Haircuts

I have been very spoiled when it comes to my hairdressers. My first hairdresser was also my babysitter. She cut my hair from before she was cutting hair till I moved to Spruce Grove. She knew me. I would ask for something new, she'd look at me and say "umm..no" and talk me out of it because she knew I wouldn't do it. I like having natural curly hair, even though I complain non-stop about it, I like it. I like being able to wet it scrunch with mousse and go about my day. Then when I feel like it I know I could straighten it, curl it, or put it up. It's perfect. Then my second hairdresser...it was fate that we would meet. I needed a haircut, I had gone through a bad couple of years of hair, terrible cuts where they would hack at my hair with razors and dye it blond and I see her in the Starbucks drive-thru...she had beautiful long curly hair and on a whim I ask her "Where do you get your hair-cut? I am new to the area and I need someone who knows how to cut natural curly hair" and it turns out that she is a stylist and she knows how to cut hair and she comes back with a card, I made and appointment and it was love at first haircut! She knows what colours I like and what styles I like and she also talks me out of silly ideas! (Like growing out my hair "shudders")

When I had to look for someone in Northampton, I waited until I couldn't wait any longer and I was spoiled once again. He cut my hair very nicely, he did use a razor....but he didn't hack at my head with it, so I let it go. I liked my cuts, it was all very good. But now, the time has come once again to find a new hairdresser. So, this morning I put on my shoes and my coat and out I went. I went into this place that I had seen the other day on a walk and it seemed nice so I went in...tentatively. I have an appointment on Friday at 10:00am. I am also getting my hair dyed...too many greys are peeping through.

I realize that next to other great calamities in the world this is EXTREMELY trivial...so if you all scoff and think to yourself "Beth, get over it." I will not be offended. ;)

Hopefully I am able to explain what I want (which is something I am terrible at) and that she understands what I want and it goes well...and no hacking with razors occur.

Oh I also hope that Donovan doesn't faint when he sees the price list....... :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving! Today is Thanksgiving day and instead of eating Turkey until I am too stuffed to think; I am sitting in my very clutered living room listening to the workmen fix my bathroom!! (Yipee!)

Saturday was a wonderful day. Donovan and I headed into Bedford around 11 and shopped. He bought some new shoes, shirts and ties. I bought a few new shirts, jumpers, and trousers. (I'm trying to say the proper British words). AND! I bought a beautiful new purse. It is so purty...I love it. We also got a coffee grinder so we can finally grind the coffee that friends have been sending us in packages! We ground some this morning and it was yummy. All in all it was a wonderful day...exactly what we both needed. It got us out of the house and doing things other then sitting in our flat watching TV.

Coming back to the Thanksgiving theme...my church back home had this challenge a couple of weeks ago to post something once a day on Facebook that you are thankful for...I decided to also do this challenge and I did for a few days, but unfortunately I stopped. I have been having a really hard time being thankful. I miss my family terribly and September/October are bad months for missing friends and families birthdays...my nephew, brother, niece and three friends to be specific. I also get so bored sitting in the flat every day. I was really excited about the job I had applied for...and on in the Saturday mail was a letter saying I didn't get it...rather disappointed. But, I am trying to have a good attitude about it. God has something better planned for me and something amazing in store for me and I need to hold on to that and believe it. Also on top of not having the best thankful attitude I have not been sleeping so I wake up ready to kill every morning. The alarm goes off and I have already been awake for hours...This morning I pretty much had to keep myself from talking to Donovan because I was ready to bite his head off at every corner. What makes me the most frustrated about this new me that is emerging...is it isn't me. I am not a grumpy grump. I am the half full girl...I am the sunshine and rainbow girl, the girl who annoys all of my friends and family with the positive side of things. And I am turning into Eeyore!! I like Eeyore...but I am not him. I'm Tigger! So, I request some prayers that I get off my butt and start working on these areas of my life that I'm not happy with. That I start working on my heart, soul and body. That I stop watching 6 hours of TV a day and get outside and meet people. I know that I am never going to be happy continuing on as I have been. I need to turn my worries, fears, and grumps over to God. I need to rejoice that I am alive, healthy, and so very blessed.

So, this was a bit of a vent blog...but being honest is the first step.

Oh, and I was totally going to post a pic of my new purse...but my computer doesn't want to load my pictures off of my camera for some stupid reason known only to it. Maybe another time.

Life in England

Well, I took the jump. I applied for a job. It is a TA position at St. Swithins Lower School. (In Bedfordshire they still do Lower, Middle, and Upper). The job closed last Friday, the day I applied, and it is now Tuesday and I haven’t heard anything. Which at this point I know is nothing. They have to call all of the references on everyone’s application and set up interviews and everything…I probably won’t hear anything till at least Thursday if not later. The position is in Nursery 0-5 year olds…I’m sure I will have some great stories to share with you all about them. Especially since when I talk to kids their mouths hang open and they stare and their moms apologetically say “It’s your accent” I just smile and tell them its okay and that I understand.  The job is only two days a week…Thursdays and Fridays…which would be perfect! It still gives me the rest of the week to do things around the house, maybe volunteer somewhere, teach piano if I want to. Plus it pays fairly well.

In other news Donovan and I were asked to be a part of the St. Swithins Choir! (The church we go to) On Sunday I started talking to a lady and found out that she was the organist and leader of the choir and she asked if I sang and when I said that I did she jumped all over that. I am still thinking about it but I think it could be a lot of fun. Everyone in the choir is over 50 I’m sure (and that is being generous) but such awesome people. We are really being welcomed and we feel a part of the church family already. Not a whole lot of young people, but I think we’ll find people eventually. Even just getting out and talking to anybody is good!

I am so ridiculously homesick! I don’t know if it is a good thing that UK doesn’t celebrate Thanksgiving or a bad thing. On one hand we won’t have to drive around and try to make our usual 3 or 4 dinners and weigh an extra 10lbs…but on the other I miss my family so much. I’m doing okay though…looking forward to visiting whenever we actually get around to it. We do have a visit to look forward to though…Donovan’s parents are visiting us during his October break!  I believe a trip to Wales is planned and of course we have to go to London (this will be trip #5 for me) and who knows where else!

For those of you who have been asking about the mold situation. Our landlady came last Monday to take a look at it and she gave the go ahead to have the work done…but I haven’t heard anything yet and it has been a week…so hopefully soon. And…our new mattress gets delivered next Monday!!!!! I so can’t wait to get out of my Living Room and to have things looking normal again…well, never mind again…just looking normal.

Well, that’s about it. We have had an extended Fall…for the last 8 days we had temperatures of 25-30 degrees and full sun…until today. It was 19, breezy and overcast…perfect in my books!