Hip. Hip. Horrah to the NHS!

As you may have guessed from my last entry, I experienced a few moments of irritation last week! I am loathe to write much because some of it concerns work and I feel that writing about my colleagues here wouldn't be the fairest action on my part. However, there have been some good good moments this week on the whole. One thing in particular just made me feel good about being back home...

After a tough day at work last week (on the whole it's fine, by the way)I came home to find a piece of mail from the National Health Service addressed to me. I opened the envelope to find a Medical Exemption Certificate. This is a certificate which allows me to get ALL prescriptions free. I am entitled to this because I have hypo-thyroidism. It's not that the NHS charges all that much for a prescription (5.60) but I tell you what, this is good news! Good old NHS. There are, without a doubt, numerous problems with the NHS from long waiting lists to underpaid nurses, but there's no doubt, it's a system that has it's perks... you know, like free healthcare for all. There is just such a different feel to healthcare here. Ok, so yes, this is a dig at the insurance-based healthcare system I experienced in the States. I went for a blood test a few weeks ago and dutifully warned the nurse of my tendency to pass out after giving blood. She immediately made sure that I was lying down and comfortable, as well as using a method they use on children which decreases the sensation and thus the likelihood of fainting. Afterwards, she wouldn't let me move, fetched me and herself a cup of water, and chatted for a few minutes until I had finished my water. This, the opposite experience to the States where I was sat in a strange chair with a desk, blood taken, and sent off as fast as you can say "ouch! That hurt!" Now, I loved my doctors in the States - both in PA and MI I felt very privileged to have competent, caring doctors. But I always felt a little like a cog in the wheel, another human to push through the system. Even down to the small fact that in the States the receptionists insisted on asking me "what is your problem?" every time I booked an appointment. Every time I thought "none of your business, m'am" but every time I told her because I knew this was my ticket for an appointment. Now, I understand why they do it (helps to figure out urgency etc...) but honestly, I felt like my privacy was invaded every time. And another thing - this business of being weighed etc... at every doctors visit - way to may you feel like a child. None of that here. Glory Hallelujah! I can't tell you how good it is to know that I don't have to face that big scale on the wall with a strange nurse noting the flucutation since the last time I was there.

Phew.

All that is to say that I am enjoying the NHS. I am sure that one day, someone I love will need serious surgery, and there will be a waiting line so long that private health care will become an option. For now, however, I will enjoy the perks of the welfare state, and I will stand firm in my belief that it is how it should be.

Pondering

I have always wanted to be one of those bloggers who writes profound, insightful yet witty and gripping accounts of life, art, music, etc... I frequently have 'stuff' in my head - the sentences form perfectly and I am excited about what I plan to write. However, it mostly fades if I haven't written it down within ten seconds of thinking about it. Even if I do write it down, I usually want to re-draft and re-draft until it doesn't make sense any more.

The trouble is that the love-hate relationship I have always had with blogging still lingers. I want to write. I LONG to write. I want to provide fascinating, poetic accounts of life. So what to do?

I came to the conclusion today that this blog is boring (that is neither a call for sympathy, or confirmation that my worst fears are true. Keep your comments to yourself please, my blogging-self esteem is low enough as it is!). Therefore, let this entry mark the beginning of a new era for me and my blog (you'll have figured out by now that despite it being about us both, this blog is entirely managed by Fi... oh, wait, maybe THAT's my problem?!!).

For now, the tea is ready and I am hungry.

The First Visitor!

Congratulations go to Shanna Korzon for being our first visitor from the USA! To be fair, she didn't come along. Jackie and Laura were with her and they continued from here to the rest of their European tour.


Shanna with her boyfriend Tom during our last night out with them in Grand Rapids.

Now, who will be next...?

Quick job update

It's about time I updated you on my job situation. A few weeks ago I was interviewed for the position of Youth Development Manager with the Scottish Bible Society. I was offered the job. I took it.

The end.

Except not quite... I have also applied for teacher training at Moray House in Edinburgh. The year-long course would qualify me to teach Religious and Moral Education to secondary school pupils. There's a good chance I won't get in this fall for a couple of reasons (not enough experience in Scottish schools, and it's late in the year). If not, I will re-apply for next fall. SO, the job with the Scottish Bible Society is short term if I get in this year, and long-er term if not. It's not quite what I expected for a number of reasons, but that has only served as a reminder to trust in God. I have said this before, and I will say this again - this move has been a massive lesson in minute by minute trust in God.

Brian is doing well. He discovered the Fine Art Library this morning which made him very happy. I came home to find piles of art/photography books in the spare room!

