Christmas 2012

Christmas is here! Vánoce, vánoce už jsou.
In the Czech Republic, we celebrate on Christmas Eve. So yesterday, we had a session together with aunt and uncle in their flat, and then supper (soup, schitzel and potato salad) and present opening at cousin's. Then TV. It was more fun watching Mirka (my cousin) cite (very accurately) every single line of the film, which she has seen hundreds of times) rather than the film itself. Santa came this morning to us as well, so we have done Christmas now. It was very, very calm and Christmassy and Jack is now playing with remote control car. We are still on coffee.








Happy Christmas everyone!!!

New skis

Michael writes...


I bought some cross-country skis cheap from a friend. I have never tried this sport before. Looking at the photo, can you tell?

Somehow Jack managed to look younger...

...even when going uphill...

!!!

I have written to the seller asking for instructions regarding steering and stopping as, trying whatever seemed intuitive, neither seemed to occur except by accident.

Michael

Winter's back

A fair sprinkling of snow on Thursday which has lingered. Jack caught the bus to school on Thursday and Friday. We had to cancel a pub trip yesterday, but had some beer at home, so invited friends over instead. Today a group of us went to the fundraiser of a Steiner school (there are quite a few in the Czech Republic) , which was fun because it was in a part of Prague I had never been to before. The temperature here is around zero most of the time. I have a week of getting reading for the Christmas presentation to parents and parents' evenings coming up so will try not to be ill again. Laryngitis last week. Can't wait for the holidays.

Vera's walk home from school this time in Czechy - cesta domů tentokrát v Čechách

By popular demand - have a look to see where I work and live. It really is that quiet because it's just before the children go for breakfast.

Skutečně je tu tak ticho - protože studenty ještě nevychází na snídani.

Video je zde walk

Jack & Michael Jamming

It's not great acoustics and it's not great guitar playing, but if you want to see what Jack and I get up to in our spare time, click here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdAs99Wvt9s

 

Michael

 

Není hudba, ale je zajímový! Tlačit tady:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdAs99Wvt9s

super skoda

The super skoda with winter tyres. The snow has now completely disappeared, so tyres are a bit redundant. To go out on the road, it is first necessary to register your car. Unlike in the UK, where number plates change hands with the car, here, they don't.

If the car moves registration districts, as ours did, then you have to re-register and get new number plates. The process involves unbelievable time, a bit of money and shreds your nerves to bits. In addition, you must have lots of bits of paper with you, plus a boxful of stuff in the boot. All for a shopping trip to Tescos.

Tescos was never here last time I was. It is wonderful. As is Marks and Spencers in a bit shopping mall not too far from us. I wonder why it is I extol shopping malls in the Czech Republic but not in Nairobi. Perhaps because there are alternatives here. Last Friday M and I met in the centre and walked around a bit (it was very cold) and looked at pictures in a gallery and had lunch. Lovely.

The car is due for an MOT (or whatever that is in Czech) in 3 weeks' time - fingers crossed! 

still jamming

Jack and Michael still jamming  here .... snow is melting though

More snow..... but melting

Lots of wet snow, but it's getting warmer.

End of the mushroom season?

No horses or goats today

and no footie either

As you see, this may be too cold for mushrooms. The whiteness came down a couple of hours ago and is forecast to be around for another 2-3 days. It's jolly cold too and blowing quite a wind. Jack was meant to go on a scout trip this weekend, because it's the Czech version of half-term, where you get Thursday and Friday off. The leader was ill, so he stayed at home and played with friends instead. I'm pretty glad he didn't go now. Went to Prague centre yesterday for a romantic lunch with my husband. Just us too. Did a bit of shopping in C&A, Marks and Sparks and didn't get to Debenhams. Bought Jack salopettes, which he may be needing quite soon!

The teaching is going well. Very hard work, keeping 2 classes of 7-8 year olds interested in learning English and doing grammar, punctuation, spelling etc. Actually, they love spelling tests...... I'm reading to them a lot. This coming week we are doing a lot of crafty activities for Halloween, and on the day itself, everyone will dress up and do fun activities.

