We had been applying, but the job market is very difficult at the moment. The only interview James got after 40 applications was as a Recycling Canvasser, following up the new Recycling system Hull is introducing door to door. It wasn't what he thought he'd end up doing, but the debts need paying and we need to save to get back to NZ. The day before the interview we prayed it would be better than we expected, and God answered our prayers with a Team Leader role, a brand new company car (Ford Focus) that James takes home each night, and a promotion after week 1! Also nearly 4 weeks of sunshine, has made this job quite enjoyable! Lets hope the winter doesn't spoil it. Amy is signed up to 3 teaching agencies although she's worked hard to get her own work. She is now the first on the list of 4 Hull schools, but has been with the same school for the past 3 weeks! She says the kids are pretty much the same (just a bit more wussy), she loves the interactive white boards, but their is less freedom and much more red tape! Still she's enjoying it and the kids (and teachers) love her accent!
It's in our blood - so of course it was going to be a part of our travels! Praise God that Hull City stayed in the Premiership and we're able to go to a few games! The atmospheres have been tremendous, the quality has been much better than when James left England 6 years ago and we've saw heaps of goals in the first 3 games we attended! (Lost 5 - 1, Lost 4 - 1, Lost 4 - 0) But we've not given up hope and after a recent 2 - 1 win, we hope (& pray) for big things! Apart from watching much more sport on tv (at reasonable hours) Amy has also joined Hull's Premier Netball Team, who played nationally last year, but just regionally this year. She's pretty convinced she can teach the English a thing or two, and even in her first training session she was leading drills! Go Amy!
Even though the weather wasn't exactly what you'd describe as "Summer" we had a real summer holiday! After the Irish wedding and traveling through the land of Guinness, we did some good old English tourist sightseeing and caught up with old friends around the country. We spent a day in the lovely Scarborough, on the beach - only warm enough for a paddle. We spent time with Amy's Dad in Oxford, and had a weekend in London! We've done quite of bit of world travel this year - but London is still a very special place, with it's history, culture and vast Everything (over 12 million people in Greater London - that's 3 times more people than in the whole of New Zealand!) We spen
t some time walking the streets and riding the Tube, visiting Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, Big Ben & the Houses of Parliament, The Tower of London, London Bridge and the West End - where we were treated to a rendition by by STOMP. Not what we expected, as there was no story line, but it was very entertaining and for those with a musical ear (?) - pretty clever too! 
We spent a night with James' cousin, who is one of the head gardeners at one of the worlds most famous gardens - Wisley Gardens. Neither of us are very green fingered, but having a personal tour, after hours, all to ourselves - was something special! Thanks Matthew! One of the main reasons for coming to England was to spend quality time with the family, including James' nephew, Charlie and his 2 year old niece, Gracie - who we hadn't even met! We've loved our time with the kids - who are just too cute! (no -don't ask, we're still enjoying the freedom!)
We attended a friends wedding down in Devon - only an 8 hour drive! After terrible motorway traffic we made it with 10 minutes to spare - Amy getting changed in the car and doing her make-up in the passenger mirror, James getting changed beside the church! We love the excitement! We also spent a day at one of Englands most beautiful beaches, Saunton Sands, playing cricket, and even braving the waters (well Amy did). We spent another long weekend camping at a Christian Conference - Grapevine! It was a chance for just the two of us to get away from it all and focus on God and our futures together (plus 10,000 
others). The photo is our tent and car (Vectra - same as in NZ) with the Big Top behind us. We were both inspired and it was an excellent spiritual bonding time. We also spent a weekend in the North of England, around the Sunderland area. We spend time with our new Romanian friends, from Caminul Felix, who raise funds for the orphanage through their travelling choirs. We went to a couple of their concerts and also spent the afternoon with the kids giving the parents their first bit of freedom on a 6 week tour! They really are a special group and we definitely advocate the charity and those who are a part of it. They are always in need of child sponsors as they continue to grow and expand, so please do visit their website and consider their worthy cause or even consider making a personal visit yourself: http://www.caminulfelix.org/
