Yup--I'm still alive. Sorry about the total lack of updates for the last month or so. I've gotten so overwhelmed at the prospect of trying to catch up that I kept putting it off, thus living in a terrible self perpetuating vicious cycle. So, as catching up at this point seems more than futile, I thought best to just jump in again. Hit the ground running as it were. By the way, the bloke in the first two pictures is Matthew, my fellow MVSer.
Christmas events have dominated my life in Bradford of late--in a lovely way. Full Christmas dinner with the staff at the elementary school--complete with Christmas pudding--molassesy and full of fruits. Went with the after school club to the pantomime (very boisterous, audience involving, slapstick plays always put on for the holiday season) Peter Pan. That was a really good time! We sat at the very top of a beautiful old theater with about 15 7-10 year-olds in tow. Unfortunately, not bathrooms up that high--so we made lots of mad dashes up and down the stairs during the event. And all of the breaking of the forth wall was brilliant. Lots of yelling "He's behind you!" and booing Captain Hook whenever he came in sight. At one point they handed out dozens of foam cubes that represented rocks that we were all to chuck at Captain Hook. I clearly had just as much fun as the kiddos--several of whom I saw the next day at school. One boy stated his enthusiasm in typical Bradfordian "It were well good, were last night!" Other Christmas meetings and ge-togethers, two concerts with that women's choir I'm in.
Pretty much all of our jobs have stopped off for Christmas--schools out, thus is after school club, even the organic cafe is closed. So I'm looking forward to a nice couple of weeks of non conformity to the routine that I've developed here. There are some treats to look forward to: carolling and midnight mass with the Methodists on Christmas Eve--Christmas morning service with the Anglicans and the rest of the day spent with the Biltons' (Paul and Ruth and family--Anglican) with various characters stopping during the day. And who can say what adventures my first true Boxing Day (the 26th) will bring. Hopefully I'll let you all know in a more timely fashion than last time. Love to you all; Merry Christmas; plenty of good will and Holiday cheer!
