Strike!

Today was the day of strike action for public sector workers across Scotland. Unions across the public sector joined together to protest against the changes to public sector pensions. Essentially, they aren't pleased with recent changes that require workers to pay higher pension contributions and base pension payments on an average salary over their whole working life, rather than on their final salary.

The news estimates that approximately 300,000 Scots walked out of their jobs. The result of the strike is that the Glasgow Underground was shut down, hospital appointment and operations were cancelled or postponed, schools were shut down, and many parents had to take the day off to take care of their children. The University unions have joined the call for strike action, with the result being that all classes were cancelled, some buildings were closed due to security staff striking, and barely anyone showed up to work today.

The support staff in my office did come in to work, but needless to say, with no students, classes or academic staff, it was not a productive day. We trudged along for most of the morning and stopped for a tea break. As we were breaking up, we heard noises coming from the street below.

Looking out our office windows, we saw a huge crowd of protesters gathering to march. For the next 30 minutes the crowd continued to grow in number, with various union groups lining up to join the march. Just after 12:30, the protest got on it's way, as thousands of workers marched through the city center, carrying banners, chanting and drumming.

It was a sight to see!

Thanksgiving

This year we actually had two Thanksgiving celebrations. The meals were both hosted by others, but I contributed food, bringing mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, apple pie and drinks. I forgot to take pictures at both events, but I can assure you we had a great time.

Thanksgiving is by far my favorite holiday. There are no gifts involved- it is simply a day to gather together to enjoy the blessings God has given us and be thankful for them. How sweet is it that Americans have an entire day set aside simply to fellowship, eat some great food, and praise God. And, if you are stateside, you even get a day and sometimes two off of work to take part.

Living in Scotland, I don't get any time off for Thanksgiving, but we have always managed to fit it in somewhere. Usually Ross and I celebrate with our friends, who are or are married to American ex-pats. Each American involved brings something to contribute and the meal always ends up being a beautiful mixture of family traditions with a little bit of Scottishness thrown in. I know that some people find these kinds of holidays and festive meals a huge amount of work with little reward, but I love it. There is nothing sweeter to me than a group of friends and family gathered around, enjoying each other and the meal I have helped prepare. (The part I do hate is washing loads of dirty dishes, but Ross tends to save the day by offering to take care of this.)

When I look around a room a see a table piled high with tasty food, friends and family sharing stories and laughter, I can not help but be thankful. Thankful for the daily provisions of food, a warm home, money in savings and our jobs. Thankful for the people who bring so much to our lives. Thankful for being able to afford another trip back to visit family. Thankful for the amazing husband and family I have been given. Thankful for the opportunity to worship and fellowship freely. Thankful for laughter and joy we experience, even in this broken world. Thankful for the salvation and hope I have in Christ. Thankful for the God who makes all this possible, even though I am so undeserving of His goodness and grace.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Autumn, Augustus and A new Address

One of the best parts of Scotland is the seasons. You don’t always get all four convincingly- summer is often questionable- but watching the world change around you, as one season moves into the next, never gets old.

Now before you start to feedback whiny weather complaints from previous posts, let me remind you that I’m from Southern California, which generally waivers between cool and sunny, warm and sunny, or hot and sunny. The generally dry sunny climate is one of the reasons people flock to Southern California and willingly endure the oppressive smog and congested roads. As I child my world was perpetually green (or what I thought was green until I moved to Scotland and discovered shades of green so vivid they take your breath away.) ‘White Christmas’ was only something Rosemary Clooney sang about. I had scarves, mittens and coats, but these usually remained hidden away in the back of the closet, waiting for the occasional family trip up the mountains to some cabin in the snow.

The beginning of the Fall Semester is one of the most stressful and busy periods for University staff. (I seriously never appreciated how much goes into providing higher education when I was a student.) By the end of September I was exhausted and totally out of patience, but thankfully Ross and I arranged to take a couple days off to visit Fort Augustus.

Fort Augustus is a small town, located at the southernmost tip of Loch Ness. We got a special deal for our rooms, so we didn't know what to expect from the hotel, but it turned out to be a really cute little country hotel- The Inch Hotel:

Our trip consisted mostly of wandering and admiring the spectacular views. The timing of our trip meant that the woodlands were just on the cusp of autumn, with flickers of golden reds and yellows begining to break up the layers of green.

