England – A domestic summer like no other

June 19-August 5

Hello everyone!

My last post shared the first ten weeks or so back in the UK. I was teaching during most of this time, waking up before 6am on weekdays and often spending much of my day in front of a screen. Our school year finished on June 19^th which means one thing – summer holiday!

Summer is this way!

On a ramble under the Ouse Valley viaduct

Not that I’d be going anywhere far. Seems silly to be back in the UK for me and my family’s mental benefit only for yours truly to then start gallivanting around and potentially bringing a virus into my mum and dad’s house. Even with restrictions beginning to ease, there was no justification for me to go far. Even after doing a Covid swab test…

What a way to wake yourself up on a Monday morning...

Uncomfortable but not as bad as I made it out to be.
Tested negative, in case you were wondering.

I didn’t actually have much planned for this summer. My idea was to stay in Malawi and do the Porter’s Run, a 23km race up and down Malawi’s biggest mountain, and perhaps go to South Africa for a couple of weeks. Nothing booked though for a change, which worked out well. So really I haven’t been too disappointed to be spending my summer in Sussex.

The horses seem sad that I'm in Sussex, but I'm fine with it

I commonly run past this lovely little church in Streat

The thought of sitting around doing nothing for days and weeks on end terrifies me, though. I need to keep busy. There was the organising and decluttering of the garage, front room and shed…

Before...

...and after.

 …precariously picking apples from the tree in our garden and giving the hedges a trim…

Look at that complete lack of PPE 

The Sussex Chainsaw (Hedge) Massacre.

…giving my face a much-needed trim…

10 weeks of beard...

...gone down the drain. Well, it clogged the drain for a bit.

…getting my head a much-needed trim from my sister when she came to visit…

It seems my sister enjoyed this moment of power...

She did well. With the hair. She can't really
do anything about the face, sorry.

…and doing the usuals of long-distance running to make space for lots of excellent home cooking.

Running on the South Downs Way.
Not all of it, it's over 100 miles long!

A surprisingly amazing veggie cobbler - my best cooking of the summer

There was quite a bit of time in front of a computer. I used this time to scan family photos. All hard copy photos since 1984. Thousands. There are some gems in there…

You don't want to imagine the whole pile

If I need a career change, I could always become a model

My 5th birthday party in the early 1990s -
wearing clothes that belong in the 1970s...

But most of these were within the confines of the house. Being restricted to the house would have driven us insane. Each week we decided to travel to a relatively close place of interest. Though they have lived here for almost six years, my parents haven’t explored much of Sussex – this was our chance to explore! And travel!

Hay bale near Streat

A swan in the ground of Hever Castle

First up was a nearby spot on the South Downs called Devil’s Dyke. The only devilish bit about it is walking around it when the mercury is pushing up towards 30°C at 10am.

It is a 100 metre deep valley. We went down and up, via a forest.

There are many beautiful flowers on the South
Downs, which Devil's Dyke is a part of

Well, there’s also the bit where we may have gotten slightly lost and scaled a gate covered with barbed wire in order to continue…

I was impressed my parents followed my illegal trespassing manoeuvre 

We bought these ice-creams from a van. I was worried as we didn't have
any cash but they took contactless. Have I been in Malawi and
away from modern tech for too long??

We live quite close to the sea so went south the following week to Seaford Head to see the Seven Sisters. Less a collection of blood-related women, more a set of stunning chalk cliffs. Bit windy on the coast as you can see…

The series of peaks are between Seaford and Eastbourne

Bit breezy by the sea!

Next was a bit of history: Hever Castle. This was our first trip to an ‘enclosed’ National Trust site and offered an interesting insight into how these places would cope with Covid. It was the first time we ventured beyond the Sussex border, driving into Kent. The castle itself is actually quite small. You can go in but numbers are extremely limited. It was essentially one-in-one-out, and we would have queued for well over an hour. The socially distanced queue for a coffee was much quicker. Quite a few kids were there (clearly not in Reception, Year 1 or Year 6 – I think…) and were struggling to stay socially distanced from swans which wanted their picnic lunches. I found it hilarious.

Built in the 13th century, a long time before Covid!

The castle is famous for being the place
where Anne Boleyn lived in her youth

The highest point in the county (well, East Sussex) is nearby: Ditchling Beacon. I walked here in May from the house but running to and from it would be too far for my little legs to pump. One morning my parents dropped me off in the nearby town of Lewes (I say nearby, it’s about 10km away) and I ran up to the beacon. I read my footpath map slightly wrong. Easily corrected…by running over a horse racing track. Quite steep in places, but a lovely run to the top.

Don't be fooled - this was uphill. For a while...

Over time, dew ponds have emerged on the hills near the top

Our most recent trip was to a viaduct which dates from the very early Victorian era. Turns out I’ve unwittingly been on this viaduct – trains to London pass over it.

The viaduct is 29 metres high

Ignore me, look at the cool pattern made by the supports!

Our furthest trip, the only time we’ve really been out of county, was to see my brother’s family. They live in London so we met halfway at Box Hill in Surrey. This wasn’t one of the hotter, sunnier days – probably a good thing as it was busy enough anyway.

The roads up to Box Hill are popular with cyclists.
Walking was fine for us.

Hopping across the water. Good thing no one slipped, it was quite cold!

I feel like I’ve explored more of Sussex than I ever did of Cardiff and its surrounds when growing up. My parents are in a lovely spot and have plenty of places to visit nearby. Certainly enough to satisfy the ‘travel’ bug for a summer. And as my work permit still hasn’t come through yet (over eight months after signing a contract extension), I’ll still have the chance to explore more of Sussex when I'm not trying to teach 10-year-olds over the internet!

Almost as importantly, the pub is open again!

Not the plan, but a lovely summer

Love you all,

Matt

England – Life in Lockdown

March 26-June 19

Hello everyone!

I haven’t written a blog in a while. I’d imagine it’s fairly obvious why…

Chopping branches - not part of my daily routine

It may feel like that, but this is actually a place
in Sussex. It did look quiet though...

I got out of Malawi and back to my parents’ house in the UK before the country locked down its borders. Many reasons for leaving, many for staying.

If I had stayed in Malawi, when would be the
next time I would see my family back home?

Hannah and Mini are not in the UK, which does make it hard at times

I haven’t been ‘home’ this long since leaving for Korea as a fresh-faced, slightly beer-swollen 21-year-old. Eleven years on, it’s a very different experience. The main difference is that my parents don’t live in my childhood home of Cardiff. They live in Sussex, in the southeast of England. I’ve visited many times. Never for long, though.

Middle. Of. Nowhere. But not that far from Brighton.

I was last here for Christmas

I arrived within a week of Boris announcing the big lockdown. Not much was open during this period and besides, the last thing I would want to do is fly halfway round the world to then catch Covid in the UK and introduce it to my parents. This, as well as not having a car, is why I haven’t been able to volunteer. I did join a community WhatsApp group but couldn’t do much without transport, which is a shame.

My reusable mask - not great with a beard... 

  

The WhatsApp group mainly got prescriptions and
groceries for people who are shielding

So how can I write under the guise of a travelling teacher at this time, you ask? Well it turns out this little country is full of little wonders. After doing my seven days of quarantine, I started to use a website which shows a labyrinth of public footpaths criss-crossing the nearby fields.

All that red and purple shows the nearby footpaths and bridleways

Just across that field, mate...

These footpaths are generally easy enough to follow…

There are plenty of these to help

Some of the paths do use the main road as well

The weather was stunning, making it a great opportunity to explore the paths less travelled. Many of these are through farmland or dense woods, which would be quite muddy in the rain…

A lovely field of harebells - not lavender as I thought

Near our house is a stables with some lovely horses

And though it has been glorious weather (makes you wonder how much cash pubs and cafes would have raked in), there was the occasional reminder of April showers…

Takeaway beer from the local - I think my Dad has kept them in business

These trails have meant going on many long runs. I’ve kept up my Saturday morning routine from Malawi – running early, followed by scrambled eggs on a bagel.

They did not provide the eggs

My longest run before the end of the school year, just over 24km

Keeping traditions alive - and adding spinach because I can 

When I wasn’t out walking, or squashing the grass in the garden doing HIIT, I found plenty to keep me occupied inside. From jigsaw puzzles to sending Facebook messages to everyone in my contact list, there’s been plenty to take my mind away from the current turmoil affecting the outside world.

This was easier than it looks

A highlight was catching up with friends
from Cardiff one night

It’s also lovely to spend quality time with my parents. Whether they shared that view as I made them participate in a 30-day planking challenge is debatable. What’s been nice to see is their very local community come together and get to know each other more through events such as a VE Day street party.

Rummikub and Backgammon have had plenty of use

Day 30 was a 5 minute plank. Go on, try it. Dare ya.

One way of saying thanks to my parents for letting me stay with them at this time is by cooking. I’m a decent cook these days. Many ingredients which aren’t possible to get in Malawi are easily accessible here, allowing for a bit of creative cooking. Never making quinoa brownies again, mind. Rank.

Moroccan chicken

Sweet potato open sandwiches

Of course, I had to work as well. My niece and nephew’s bedroom was transformed into a classroom. The bunk bed stayed, which raised eyebrows about what I was really doing in staff meetings. It’s been a challenge but I’ve been amazed by the tech capabilities of these 6-year-olds. It also made me realise how quickly the tech world changes – this wouldn’t have been possible when I started teaching 10 years ago.

My classroom from 8am to 11:30am most weekdays

Vat of tea - needed with online challenges and 6-year-olds

Clearly this isn’t how I saw my year going. This isn’t what anyone wanted. We all miss people and things, many people have felt tested and stressed. I’ve had bad days as well as the good ones shown here in the pictures. But most people are trying to make the best of a really bad situation, and it’s been heartening to see. I’ve been very lucky with my situation and, from a selfish perspective, have had a relatively comfortable and enjoyable three months since returning in March. 

Oh that beard...

Love you all and stay safe,

Matt