Catch 22

John and I have figured out how to have nice, long trans-Atlantic conversations. He phones from a call box, and I phone him right back, taking advantage of our very inexpensive Canadian long distance plan. This may be the first time in my life I have been grateful to Ma Bell.

Today's call from John was a litany of frustrations. The agency he's working through told him he had a meeting today at the school (which, by the way, is called The Ramsey School.) He arrived to find the school and its grounds completely devoid of human life - or nearly so. He eventually found a caretaker who told him that the meeting had actually been scheduled for tomorrow. John then hopped a bus for an hour-long trip into Colchester, in a (fortunately successful) quest to purchase a mobile phone. There was not a single phone to be had in either Halstead or Chelmsford, as apparently every person in this part of Essex received a mobile phone for Christmas!

The biggest fly in John's ointment at the moment, however, is accommodation. In order to qualify to rent a house or flat, you have to have a bank account. In order to set up a bank account, you have to have an address. Something's gotta give, and I can only hope it's not my poor husband's sanity! Never mind, all will be well in the end.

Here's something nice to look at. (Remember, you can see a bigger view by clicking on the image.) This view is at the top of the hill in Halstead High Street. The hill is dominated by the tower of St. Andrew's church, built in 1850. The rest of the church is mainly 14th century. The roof lines of the shops on the right haven't changed in several centuries.

Sigh.