Jack is cool at his new school. He has settled very well. He is understanding most of the Czech now. He's making friends and going well at school. What a relief. Michael is happy working for himself as an English teacher, mostly to professional people in Prague. He has two days here, when he teaches some locals and paints the rest of the time. 

mushroom season

This is what we spend spare time doing - to be perfectly accurate, the boys do, I'm useless, because I can't see them growing under leaves and pine needles. We have had mushroom soup, mushroom fritters, mushroom sauce and now, dried mushrooms. The weather here is sunny, with rain at times that are usually pretty convenient, like nighttime.

I've been busy teaching. So has Michael. Jack has been falling off his bike and getting stitches (very exciting) nothing broken.

Walk to work in Africa

I'd forgotten about a video I made of my walk to work from the house on site in Nairobi. 
Here's part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-d6AkNkDMk

 and here's part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fIEmJC72e8

All very different from here at the moment. Rain and mushrooms in the forest.

Babický běh - Babice 10k

Michael and Jack did a run today. Jack ran 3 k but owing to failure to mark out the course properly, there was great confusion for the runners about where to go, so Jack and other approached the finish from the other end! (and did more than 3 k)  M ran 54 minutes, considering he is out of training, that's not bad. The course was uphill in Czech forest. I had a super time chatting, buying and eating cake and generally getting a bit of sun.

Monika and Michael came to visit in the afternoon and so we walked in the forest and ate more cake. A good day.

Kluci běželi Babický běh dneska. Jakub běžel 3 k ale bylo to špatně značený, takže běžci bloudili. Jakub a ostatní dokonce doběhli k finiši z opačné strany, než se mělo! Michael to uběhl za 54 minut, což není špatné, když vůbec netrénoval. Byli tu i elitní sportovci. Dokonce přišel David Svoboda, který lechce oddychoval po běhu ale jinak jsem na něm nespatřila jiné známky námahy. Byly stánky, hudba, veselo. Odpoledne jsme měli návštěvu, Moniku s rodinou. Krásný den.

 

All relaxed before the race - ještě nezačali

the start line for 10 k začátek 10 k

start line of the 3k začátek 3k

just after the end of the 3k konec 3 k

end of the 10k konec 10k

traditional Czech food

konec

Jack's first day at school - první den v primě

Michael and Jack cycled in to school - the gymnázium (high school) - in the nearest town. Jack is thrilled at the lack of uniform, but shocked he has to buy his own exercise books.  There's just one class of around 30 children per year.

Jakub se tam citíl dobře ale byl hrozně unavený, protože se musel hodně snažit s češtinou. A bude hůř.....

Look, no uniform- žádný stejnokroj per year.

pictures of the school - fotky školy

As you can see, it's all very modern. We have nicknamed the staffroom (yellow bit) air traffic control. Jak je vidět, je to všechno nové a modern

Air traffic control aka staffroom - sborovna je žlutá

View from air traffic control to the dorms - výhled ze sborovny na koleje

Jack is in - Jakub to zvládl

Jack has passed the entrance exams to his new school in the nearby town of Ricany. He is looking forward to / a bit nervous about starting next Monday. I'll post pictures soon.
Jakub to zvládl - udělal přijímačky. Super!


The boys have adapted the local game of florbal, played indoors, to the outside astro, playing barefoot. Kluci hrají florbal - venku!

Michael showing off a florbal stick

 

                     Last week, we celebrated my cousin's birthday in Karlovy Vary.
                              Minulý týden jsme slavili s Mirkou ve Varech.

View with no sound except goats

When there are no workmen (during the weekday) and no children (so far none) all we hear is goats. Pokud není všední den, když jsou stavební práce, a pokud tu nejsou děti, tak slyšíme tohle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0WFjA7EpJs&feature=youtu.be

Summer - léto

During Michael's mega-ride of 45 miles to a micro-brewery today, Jack and I rode to the local town to buy some rechargeable batteries (for his remote control helicopter). Tescos on the edge of town is a conveniently cheap shop on the tacky side of town but the ride there and back is through forest, holiday homes and along roads with fruit trees. Do Tesca pro baterky - je tu krásně v létě.  

