Sizzling September!

Dear readers I am quite late in my updates.  As you may know, we've just moved house, albeit only a 45 second walk from our old place.  I've barely had the time to stock my kitchen cupboards with food in all the kerfuffle (poor hubby and I have been living on ready-meals, takeaways, and meals cooked by kind friends/family) and our internet situation is no good due to Virgin Media being a douche at the moment.  I'm currently making do by using my iPhone as a "personal hotspot" but I'm trying not to make a habit of it as I'm sure the "fair use" internet enforcers will probably not be happy with me.

Last weekend we packed like mad and I discovered I had gotten carried away when, on Monday morning before work, I fancied some toast and coffee only to find I had already packed the toaster and kettle. It was hard to believe that that just four months earlier I arrived with only two suitcases and a box with all my worldly posessions.  Suddenly I had a two bedroom flat with furniture to move.  Thank goodness Kieran took charge with the dis-assembly and re-assembly of the furniture cause I didn't have a clue.  Even more fortunate was the army of friends and family who helped us all afternoon/evening to transport our stuff.  Amazing help, definitely made the process go faster. 

Despite our current issues with Virgin Media causing us to rely on iPhone hotspot tricks and subsisting on Freeview TV (not so bad, I still get to catch Eastenders and Come Dine With Me), things are starting to get back to normal.  Both of us love the new place and are excited about putting our personal style in it (once we unpack everything, of course). 

On a different note, I've been griping all summer long about England's apparently lack of summer weather.  Suddenly we're due for a heat wave at long last!  Looks like we'll be getting that Indian Summer that has been predicted.  Better late than never, eh?  It happens to be quite good timing for us, as I booked a rental car this weekend so the hubby and I can take some fun day trips as a little "stay-cation." Looks like we'll have the right weather for adventure and photo ops! 

Next week I get my first paycheck! I can't believe next week will be a whole month since I started my new job, it's flown by!  Incidently, next week will be our 6 month wedding anniversary.  Dang, we've made it further than most celebrity couples!  Given my paycheck and some important milestones, we have good reason to celebrate! 

I'll leave you with some pics from the last few weeks...

The Worthing Mayor (in yellow) giving a pep talk to the Alzheimer's Society volunteers before our charity walk

This dog supports the Alzheimer's Society in style

Most amazing sunset I've ever seen in Worthing on an evening jog

Kieran and I used to sit on these rocks when I would come visit and talk about the future and feel bad for ourselves about having to say goodbye again.  Now we live just a few miles from this very spot! <3

 

Moving the last bits out of our old place :-(

A new place to rest my head :-)

Ta ta for now, readers!  Those of you in the British Isles, enjoy this lovely weather while it lasts!

Love,
A xoxox

FOODIE FRIDAY!

Yay! The weekend is here!

What better way to thank your new colleagues for their help in your first week than home baked cookies?!

My original plan was oatmeal chocolate chip (my fave!) but for some reason I couldn't find a single chocolate chip in my whole town, so I went with M&Ms instead.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups of dried oats
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (or M&Ms!)

Directions

1. Mix the butter, sugar and brown sugar together until smooth. 
2. Beat in eggs and vanilla. 
3. Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture.
4. Stir in oats and chocolate chips.
5. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart ontogreased  baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees F (180 Degrees Celsius) for 11-12 minutes. Cool on wire racks.

 For a final sweet touch, I added a bit of golden ribbon and personal "thank you" notes for my new team-mates

I hope my efforts in the kitchen gave the recipients a nice boost before the weekend!  Try out the recipe to welcome in a sweet weekend yourself!

Bon apetit!

 

I hope to get some R&R this weekend but my "to do" list is about a mile long already, including a charity walk for the Alzheimer's Society, collecting boxes for moving, a laundry pile nearly to the ceiling, booking our Thanksgiving flights (ow, my bank account), renewing my Maryland social work license (ow, my bank account again), and hopefully some Skype calls to my besties to catch up.

 ta ta!

