I'm slowly getting accustomed to the Spanish lifestyle and the bells. Especially the bells and the sleeping. Its good getting up late, having a bit of a potter and then a siesta, dinner and then work.

We've been busy learning our way around buying domestic products (Don Limpio = mr muscle) And we had an attempt at making a cake that wasnt too successful as they dont seem to have self raising flour here. Also I think the heat kept the buttercream runny so it all just oozed out when I tried to place it together.

I feel like I'nm kinda coming to grips with the language though. It is far too quick for me to follow but I can recognise the odd word now and apart from the problems with my cake I can buy food ok.
Welshy at the moment is at the bakery, "Una Barra Por Favor" A Barra is what they call a loaf and us a baguette/french stick.
A euro for a lovely fresh, crusty loaf :) Bargain!

I start my teaching on Monday, but did a little practise on Thursday, they asked me about what football team I liked only they'd never heard of Charlton. :(

I also went to Calahorra to register as a Spanish resident and now have a NI number for here. We discovered how to get the bus which is fairly cheap so we can explore further afield.

Yesterday we were off so a lazy day, Will introduced me to Red wine and lemon fanta which was tasty and then we went to a bar where I tried a mojito (didnt like it) and met a giant penis walking down the road. MAybe it was a spanish stag do. Who knows?

Anyway. Welshy is back from the bakery and its roll time!

I had a nice uneventful evening flight to Zaragoza, apart from the slightly smelly child that was sat next to me and I got picked up by Welshy and my new bosses and we drove to our new place via a small tour of San Adrian. Slightly disturbed by all the bull fighting posters I saw....

The town apparently used to be quite industrial but now a lot of the factories have moved out of town and its being slowly regenerated from what I could see.

Welshy proudly showed me around the flat so I could be impressed with his domesticity and the exciting shutters that work at the windows.
Its a nice size for the two of us and plenty of sofas for visitors! (hint)

And then to sleep... Or attempt to.

There are bells you see.. Three bells. To chime the hour and half hours. Upsettingly they work at 6 minute intervals.
All through the night...
I think I named them at one point last night. The first bell is Clara and she is the big bell. Then there is a masculine sounded dong and he clearly is Bill the Bell.. 
Welshy assures me that I'll quickly get used to them. But this morning I feel like Quasimodo. "The Bells! The Bells!"

Anyway when he drags himself out of bed I'm off to explore the sights of San Adrian!

So this is it.
Last night I left the museum for the very last time. It seems so odd that something that has been such a huge part of my life for the last four years (3 months and 11 days - as I kept on saying!) has come to an end.
I always felt that when I went, it would be amazing. I'd go mental and tell everyone how much I hated them, I 'd feel such relief but instead I was so sad. 
All of this week I've been saying goodbye to people. I had my last ride on Tuesday and Ian kindly fell off in a very dramatic fashion and Bess was the lovely funny little pony she is.
We had drinks after and I hope I can come back at Christmas and ride there at least once!
Goodbyes and leaving cards and presents from everyone. Swapping addresses with Maggie, Ernie and Mark. 
Finally cleaning out my locker after years of holding the mess back. I left my stickers and ribbons as a surprise for who ever gets it next.
I'd love to know where the ribbons come from. They just seemed to arrive.
My final PHP show (Sky tonight) with Colin. Then that final dash to the Yacht.

I got stupidly drunk... Stupidly quickly. What do you expect when I hadn't eaten all day and Ben's giving dirty vimtos and Darren poisoning my system with flatliners? Honestly I still feel slightly sick when I think about that grim combination.

I cried lots and I have been SO touched by everyones best wishes.

Started packing today. My hand luggage limit is 10kg. My laptop weighs 2.5kg. So I've packed into the remaining space, my riding hat, 6 pairs of pants (why are they pairs?) a camera, a kg block of slightly melted Red Leicester cheese for welshy, hair straighteners, a biological statistics book and a photo of me and my Dad.

