LIGHTS!! CAMERA!! ACTION!!!

A visit to film studios was all part of this week action!

Hi there readers,well whats new from Upes Iela this week?
We were asked back to school to take class's 1 and 2 on Monday this lesson is just for 40minutes not so long, but believe me long enough to try and hold the attention of 11 yep just 11 children aged 4--6 years old, the little rascals ran us ragged, dashing to the loo every few minutes {the girls only, must be something in the female genes} Now we have learned how to say sit down and also be quiet in Latvian but it must have lacked something in pronunciation because when we tried it, it had no effect whatsoever. and we finished the lesson saying never again.!!!!
Now believe me we love these kids and they are a great each and every one of them the emphasis being on the each one but not all together. So on Wednesday when we had to do it all again you can imagine our relief when we found the children all sitting at their desks being addressed by the school principal. We don't know what she said but the children were just the opposite of Mondays fiasco.
          
                                                                                                                            

 On Friday we were invited out for the day
with the teachers who were visiting the
home of Latvias film industry near
Tukums. Oh yes Latvia has a film
industry that is alive and well. We were interested
to see what was on the cards, perhaps we may
rub shoulders with super stars who knows
anything is possible. May be get to dress up and be a film star for the day. Move over Leonardo, I've arrived.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                   

The deserted streets of Riga circa 1919

The film set mock up river Daugava in the first world war

Yep this is really my new truck with built in air con!!!!

Valerie on the porch of our new house

A real Russian steam train

This was the view we had from our coach we never had time to get closer as we had to move on to our next location, Jaunkoku Pils for lunch.

 The Jaunmoku Pils [palace] a grand hunting lodge built in 1901 for a George Armitstead he was mayor of Riga and a British citizen who helped construct the sewer,water and electric systems in Riga. he also built the first tram line, maybe even the bit we saw in Cinevilla. Any way be that as it may we were ready for something to eat and sat down in a very nice room to enjoy chicken in a lemon sauce with grilled potatoes and salad followed by pancakes with jam and chocolate syrup,not bad for just 4 lats. On our table we were joined by two of the school dinner ladies and when asked for their opinion of the food they said it's not as good as ours!! and gave it 5 out of ten.
The rest of the day was spent visiting Tukums and places of interest in the area including a display of straw animals and small human characters, fruit nurseries and one place of a very dubious nature!!! so no pictures were taken, but all in all a very good day out.
I was determined that if the weather allowed me on Saturday I would get the last cut of the lawn done and thankfully it was fine so for at least a few months the mower can be put away and the lawn rake take over as Autumn passes through and the leaves have to be gathered up,there is always something to do well at least until the snow arrives.