 

Picking plums by the roadside 

we have music - hudba

Před několika dní se tu objevila kytara a opět hraje hudba. Jakub na bicách (ve škole). A few days ago Michael went shopping and came back with amp and guitar. Jack still has his electronic kit from England, but here he is in action on Open Gate drums! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBHxsdrVfsg

In Prague on Wencelas Square na Václaváku

Jack wasn't keen on having his photo taken. We should have done ice creams first, rather than after! It takes an hour on public transport to Prague from our house. We went yesterday. Today we've spent getting more stuff, mainly from Tescos. Still sunny.

Out for lunch

Restaurace U Jurečku

This is where we were for lunch today - a view over the bathing lake (yes, people were bathing) eating traditional Czech pub food - fried cheese in breadcrumbs, chips and tartare sauce. We cycled there and cycled back. I have now cycled more in the past two days than in the past year. The temperatures today hit 28 and more. It is now cooling down in our flat (at quarter to nine).

Photos of our new abode - vyhled z naseho bytu

View from our end window - vyhled z okna

Inside the apartment, looking towards the fields and forest. Taken from the front door. 

A very nice lady in the maintenance department took us into town to buy some more food, mobile phones and bicycles on the way back! A hot, sultry day in Prague. A thunderstorm last night. The internet here is unbelievably quick.

Arrival in Babice přílet do ČR

We have arrived to a scorching city, just visible from the motorway. There's not a hint of a breeze in the apartment: it is hotter than Nairobi. There's no sound of any traffic at all, just goats, sheep and the occasional snort from the horses. The village shop opened for Michael, so we have some supper. Jack has explored the forest and is now setting up his drumming kit in his room. We've found connected computers downstairs in the boarders' quarters, as well as pool. Photos tomorrow.
Je tu veliké horko, větší, než v Africe. Otevřeli jsme všechna okna ale nejlepší je to ve stínu, venku. Michaelovi otevřeli v koloniálu, abychom měli něco k večeři. Dole v hale - pod námi jsou koleje - je kulečník a televize, jsou tu i počítače, takže mohu poslat tuto zprávu. Fotky zítra.

Back in England - Opět v Anglii

We brought the African weather with us to Hampshire. Hotter here than in Nairobi, I think. The sea is quite warm too!!

End of Term - konec školního roku

Today is Speech Day and officially, the end of term. The way it's done here is a huge sit down lunch, followed by speeches and prizes, followed by High Tea. I got lots of presents from parents. Jack got lots of autographs on his shiirt. We are exhausted, but it's over! Packing over the next few days and then flight to UK next week.

Staff v pupils netball - učitelky v žákyně v netbalu

Now pre-green belt - nedávno se povedla zkouška na žluto-zelený pásek

/ Dneska je poslední den školního roku. Vyučování dopoledne není. Den začíná obrovským obědem, pak do haly na projevy a rozdání cen a pohírů, pak - a to už svítilo sluníčko - venku na čaj a dorty, zákusky atd. I Jakub se rozloučiíl se spolužáky, popsali mu košily. Hodně dárků od rodičů. Jsme unaveni. Máme týden na balení a oddech, pak letíme do Anglie.

