery, beer, and lead crystal.
The area is also known as the "Shires" - if this conjures up visions of Hobbits you are correct! My home, an old cottage, is definitely Hobbit size; people over 5'2" should wear hard hats! The pub across the street was built in the 1500's, and Tutbury Castle, where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned on two occasions, is just down the road.
Mushy the cat is my companion; he is around 12 yrs old. He wasn't very well when I arrived; however, we have 'bonded' wonderfully, and he has me trained to take care of his every whim! This frequently means a miaow, and gentle tap on the face about 4:00 a.m. when he wants attention. No worries - I'm happy to spoil him!
The countryside and people are all I imagined; very idyllic countryside, and friendly people. I have merged into the community thanks to the popularity of Ben, the homeowner. He introduced me to neighbors and friends, and I feel quite at home. I've been 'adopted' by the Hilton Amateur Dramatic Society (HATS) - 'stage-hand' and 'tea maker' are my job titles so far!
I am also kept busy working on my Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate. For those who HATE grammar, like me, it is quite a challenge; 3-4 hours each morning at the computer! I'm hoping that my creative punctuation will improve by the end of the course!