From the distant mountain peaks, to the rocky river beds, to the quaint towns and villages, each with their cute buildings and ridiculous 'Scottish' paraphernalia gift shops (seriously who buys the towel kilts and tartan hats with added red fuzzy sideburns?), there was plenty to see.

In the evening, we snuggled in front of the hotel's fire place to read for a bit, and Ross experienced his first taste of Talisker. We also ate an amazing meal at our hotel- the most tender leg of lamb with mashed potatos and beets. For dessert, I gorged myself on traditional sticky toffee pudding (They gave me an entire jug of hot toffee sauce to pour over the cake. It was so tasty that I made myself sick eating every last drop of that buttery, sugary goodness). My tummy may have rejected the excessive butter later, but it was totally worth it!

By the way, the weather was perfect- sunny, dry and a warm 65 degrees, with only one brief shower.

On another note, I can officially annouce that we will be moving soon (next week to be exact). I am super excited about this development, so I save more information on this for the next post.

The Mirror of Marriage

A look in the mirror can be quite revealing. The elevator at work has a full length mirror inside. With the heavy wind and rain of the Scottish winter, I am often quite shocked at the state of my appearance when I enter it. I may leave my house in order, but I arrive to work only to discover my hair is a rat's nest and my face is dry and beaten from the cold winter winds. It can be a bit disheartening to see that you look a mess, but I am continually thankful for the opportunity that mirror provided to correct my disheveled appearance before showing up in my office, especially on days when I have important meetings.

Marriage has provided me with a different kind of mirror- a sort of mirror into the heart. Over the past two and 1/2 years I have learned more about myself than I ever wanted to. Proverbs teaches that 'as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.' How true it is! Being intimately tied to another human-being is like adding heat to the refiner's pot, allowing all the imperfections and inpurities to rise and bubble to the surface. Parts of my character I had so carefully hidden away are daily exposed. At times I find myself wondering, 'Where did that come from?', 'Have I always been this disagreeable, selfish and unreasonable?'

As horrifying as it is to look at the reality of these ugly aspects of my character, it also provides an opportunity for marriage to mirror a more beautiful reality- that of God's grace. My failings are not just apparent to me, but to my loving husband. Ross gracious accepts me, through my temper tantrums and selfishness, and choses to encourage, support and love me in spite of whatever mood I may be in. This very real aspect of my human marriage has opened my eyes even more to the amazing grace and love I have in Christ. For my God is more aware of my weaknesses than Ross, and yet His love is so much greater!

A Little Vent

Over the past several months we've had a rapidly growing problem with damp in our flat. This is not uncommon with old tenement buildings, especially ones like ours with very thin windows, but our bathroom has borne the brunt of the problem.

There is no ventilation in our bathroom, with the two inch gap from the open window providing the sole means of escape for all steam and moisture. Inevitably the trapped steam has seeped into the walls, with mold and mildew developing in every crack and crevice. The paint and wallpaper has bubbled off the wall and started peeling, and the tiles in the shower have started falling off the wall, leading to grout clogging our tub drain and allowing water to seep further into the wall behind the shower.

As renters, we are at the mercy of our landlords for repairs and maintenance of the property, and we've been waiting for the landlords to respond to these problems since May. After weeks of waiting and dozens of phone calls to the letting agency to try to get an update, we got the good news that the landlords decided to redo the bathroom. They arranged for someone to view the damage and provide a quote for renovations. The quote was clearly more than they were willing to spend because it was another several weeks and dozens of phone calls before we found out that they had a new plan- replace the tiles and put in a ventilation system. We were disappointed that they were not going to bother cleaning up the mold or repainting/papering the walls, but at least they were doing something! With our whole flat smelling of mold, we were looking forward to having something to help pull the moisture out.

On Wednesday Ross was home waiting expectantly for the new ventilation system to go in. He called me at work to let me know that the workmen had come and gone. It turns out that the equipment installed was not so much a ventilation system as it is a hole in the window. In the hole they have placed a what I can only assume is a £1 piece of plastic. The plastic bit is fitted with gaps to let air into the bathroom. Ross asked the workmen if this was really going to help, to which they honestly replied that it is unlikely to make any significant difference to the sort of problem we have.

If you are like me, you are probably wondering what we are supposed to do in the winter to prevent heat from escaping through the open gaps in the plastic piece. Gas prices are going up every month and we aren't really interested in throwing money out the window (literally).

