Okay, so this part has nothing to do with the title, but I have to give you the best news of the day first. The AF SSgt promotion list came out today, and one of my top airmen from my flight at Barksdale was on it!!! This guy just put on SrA in November after earning SrA BTZ, and got his 5-level just before the cutoff for testing this year... and he made it!!! I was so excited I literally jumped up from my desk and cheered (garnering a few amused looks from around the office). Then, I thought, what are the chances he is working today, or at least came in to check the list? (This was 2pm my time, 8am Barksdale time.) So I called one of my forecaster desks (gotta love DSN), and he answered! That made it even more exciting, to get to congratulate him personally so quickly, even though I am in another country. :)
Now, about the main topic. When I in-processed with our OSS/CC two weeks ago, of course I mentioned how excited I was to be in England and all the things I wanted to see, so he gave me a magazine-type guide book about England from an organization he is a member of called English Heritage. I didn't really look through it too much then, but I picked it up again today as I was still debating where to go this weekend. Turns out, this organization is amazing! They support the upkeep of over 400 historical properties in England, and if you are a member, you get FREE admission to all of them! Membership is only 43 GBP (pounds, I don't know how to make the symbol) per year, approximately equal to $70. If you look at the individual properties, admission is generally 5-10 GBP each, so if I visit 5-9 properties in a year, it will easily pay for itself. At the rate I hope to go, it will pay for itself in 3 months!
The web site and guide book are awesome, they divide the country into regions so you can see what is near you, and they have all kinds of information about what is available at each site, and pictures! They have a big feature on Dover Castle, which I have decided will be next weekend's big adventure. This weekend, I was already too committed to evening events on Friday and Saturday, and Dover will take a full day, being 3 hours away. So this weekend, I will choose from the previously mentioned Ely cathedral, the highly recommended Warwick Castle, or these two I found in the English Heritage book/site: Framlingham Castle (http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.12586/chosenImageId/1) and Orford Castle (http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.12638/chosenImageId/1). I am leaning towards Framlingham for tomorrow.
I had a beautiful run tonight - the weather was just amazing... cool and a little windy, then the sun was setting just as I ran around the west side of the runway. Gorgeous. I might actually become a runner again here. :) Time for a shower and bed... then a weekend of adventures!!!
So, don't let any grass grow under your feet or anything! You may have to slow your exploring pace down a little as time goes on, but for now, I guess you might as well enjoy the free time while you have it. Only wish I was there to explore with you! :) (Mom)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you had such a wonderful run tonight :) Isn't exploring new places via a run amazing? I think your weekend plans sound great,too! I'll be excited to read about them (and see pictures?!) on Monday.
ReplyDeleteHope you are having a good Friday (I think you are probably all ready half-way through!)-- and thanks again for giving us little glimpses into your "Big Adventure"!