So, Thought would write something in the moment as it were, from my ´corazon´. Its quite a big day here, mamma uno is back from her month in england and things are very different. Mamma dos was called to the big smoke of santiago to care for her daughter and the other englsih teacher has permanently left. Realise those who i am not in otehr communication with will have no idea what i chat of, no importantes will add at another point. The promised winter rain has begun too. So clearly this marks an official two months here. AM STILL NOT FLUENT: everybody said 3 months and think this might of been a bit butchers best porkie pie. also, not needing to speak the language may be fine with adults, but with kids it helps and ... read more

So just as I was wondering what it was that made my new Chilean bretheren so kind and tolerant of the Spanish speaking caveman now inhabiting their house, an explanation arose. The Duran family of England had been gone for all of 5 hours and suddenly I found myself underfire. The elders were around the table tucking into pan, and the pregunta was raised - ¿what is your religion? I played dopey the dwarf in the church pantomime was not an answer that I thought would satisfy. ¿Tu es mormon? ¿QUE? In atlanta I had been asked if I was going to Salt Lake City, earlier in the week someone had asked the exact same question. I looked around . I was in a room of mormons. Not one of them was trying to marry me. ... read more

Just for japes, started in pompy and completed in chile x Rubarni the Bonking Baker of Jamaica Sound Advice (2): (If you have a sweet tooth, Than please head this warning. Brush your teeth, twice daily. In the night and the morning.) Sticky puddings, cakes and current buns, None have a place in the Jamaican Sun. Yet one baker found fame, (a now whispered name) A cheery chuckling fellow with a love of chocolate - To the islands came Rubarni and set up his shop. Fresh baked loaves, torts and lattic topped pies, An abundance of cream pastries, fudge brownies, To tempt passers by. But only one customer, the eternal sun, Licked at each and every well risen sponge. And by nine thirty-two doughnuts nothing more, Than sticky, melted goo upon the baker´s floor. Despite his ... read more

El Circo (1st Friday Night) Was beyond feliz when Miss Sole, another teacher at the jardin, asked if I would like to accompany her to ´the most famous circus in Chile´ on my first Friday night. Of everything it is the weekends that worry me the most as am utterly larifyed and sin amigos in this new country. Miss Sole speaks fairy good English having studied in dear blighty for a couple of months. What an adventure, a trip to the circus (with real live animals!) and a taster of public transport to the next town! It was necissito to take the micro (a small bus, seats about 25 with token picture of Jesus behind the driver) and was nearly taken out by a pair of children´s daps, dangling by their laces. Was still on mother’s ... read more

Hola one and all, thank you most kindly for your messages of appreciation, I will dribble no more but suffice is to say that the next few entries will involve the people of chile all of whom are real Ok so trying to work out where to begin with this blog. Been here quite a while now and there is rather a lot to fit in, weddings, fiestas, vololos etc. going to try and reduce it down by boiling for 5 minutes and then letting simmer, possibly adding in a couple of boiled huevos and some sultanas and serve with a massive dollop of mayonaise (as is customary with the comida -food- here) Everything is very VERY hecti´, the other English teachér has just left, she was awesome and spoke fluent english having spent two years ... read more

The London International Academy is a nursery for 3-5 year olds and was founded in 2009 by Clare and Claudio Duran. It´s mission (as proudly proclaimed in the school´s anthem) is ´to build bridges for the future´. Claudio Duran is a native of Chile and 1 of 9 children, on 15th April 1980-something he married Clare Duran, the English mormon missionary he had fallen in love with and they departed (on separate planes due to the unforeseen event of their marriage) to England. Since then they have had 7 children, set up a successful company that provides in home care for people with spinal injuries and are now channeling their innovations into a jardin for the children of La Calera, overseen by a family whose name flourishes at the end of many in this small town ... read more

For those who may care, here is a brief update as to what has been going down in the last 4 weeks (Yes one month has passed since I entered Chile). I have decided, after much consideration to not give you direct quotes from my diary as this correspondence would read thus. ´April 24th Things i have to do: learn spanish (necissito). Sleep (when?). Read Harry Potter (mucho). Plan Lesson (bugger) Poo (inevitable).´ You are spared. The edited version is as follows . . . Left England in rather a battered state having spent a week dismantling a pirate ship and manically photocopying documents. I entered Gatwick trussed up with numerous address labels so each of my body parts could be safely courierd back to British shores in case of a hostage situation. Hells and Brucey ... read more