WELL WELL- that went OK. SO now where to START! SO much to catch up on! So I'll go with a (hopefully) short chronology of my time here: (feel free to skip ahead)
Feb.7, 2006: Arrived- had found split level studio flat online so had a place to go right away! Turned out over priced, (as is everything here)dumpy, but good location- only stayed 6 mos.
Started working for the London Borough of Merton. Includes Wimbledon area ( posh/bordering suburbia)but most of borough is lower income, varied racial area, somewhat depressed, but not a seriously inner city heavy duty gang, etc. area. Although the council estates (social housing) are not too pretty. I worked my first year on the "Leaving Care- or 16+ - team) Worked with older adolescents transitioning to indepednce and a few unaccompnaied asylum seekers ( Asian middle eastern youths- refugees/illegals etc).System very different that in US, but kids are kids.Got on fine with them.But here,as in US, more paperwork than actual direct service, which is frustrating. SO I applied for another post doing- mostly - paperwork. In Aug.2007 I started as the Agency Placement Social Worker (team of 2- have a great boss- Nick- who is good at sharing the work and leaving me to get on with it.)Those who know me in the workforce know I have always worked pretty indepedently- so we are a good match-supervision on as needed basis only). Anyway- I have two "hats"-- one is being the reviewing officer for our "in-house " foster carers- sort of quality control. Meet each of them annually, check what they've been doing- and write a report and any recommendations. Boring. The other part is searching and helping to arrange specialized foster care or residential placements for more difficult chidren. This has been more fun, occasionally exciting (in emergencies) and involves more interaction with more people.This side of the job has gotten VERY busy lately though,so my foster care reports are alway behind on the other job- a bit stressful- but this is more the nature of the kind of job Iwas looking for when I FOUND the ad to come here by accident.So Iam happy enough with work(if I ust still work).Not everyone is.Of the 12 of us US recurits that came over- only 4 of us remain- at least with this department.Having worked in several counties in the US before, I know that the grass is rarely greener- so I figure I'll stick it out here as long as possible. Although there are a lot of opportunities- private and public- they are VERY short of social workers here! Anyone else interested in coming over ?
Meantime I lived in a 6th floor (also dumpy)walkup flat in very trendy area- but it was only for a year. Then in AUg 2007-I then - VERY LUCKILY- got into my current flat. A 1 bedroom in a 4 yr old modern bldg section allocated to "key workers" (socialworkers, nurse, teachers, etc)in an otherwise posh complex.I get a reduced rent (still not cheap) in an area I could never afford otherwise.I am only a couple blocks from the tube/train station and 20 min.from work so great location! Not the quaint Victorian bijou place I hoped for- but can't complain !I een have secure parking- which I rent out. I WILL NEVER DRIVE HERE! All backwards/no street signs/no stop signs/scary roundabouts/ and way too expensive.
OK- so on to more interesting things:

TRAVEL- LONDON- GLASGOW- PRAGUE
My great friend Mark visited in Spring of 06 and we did the London sites together.
Arisia had a short visit as well.
Haven't done as much travelling as I 'd like ($) but-my daughter Arisia came out in Summer 07 and we went to Glasgow (Cold and rainy- but people were fabulously friendly). Returning to London- I set her up with young friends I'd met at an art group- and she hung out with them - and they/we even threw her a birthday party at a local funky pub. It was great ! Then we went to Prague. Stayed a few days in Plsen with Greta first. She was a great tour guide- but after we got to Prague and Arisia left for a music workshop week- well- those who know Greta..--- anyway- no longer speaking. I hope she is OK- I welcome word on her- but I doubt our paths will cross again.But PRAGUE was beautiful! Like a grown up version of Disneyland ! Highly recomended!!!And the food scrumptious!