Beautiful Yorkshire

Here are some recent photos taken from Heptonstall park looking down on our town, Hebden Bridge. It was a lovely sunny day, quite rare for March in England! We are really blessed to live in such a lovely place.

ブログをちょっと変えた・A change of look to my blog

今日はブログのタイトルとれーアウトを変えてみた。”さよなら日本、Ow do ヨークシャー”になった。"Ow do"というの、北イングランドの挨拶。元気？かこにちわ！みたいな表現です。 昨年日本から出て、ヨークシャーまで引越しした。最近、ヨークシャーの観光地かイギリスの生活についての発見について書いているなので、このタイトルはブログにもっと合うかな。 バイリンガル子供育ち体験と英会話・英語の教え方をもちろん、続いて書きます。 よろしくお願いしますー

You'll notice I've changed my blog's title and background today. It's called Sayonara Japan, Ow do Yorkshire. "Ow do" is a greeting from the North which means, "How are you?" or "Hello!". As I left Japan for Yorkshire last year I thought it is a good title. I've noticed my writing these days is about discovering new places in Yorkshire and learning new things life in the UK. I'll continue to share experiences of raising bilingual children and ideas for home teaching, especially English and Japanese. Thanks for continuing to read!

近状がナショナル・トラストで選べられている・Hardcastle Crags, Salem field and Hebden River

天気がやっと暖かくなって、家の裏の散歩道を歩こうかなと思った。家族の皆さんで行ってきた。ヘブデン川と緑のスペース、サーレム・フィールドがあります。
この川のちょっと向こうに、ハードカストル・クラグスがあります。ハードカストル・クラグスはイギリスのナショナル•トラストの一部分です。ナショナル・トラストはイギリスの文化か自然の質高い場所を守ってるNPOです。美しい自然、滝、と観光客のインフォメーション・センターがあるだそうだ。

It was finally warm enough and dry under foot enough to go for a walk with my family to the riverside walk behind our new flat. There is the river and fields called Salem Fields.

Hebden river eventually leads to up to Hardcastle Crags, a part of the British National Trust. (The National Trust protects areas of Britain that have cultural, historical or natural value) Hardcastle Crags is a beautiful area of countryside walking with hills, waterfalls and a visitor centre, Gibson Mill.

We hope to visit there soon.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hardcastle-crags/

Hebden Bridge's rise in popularity

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16962898
Hebden Bridge really is a fascinating little town. Some of the local readers' comments are very valid too. Hebden Bridge really does have an alternative feel to it and has tried hard to keep its shops independent little holdings and keep away the big chain stores. However these lovely little shops are quite pricey and for us just places to window shop!! Even the second hand stores are a bit expensive I feel.There are yoga classes advertised everywhere, shiatsu, dance, and special education like Montessori and Steiner, just to name a few things that you can find in this little town.

霜降りるのヘブデン・ブリッジ A frosty day in Hebden Bridge

It's become very cold recently. We've had snow and frost and some beautiful clear blue skies.
My daughter is loving her new nursery. There are some other bilingual kids there too, Italian/British and Mexican/British. She adores her teachers and her English is getting so good. We hope she will be able to continue there. The results of our application will be given at the end of April. Fingers crossed!!!

最近寒くなっている。雪が降って、霜も降りて、青空が広がるの最近の天気。
娘が新しい幼稚園大好きみたい。そこに、バイリンガルの子供達がいる。その子はイギリス・イタリアそしてイギリス・メキシカン。娘が先生たちのことをとても好き。英語も段々上手になっている。今のようちえん・小学校　（nursery and infant school 3-7 years old only) に続けるようにお願っている。申し込みの結果は四月末に出る。お願い！！

（イギリスのnursery(3-4歳）のはどこでもほとんどう申し込みが必要でわない。4歳になった年の9月から小学校の申し込みしないといけない。4歳から5歳のクラスはReceptionというクラス。5-6歳は小学校の1年生です。It's a bit confusing and odd procedure!）

Moving to Hebden Bridge!

My daughter has to apply for primary school (actually it's reception class just before year 1 starts)  this month. What a panic that brought us when we found out just a few months ago!! So considering her future, we decided to move somewhere a bit nicer than where we are now, with better schools and a better environment.

My daughter's English is now better than her Japanese. In just six months, she has flipped from using Japanese as her main language to English. It is totally fascinating. Now we have to make sure she doesn't lose her Japanese...or should I say, her Osaka-ben??!!

Cycling from Sowerby Bridge-Hebden Bridge

I am wondering whether to buy a bike and cycle part of the way to work....
I am not a sporty person at all, but I did ride in Japan, so it can't be all that different here...
It looks a beautiful ride too, all along the canal side.

Have a look at this link:

SOWERBY BRIDGE - HEBDEN BRIDGE CYCLE RIDE / WALK

Hebden Bridge and the Handmade Parade

Below are some photos from the amazingly quirky Handmade Parade in Hebden Bridge this summer.
Enjoy! We did!

Music at the Handmade Parade

Croft Mill apartments Hebden Bridge

Croft Mill, Hebden Bridge - Pennine holiday apartments

www.croftmill.com

This is where we'll stay for a week!　The apartments are right in the centre of  Hebden Bridge and are very close to the station.

一週間この高級アパートに泊ります。
楽しみに！！