Yep, I forgot all about my blog again. From 3 weeks to over 9 months! I've been in England 9 months now! So much has happened. Well, for starters, I got married! Obviously, since that was a requirement for me to stay here in England. September 5th. We actually had to rush a bit since it wasn't until later on that I learned that I had to submit another visa application, which cost 600 pounds (I don't know how to get the pound symbol on my American computer) and I had to have it sent in before the time limit expired on my fiance visa. We had to be married before that happened. It all worked out and I am now good for 2 1/2 years...when I have to do it all over again.
I'll catch you up a little on what's been going on...a whole lot of nothing! Not completely, but mostly. We have taken some holidays, we went on our touring holiday to Stratford upon Avon, Bournemouth, Torquay, St. Austell and Bath and had our trip to France...Nice, Monte Carlo, Monaco and Antibes. We also went to Warwick to visit the castle and see a gig in a nearby town. Phil and I went to York again to see Steve Hackett and company perform Genesis songs and then we went to Whitby...beautiful place! I know, doesn't sound like nothing, does it?
Trust me though, there has been a lot of time spent here at home, sitting on my ass, day after day, with no place to go and no one to talk to. Trust me, it gets depressing at times. I'm hoping that's about to change though. I got a job! Seems like it's going to be a shit one...boring...but you never know. At least it's something...and I get paid! I need it. Being without a job for 10 months takes a toll on the bank account. I got this job just in time, while I still have money to pay for the bus to get me there!
Some of the things I've learned since I've been here: Train travel. I've become quite comfortable taking the train. I've taken one to Manchester many times and I've gone to Liverpool and Preston as well, both lovely places. I have to say though, I like Manchester best. There are still many things I want to check out there. I've also learned my way around Wigan a lot better. There are still lots of places I've not explored...I have to keep it to places I can walk to comfortably...but I feel like I know where I am in relation to other places. I'm not a fan of buses, but since I have to take one to get to work that may change. I took one the other day to get to my interview and it wasn't so bad. I've learned how to check my route and the bus I need and what times it runs and I feel more comfortable about using one. I would really be lost here without the internet...the information it can give you is invaluable.
Speaking of information, you'd be surprised what you can find out when you have all day to sit on your ass. I've not taken advantage of all that time I'm sorry to say, but recently I've done a lot better and my searching has turned up a site for free courses online and another for free language learning. I've started a course on some basic Excel learning and while I've not tried anything from the language learning site, I have spent more time on the Italian language learning program that I already have on my computer. I'm up to 403 words now. Just a drop in the bucket, I know, but I'm learning. That's the important part. Every word is one less to learn. I've also decided to learn more about the world I live in and made a list of all the countries. I'm going to read about each one. I've started with Poland. The overview doesn't make it sound very interesting, but maybe wikipedia will be better. I just want to try and keep learning things. Sitting at home doing nothing made me realize just how fast time goes by and how easy it is to waste it. You can't get it back and if you don't spend it wisely it's such a shame.
I would like to say that Wigan feels like home, but it doesn't yet. It's amazing but it doesn't feel like home. I miss my family, my friends, my job, my car and the familiarity of what my life was like there. I miss the stars at night. I miss driving down a deserted country road at night with the windows down and the radio on. I miss sitting outside with my Mom and listening to her babble on about all her church friends. I miss hugging my boys and being their taxi. I miss decorating cakes and joking around with my friends at work. I don't have any of those comforts here. I feel very alone sometimes. I try not to dwell on it too much though. It serves no purpose and only makes me feel like shit. I realize it just takes time to adjust to new situations. I've had some rough times with it but I think it's getting better. I'm hoping the new job helps.
I don't regret moving. I know it might sound like it, but I have had lots of amazing experiences here. I've learned so much. Just being submerged in a different culture, you have to learn something! It makes me see the world differently and I feel like a different person. Even living with Phil has been a learning experience. It's way different than being on my own and different than any other relationship I've ever had. It teaches you new things about yourself and new things about relationships.
Well, I guess that's a quick look at what's been going on. A very condensed version. It will have to do for now though. Hopefully, I'll do better with my blogging in future...but then I always say that...LOL.
Ciao for now
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