3 weeks!

I've been in Wigan for 3 weeks now. It just keeps getting better. I had no idea that living with Phil could feel this comfortable! Yeah, I know, it's only been 3 weeks...LOL...but it's not like I haven't stayed with him before. I did 5 weeks last year and 7 weeks the year before that. It never felt this comfortable though. To be honest, I didn't think it would feel like this. When imagining what it would be like, I never imagined this...the "reality". I guess it's hard to imagine something you've never had before though. It just doesn't occur to you.

Ok, enough about how blissfully happy and content I am.

Isn't that picture amazing? That's just one view of downtown Wigan. I love walking there and exploring. I still haven't got it all figured out, but I'm working on it. I'm doing way better than I did last year. I can actually "see" where I am in relation to things and know what direction things are from my house. It's a small circle, but it's getting bigger.

Guess what I've been doing? Yep, planting things. So far I have a colorful bush (no comments!) which I can't remember the name of, two azaleas that will have orange flowers when they bloom, and some strawberry plants. I also bought some hosta roots which are already starting to sprout, but I don't have pots to plant them yet. I have so many things I want to do with this space, but I can't really do anything till my check clears at the bank.

Speaking of which, the whole bank account thing was a total hassle! It's really hard to get a bank account here. Everyone (well, except Lloyd's bank) wants proof of address. Guess what? I have no proof I live here. I have my passport with a marriage visa that has Phil's name on it...so one would assume that I am living here...with Phil. But no, that's not good enough. I even had Lloyd's bank tell me that wasn't good enough the first time I went in there. Phil checked on the website though and it clearly states that a passport with a valid visa from the USA is all that is required...so back I went and voila! I got my bank account. To be fair, I got to talk to a different person this time and he ushered me to the office of a very nice lady who was helpful (and even brought me hot chocolate!). I deposited my check and am waiting impatiently for it to clear. There are lots of things I want to get. I really have to try and hold on to as much as possible though. Gonna be a while before I am able to get a job. I really need to get some cake decorating stuff though. At least some colors and bags and fondant. I want to try my hand at modelling with fondant. Phil and the girls have birthdays coming up and I want to be prepared.

I have a new stove coming on the 7th. That will be really nice to have. I'll be able to cook and bake all I want. The stove Phil has now doesn't have electronic ignition and it's very scary to get a burner lit. I'm going to need to get a few pots and pans and some spices and lots of ingredients! Most of what we usually buy is prepared foods that you just have to pop in the microwave. It's good stuff...but there's nothing like fresh, home-cooked food...with veggies! You don't get a lot of veggies with those prepared meals. ASDA does have some packaged salads that are very good though. The girls like them as well. We make quick work of them. My fav is the chicken and bacon one. it also has pasta and corn in it, which was different for me, but delicious. The only thing is...the salad dressing is a bit bland. It's like plain Miracle Whip. So...I just sprinkle a little Hidden Valley Ranch dry mix on it and stir it all up. Brilliant!

The food here is actually quite good. Sausages are amazing here. I remember thinking on my first extended stay here "what is up with sausages? Why are they such a big deal?". Then I had one. Heaven. I think I could eat them every day. They are nothing like the sausages back home (thank goodness). Mince pies are brill too. And kebabs. And meat pies. And...so much more! I don't lack for good food to eat.

Ok, I guess that's enough for now. I'm getting sleepy. Probably has something to do with me going to bed really late and getting up really early. No sense in staying in bed if I'm just going to toss an turn though. I don't want to keep Phil from getting good sleep. He's the one that has to work this evening. I'm going to be all alone this evening. It's not a bad thing. I don't get much done when Phil is around. I like spending time with him and everything else takes a back seat. This week will give me a chance to do some stuff around the house and finish editing my short stories. Shopping would be nice too.

Fingers crossed my check clears soon!

Ciao for now

I'm in Wigan now!

Yay! I made it to Wigan! Yeah, I know it's been a while since my last post...I got my visa (obviously) and now here I am, sitting on the couch, in my new home. I've just finished watching Dave Gorman's "Modern Life Is Goodish" (a brilliant show) and eating a Ferraro Rocher (which was one of the gifts I got from Phil when I got here). 