The Ceilidh

It is 1:03 a.m. on Saturday morning here in Scotland. There are so many things to write about as the last few weeks have been full, but for the moment I want to talk about what we did this evening.

We have a friend who is a minister, and has been in Penucuik (a town roughly 30 miles outside Edinburgh) with his family since January due to a new post at a church there. They are dear friends of ours, so we're delighted they live so close! Tonight was his 'official' welcome ceilidh. You might be wondering how to pronounce this word and the answer is: kaylee At least that's the best way I can think to describe it. A ceilidh is an evening of dancing in Scotland and Wikipedia describes it like this:

The music is cheerful and lively, and the basic steps can be learned easily; a short instructional session is often provided for new dancers before the start of the dance itself.
The general format of céilidh dancing is the "Set". A Set consists of four couples, with each pair facing another in a square or rectangular formation. Each couple exchanges position with the facing couple, and also facing couples exchange partners, while all the time keeping in step with the beat of the music.
However, about half of the dances in the modern Scots céilidh are couple dances performed in a ring. These can be performed by fixed couples or in the more sociable "progressive" manner, with the lady moving to the next gentleman in the ring at or near the end of each repetition of the steps.

I rather like the happy-go-lucky manner in which Wiki' paints the ceilidh picture. They are right, of course, the ceilidh is an evening of pure, wholesome, family fun. Tonight, Brian experienced his first full ceilidh. It was hosted by our friend's congregation and held in the Penicuik Miners Club. The evening began at 7:30 p.m. Around 9:30 p.m. we stopped to enjoy a handsome spread of food, and returned to the dance floor around 10:30 p.m. It is traditional to end all ceilidhs with a rendition of Auld Lan Syne. I have to say, that I had the tiniest of lumps in my throat as we pounded our arms up and down to the tune. It's just lovely to be back and I have missed ceilidhs.

So, tomorrow we'll wake up with bruised arms (from the dance named Strip the Willow which involves a great deal of spinning with your partner by the arms), sore muscles, and achy feet, but we'll have good memories of a very decent night out.

Disclaimer: It is very late. Typos are likely. Grammar may seem infantile at best. It is very late.

Been a while...

Right. It's been a while since I blogged.... that's because there's a lot going on. It's also because sometimes there is so much to say that I don't know where to begin, so I don't.

I hope to submit a couple of entries by the end of Saturday, so... watch this space.

Rounding a new corner

This week is quieter, with no interviews etc... So, I am back to being a housewife for a week (see below for developments regarding my future!). Today the sun is streaming into our kitchen through the french doors, so I thought I would share the image with you. You can imagine me sitting at the table typing away....

In previous blog entries I have talked about the minute by minute nature of a move like ours. To be honest, our life feels like a case study in such a mode of living! Many of you will know by now that I am in the process of applying for a year-long teacher training course (PDGE) at Edinburgh University's school of education - Moray House. I have a very slim chance of getting in this year for two reasons. First, I am applying very late in the year. Interviews are already taking place for RME teacher training and the course may close at any time. Second, I am limited in my Scottish schools experience. However, on the advice of the admissions folks and many others, I have decided to apply anyway. The thing is, that this is what I want to do. I don't know if I have ever felt so strongly about my vocational future as I do about my desire to teach. This is a good thing, I feel!! In the meantime, to cut a VERY long story short, I have been offered short term work with the Scottish Bible Society as their Youth Development Manager. Very much of the opinion that they want to work with where God is leading, they know fine that teaching is what I want to do. So, I will work for them short term until I know whether Moray House is a go for this year. If it isn't, then I will have to decide whether to stay with the Bible Society, or possibly work with another organization doing schools based work. EITHER WAY, if I don't get into Moray House this year I will have to try for next year, and get some significant schools experience along the way. This whole process has been one where I couldn't see the next step until it was happening. I still feel like that, which can be unnerving, but it is also very exciting. Who knows what will happen next, eh? Thankfully God does, and this whole experience is certainly a faith-strengthening exercise. If I didn't allow it to be that, I would be in a psychiatric institution by now, I am sure! This image of the sun streaming through the windows is how I feel about how God is moving us forward. We grope around wondering where we're meant to be going, and all of a sudden, the light floods our lives and we can see clearly what the next step would be. We are truly thankful for this! I do feel like we are rounding a new corner in our move. Now, I will start working and we'll enter a new phase, once again, in our life together. How exciting!

Hope you are all well. Maybe sometime soon I will make Brian post some entries! He's doing fine, by the way. Homesickness hits every now and then of course. We just have to ride those moments and do whatever we can to take care of ourselves and each other in the midst of it.