Venice

Speed boat racing

Night time in the Piazza

Nathan, myself and a group of 8 others spent the weekend in Venice. It was an amazing weekend away and it still hasn't sunk in that we went to an international destination just for the weekend! Crazy. Up early Saturday morning, taxi picked us up at 5am, and we flew into Bologne. From there we hired a car and drove to Venice.Once in Venice we got a water taxi to take us to the island of Murano - the home of Venitian glass. Here we saw a glass blowing demonstration and wandered through the many shops selling glass creations. Had our first gelato of the weekend in Murano. Headed back to the mainland to have a look around and check in to our accom just off the Piazza San Marco.

Everyone spoke English and we did not once have to speak any Italian. Very different to South America where even in tourist destinations there is no english spoken.

On Sunday morning we did the quintessential Venetian gondola ride. It was very relaxing and surreal. We got up early so the canals were not to crowded. There was a racing carnival on so we got to see all the gondola crews dressed in racing stripes and warming up along the grand canal. On our canal ride we went past Mozarts house, Marco Polo's house and something else I can't remember! It was amazing to see the water lapping at people's front doors. Unfortunately global warming is causing the water levels to rise and this causes big problems for the population of Venice.

We had planned to do a walking tour after the gondola ride but our informant got the time wrong so we missed it. We did our own walking tour instead along the canals and because we had a GPS we explored the back streets, weaving in and out of narrow alley ways and over bridges that cross the canals.

We left Venice early arvo to give us time to have a wee look around Bologne before our flight home. When we first parked up we were in a bit of a dodgy area so busted a move fairly quickly to a nicer part of town. Found a lovely road side restaurant for alfresco dining that had amazing food before flying back to London (Stanstead). We were lucky that we got home as Stanstead was the only airport open as the others were closed due to ash.

Today Nath has had his first day working at his job. Will let you know how it went. Hopefully he liked it. He is working for a company that markets and sells financial software to the NHS and other big organisations. He is on a base salary plus comission - so he has incentive to work hard.

I have an interview on Wednesday for a Head of Girls' PE position. Not sure Im suited to the job as I haven't had a chance to get my head around the curriculum and the key stage levels yet. Have a timetable for the interview day and it is hard core. 5 applicants, all rostered to teach a lesson and have a formal interview. Im there from 8:30-4! Will def need a drink after that one. I have researched the school and my first impression is not that great but will see when I get there. Unfortuantely it is on the other side of London to where we will be living!! We are moving flats that night (if all goes well). We have found a flat Chiswick (where Colin Firth lives) and are flatting with an English couple. The flat is in a brilliant location but maybe not as nice as we wanted. I guess once we get our stuff in there it will feel a lot nicer. I will have to work a lot more than I have been now that we have rent and bills to pay.

Hope all you Kiwi's are snuggling into winter.

Get your fires going.