I have a 20kg limit for cabin luggage. I have to fit my riding boots and body protector into that as well. I think I'm better off wearing all my clothes to the airport.

Just before I shut up rambling. I went today to buy some new shirts for new work. I got my arms stuck in the sleeves when trying to take it off. I fell over trying to wiggle free and nearly dislocated my arm in the process. At least I wiggled free before having to submit to the indignity of asking the dressing room attendant to help cut me out

Just watched a man tether a bull and then try to ram a javelin through its head... YUCK.

If anyone out there cares/is interested. Whilst in Spain I have set up another blog, this one is so friends and family can keep in touch with my adventures. I plan on adding to this as and when time permits and if stuff happens that they are not to know about.

Anyway. check out www.kazinspain.livejournal.com.

What a crazy 24 hours!

Welshy's nearly been sacked... Then reinstated.... Over nothing!

I guess the main thing is that it was some kinda culture clash. Its a small conservative town of 6,000 people. I remember Wendy telling me once that in Wanganui she found it hard to go out and have drinks as the people in the town judged her as a teacher.
Anyway, Welshy went for a pint last night to watch the Barca game and being poor, it was literally the one pint. Which got him judged as an alkie.
He then went to town the next day and returned to find that his long hair and lack of shaving had got the neighbours worried that he was a thief and the landlady wanted him gone.
So they were prepared to buy him a flight ticket home that night! Ridiculous!
I spoke to M on the phone, I called him weak for allowing himself to be overruled by someone who wasn't even a teacher at the school. Especially when we had had all those interviews and they seemed very happy with us.
He agreed to reconsider. Welshy shaved, got a haircut and has brought some real trousers.
Now i'm worried that they'll expect me to wear a skirt or something. I don't own anything but jeans! 
Welshy had dinner with them all and the landlady tonight and it seems to have gone well. He even tried TUNA PIE!!! I think the landlady regretted her impulsiveness.

So yeah... Crisis adverted. It was all just some culture clash and them being a bit spanish and dramatic (I hope!!)

Passport sorted. Flight booked (11th Sept) Welshy is out there now. Flew out early this morning. Last day at work next Thursday. Got a letter that I need to post to the Police to prove that I havent murdered anyone.

Madnessssss!

Also blogger has stopped letting me publish post. Not sure what thats all about.

So passport gained after a hellish Friday in Victoria.
Flights booked (11th) am getting to go to the Charlton/Exeter game after all! Yay!
Welshy left early this morning and arrived safely, He describes the town as slightly tatty but our flat is nicer than in the pictures.
He says its impossible to get lost and had a stroll along the river. 
I got my first leaving card from Christine today! So sad! I dunno, it still feels kinda like I'm going on holiday rather than leaving for good.
What still to do? I need a letter of recommendation from HR and a mini Criminal Records check sorted from the police, letter is ready to go but I really need a stamp!

why has blogger deserted me?

So handed my notice in yesterday. Final day is the 8th of September. Hopefully gonna fly out on the 10th.
Today we went out on a fair few little errands but there still seems to be masses to do!

Handed my Notice in at work today.

Fuck Yeah!

Been making a list of all that I'll need to get sorted by the 10th... Am already wondering if I can postpone it to the 11th of September so I can get to the Charlton/Exeter game.

What made me decide to go? A cold, wet, rainy day on the ROG 3 Arches. I dont wanna spend another winter that lasts 7 million months with cold feet and bulky uncomfortable coats and arguing with foreign language groups

Hopefully on Monday work will get in touch and let me know my final date so I can plan amazing leaving drinks and book my flight.

Spain here I come!!!

Handed my notice in today!
Hurrah!
Set up a livejournal to follow my tales for the people that I dont want to follow me on this because I dont what them to know about this.
Made a list of things that need to get done asap!

EEEEEKKKK.

