Okay, so it’s been a while since I’ve posted here, and with a valid reason - studies and exams. 3 exams in 3 weeks (one a week), with the text books arriving just over 2 weeks before the first exam. Effectively, that makes it one month of full on study, beginning a new book on the night of each exam... Suffice to say, that after all that, I now have UK qualifications, even if they’re only the second rung of the UK’s education system for my industry. At least those I work with will now actually recognise some of the letters after my name.Amongst all that, we have managed to do some things since Sheryl returned with visa in hand.
We spent one night at the football. White Hart Lane was the venue for Tottenham v Sunderland in the Premier League. Despite it only being a draw, it was a spritely match that was quite enjoyable. More enjoyable for Sheryl’s first football game was the crowd and their antics. We were in the Park Lane end, which is the rowdy end, and we were reasonably close to the away supporters as well. Sheryl learnt some new colourful songs, as well as enjoying the antics of the crowd. Exhibit A: The stewards were in the process of getting everyone in our section of the stand to sit down. We were all reluctantly doing so when the guy next to Sheryl called out “Stand up if you hate Arsenal!” It had the desired (and comical) effect of the entire stand jumping to their feet and joining in with the chant. For his trouble, he spent the next 15minutes effectively “sin binned” in the bowels of the stand unable to see the match...
A week before my first exam, I also managed to get to the Tottenham v Inter Milan match, which was part of the [European] Champions League, of which Spurs are currently competing. “Inter” are the current champions of this competition, and had beaten Tottenham in Italy the previous week. This time out, it was to be a different result with Spurs winning 3-1 in what would have to be one of the best Spurs matches I’ve ever witnessed.
Guy Fawkes Night took place during the last month - Remember, Remember the 5th of November... as the rhyme goes. This means that for 2 weeks before and after Bonfire Night, the evenings contain fireworks being let off all over your neighbourhood.
For the actual night itself, Vanessa, Sheryl, Paul, and myself watched the Australia vs Wales rugby union match in the Sports Bar in Haymarket. After being joined by Shar, we then headed to Ravenscourt Park near home for their fireworks display. Despite getting there after the 8pm start, we still managed to get to see over half an hour of fireworks before settling into a nearby pub in Chiswick for a few drinks.
A rather miserable Sunday did see Sheryl and I in Richmond Park for several hours walking through the fields and forests. Along the way we encountered the deer, a hawk as well as the usual spatterings of ducks, swans and other birds. All this in the light drizzle, but that really didn’t matter as the colours of autumn were really at their peak, to make the outing pretty amazing. Sure, finding a warm pub afterwards for hot Sunday roast definitely helped! And it did make returning home for an afternoon and evening of study somewhat less appealing...