 

Amanda xoxo 

UK Employment

Hey, everyone!

I hope you are having a good week so far.  I just finished my 5th day of work (woot woot), hopefully the first week of many :-)

I thought I'd take an opportunity to point out some key differences I've noticed in being a worker in the UK.  Obviously some are specific to my company, but still a comparison to what I'm used to!

• Colleagues offer you tea and coffee constantly.  Literally, I get offered a cuppa about 5 or 6 times a day.

• The tax forms are call P46 or P45 instead of the W-2.  Still the same necessary evil, though.
• Background checks are called CRBs and I will be happy if I never have to fill another CRB form out again
• I get an hour for lunch.  Literally 60 minutes.  Not 20 minutes to inhale a sandwich at my desk whilst I continue to work.  Not 30 minutes "in theory" but getting disapproving looks from colleagues when I try to use it.
   In fact, co-workers will remind me when it's time to take lunch and won't let me skip!  60 minutes!  Once this week I even walked home and did dishes on my lunch break.  Brilliant!  Okay I am seriously too excited about my lunch break, moving on...

• No health insurance issues with picking plans that will inevitably lead to headaches and financial doom
• Home care visits are called "calls" and work schedules are called "rotas." Cute
• You sign emails with "kind regards"  Still sounds too formal to me

Anything else you expat workers have noticed?  

 

FOODIE FRIDAY!

Summer may be winding down, but there's still time for some homemade Pimm's.

For you non-natives, Pimm's is a refreshing summer beverage which is often referred to as the British Sangria. 

source

One part PIMM'S no1
Three parts Lemonade (AKA Sprite)
Add fruit, mint, and cucumber
Kick back and enjoy the last delicious sips of summertime!

HUMP DAY HISTORY!

Hi there!

As I mentioned in my previous post, one of the places we visited when my parents were in town was Rye, East Sussex.  What a remarkable place!  The town feels like it's been frozen in time, as it boasts having the oldest and most original landmarks/buildings of any other British town.  I'm not sure if that's true, but it certainly felt like it.  Rye was titled "Rye Royal" by Queen Elizabeth I after her 1573 visit.
A tiny village, you could easily drive right past in a blink of an eye.  But tucked away on the cobblestone paths are historical treasures!

(I tried to upload my own pics but the blogspot picture uploader thingie keeps turning my pics sideways for some reason)

St. Mary's Church



source

The magnificent church has stood atop the hill of Rye for more than 900 years.  Unfortunately the church was ransacked by French invaders in 1377.  In addition to setting the building on fire and doing extensive damage to its structure, the cheeky French enemy absconded with the church's bells to add insult to injury.  A year later, a group of men from Rye sent a message that they would not be defeated--they stormed into Normandy, set fire to two towns, and took back their stolen loot, including the bell!  The bell is still housed in the church today.
This historic church also boasts one of the oldest working church turret clocks in the country, with a large pendulum that swings in the church hall.

Rye Castles/Ypres Tower

The castle and tower were built in 1249 after permission was give by King Henry III to build a defence against the French invasions at the time.  The tower has had many roles over the years--a fortification to protect the town, a private dwelling, a prison ,and a mortuary. It is the oldest building--except for St Mary's church--open to the public in Rye.

source

Famous people connected to Rye

Rye has produced the works of many fiction writers including Conrad and Joan Aiken, Malcolm Saville, Henry James, and E.F. Benson.  Other notable residents include former Doctor Who actor Tom Baker, Sir Paul McCartney (whose children attended school in Rye), and reportedly the ancestors of Bob Marley. 

I highly recommend if you're in the Sussex area (if not, you should plan to be!) to check out Rye.  You won't be disappointed!

My first day of work is tomorrow, eeek!  I'm mostly excited but obviously a little nervous.  It's like the first day of school except more responsibility, a paycheck, and no homework.  It always happens that when the Universe delivers me a job, then the offers start pouring in.  So now I've had two interview invitations this month that I have to decide if I'm gonna take.  I'll let you know how it goes!

source

Naughty blogger!

