October Update

It's almost the end of my second month in London, and as the clocks were turned back one hour on Saturday, it now means the days start to get shorter and colder.
 Much has happened since my previous update from Lyon. A day after returning from my French experience, I moved into my accommodation near Queens Park railway station in the west of London. My accommodation is an old, almost rundown Victorian house with a landlady who occupies the ground and first floor, while I live on the second floor in a single room and share a kitchen and bathroom with a Filipino couple who are currently on holiday visiting family and friends in the Philippines. 
 I started working as a supply teacher with Smart Teachers on the Friday after returning from Lyon and initially there was a fair bit of work coming in, but then came a few weeks where it was very quiet and although I enjoyed the days off at first, it did become a bit frustrating, especially after I was taken off the Guaranteed Work Scheme (GWS), which in hindsight I should never have signed up for in the first place. However, I was now free to join other agencies, and so I quickly found another agency close to where I live - Trust Education (if you sign up through here, please mention me as your reference!) - and I've really enjoyed dealing with them so far, especially since they also have CXC as one of their umbrella companies. So there is some advice to would-be supply teachers, which I was actually given by ex-supply teachers: Avoid signing a GWS with an agency unless you have absolutely no other alternative. Instead sign up with two or three agencies.
 I've been sent to a number of schools mostly around the west side of London, and of course I've had my share of good days and not so good days in the classroom, both as a teacher and teaching assistant. One stint included going to David Beckham's old primary school for two days out in east London, an experience that, while not a complete disaster thanks to God's grace, confirmed to me that I was much better suited to a secondary environment!
 I have been fortunate to be in England for most of the 2015 Rugby World Cup - not needing to worry about time difference, for a start! - and what a tournament it has been! Understandably, since the hosts got kicked out during the group phase, the vibe around town has been somewhat muted. But as a proud supporter of southern hemisphere rugby, I was thrilled for the Rugby Championship to take the points this time over the Six Nations, especially on their home turf. The game that set the tone for the tournament was without question Japan's seismic 34-32 win over South Africa (which I missed because I was in Berlin that weekend!), and indeed over the course of the weeks we saw more thrilling tries, absorbing rugby and epic encounters. It has been very pleasing to see the so-called Second Tier countries like Japan and Georgia making statements, especially since Japan will host the next World Cup in 2019. 
 A few weeks after my trip to Paris, I flew to Berlin for a weekend to surprise Jan-Philip (JP), an old friend from my time as an exchange student, for his 40th birthday. It was great to be back in a city which I grew to love, and still do love, even though it was only for a short while, and reconnect with friends I hadn't seen in years. It was also a great chance to meet JP's parents, who are very lovely and hospitable people. I am planning at least two further short trips to Berlin during my adventures over on this side of the world, first with Vanessa when she arrives in April and then sometime during my summer trip before returning to Australia. I haven't really had time to travel around England, but last Friday I took the train up north to catch up with one of my cousins from Holland, Pau-Tjioe, who was over with his wife and kids visiting friends in Peterborough. Tomorrow I'm taking a day trip to Oxford. Really looking forward to it!
 To continue on the subject of travel, a few weeks ago, Mum and Dad also set off for what I believe is their first overseas trip together since shortly after I was born, which of course is a LONG time ago! They first went to Hong Kong and then to my Dad's hometown, Xiamen. Dad hasn't been back to Xiamen since he left with my grandparents when he was five, so I'm sure he's having an amazing time catching up with relatives he either has not met before or not seen in a long time. They fly back to Melbourne on Saturday, so prayers for their safe return are appreciated.
 I was also going to write some stuff about my time so far with the London Philharmonic, but I fear this post is already getting too long. Leave it for the next one, I guess.
 Cheers and God bless!