'A Mild Autumn'

The main thing you notice about living in Scotland is the cold. Walking home from work in the rain last week I thought that perhaps my feet would fall off from frostbite. Even with a big winter coat and layers of jumpers the wind has an uncanny ability to pass through you and wrap around your vital inner organs. I've been told it's a 'mild Autumn'.

Other than the constant rain, cold and darkness, living in Edinburgh has been really good. We have settled into the house and our jobs and been having lots of fun. The house is a cosy bunch of 8 people, has lots of space and isn't too far from town. I'll give you a run down of the people we are living with.

First there's Kye, 26, Scottish although han't lived anywhere for more than 3 years of her life, currently studying Art Psychology at uni, tiny, brown hair.

Edson, Kye's boyfriend, 26, Mexican, tall with curly dark hair, works nights at a 'computer company' (have no idea what that means), is good at eating everyone elses food.

Eline ('Allina'), 24, Dutch, tall with curly, fair hair, very friendly, studying pharmacy and doing her practical element in Edinburgh, has a room to herself and is home in the evenings (like me!)

Emma, 23, Swedish, long red hair, kindof short, very loud and welcoming, likes to talk a lot, has lots of nice clothes that she lets me borrow, works nights at a hotel but is about to start managing her own hotel.

Phillipe ('Moon') 20 something, Mexican, looks a bit like a monkey (in a good way) cute, very friendly, shares a room with Emma to save on rent but they aren't a couple, very good at making tea, works at a mexican bar caled 'Gariboldis' for about £2.50 an hour due to lack of visa.

And finally Carlos, the most recent addition to the house who replaced Christina (mexican, 20something, blonde) who left the week after we came. Carlos is about 25, Spanish, came to Edinburgh to learn English about 6 months ago and works at a kids club, he is also very nice.

So thats the interesting mix of cultures and people that we are living with. On Sunday evening we were all home at once for the first time and Carlos cooked us all Spanish tortilla and we watched Lord of The Rings III on T.V before going to Christina's farewell party (she is going to Cuba).

The girls at Starbucks are all really friendly, there is a big mix of different cultures there too, we went out a few weeks ago to farewell some people who were leaving. We also went out to a bonfire with Kye to celebrate Guy Fawke's day where, for those of you who don't know, they basically celebrate burning some guy at the stake for attempting to blow up parliament. At the bonfire we were at they made a scarily realistic 'Guy', doused him in gasoline and set him allight...fun times for all!

Thats about all the news that I have for today. I have the day off work tomorrow, I'll have to get up before midday or I'll miss the daylight (the sun already sets at about 3pm.) The winter will certainly be interesting, I can't imagine it being any colder than this!