Thankfully the workmen provided detailed instructions on how to cover the plastic bit with cellophane during the winter months. Yes, you read that correctly- plastic wrap is the answer to all our insulation worries. (Apparently it also helps to keep the bathroom door closed.) Now some people may disagree, but I really feel that cling film adds something special to a bathroom window. Don't you?




And when it snows, just think how pretty that cling film will look on a backdrop of white. I can't wait.

When Autumn Arrives

Summer, or what was supposed to be summer, is over. The signs are everywhere.

Proof 1: My feet are still wet from the large wave of water thrown my way this morning, courtesy of a passing bus. My office is so cold that my feet still haven't dried out.

Proof 2:The days are already shorter, darker, and unrelentingly wetter.It may only be early September, but the grey has settled itself over Scotland with no signs of dispersing for a final showing of sunshine.

For those of you enduring the 90+ degree heat, this change of weather may seem appealing. For a couple days it might be, but anyone who has lived through a Scottish winter will know that it only gets darker, cooler and wetter from here on out, until around March or April when the sun returns and slowly warms the country back to a balmy 60 degrees.

Despite the dreary weather forecast, autumn is not a total loss. There are lots of things to look forward, like pumpkins, squash, and all those lovely comfort foods I pretend are too heavy to enjoy in summer. One of the cutest things in the world also makes a return about this time of year- school uniforms! In Scotland uniforms are the norm for all years of school, even for 4-5 year old. And when I say uniforms I mean proper jacket, tie, and pleated skirt uniforms. My morning commute is now filled with dozens of tiny ones, looking all proper with their ties, jackets and knee-high socks.

If I have to walk to work in the pouring rain, at least there are cute kids trudging along beside me to put a smile on my face!

Zombie Invasion

If you don't live in the UK, you will be blissfully unaware of Brad Pitt's new zombie film, World War Z, which has consumed Glasgow. I am all for Hollywood investing millions into the Glasgow economy and I generally like movies, but the Zombie takeover is quickly turning sour for me.

Why?- My morning commute to work requires me to walk trhough George Square in the center of Glasgow. Over the past week this particular area has been transformed into something meant to resemble Philadelphia. This has meant replacing street lights, bins and signs. They even painted crosswalk stripes and shipped over dozens of American cars, taxis, buses and trucks to populate the streets surrounding George Square.

At first, it was fun to see the changes each time I passed on my way to work, during my lunch break, or on my way home. Then the barriers started going up, as they closed off various sections for filming. Each day, I have had to find a new convoluted route into work and back again, following the maze of barriers, security guards, and, most annoyingly, spectators who feel the need to clog the already narrowed walkways in order to oggle the set decor and loiter around the area in the hope of catching a glimpse of Brad Pitt.

I would find the whole experience interesting and even fun, but after more than a week of the madness it is wearing on me. This morning it took me an extra 25 minutes to get from the Underground to my work- a walk that normally takes about 2 minutes. Apparently today they are shooting scenes of the zombie invasion and needed more space to work in, plus a buffer zone to prevent people from interfering with filming.

One aspect of the whole mess that I still find quite amusing is seeing the ridiculous outfits, high heels, and layers of fake tanner that have emerged around the set. Word gets around that Brad Pitt is in town and every woman under the age of 60 starts strutting her stuff around town.

If you wish to see pictures of aforementioned zombie invasion, simply do a google search. I promise you'll find hundreds of hits.

Immigration triumph

After paying more than a month's salary and waiting for hours in a crowded waiting area at immigration, I was officially granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK(aka permanent residency) in July! This may not seem like much to you, but in the life of an immigrant this is pretty exciting and brings me one step closer to citizenship.

Most people are completely unaware of how costly, complicated and stressful the immigration process can be. There are definitely moments where you feel like some sort of circus animal jumping through pointless hoop after pointless hoop.

Thankfully, I am now only a year and one more hoop away from dual citizenship (which if you pay the correct fee, comes with the added bonus of a British passport). This means I'll have two passports, one in blue and one in maroon, which should allow me to color coordinate my travel attire and accessories way easier. I wonder if I will get a letter from the Queen welcoming me into her kingdom?

