First Adventures!

Well, I drove for the 1st time last Monday, August 13th. I thought I would try to drive to school on my own. I vaguely knew how to get there, but wasn't completely sure. I did have a map, but I wanted to get a little lost and maybe find something interesting and off the beaten path. All I found were neighborhoods and, somehow, the road to school. Driving of the left hand side and even shifting on the left wasn't as hard as I thought. However, I had to reaquaint myself with the finesse of the foot pedals while shifting. So I found the school and had a walk around the grounds. The side of the building has animals painted on it. There is a Chinese rock garden that is really peaceful, at least for now. I can't wait to see how the kids use it. I didn't know which would be my class yet, but I wouldn't have been able to see in anyway because the blinds were all pulled...security, of course. Anyway, I built up my courage to drive back home. I thought I would follow the signs back into the towne centre, and it worked! Surprise...surprise. So I survived my first day out.

The next 2 days, it rained with lightening and thunder on Wednesday. Thursday was glorious! Partly cloudy and breezy. David, Louise's dad, came and picked me up to go to Bath. I assured him that I now had hot water...a learning experience. I can turn my water heater off while traveling to save on electricity. The other way to safe is that they only actually heat the water over-night when the electricity is cheaper. They do have a booster button, if you end up using the water that is already heated, but its pricey. Good idea!!! Anyway...back to the trip. In Bath we met up with Cherry, David's significant other. We walked all around and saw the gorgeous Georgian arcitecture, including a lovely bridge and man-made waterfall. We went to see the stunning Royal Cresent homes of Bath. We learned later that the houses (townhomes in the US) were built as a windbreak for the ladies living in the Royal Cresent. There is also a "Haha" wall...a wall that from the building you can't see so give an unobstructed view, but the sheep can't get up and the workers can walk under and also not be seen. David said that it is believed to be called a "haha" wall because if you weren't careful and walking from above, you could fall off it. We also went into the Abbey there, its right next to the Roman Bath "museum". While at the abbey, there was an orchestra playing in the center...truely a fabulous place to hear music...the acoustics are amazing! Every available wall and floor space has some kind of memorial stone, some dating back to the late 1600's and one was a real knight. We didn't go into the Roman Baths because of time, but its close enough to me that I can go again. You can't actually bathe there anymore, but they have really expensive spas in the area...out of my range.

In my range was a shopping trip into Chippenham on Friday...my second drive. Today I stopped thinking and worrying so much about shifting and it all came back. It was a success, until I realized that I left my plastic at home...cash only. Luckily, I had enough cash to buy my water filter, wrapping for my presents I bought myself with money Mom and Dad gave me, and lunch out...all I really needed anyway.

Until next time....Love ya!