Footie last week - fotball minulý týden

Today 10 June Dneska

last week Jack in scrum in correct position - minulý týden Kuba hraje ragby

flower bed in the front - zahradka ve předu

Weather today - dneska je krásně

We're still alive jsme pořád na živu

People keep asking us if we're still alive and OK. The answer is yes! I've just had 6 weeks of relentless essay writing for the last of my modules for the essay part of my MA - I have now finished, official observations, and now coming up for report writing. My Easter holidays were curtailed by a week of interviews in the Czech Republic. A couple of months ago, we decided that we could not stay the 2 years here, hence the job hunting. After 4 interviews, I accepted a job at Opengate http://www.opengate.cz/en/about-the-school/primary-school.shtml
a successful IB Czech secondary school, which teaches in English, to teach their equivalent of Year 3 (their class 2). They've just set up the primary school, so I will be coming in for the second year of its existence. A flat comes with the job. Jack will be going to a Czech language speaking school (!!) down the road in a town called Ricany, a bus ride away. Michael will be free-lancing. A complete change from the Equator! I'm posting some photos of Jack back in September, on the Year 7 outing to Bobong.

Camel riding in Bobong - všichni se svezli na velbloudech

Africa - Africká krajina

Ano, jsme na živu. Důvod pro úmlku je moc práce. Právě jsem dopsala slohovou práci - posledni - do mého univerzitního kurzu. Mezitím bylo hodně učení a teď budou podrobná vysvědčení. V anglickím systému se píše podrobně o každém předmětu, mám jich 8 na každé dítě a dětí mám 18. Jak už všichni víte, tak jsem musela o Velikonocích do ČR na pohovory. Skončilo to výborně a od září budu učit na Opengate základní škole http://www.opengate.cz/cs/o-skole/zakladni-skola.shtml
poblíž Prahy.
Jakub, poku dudělá přijímačky, tak pujde na gymp v Říčanech a Michael bude učit angličtinu na volné noze. Život je změna! Zde fotky Jakuba ze školního výletu minulé září.

Jack in Bobong river - Jakub v řece Bobong

Jack and some of his classmates - Jakub se spolužáky

Jack in the distance - Jakub v dálce

Putting up the bedroom - spalo se pod stanem

Happy Easter - Veselé Velikonoce

Hippos on the Mara river - hroši lenoší v řece Mara

big elephants can always understand small elephants - velcí hlidají malého

the lions gave up trying to kill a buffalo and are now looking for other things to eat - nezabili buvola, mají pořád hlad

our safari lookout mobile - takhle jsme se dívali na zvířata

At last! After Chantal and Steve's arrival on Sunday night, which, unfortunately for them, coincided with the first sprinkling of the rains, William drove us to the Masai Mara for 3 days of watching African wildlife. Here are just a few pictures. Chantal has the rest, but we have not downloaded them yet. We stayed under canvas in an ex-British army tent. The beds were fine. No mozzies. Chantal and Steve flew to the coast this morning and the sun has returned to Nairobi!
Konečně jsme vyrazili na zvířata. Zde jenom několik fotek, Chantal má zbytek ale zatím pořád ve fotáku. Přijela s přítelem v neděli večer, bohužel zároveň začali dlouhé deště. Dnes ráno odletěli k moří a od té doby svítí slunce. Mají smůlu. Na safari jsme spali ve velkém stanu, postele byly pohodlné. Komáři nebyli.

Happy Easter to everyone reading this - veselé velikonoce do česka!

After dinner walk - procházka po večeři

Jack in charge of sausages on fire - Jakub vaří

in the afternoon = odpoledne

Luke Skywalker on World Book Day - Mezinárodní Den Knih Jakub je Skywalker z Hvězdných Válek

The pond that Jack built all by himself at the back - Jakub postavil rybník, příští týden tam dá rybičky

Plank to our house, flats beyond clearly visible, the workmen bang things even on Sunday mornigns - není voda v současné době, za domem jsou vidět nově postavené byty, mimo školní areál.

The Jolly Roger - hrací prostor

Birds of paradise flowers next to the school - rostou hned u haly

The hibiscus in front of the school - ibišek před školou

A staff house - další bydlení pro učitele

The courts- tenis

Longies - forested area where Jack runs wild - plno stromů kolem školy, pořád v areálu

 

 

We went for walk toda and I took a few pictures. It got too dark to take photos of eveything, so more to come. We do live in a lovely place. Šli jsme na procházku a fotila jsem, jen kolem školy.