Jobs in a Tough Economy

(On the left, my apartment building in London.)
I really have been pretty lucky in my career to have been steadily employed for the past 25-30 years. Although in my early days of teaching, I spent several years experiencing job cuts or the threat of job cuts.

I was moved from school to school the first three years, then went to part time before going back to full time at a middle school where I worked until my retirement.



My daughter has had a similar experience although she always ends up back at the same school but the rumors of cuts in the program keeps her a bit on edge. Each year could be her last at this school and she worries about where she will be sent or have to find on her own, for the following year.


I came to London this year to cover for my friend and colleague while she took a year's leave of absence. She will be returning in the fall.
( Above, inside my flat.)

When I came here it was my hope that some position would open up for me and I could stay for several years - maybe until I am 65 and can retire from full-time teaching.



There is now math opening for next year in the middle school but I have no guarantee that I will get it. It is takes me back to the early days of my career. Wondering, waiting. There are several considerations and I think at this point I have a 50/50 chance of getting the position.

Whatever is meant to be will be. I am sort of OK with that although I will be more OK with it when it is all sorted out.
(My classroom in London.)

Frozen Britain 2010

We had a very mild fall in London. Very little rain, sunny bright days much more like early October than late November and early December. The predictions were for a mild, dry winter too. I flew off to Oregon for winter break on a sunny, clear day.

While I was gone for 10 days, Great Britain turned cold. Icy cold. When I returned on 1 January 2010 it was to a very cold, grey day. It has gotten progressively colder since my return one week ago. It began snowing last Monday, 4 Jan, and has continued all week. Most days it has barely warmed to above freezing by mid-day. The nights have been well below freezing.

The London Times published the follow picture on Thursday taken by the University of Dundee showing all of the British isle covered in snow.


Some places have feet of snow, with many roads and schools closed, areas with no power, some with no heat. London has several inches but it has been too cold for any of it to melt away. If it melts during the day, it freezes that night to a sheet of ice. Many schools have been closed - not ours. The buses are on special routes, some of the tube lines are down because of ice on the tracks.

This is the most extensive snow cover Britain has ever know - at least in recorded history.

And the outlook? Many more days perhaps weeks, of sub-freezing temperature, snow and wind.

Time to snuggle up with a bowl of hot soup, a thick blanket and a good book!

Keep warm! Cheers all!

Holiday Markets

Over the last few weekends before winter break (and my trip back to the Pacific northwest) my friend Jenny and I visited all the central London Holiday Markets.

Holiday Markets are craft/gift markets set up in preparation for the Christmas/Hanuka season. London has dozens of regular weekly markets which also offer great gift ideas but these were all temporary markets with a holiday theme.

We found one small market on the south bank of the Thames. It was made up of about a dozen little wooden huts with food, crafts and jewelry for sale.

The second market we went to was on a vacant lot across the street from Selfridges. It had the same huts as the south bank market with a few additions - hats, metal sculptures, wind chimes.

The biggest and by far the best was the Winter Wonderland Market in Hyde Park. Jenny and I had heard about this market - the organizers were doing a good deal of advertising on television. We had not gone earlier because it looked like a children's playground instead of a holiday market.

We we arrived we were surprised at the size and complexity of this market. It included an ice skating rink!














There were many food booths - we shared a cinnamon pretzel -


tons of craft booths, and many rides for both adults and children.













The market was like a small city with a large section for caravans where the employees lived.

Jenny and I rode on the observation wheel - like a Ferris wheel but with enclosed cars to ride in.


















No holiday market is complete without a pirate! There did seem to be a bit of a Halloween theme going on too on several of the rides.














It was a beautiful day and Jenny and I had a great time.