What My Plans are

Well, I appreciate the constructive advise from all my nearest and dearest.
So, now that the first stage of my "year abroad" is winding to a close, I figured that I would let you all know what my plans are.
First off, though, I will tell you how I have spent the rest of my time here in Stourport with Sara. We have really taken to each other, and spent some pleasant hours together. Birmingham, the 2nd largest city in England, is quite a lovely town, despite the bum rap it gets in many guide books. It was once a huge industrial centre, thanks to the industrial revolution, and sits at the centre of the nation, and also the centre of the extensive canal system (dad, these canals are amazing, and I think would make a cool circular paddle, al through the countryside, to the Severn). In fact there are more canals in Birmingham than there are in Venice. Thanks to a recent clean p effort, the city's down town is a very pleasant area. We went there a few days ago to see the National Sea Life centre (ironically situated here in a land locked city). I was a little sceptical but it turned out to be excellent. There were huge displays all set up in the most modern ways to perfectly replicate natural habitats. The real highlight was the Green Turtle display, which was a massive tank where the walkway passed right through the middle, completely covered by the water, above us, under us, on both sides...a very effective way to se all the animals in the tank, which held black tip reef sharks, a huge green turtle, and a variety of tropical fish. t was like walking righ ino the middle of an active functioning reef.
I also spent a lot of time wandering about Stourport, which also has its fair share of canals and lock systems. It sits at the joining of the Severn, the Stour river, and the Birminham canal. The area of the city called the Basins, which was a very complex system of locks. Very pretty town.
(But full of scumbags, Sara assures me).
Anyhow, she has to end her holidays, and go back to work, and I have a ticket home, so we have to part ways tomorrow. However, We have a really good thing here, and neither of us wants to see it come to and end, so I have altered my plans somewhat. I am coming home, and will apply to get my UK work visa, so that in the new year I can return. I am simply backing up my teachers college plans for a while, which is no worries...I had originally planned to be gone for a year, and now I will be, before I begin that. Being based in Birmingham will be hady as it is the centre of the island, close to many places to visit ( and very close to Gloucester, Aunt Nancy, so the cheese race is still on!). It will also enable me to hop on a plane and go to Paris, or Rome, etc. for a weekend...AND I will be making the pound, which is worth double the looney, so it is all good..not to mention that I can pursue my romance with a beautiful English firefighter. Yep, all coming up Geoff.
Don't worry mom, I will be home for xmas!