I’m in Scotland and it’s bloody cold!
Arrived in Crieff (a small town about an hour north of Edinburgh) a couple of nights ago and have been staying at the school (Ardvreck). It’s a tiny, picturesque little school/castle, with breath-taking views of the scottish snow-capped mountains. It was snowing as we arrive. yes, very beautiful, and yes, very, very cold. I’ve met the other three gappies. Joe, Kat and Chloe are each from the Hunter Valley, Canberra and Armadale. They’re all pretty cool people. There’s a kiwi bloke here who’s looking after us. He’s fantastic! He had us over for Indian last night so we don’t starve before term starts.
I’m lodged in a little flat about 50m from the main building. Doesn’t sound far, but when the temp is about -3 degrees celcius, I can tell you, it’s a long walk. I’ve got an ensuite and kitchen, and it’s pretty well decked out with a tv and stereo, so it’s a good room. There’ll be a fair bit of maintenance required though. We’ve got our own little gappies common room. That’s where we hang out in our spare time (which isn’t much).
Haven’t had to do much yet, but the kids are arriving tonight (about 7pm) so it’s going to be pretty much full on from then on. I got my timetable today – start at 7:00am and finish about 9:00pm. So a pretty long and hectic days.
I’m supposed to be coaching the senior girls (12-13 yr old) hockey, except the all-weather court is covered in snow, so, don’t really know what’s happening there. I have met a few hard locals walking around in long sleeved t-shirts, but they’re mad. Also hard to understand at times too. it’s going to take me all year to understand the local lingo: chav, a scooby-doo, blue, grub, tuck… Work those out!
Still haven’t been connected to the school network, so can’t receive or send emails yet. The only method of contact will be through this site – for the time being at least. Also, i’ll stick on the next round of pics once i get connected. I went into town today and bought a mobile (about £20!). Not sure if it will have cheap international calls. Will let you know.
Still not used to the cold. I thought it was freezing in London – that was before i came here. The police closed off the road near the school today. It was covered in ice!
How is everything back home? Not snowing? Hope it didn’t get too flooded!
Please keep leaving comments on this site! It’s keeping me sane!!!
Mitch
8 users commented in " In Scotland! "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackSounds like its good. do u think i should go on gap nxt year?
lisa
p.s i hope the senior girls team arent better then u at hockey
Sounds very colddddddd.
Maybe you should be playing ice hockey!!
Looking forward to seeing some photos.
Hi Mitchell,
Hope none of your toes have fallen off from frostbite or anything like that.
Sounds like you’re having a great time, in spite of the cold! I’m trying to think of something exciting that’s happened here to tell you, but I’m not coming up with anything… Watched movies, read a few books. It’s excitement plus here!
Laura
mann im so jealous
haha maybe youll be teaching ice hockey?
your room sounds pretty god dam sweet!
and everything at home is well normal, nothing is ever exciting in toukley, even you should know this. your dad is supposably comig down soonish. im rather pumped for that! haha. i love visitors.
love xx
…the hell is a chav?
heyy mitch!!!!!!
so far it sounds…….cold!!!!! Both Lisa and I are both going to be very very very very disapointed if you don’t return home with a scotish accent! But don’t make it to strong we want to be able to understand you and maybe try and aviod speaking the lingo……no one here will understand you…….im perticulary interested to know wat scooby doo means though.
Nothing much happening in mebourne, but 8 days till we move to sydney :(. Hope everything goes well with the kiddies, hopefully u can undersand what their saying………maybe not such a good idea to smile and nod though if you dont kno, they could be asking you if they can skip school tomorrow…..though doesnt sound likly if there boarding. WHat type of school is this??? private?? anyway hope your having fun and that the weather warms up a bit so you can show of your hockey skills
love lucy
xox
Hullo . my wee laddy, how you doin? have a friend whose scottish still has the accent her name be margaret anne Oflaretty but phil calls her macmaggie. maybe I can learn some of the scottish lingo from her and let you know you wee scooby doo you!!!
mitchy i believe i’ve heard JC say chav a few times – that’s like a bogan right? no idea what the other ones are haha.