Hello from sunny Sommerset :) it has been a busy week with me searching for a little car to get around in, house hunting and pounding the pavement for jobs!

First things first as they always say! At the least I have my own wheels now and can get out and about whenever I want now and don't have to pay anymore for the hire car :) on the house hunting, will be going to look at a few cottages today and flats in my price range hopefully. It is a bit scarey when you have to commit to six months rent up front, without a job, but forever the optimist, hoping something comes up soon :)

I am posting some beautiful pics of the countryside from Wells to Glastonbury.  I can't explain how wonderful it is to drive along these roads and see the green fields and I have been lucky with the weather it has been sunny.  I have to be honest for a moment and tell you I have become one of the locals already! Going to go out for the day, have I got brolley, raincoat, something warm (scarf) all just in case the weather turns, as you might just see all 4 seasons in the one day. Reminds me of Melbourne weather!

Weekdays are mostly cruising around the small villages for me, whilst I continue to look for work. I love the old pubs! But of course I don't frequent then all people because I can't go looking for a job drunk! I got lost in Radstock yesterday and ended up in Midsomer Norton.  For those that followed the Midsomer murders, no I didn't end up on a mortuary slab. I was a little bit dissappointed with the little town itself, I was expecting something more (not sure what!) One thing I have noticed is how close all the little villages are to each other. No sooner do I put the car into fifth gear, I'm having to slow down again to enter yet another little village. Still getting use to the miles and yards thing, when you know your metres, it tends to throw your measurements ou, just a tad!  Well I'm off to Radstock again today and I might go for another big drive in another direction, to see what I can see, go meet some interesting people, So far I'm getting lots of comments on the Aussie twang and I didn't think I had one, but my daughter Helen assures me I do, as she is always having a go at me!

Anyway ill post these pics for now of Challis Well and the countryside on the way to Glastonbury, which looks so green. Glastonbury is a "hippy" town full of great interesting shops full of crystals, books and the like, I know many of my friends could stay more than a day there! Buskers in the streets playing their flutes etc hehe, this weekend is the Glastonbury Festival, so people will come from all around and I believe tickets are sold out!  Anyway enjoy the pics of the Challis Well, which I went to, had the most amazing healing done and reflexology done on my feet, floated out of that place on Sunday arvo xxxx. Until next post xxxxx

On the hunt for work!

This week has gone so quick! Monday was the bank holiday and I was in London seeing off Pam and John as they headed back home. It was such a great time in London with them :) was so glad that we had the time to play together for a few days, thanks a bunch guys it was awesome! I headed off to Terminal 5 where I tried to hire a car. It wasn't that simple as it would seem! Apparently the airport only had Avis and Budget working on the Bank holiday, none of the other designated hire car options were available. I was presented with the only car we can give you Ma'am with automatic is a C Class Mercedes. I don't think so!   not for almost £900 for 2 weeks or more !  So I said I am not happy will go off to think about it, ring around and find that's none of the other car rental places can do anything for me! Hmmmm back to the desk, I don't want the merc, what else can you give me,  one other choice was £600 and then we gets down to a VW Polo, manual, think its the same as your Dom :) quite a gutsy little thing and just skinny enough to fit down most of the English lanes as I have come to find over this past week, when I have found myself lost, and relying on Gertrude the GPS! Robert if your reading this, I definitely need a "skinny" car, talk about scary, passing other cars on country lanes at high speed! I will need to buy a car very soon, I'm tracking up the miles, as I go to Wells, Bath, Radstock, Shepton. Mallet and back sometimes in one day!
I went to Bath on Wednesday, but didn't drive all the way into the city, as parking is a real pain and I seem to recall Rob, Helen and I got a ticket for parking in the wrong place, last time we were there! I had a lovely day :) I met up with Anne, that I knew from Perth, my time in the shop with Gail. It was so lovely to see Anne, she was full of smiles as always and always ready to give you a wonderful hug. We had a beautiful embrace as its been a while since we caught up with each other. Anne had a friend Brian with her, very quiet, but a nice guy. We all.walked around for a bit, till we found a nice little Indian restaurant, and we must have sat there chatting for at least a couple of hours. After our long lunch, we all went for a look see through the Roman Baths, can't go to Bath without seeing the Baths.  Helen and Rob, it was a much better day in Bath, no rain this time and we had sun! But it did get quite cool after a few hours, I decided to go clothes shopping afterwards because I found some bargains, then it was time for me to wander down the street to the marketplace where I needed to catch the bus to the park and ride at "Odd Down" yes that's right, strange name for a village!
Thursday and Friday I have spent both days getting up, having breakfast, driving into Wells, visiting the library and getting copies of my CV and then walking the pavement on the hunt for work, trying to find local funeral directors as that's what I know, but not afraid to try anything knew. Networking I think they call it, having a drink at the local pub with the Manager Mike, small opportunity to give my resume :) in the meantime, as I'm drinking, freaking I case I did get a job in the bar, so many beers and I don't understand what they are called!
Friday was spent, getting lost and "Gert" telling me turn around when possible! In the meantime, I have to then travel down a country lane for another 5 miles before I can turn around! It did end up being a productive day though, did go to about 3 funeral companies and a few agencies and I applied online, I suppose I shall just keep on applying, sending and greeting ppl, eventually something will present itself!
Tomorrow I'm off to a place called Street and also going into Glastonbury, so stay tuned and I will post pics of Anne, Brian and I in Bath xxxxx

More pics of London :)
Quite a few pics in and around Buckingham Palace, Lizzie didn't invite us (Pam, John and I ) in :( lots of pics of  Princess Diana's walk and park and war memorial, the horse stables at Buckingham Palace. The Cavalry Museum, Downing Street, The Tower Bridge, Abbey Road and the last few pics are of the markets in the marketplace in Wells.