Changes

Just a quick note to say I have changed the blog a bit. Got tired of the old format and thought I'd update it.

Next on the agenda is a trip by train to first Plymouth and then Cardiff. I will have my laptop with me so I'm hoping to update as I go. I will be gone from the 17th of January to the 23rd of January. Hope to have lots of pictures and adventures to tell about.

Welcome Winter!!?

Bird in snowy tree

My backyard

Winter has arrived with a bang. Overnight we got several inches of snow and believe it or not the drivers here are giving the Arizona drivers a real run for worst drivers on snow, considering that they actually get snow here. I have heard that this much snow is unusual for this time of year.

Murder Mystery Part 2

Lurch

Grandmamma Frump (Morticia's Mother)

Morticia

Gomez (the Victim)

I recently posted about the Murder Mystery Dinner I and some of the ladies I work with attended. Above are pictures of most of the cast as they came to our table for questioning.

Haven't laughed so much since the last one. (Good food, too)

Latest Visit to London

Do I really need to say.

The Main Facade of Westminster Cathedral

One of THE places you are told to see in London is Westminster Abbey. The beautiful main church of the Church of England. Something you don't hear as much about is Westminster Cathedral, the main Catholic Church in London. Built starting in 1895 the first services were in 1903. Unfortunately it was Sunday morning and there were Masses going on or I would have gotten more pictures. Will have to go back on another day. As if I need a reason to visit London.

The actual reason for this visit was to go to Harrod's agin and do some Christmas shopping. Got most of it done, just need to pack up the boxes and send them.

More as it happens. Love Margy (Auntie M)

Murder Mystery Dinner

Friday October 30 I went to a Murder Mystery Dinner at the Swan Theatre. The Theme was the Addams Family and we went in costume. I'm hoping to have pictures soon so you can see how great we looked. The whole experience was so much fun. None of us have laughed that much in a long time. Next Murder Mystery has an Elvis theme.
Will post again when I have more.

Getting out and about

One of my Favorite Authors.

Columbus Day I got out to some new places I wanted to check out. I had heard that there were some very nice craft stores in Maidenhead and Reading. Off I went to find out for myself. The store in Maidenhead was nice but didn't have much that I wanted. The one in Reading was much better and I managed to stock up on some things I've been needing. So, while I was in Reading I thought I would visit the mall and see if they had some books and stuff I've been looking for.
As I entered the bookstore I noticed that one of my favorite authors would be signing books there that day, so of course I bought a copy of his latest and stood in line. Turns out it was about an hour-and-a-half. I may have put my back out, but I got the autograph!!

More pictures of Maidenhead and Reading later.

Days Out in London

Had a wonderful couple of days in London on Oct 3-4. Saturday I finally got to see some theatre. Wonderful show, see above. I had forgotten how much fun the theatre could be.

Then on sunday we went to Harrods. If you've heard anything at all about Harrods, it's got to be true. The building is nearly a block square and five stories tall with two basements. They have everything from clothes and toys to food and drink and plenty of souveniers. Will try to blog more with pictures.

It's getting cooler here, barely makes it up to 60 these days. Will have to dig into my memories of Ohio to remember how to handle the cold.

High Wycombe

The High Street

High Wycombe

Eden Mall

Looking Backward from the first picture

The bell tower of the Church of All Saints

The main altar of All Saints Church

I figured it was time I showed some pictures of the town I live in here in England. High Wycombe is not very big, but it is interesting. Nice big mall with lots of stores and I usually get there on the bus. It is much cheaper for one person to ride the bus than try to park downtown.

All Saints Church is not very big, but it is beautiful and old. I found out that this church is about 700 years old, but there has been a church on this spot for 900 years. When I have gone through the pictures I may blog on just the church.

How Time Flies!!

The Tower of London - Built in 1066

The HMS Belfast - where the Change of Command ceremony took place.

(The one on the left)

Roses in my picture window.

Sorry this has taken so long, but I have finally gotten my broadband straightened out at home and can now post at my leisure.

Some pictures from London. I've been down there twice since I last posted. More coming, soon.

Nothing much going on at the moment, turning out to be a rainy August instead of the ideal BBQ

weather we were promised. Weather forecasts are sunshine with occasional rain or rainy with occasional sunshine.

Will be going to High Wycombe this weekend and will try to get some pictures of the place.

