Day 98 of 365: Sometimes All I Need is the Air That I Breath and To Love You

Today was BORING!!! Well, for the most part anyway.

Woke up late. Watched some TV. Did three loads of laundry (which, I'm not allowed to actually leave the property when the wash is going because being Brits, Ian and Mum are afraid the house is going to catch on fire from the washing machine). So...I putzed online all day.

A guy from the housing council came by to look at a window that needs replacing.

Jamie called and we talked for two hours. The highlight of my day at that point.

Ian came home and we ventured out to find a place to walk. We wound up in a little area around here called Canada. No joke. We went to Canada.

Found Canada Commons which has a part of The New Forrest called West Wellow Common.

Just miles of small hills and bushes. And horses and donkeys skattered throughout. That's what I love most about the Forrest...just the wildlife roaming around.

Day 97 of 365: Doctor, Doctor...Gimmie the News

Went into Romsey today for a visit with my new doctor. She's real nice. Hopefully the new allergy meds she prescribed me will do wonders, since my nose is STILL stuffed up. Been this way for the past month.

And on a good note...I didn't have to pay a dime for my birth control pills. It's free here. WOOT!

Did a few errands with Mum before she seperated from me and came back home. Then I ventured around on my own. The baby ducks were out, swimming around without their Mum, so took a photo of them on my camera. SOOOO adorable.

Day 96 of 365: Nothing Really Matters

There was nothing picture worthy today.

All I did was sleep and clean today, really. Oh, and went for a walk to the local shops with the hubby, but didn't take anything to take photos with.

It happens....

Day 95 of 365: Smoke on the Water

Went to Lepe Beach today with Ian, K, Yog, and two of the nephews.

The tide was down so we were able to walk out a bit into the water. The Isle of Wight wasn't far from us.


And we found some weird "artifacts"...

....a cute little face rock....


...and then what Ian calls "A prehistoric penis"...



So...many photos, but that was my day!

Day 94 of 365: Close Your Eyes and I'll Close Mine

Ouuuurrr bedroom.

This is where Ian and I spent most of the day because he's on call this weekend. We've been catching up with The Apprentice. Watching other things. Putzing on the computer. And MUCH needed snuggle and love time.

All day today I've felt like my heart is going to explode with love. It's been awesome.

We didn't spend ALL day in bed though. We went to the bank and added me on to the account (I'm STILL getting used to people calling me "Mrs."). Laura, the woman at the bank, called me Mrs. and I started to giggle. She asked what I was on about, and I said "It still gives me butterflies."

Ian and I also had to go by our friend Jon's place and have the car serviced AGAIN. We may have a gas leak in the BMW. *sighs* We've dumped a lot of money in the car in the past week.....and we MAY just end up trading it in because pretty soon we'll be putting more money into it than Ian paid for it.

Tomorrow if things are slow at work for Ian and he doesn't have to check the phone as much, maybe we'll get to head to The New Forest and go for a walk. I want to see the horses again.

Ope! Tea is almost ready! I'm spoiled....I have a husband that actually LIKES to cook and is making tea tonight.

Day 93 of 365: One Toke Over the Line

Today was an o.k. day.

Spent the morning cleaning the kitchen a bit, hung some items out on the clothes line (STILL so strange and new to me!), then went and hung out with my friend Carole for a few hours at her place.

Carole thought that by today, I'd be bored and would like some company. Boy, she was right...lol. It's a bit lonely during the day when Ian's gone to work, buuuttt....I've tried to keep busy AND I've had some nice conversations with Mum.

Ian and I then met up with K and Yog for a drink and some food. I had this REALLY amazing dish of sweet potato cakes. Oh man.....they had leeks and onions and in this creamy cheese sauce. Heaven on a plate.

So yeah. Not much planned for the weekend though because Ian's on call, but atleast we'll get in some good snuggle time.

Day 92 of 365: Work Work Work, Senora, Work it All the Time

Looked up on the internet to find out how I get my National Insurance Number, or NI Number for short.

In order to work in England, you need to have one of these for tax purposes.

So, I phoned the office, and freaky thing about it is, I was already in the computer! The woman I spoke with said that once you enter the country on a visa that allows you to work, the Job Services office is notified. They just sort of hang back until you contact them, I suppose.

Buuutt...I qualified for a mail in application (some people have to go and interview in order to apply), so I should be receiving my application in the post within the next week.

WOOT!

Then I can work (eventually). Still no word yet on a job, buuuttt, then again, I haven't even been living in England for a week yet.

Day 91 of 365: Takin' To The Street

Meet my nephew, H.

He skipped school today so his "punishment" was spending the day with me..lol.

Ian and I needed more space for our clothes and things, so we cleared out the hallway closet, Ian built a small dresser, and put up a hanging rod so he and I could hang clothes.

H helped me clear out the closet while Ian was at work. We moved it all to the garage.

And he laid around while I was on the phone for over an hour with Jamie. lol

Day 90 of 365: When You're On Your Own...

Romsey Abbey

Went down to Romsey on my own today. Took the bus though, so it's slightly cheating.

BUUUTTTT...by taking the bus I learn the walking route better.

Had to go and register for the Dr., plus I went into Boots and SuperDrug to try and find something for my sore throat. Also had a cup of tea with my sister-in-law, Kathryn. ANNNDDD I went to the post office to get stamps to send cards back to Ohio.

Ian had called me. I went with him on a job in the afternoon and got to see the brewery near Portsmouth. Then he put together a dresser while I took a nap because I wasn't feeling well still.

Plus the weather has been GORGEOUS!

Day 89 of 365: It's A Beautiful Day

Went into Romsey with Mum today to learn how to get there via bus, and do some shopping.

I'm a broke joke now...lol. She had no money on her, sooooo...I paid for it all except for my one cup of coffee.

Bless her though.

The photo above though is of a momma duck with her babies hanging out by the river that runs next to the bus station in Romsey. Tomorrow I'll have to take more photos of the town to share.

Day 88 of 365: What About Your Friends??

This is Fudge.

She's the neighbor's cat and I absolutely adore her.

Since I can't have Ashes here, Fudge is my "new cat", even though she's not REALLY mine.

So Fudge is my first official new friend on the Close....lol.

Day 87 of 365: We Are Family

Had a dinner tonight with the family at one of Ian's favorite places in Lyndhurst. A GREAT Italian place. DEEEELICIOUS food.

Yum yum.

The photo is one of Ian and our nephew, Tim, messing about while Ian is trying to put our other nephew, Sam's, hat on.

It was a wonderful night.

Day 86 of 365: Show Me the Way To Go Home

This was a sign (amongst other things) that greeted Ian and I at my new home.

It took a LONG TIME to get to England.

Our original flight from Chicago O'Hare to Heathrow was canceled. We were in the air for about 3 hours when the pilot said they had to turn around because the fuel gauge was messed up, and we weren't allowed to fly over the Atlantic that way.

Soooo....Ian and I traveled for about a total of 38 hours. It sucked...lol.

But, we're here now and it's time to OFFICIALLY start our life together!

Day 85 of 365: It's Been Awhile

It's been a LONG TIME since I updated anything. Ian arrived the day after I last updated, and it's been a whirlwind ever since.

We got married.

We went to Chicago for a few days to hand deliver the spousal visa application by hand to the courier.

Two days later, I got my passport back with my APPROVED spousal visa inside.

One week later (this date), we left for England.

Here we are, on the plane, getting ready for take off: