Greetings-first message

Greetings all,

Yes, it rains everyday, but you get used to it. Week
two has slipped by and it is once again time to
explore the area. We will be moved into our housing
next week. They have found some nice places. I will
be in downtown Wilmslow within walking distance of
everything including the train station.

This weeks beverages include Timothy Taylor, John
Smith, Boddingtons, Pedigree, Staropramer, Waites
Bomber, and Strongbow (a cider). It is amazing how
much better draft beer taste. We have also explored
several more of the local restaurants. English food
can be very good.....almost as good as the beer.

We will be driving into the Peaks District tomorrow.
I hope the weather lifts enough to be able to see. I
will practicing with my Tom Tom One navigator again
tomorrow. I tried it for the first time today in
order to get to a local mall. This mall is HUGE and
amazingly clean. I have never been in a mall of this
size. It is bigger than anything I've seen in the
Atlanta area and it is better kept and cared for. The
only disappointment was the chicken fried rice I had
for lunch. It was the oddest effort at this dish that
I've tried.

Hope this finds all well where you are. More
later...............

DWR

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all. I hope this finds all well
there. Well, as soon as I tell you it rains everyday,
the weather turns beautiful all week. I am now
settled into the new place and have just started an
eleven day break. Unfortunately, I am still not up to
speed on the job, so I will be working some during my
days off (wah, wah). However, I will be doing 3 day
hikes in the Peak District next week. I am then
planning a drive down to Anglesey, Wales (think Nigel
Dennis) to see the Irish Sea.

Christmas dinner is all set! I will be eating in my
favorite pub called the Honey Bee....great food and
great beer. I am still investigating the area. It is
nice to be able to walk to everything I need; however,
I have to be careful crossing the street because I
inevitably look the wrong way just before crossing.
So far.........so good.

The living room is covered in driving and hiking
maps.......I will be leaving the public library where
I currently am sitting (still no internet at the
house) and walking to the local book store to buy some
more maps and books about the maps. I hope to get up
to speed on the job over the holidays and then be free
the remaining 11 months to wander. Life is good!

Again Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! More
later..........

DWR

Today is moving day

Today is moving day. Got a nice place in the heart of
downtown Wilmslow Cheshire UK. Hope to internet and
TV hooked up sometime during the week and be back
online by next weekend. A busy week with only a few
new beers: Carlsberg and Amstel, neither of which is
English if the barkeep was telling me the truth, but
both pretty good.

Two beautiful, clear days this week. I was out
driving about on one of them as part of a mandatory
driving course our company sets up for us. The
instructor's advice at the end of our three hour ride
was that I become a more assertive driver here in the
UK. If you have not driven over here, you should come
see it for yourself. The roads are narrow and people
park in them. I feel like I am on an obstacle course
every time I get behind the wheel. Put stone walls on
both sides that you can reach out and touch and you
get a pretty good picture. Now drive between 50 and
60 mph (not kph) with people behind you who want to be
in front of you.

Hope this finds all well there. More
later.................

DWR

It rains everyday....

Greetings all,

Yes, it rains everyday, but you get used to it. Week
two has slipped by and it is once again time to
explore the area. We will be moved into our housing
next week. They have found some nice places. I will
be in downtown Wilmslow within walking distance of
everything including the train station.

This weeks beverages include Timothy Taylor, John
Smith, Boddingtons, Pedigree, Staropramer, Waites
Bomber, and Strongbow (a cider). It is amazing how
much better draft beer taste. We have also explored
several more of the local restaurants. English food
can be very good.....almost as good as the beer.

We will be driving into the Peaks District tomorrow.
I hope the weather lifts enough to be able to see. I
will practicing with my Tom Tom One navigator again
tomorrow. I tried it for the first time today in
order to get to a local mall. This mall is HUGE and
amazingly clean. I have never been in a mall of this
size. It is bigger than anything I've seen in the
Atlanta area and it is better kept and cared for. The
only disappointment was the chicken fried rice I had
for lunch. It was the oddest effort at this dish that
I've tried.

Hope this finds all well where you are. More
later...............

DWR