Colonial WIlliamsburg

We travelled out to Colonial Williamsburg earlier today.

"Colonial Williamsburg is the historic district of the independent city of Williamsburg, Virginia. It consists of many of the buildings that, from 1699 to 1780, formed colonial Virginia's capital... The Historic Area is meant to be an interpretation of a Colonial American city, with exhibits including dozens of authentic or accurately recreated colonial houses and relating to American Revolutionary War history. The 301-acre Historic Area was founded in 1693. " taken from wikipedia.

Nana and Papa outside the visitor's Centre (I like how my grandmother keeps my grandfather in check - she's beating him up in the picture! Good memories!)

The three of us

Walking to lunch

Waiting for a table at the Inn (love this picture of the two of them!)

The Inn where we had lunch. Papa wanted to go to this Inn as it's where my parents ate when they visited a few years back.

A tour guide of the Getty's house. (A wealthy middle class working family's home)

Inside the church

A fence

I was intrigued by how they layed the stones and anchored them to each other.

Inside the Governor's Palace

Nana & Papa with a very knowledgeable tour guide

Outside the back of the palace

Outside the front of the palace

It had started to rain, Nana was showing off her face protector on her rain bonnet, I was amused!

I tried on a few hats to get in the Colonial spirit

When we got home, I had to try on my grandfather's cowboy hat. I am from Texas after all!

I was extremely perplexed by the extreme curliness to my hair. It was seriously humid out there!!

The weather had threatened to rain all day but didn't really start till we were headed home. And boy did it rain!!!! Sheesh! I was going no more than 30mph on a motorway and couldn't see more than 5 feet in front of me. Seriously uncomfortable driving!!! We made it home safe and sound though. Just as we pulled into Norfolk (where my grandparents live) Pap complemented my good driving skills ... just as I speed through a yellow light as it turned red. Guess he commented too soon :-\

Some Virgina fun

Yesterday we went to an early dinner with my grandparents neighbours. It was super yummy food (of all types - southern cookin', a bit of oriental, some steak, some veggies, yummy deserts, salads, tex-mex ... too much!) and an all you can eat buffet.

Counter clockwise from left: My grandpa, grandma, Buster and Barbara

Today I went for a jog this morning - the humidity makes it harder for me to jog as long as I can in England. Either that or all this greasy American food sitting in my stomach is what makes it harder - I choose to think it's the humidity :-) And then headed into Wal-mart for my obligatory 3 hours shop. I know my mother's glad she got out of accompanying me there. She dreads taking me to Wal-mart!

On the way home I stopped by Sonic and got a pineapple milkshake (a super special treat from my childhood) as it's pretty hot here! And as it was warm I decided to check out the convertible my grandfather had loaned me...

First ever time in a convertible with the top down!

I felt well cool!

Up, up, up and away

I'm off to Virgina tomorrow to visit my grandparents. It's been 4 & 1/2 years since I was last there so I'm looking forward to seeing them again. I just hope they are ready for the craziness of me :-)

I hope to be able to get some blogging done while I'm away from the stress and chaos that is my day to day life at the moment.

An evening with Ed

I've been stretched further than I can cope with recently - I'm burning the candle at both ends (working super hard and long and playing hard). Wednesday I was due to meet up with Ed to go for dinner and I couldn't be bothered. I've been working 12-15 hour days and I'm exhausted. But I know how much I love going out with Ed and I always have a good time so I took a shower to perk myself up and headed out to meet Ed. I had a great time. Nothing special - just chit chat and catch up, but I do love chit chatting with Ed. I always have a good evening with him!! He's fabulous!!

It was cold walking back from the restaurant to my car ... Ed decided to do a few star jumps to warm up.

Love. It.

An office with a view

The Art department needed some (fairly important) data from me but I had no time to do it. In the same conversation in which I was asked for the data there was discussion about my new of ice (aka the old broom cupboard) and the lack of a window in my office. I was told I should see the head teacher and get it sorted - I deserved a window. The next day the Art department asked if I had received my window yet - I replied (in jest) that they'd get their data when I got my window. So....

they sorted out a window for me!

I love it! Maggie (the art teacher that did this for me) accidentally mounted the picture upside down. We decided that it just adds character to the picture :-)

I got my picture at 2pm on Wednesday. The Art department got their data by the end of school at 3:30.

I also got my name plate put on my new door.

In case you're curious about the small 'g' instead of a capital letter: the answer is that I'm resourceful. I changed my name mid-school year (December 2007) from Aldridge to Gilbert and they order the name signs only in groups when new teachers start (usually in September). So I was out of luck. I had a paper sign up for a while but that got tacky very quickly. SO one day I decided to rearrange the letters from Aldridge to make gilbert. What a clever clogs I am :-)

No excuses

A friend at work sorted me out.

The photo is a bit blurry, so in case you can't make it out:

TUIT

This is a tuit.

It is round. Now you

have one, you can do all

those things that have been

waiting until you get

a round tuit.

I guess I can now get around to updating my blog!!!