More Soon!!

Spring at Windmills

Some pictures of the yard now that Spring is here.

Flowers in the yard.

Some of the Roses in the yard.

Some visitors to my yard.

Been A Long Time

For those wanting a look at my house see attached pictures.

The Front - Master Bedroom, Master Bath, Coatroom, Kitchen, Garage
Car - 2001 Ford Focus (very basic model), yes it's black remember this is not Arizona!

This is what I have instead of house numbers.

The Back - Living Room

That rose is about 2/3 of the way up the window now. Waiting on blooms. Will send more pictures at that time.

The Back 2 - Craft Room, Office, Guest Bedroom

It's now Spring in England, but today it's raining and it's supposed to do so for the rest of the week and into the weekend. Lots of things in bloom and my allergies are going crazy. I had forgotten all about that in Arizona where there is not nearly so much flowering stuff. Will send pictures of the yard when more stuff blooms.

Till later!!!

Auntie M

I'M IN!!

Moved into my house last Thursday (the 16th). Go some temporary furniture and my unaccompanied goods. Lots more clothes and DVDs and books and craft stuff. Friday my household goods are coming so I will feel like it is really mine for the next three years.

London Street Performers

First thing across the river and this is what I see!!

Charlie Chaplin was advertising a film display at the museum

The one on the left doesn't move.

Look far left there's a puppet show.

Once we got across to the south side of the Thames, there was a big open space with crowds and lots of street performers. Here's a selection of what we saw.

Tour of London

Back in there somewhere is Buckingham Palace!!

One of the Lions in Trafalger Square

Big Ben Clock

This past Sunday several of us from work took a guided tour of London. Our tour guide was Lin who works with us and lives in London. We took the train from Amersham to Baker Street Station then took the underground to Marylebone and met Lin. Then we started walking. We started at Noon and got back to the train station at close on 7:30PM. I got home at 8:30PM.

We saw quite a lot of London and I got about 130 pictures. Still trying to figure out how much we walked, best figure right now is 6 to 7 miles. More pictures later.

A Special Request for Mike

Windmills

Daws Hill Lane

High Wycombe

HP11 1PW

Phone Number Soon

Home Sweet Home

Due to circumstances beyond my control I won't be moving on the First of April. Looks like I will get the keys on the third and move in the next week.

One good piece of news, all my goods are in so when I move I will have my own furniture.

Hope to have pictures soon.

Something interesting, they name the houses here and so don't really have street addresses. This one is called Windmills.

News From Loudwater

Good Morning (it is just 7:30 AM here),

Some good news, I have bought a car. A 2001 Ford Focus British Drive. Now I need to get my driving license and I'll be foot loose and fancy free. Look out High Wycombe here I come.

As to a house, I have started the paperwork to rent a lovely 4 bedroom house (plenty of room for visitors) in High Wycombe. They are doing the background check, just waiting to hear on that. Hope to be moving by the First of April.

I will try to get maps for everyone and mark on them where my house is located. I will need a map just to find my house and then to find my way back out.

Will let you know how things are going. England has been charming, cold and damp, but charming, but I've said that before.

The Tenant from...well you know

Last night I decided to do a bit of laundry. I got the clothes and put them in the washer/dryer and shut the door. Wouldn't you know the handle broke off. So I have laundry in the w/d and can't get it out. At least it's clean.

Earlier in the week I getting up and going for some coffee and when I switched on the living room lights they came on and went out immediately. Now all the lights are off in the apartment. Everything else works like the coffee pot and the TV, but no lights.

So, three times in two weeks already I've had to call for help.

UPDATE!

After being in England for a week, I have found it to be charming. Damp (or downright wet) and cold but charming. I have been operating on jet lag and information overload since I started work last Wednesday. Every time I talk to someone I leave with more paperwork and reading. Today I had a briefing at the housing office, finding out about letting a house and all the complications. Yesterday I actually got my first taste of work. I sat in on two teleconferences. Since I'm not totally aware of the problems I can't contribute much, but the information is valuable.

In the area of it could only happen to me, I ran out of hot water at the apartment earlier this week. Cold water washing is really no fun. Laundry OK, not me. I called and it would seem that something that was supposed to keep the boiler clean was actually clogging it up. Now I have lots of lovely hot water and and am sparkling clean (I know TMI!)