Goodness gracious, forgive me for my absence!

Last week my parents were in town and there was so much going on I barely had a moment to nap, let alone sneak away with my lappy to blog.  My apologies!

My parents decided to come a day earlier than scheduled to avoid delays that Hurricane Irene inevitably caused in the DC area.  It seemed like a good idea at the time, but we were doubting its value when their flight was 12 HOURS LATE because of an unexpected stop in Iceland due to mechanical problems.  I find it ironic that I've made the DC to London trip many many times and have only been inconvenienced by lost luggage, screaming babies, malfunctioning entertainment units, and cramped seats.  But my parents, who only got passports in 2007 to visit me in London, and who are quite content with their yearly vacation on the Eastern MD shore, traveled to London Heathrow via Iceland.  I'm impressed, that's one passport stamp I don't have!

We had a lovely week together and were lucky to get decent weather.  It's been 90-100 degrees F in the DC area this summer so Sussex was positively freezing in comparison to them!  I was just glad we didn't get too much rain, as it's been pissing it down ever since they left!

On our itinerary was Sunny Worthing (and surrounding neighborhoods), Brighton, Arundel, and Rye.  We had a lovely BBQ at the in-laws', went antiquing in Arundel, saw The Lanes, Museum, and Royal Pavillion of Brighton (and got donuts on the pier...nom nom), walked and cycled around Worthing and saw the museum (yea my mom likes museums, she's a history nerd), saw "That'll Be the Day," a rock-n-roll revival show in Worthing, saw a Bank Holiday Weekend parade along the seafront, and took an incredible trip to Rye (Eastern side of East Sussex).  Plus, I had fun cooking for everyone and showing off my culinary skills to the man who showed me the way! 
Cheers to the hubby for taking the week off from work and renting a car so we could see all that and more!  It was great fun.

I sure hope they had a fun visit and will come back again so we can explore more of England together!  It was sad to say goodbye, but it won't be long before Thanksgiving will be here and I'll be there! 

EXCITING NEWS!

Last week I had an interview with a nearby domiciliary care/home care agency and it went very well.  On Friday I got the call that they wanted me to start ASAP!  I thought my eyeballs were gonna pop out of my head from excitement.  I'M AN EMPLOYED PERSON IN THE U.K.  This has been the missing puzzle piece in my settlement here and I'm so chuffed that things are falling into place.

The 411 on the job:

• Domiciliary/Home Care agency providing care and support to older and disabled adults in the community out of their own homes
• My role is a team leader/manager who will support and supervise the direct care workers and work with the local community residents and health/social care agencies to develop new referrals/business
• 5 MINUTE WALK FROM OUR FLAT.  Amazing! 
• That's all I know right now, I'm sure it will develop as the weeks go on!

I'm so chuffed, I start Thursday!  I'm nervous, y'all!  I left my last job in March to finish planning my wedding and deal with all the immigration stuff, I am SO READY to get back to work, but just anxious to find my place and settle in.  It's always a bit weird starting in a new place, I guess.

In other news, things are coming together with our new flat, we have a moving date now (3 weeks, eek!  Gotta find boxes!).  I'm pleased that we won't be going far, it's literally right next door to where we are now.  I just hate the process of moving, it's a pain in the ass.  But we'll get through it!

Suddenly last Sunday I had this feeling like things were finally settling in.  Since I moved to England and have struggled to find a job and find my place here, I always felt like I was just living in my husband's world sometimes.  Like I was just visiting.  But now I feel like I'm developing my own life, schedule, friends, goals, etc here and it feels good.  I suddenly feel kind of grown up for the first time ever.  That's weird to say.  But it's fun, I'm so excited to see where the next few months takes me and takes us as a couple! 

As always, thanks for reading. 

Amanda <3