valentines 2013

you guys. the painters finished yesterday, and the flooring was installed today. we are soooooo close - moving day is within sight! i've been spending all this week getting the house ready and will be working outside tomorrow. turns out, nothing gives me greater pleasure than homemaking. how provincial of me. 

for valentines i surprised barry with bubbly to celebrate our first valentines as mr. and mrs. well as moving into our home. i love him more and more each day and thank my lucky stars.  he is the best thing that ever happened to me. ever. 

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 post printing, pre-flooring

 we finally had an excuse to use this picnic blanket we bought last year.

 my valentine's gift from my sweetheart - they smelled divine! **SNEAK PEEK** check out the black chalkboard paint in the kitchen. am obsessed with it.

Travel Diaries: Homecoming

'An occasion when someone returns to a place they used to live, work or study.' 

 What a GREAT word, 'homecoming', don't you think? I know, I have been back awhile and this post is a looooong time coming - but then again, so am I!  We are settling into our new life in England, and eagerly preparing for the future. Whilst (listen to me, I'm practically speaking British!) in Florida I wrote about being homesick (see here). Coming home after 6 weeks of being separated from my husband felt AMAZING. To start with, my husband surprised me by picking me at the airport. I felt the the crisp, fresh air of Fall immediately when I stepped out of the airport in Manchester, and fell in love with the gorgeous Autumnal hues of the landscape on the long drive home (obligatory blog post featuring Autumn to follow). Reuniting with Roxy was surreal. I often pictured what it would be like to have her with us in England, and now here she is!! Of course we had a curry (Indian) takeaway for dinner - I had been salivating for weeks in anticipation! During my first weekend back we met with friends for a delicious meal, and celebrated my brother-in-law's 40th birthday with a HUGE bonfire and fireworks display at my father-in-law's. After my absence, it was so good to catch up with family and friends!

 My apologies for the quality of the photos! On a side note, I love sparklers, don't you!

  Waiting (languishing really) for my settlement visa, I spent a lot of time visualizing what  our new life in England would look like. Although we aren't yet residing in our own home(February, we hope!)we have been very fortunate to stay with Barry's Mum, who very much makes us feel at home. Actually we are just down the street from our house - they are in the same development (see below). There is something very familiar about England. Maybe it is the seasons (I grew up in New England), or the funny accents (Rhode Islanders don't pronounce our R's) that I'm used to. Or maybe it's the rich history they both share, or lush countrysides. In any event, England feels like home.

 Home Sweet Home 
(At least in February, when the tenants move out!)

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Travel Diaries: Homesick

I confess. After being back in the States for over 2 months, I am truly homesick for England. I was returning to Kissmmee from my sister's in Hilliard, and set the GPS to drive home. I remember wishing that the GPS could really get me home, to England. I have discovered that although I will always be an American girl, my heart is in England with my husband, and our dog Roxy. And it doesn't have to be England, it could be Jakarta (albeit temporarily) or wherever, as long as we are together. And so goes the saying, 'Home is where the heart is'. After living out of suitcases for over 7 months, never more has this been more true. Being separated from  the things I love the most is more difficult than I could have imagined. I miss my husband like crazy - in fact, I think the situation is making me a little crazy, bonkers, in fact! It is at this point that I remind myself that I have a lot to grateful for, and the situation could be worse, a lot worse. After the pep talk I pray for patience and faith, then check my email for the millionth time waiting for word about my Settlement visa for the United Kingdom.

Here are the Top Ten bits and bobs of what I miss about England, apart from my husband and dog:
1) As cheesey as I know this sounds, I miss the family and friends I just started to get to know before returning to the States. I lucked out in the in-laws department. I love spending time with both Barry's Mum and Dad. Plus I have two amazing brother-in-laws  - who I'm really enjoying getting to know. Not to mention Barry's extended family and friends. Seriously scored in this department.
2) Eastenders. For those of you who aren't familiar it is a long running soap opera featuring the East End of London. I am sooooooo behind, I have no idea whats going on!
3) Taking the piss. The art of teasing each other is a popular English sport - one that am learning to compete in, Barry and I particularly enjoy sparring with each other!
4)The fresh, crisp air. According to my husband I like the cold. As I sit sweltering in the blistering heat, and oppressive humidity of Central Florida, I admit it, I like the cold.
5) Curry - England's favorite dish. I'm dreaming of a prawn madras, with garlic naan bread, and special rice. Yes, I know we have Indian food in America, and no, it's not the same.
6) British English vs. American English. Whatever. I have always been a sucker for accents, especially when they sound like Father Ted or Benny Hill. I miss the way people say 'aluminium' or how my Mum-in-law pronounces butter, or anything my husband says.
7) Pub culture. There is no place better to be on a Sunday afternoon, than enjoying the beautiful English landscape with a pint of beer from an idyllic pub garden. Many pubs serve food, some of them serve great food. Most pubs are also family and pet friendly. There is one in particular that I can't wait to spend an afternoon at, with our friends and dogs; it sits alongside a river, and has amazing food.
8)Having a cuppa. Ok, so I don't actually miss the instant coffee itself, but the ritual of having a cuppa with each other. In America, having tea is considered a luxury. Whereas waiting in line and spending a small fortune on Starbucks apparently isn't. Part of the ritual is hospitality, and the other is the act of drinking it together, over conversation.
9) Vibrant colors of the landscape. Whether it is the red of the poppies, the bright yellow of the rapeseed oil, the deep green of the pastures, I miss it all.
10) Seasons. After growing up in Rhode island, I longed to live where Mother Nature changed seasons 4 times a year again. Florida is many things, but seasonal, it is not. Although I only had the chance to experience Spring and Summer (if you consider 60 degree temperatures Summer), I am very hopeful to make it back in time to enjoy Fall (oh how I pine for Autumn!).

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