Been offered a job in Spain... Gonna go... Mother VERY pissed. Am scared about going... scared about not being able to afford my msc... scared about how she's gonna cope... scared about if I can go back to the museum after...

Fuck I can't even speak spanish....

Its looking more and more likely that Welshy is going to be offered a job in Spain... There would be work for me too should I go.
Do I go though?
I need to be able to pay for this course for three years, I could potentially take up to 6 months unpaid leave from the museum and then go back at the end of it. So if thats agreeable with this language school I can work there for 6 months, then come home if it works out too expensive for my course.
Welshy thinks it'll be ok. He'll earn 1200 euro... and rent is 400 pcm. I need to then just cover enough to pay for my course and what?.... sponge off of him? I dont know. He owes me enough to make it worthwhile.
I'd miss riding, I dont want to lose my spot at new stables. I'm learning so much and dont wanna go back on a years waiting list there. I'd miss football.

And there's Mother... She doesn't want me to go. She says I/we'd struggle too much for money out there.
She says she cant cope without my rent money. That she'd need to take out a second job... That she'd need to rent out my room. She says its unfair of me to go and leave her with my brother, with my nan and granddad.
I havent even had my interview for this place and I already feel guilty for even considering the idea. For wanting to leave her in the lurch. I'd be such a bad person to do that. However Welshy points out that he left his mother in the exact same position to come here for me and that I am now 28(gulp) not 18. That I can't spend the rest of my life in a job I hate and living at home to help support her until she dies.
I want to go. It'd be a huge adventure. As long as I could be sure I can afford my course and have my job to fall back on after 6 months if it doesnt work out. But how can I turn my back on someone who would struggle to live without my wages? That would make me a shitty awful person.

Looks like the riot adventure is all over now. Been very quiet the last couple of nights apart from all the helicopters flying overhead.... Back to normality!

A friend of Welshy's slightly dramatic account of his adventures last night.

So last night, most of Woolwich got torched. Brat went and drove round Granddad's street last night about 11pm and that was ok then.
And it spread outside of London. Crazy shit is going down people.
work has been evacuated... People are jumping everytime they hear sirens... Rubber bullets are rumoured to be deployed..
Tonight its supposed to be kicking off in Welling, Bexley and Plumstead.
Its all just a matter of waiting for nightfall and seeing what happens next....

Honestly what the hells going out outside? Luckily I'm South East London so avoided the previous two days of madness but now its all spread to Lewisham and there's crazy stories going on on facebook from things going on in Woolwich, Eltham and Grove Park.
Welshy was trapped in a put on Roman Road after there was rumours of shits firing shots and is now being offered clearly looted trainers from some cunt out there.
My cousin is out there working in the police and hopefully he'll be ok, as will everyone else.
Luckily Blackheath and Greenwich is ok, although being trapped in the middle of Lewisham and Woolwich all I can hear is helicopters and sirens rushing up and down the roads behind me.
People are cunts. I dont know if my poor Granddad in Woolwich is ok, and if my stables are fine.

I'm going to Vegas in November.. I'm looking up the usual things for fun, horse-riding, the possibility of a Helecopter tour of the Grand Canyon.
When I saw this. Las Vegas Stripper University. All those times (well twice) that I've been to see strippers and longed to learn how to pole dance. And now I can! And will! And possibly most exciting of all, I'm gonna get me a "diploma" in exotic dancing. FUCK YEAH. Blatantly one for the CV there!!!

I am jolly tired! I have worked about 9 days straight and then taken yesterday off and am preparing to go in again today for daytime overtime. I've also done about 32 hours of added overtime in those 9 days.
Its all for this bloody course. I've managed to save enough money to buy myself a laptop so I dont have to share with anyone else, pay for my Vegas trip and put 250 aside for spends while out there.
Anything I make this month will go towards the 3k of fees I need to find....

I'd like to tell you more, including about a night out in Barbican me and Welshy had which resulted in us getting home at 3.30am during this 9 day stint but I'm late for work.