Laundry over here is pretty much a full time thing. The washer and dryer are all in one and it takes all evening to do one small load (read one shirt and two pairs of pants). So I put the clothes in when I get home and check them before I go to bed. Even then it might still take some line drying.

So much for week one. Check back for more next week.

I Made It!!

Sorry, but things have been rather hectic here this first week. I had a nine hour flight from Los Angeles to London (we got in an hour and a half early). Now I'm fighting major jet lag and information overload from the inprocessing and It's not over yet. I still need to find a place to live and a vehicle. It's going to be tough as I would prefer an automatic and most of the cars are manual.

Got through the first weekend without any problem other than almost being blown away on the way back from the grocery. It has been cold and windy and wet (no surprise there) but the sun is shining right now and the temperature should be 11C today. (I'll leave it to you to figure the Fahrenheit temp.)

Will try to put up some of the pictures of where I'm staying and the local area soon.

Ready To Go

Tomorrow is the big day. I board an airplane to take me to LA then I board an international flight and in a bit more than ten hours I will land at Heathrow Airport. Luckily I have someone to meet me and show me around. Wednesday I will inprocess at my new job.

I am equal parts excited, nervous and totally panicked.

Right now as I am typing this I am visited from time to time by Paw-Lee the smaller of my sister's dogs. At just under two feet at the shoulder his head comes right at the level of the computer so he can lick my hand as I type. Nothing like being slimed while trying to concentrate. I will miss them while I'm in England.

Just Waiting

Today they picked up my furniture and the boxes that were packed yesterday. The house is so quiet it echoes. Still it is one more step on the road to England.

Even better I now have my Visa and am allowed to work in the UK. Hurrah!! That was one nerve wracking time waiting on that.

I am now in waiting mode. Nothing to do but wait and work un til March 2 when I take off on a new adventure.

UPDATE!!

I am now extended for two more weeks. Everything is set for March 2.

This means I will be here for the moving. Today they are picking up the unaccompanied baggage, the stuff I'll need while in temporary quarters. Next Tuesday they will pack up the House Hold Goods for after I find a permenent place.

Here is one of the pictures I took of the snow we had on the 9th, yes we had real honest to goodness snow, but the picture didn't come out very well. If I find some more I will post them.

One More Step

All the paperwork for the UK Visa is now in the hands of the UK Embassy in Los Angeles. Now all I can do is wait. On Wednesday I'll have my Moving Briefing. They'll let me know what will happen during the move and what I can and can't take.

Good News

Got some good news from South Carolina yesterday, my nephew and his wife (Pat and Michelle) are pregnant. She is due in September and I wish her all the best and will be praying for a safe delivery whatever it is.

Finally

Got word this morning my passports should be on the way.
One down the Visa to go!

Dad's in South Carolina. Good Luck and God Bless to him. Still hoping he'll come to visit.

More Later!!

More Information

I know I said I got my travel orders (or maybe I didn't tell, but I did get them), turns out they got some stuff wrong and left something off. So they corrected it and sent me the update. So this morning I got another update. NOW I have the correct travel orders (crossed fingers). But in the meantime I made my flight arrangements - will leave Tucson on the 17th at 2:45PM and arrive at London Heathrow on the 18th at 1145AM. I have also made arrangements for my unaccompanied baggage and household goods to be picked up, but first I must have a briefing to tell me what I can and cannot take. Other than that I am just waiting for my passport to come back so I can send it for the UK Visa. Just minor panic attacks at the moment.

An Update

Friday (the 9th) I finally got my final offer for the job in England. Now all I need are my travel orders and I can get my flight and get my furniture and stuff moved. My start date has been moved back to Feb 15, which was my original start date.

Too Long Away

Here are my sister's lovely little puppies.

Paw-Lee (L) and Sadie (R)

Sorry I've been away so long, but I have been busy getting passports (yes, that's plural) and filling out paperwork, and deciding what clothes go in long term storage, what goes in short term, what goes with me and what I want to mail to the office.

I do want to say a great big THANK YOU to two great grief counselors. After I lost Annie, I woulld go to Julie's (my sister) house and sit with her dogs, Sadie and Paw-Lee. They seemed to understand that something was wrong and would come and sit with me, or on me and helped me to heal. I will always miss Annie, along with Cocoa, Andy, Vincent and Raven. I hope that maybe I can adopt some more cats soon.