Semi - Wordless Wednesday

Today marks our 3rd week here in Reading. It doesn't really feel like we've been here for this long but its true. Steve's settling into his new position nicely. He really likes his coworkers & is doing well adjusting to life in the UK. He's starting to get into a new kind of geeky game, not sure what its called but if it makes him happy, I'm happy. As for me, I'm doing ok. Not walking/working out like I should - just doesn't feel like the motivation is there. Consequently the wedding diet isn't exactly a focus right now.

Our stuff is still on its way, this Friday it will have been out a month, but it takes 5-8 weeks for delivery which is essentially forever. Its not that we don't have things, we have a furnished apartment, but its little things, like a measuring cup, I don't want to go & buy one because I know we packed ours. Or at least I hope we did.

I realize this is Wednesday and its suppose to be a wordless post but I figured someone might like a quick update.

Moving on to the wordless part - one of my favorite things in the whole world is tea. Hot, milk & sugar. Biscuit on the side. Mom & I used to travel into London for a day of shopping and we always ended it with afternoon tea at Peter Jones - a department store in Richmond. Mom drank hers with a splash of milk (and more and she would gag) no sugar, I took mine with lots of milk and too much sugar. Not much has changed - mom & I still take our tea the same way. Steve drinks his plain, no milk, no sugar. Odd man. So in honor of mom & my old tradition of tea and this last Sunday being Mother's day, here is my wordless post:

So many tea cups

Traditional afternoon tea

Champagne tea

Tea at Great Fosters

Cream tea

How I take my tea (not fancy but still wonderful)

Moving Part 3

I'm sure everyone who reads this blog, all 7 of you, are on the edge of your seat waiting to read the next installment of the moving saga.

The truth is there isn't much else to say, we had one last meal with my parents and brother and took a car to the airport on a Tuesday afternoon with all 8 of our bags - that's 2 suitcase each, 2 carry-ons and 2 personal items... If you haven't figured it out yet - that's a lot of luggage! It all barely fit in the town car. After spending $300 on luggage fees (thanks delta amex) we got into the airport. The best part about flying on a Tuesday night in the international terminal is that we got through security in 10 min tops. After making a beeline to the delta lounge, where we each had one more much needed drink, we got called to our flight & boarded.

Steve would know exactly what plane we flew, but since I'm guessing non of you care, ill skip over the 9 hours flight (read couldn't sleep, watched a few OK movies and wished it would go by faster) we landed at Heathrow. Thankfully Steve had ordered a car service for us, so our 8 bags and ourselves got into a nice air conditioned mini van and drove the 35 min to Reading. We stayed at a hotel the first night because a) it was easier & b) we didn't get our apartment keys till later.

If all of this doesn't sound exhausting, both physically and mentally then I am not adequately conveying the stress this sort of move puts you through. Just before we left, sitting at my parents home in Atlanta, I just held onto my mom and cried and asked her if it was worth all the stress & second guessing & anxiety of the unknown. As she held me and reminded me of the grand adventure we were about to embark on, all I could do was cry. I don't mean a few tears, I mean a deep, heaving sobs - the kind of crying when your world has been turned on its side and all out can do is ride the wave & hope you survive. Yes - that might seem melodramatic to some of you, but I can tell you, unless you've done this, its very hard for you to even have an idea of how hard it is. Yes, we're around the corner from some of the greatest cities in the world. Yes, this is a once in a lifetime experience, but that's doesn't mean its not hard. Hard on your mind, body and soul.

That's enough soul pouring out for right now - trust me, there will be more. I haven't mentioned the washing machine or the oven yet, but there is also lots of good and funny to come as well - hot British men in my apartment carrying groceries. Need I say more?