It is easy to laugh and joke about the whole situation, but I am truly thankful for my permanent residency. Legal immigration is a costly process, both financially and emotionally. Only another immigrant can really understand the uncertainties and worries that come with moving abroad, knowing you have only been granted temporary rights to your new life. There is never a guarantee that the next stage of the immigration process will go smoothly. (Even while we were sitting waiting for our interview appointment, we saw others' meetings end in tears.)

In my case, everything went mercifully smooth and I was able to walk into work the next day and present proof of my new immigration status! Stage two complete.

Skye

Scotland is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. I am still constantly amazed at how many shades of green you can find on a hillside here. This week, Ross and I decided to take advantage of our new car and remaining annual leave days to get out of town. Destination: The Isle of Skye.



The Isle of Skye is an island located west of mainland Scotland and only about a 3-4 hour drive from our home. (Surprisingly this was Ross' first visit to the island.)

After good breakfast at our local cafe, we headed out of town, past Loch Lomond. We stopped off at the Green Welly Stop for a bowl of Cullen Skink, and a browse around all the Scottish paraphernalia, before driving up through Fort William and Glen Coe. (For those who were wondering 'welly' is a shortened version of Wellington boot, or as it is referred to in the States, a rubber rain boot.) A couple hours later, we arrived at Kyle of Lochalsh, where we stopped again. This time for some tea/coffee and treats. Lochalsh is a seaside town, where the bridge between mainland Scotland and the Isle of Skye is located. (If you look closely you can see the bridge in the background below.)



If you think the picture above looks overcast and grey, welcome to my world. Other than magnificent greenery, Scotland's landscape is most frequently permeated with the oppressive greys and whites of cloud cover. Wind and Rain are in the forecast here what seems like everyday. So far I don't mind the Scottish weather- rain and cold are still a sort of novelty to me. I like having a reason to wear coats, scarves and mittens. I am conscious that the novelty may wear off at some point, so ask me again in a few more years what I think about Scotland's 'mild' climate.

A further drive along the west coast of Skye brings you to Portree, the quaint capital of Skye, and up to the Old Man of Storr. We started up the trail to see the Old Man of Storr, but the recent rain meant that the trail was muddy. Ordinarily mud wouldn't stop us, but neither of us had a change of footwear and Ross didn't want to dirty the new car. (The car has replaced the flat screen TV as his favorite toy.)





Portree was brimming with tourists, but that didn't take away from it's charm. We spent part of Friday roaming in and out of its little shops, admiring all the local arts and crafts. The economy of towns like Portree rely heavily on tourists, so it was actually nice to see that people are still coming and spending money here.

Our B&B host told us that the population of Skye more than doubles during the summer months. In the winter it can be a bit dead, but this is unsurprising when you remember the cold, icy and blustery weather Skye endures. (I should stop here and mention that the B&B we stayed at was definitely the best B&B I've ever been to! Ros Muire B&B is definitely worth looking up if you are even heading to Skye.) We also learned that most landowners in Skye are required to keep a minimum of three sheep, but that if you own 15 or more you qualify for a farm subsidy of around £15 per head. If you ever wondered why there are so many sheep in the highlands, this is probably why!

Needless to say we thoroughly enjoyed our short visit to Skye- a much needed break from the stresses of work and flat problems. I'll leave you with the view from our room at the B&B- absolutely lovely! (And no, my poor photographic skills definitely do not do justice to the beauty of Skye.)

It turns out...

Yes, it really has been almost a year since my last post. No excuses this time- the blogoshpere just has not made it into my priority list for a while. It turns out adult life eats energy like my dad's black lab, Amos, eats all food stuffs- as quickly as possible. (Not that it matters, but the aformentioned dog also frequently eats non-food items pretty quickly too. He is definitely not a picky eater.)

It isn't that I don't what to share my life with those of you who bother to read my drivel. Every couple months, usually after I receive a card or letter from one of you thoughtful people, I decide that I should get it together and start being a better correspondent. I plan in my head all of the cards and letters and blog entries I will write. Then I get home after a long day at work, greet my sweet husband, and... nothing ever comes of it. It turns out I am weak on the follow through. But don't worry- this is not a half-baked promise to get better at this. I will continue to write as and when I am able or have something special to share. (Which in reality translates to a flurry of posts over the coming week and then...perhaps nothing for a while.)

I did want to mention, however, that my blogging or lack thereof is definitely not a reflection of how often I think of those people I no longer get to enjoy daily relationships with. It turns out that starting a new life abroad doesn't mean you care less about the people you leave behind.