My house! I love this house! It's a bit smaller than some houses back home, but plenty of room. And I've not fallen down the stairs! (inside joke)

I love this store! Poundland is awesome. For all my American peeps, it's like the Dollartree...only it's $1.65 instead...LOL. They have lots of stuff you wouldn't find in a Dollartree though. Well posh!

After I'd worn myself out shopping at Poundland I needed food. I had the best fish and chips at this place. And the mushy peas...to die for! I'll definitely be going back. But there are so many different places to try around here...might be a while till I get back to it. 

I've only been here a few days...but they've been really wonderful. I think I've finally got rested up from the trip and the time difference. I've had great evenings with Phil and spent quite a bit of time with the girls. They're a lot of fun and very interesting to talk to. I feel very comfortable here. Well, except for the bed...LOL. Thankfully, the new mattress will be here tomorrow....or....today, seeing as it's after midnight. Speaking of which, I should probably head to bed because I gotta get up at 8am so I can be ready when they come to deliver it. 

Ciao for now

Recent Events

Well, it's been a while since I've talked about me and Phil. To be honest, I've been rather busy with the whole process of getting my Fiance Visa. Now that I've filed, it's a huge load off my mind.

It's not an easy thing, moving to the UK. They aren't exactly standing there when you get off the airplane saying "Welcome! Stay as long as you like!" I've visited Phil 3 times now and we've gone to France and Italy and Egypt and Greece during my visits, so I've had to go through the UK customs line several times. Some of the people working there don't have very good social skills. There were a couple of times where the person who checked me through made things very uncomfortable. I got the impression they thought I was a conniving American woman who had used my wiles on an unsuspecting Brit with a good job. I guess they were partly right...he makes a comfortable living. As for me using my wiles on him though...I doubt that I have any. Besides, he's much to smart for that sort of thing. It's pretty simple really. I love him and he knows it.

So, he wants me to move over there and marry him. Was a complete shock and surprise to me...and even now, months later, I still have my moments of disbelief. It's like a fairytale dream come true. Not only do I get to move to England and live among all that history and culture...I get to do so with the most amazing man I have ever known. It's probably impossible to convey how amazing Phil is (I know there are probably things I love about him that some people wouldn't) but I'll try. He's brilliantly intelligent, honest (sometimes bluntly), generous, accepting of people just the way they are, responsible and he's not controlling. There's no one I like talking to more than him. He says the feeling is mutual. Pretty amazing, huh?

Moving over there and marrying Phil isn't exactly an easy (or quick) process though. Not cheap either! The fiance visa application cost $1404 to file. Took me a while to save up for that. It's all done now though. It was actually easier than I thought it would be. They've made some changes recently and it's quite different than the previous forms I printed out. Those were a nightmare! The online application was loads easier. It was so easy I thought for sure I was missing something...LOL.

I still had to have lots of documents though. Phil had to provide a lot of info as well. He had to copy and print out every page of his passport, send a copy of his divorce decree, supply his tax info for the last couple of years and his check stubs for the last few months. I had to send my divorce decree, print out a copy of the visa application, send in the printed email for the biometrics info (signed and dated by the person who completed my scanning), more passport photos, photos of me and Phil together, and my actual passport. I also had to include a postage paid envelope for them to send my info back to me. You'd think if I was paying that sort of money, they could at least afford to send my stuff back to me!

Anyway, that's all done. Now I'm waiting. I got an email today that my information has arrived in Sheffield, UK. I wasn't aware that it would go there. The info that I received on my application said to send it to New York...so I did. My return envelope had postage paid for a return trip from inside the US. I'm not sure how that all will work. I'm hoping they'll send it back to NY and then to me. Actually, I don't care how they do it...as long as it gets back to me. Soon. Very soon, I hope.

I'm very excited to start my new life. I'm nervous too. It's a big change. Phil is making things as easy for me as he can though. He's been very understanding. He's even doing some remodeling before I get there. No, it's not just because of me, he had things he wanted to do anyway, but he's going to try and get them done before I get there....a shower stall installed in the bathroom, new mattresses on all the beds, the back room redecorated to be more space efficient, and the one thing that's probably more for me than anything else....a new stove! See how amazing he is?

I still think it's all a beautiful dream sometimes. What did I do to deserve this? I'm a very lucky woman.