A lot has changed in 3.5 years. 2 daughters. A new flat. A new job. A Phd. A teaching job.
The one thing that hasn't changed is the state of limbo.
For years now, we've been planning our move. At first, it was anywhere. I wanted to stop drifting and make a decision about where we were going to live our lives. With kids in the picture, we decided on Los Angeles - near my family, and where I grew up.
We were so close, we had R's visa done and dusted. He literally had his medical appointment in London and the next day an email arrived about a teaching role at the university he was working at.
This was fantastic news. We weren't quite ready to be calling quits on Brighton and our life here just yet. The fear of the unknown in LA was eating away at me. We had some breathing space to figure things out. And he had the chance to get a real academic job (well, at least HE teaching...)
But following Christmas, the same questions came up again. Can we afford to live here with two kids in daycare? What jobs are we going to do? What happens in June when his contract finishes? The breathing space quickly ran out and turned into panic. We found ourselves in limbo once again.
R's role was a 10 month contract. He found out they were advertising a 3 year position. How did this fit in with our plans to start our family life in Los Angeles? Regardless, we knew he had to apply for it. And he did, and got an interview and of course got the role. Because R is amazing.
And while I knew in my heart this was going to happen, it means we continue in our state of limbo. Maybe not quite as limbo-y...we can finally think about buying a home, the Bug will be starting school next year, I've started a new job as well. I am so incredibly proud of him, where he's ended up and the work that he is doing.
But LA is still on our minds...I can't give up on the dream of returning home one day. So while we can settle down a little bit over the next few years, a move is still visible up ahead on the horizon.
Saturday 4 June 2016
Monday 21 January 2013
A little bit of a lag...
It's funny. I'm sitting here, looking over the inauguration stuff, when it dawns on me that one of my first posts was President Obama's inauguration 4 years ago...including Aretha Franklin's amazing hat (I want please!)
So much has changed since then, including a new flat, a new job and (soon-to-be) a new baby.
Maybe this is the kick in the teeth I need to get motivated to start blogging again.
Seeing as how Thursday is my last day of work before I maternity leave, I really don't have any excuses anymore do I?
So much has changed since then, including a new flat, a new job and (soon-to-be) a new baby.
Maybe this is the kick in the teeth I need to get motivated to start blogging again.
Seeing as how Thursday is my last day of work before I maternity leave, I really don't have any excuses anymore do I?
Tuesday 5 June 2012
Currently...
What am I currently up to? Have a look.
Reading...The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood. I've been meaning to read this book for years, and I picked it up second hand a few years ago. I'm not very far in, but it makes the commute a little bit easier.
Watching...The Queen's Jubilee Celebrations. All. Weekend. Long. And actually? I've really enjoyed it. I'm no royalist (nor am I married to one...) but 60 years is a bloody long time. I work in the center of London, and sometimes I have to just stop and appreciate all the history around me. Watching the parades, flotillas, etc, has had the same effect on me...I just need to stop and appreciate all the history.
Anticipating...summer weather. I thought you were here to stay, but it seems I was wrong! I can't wait to see you again sun!
Making...a Hawaiian shirt for my newphew. The pattern is all cut and marked, and now I need to get over my fear of the new and just SEW IT! It's super cute, and I will post a picture when it's finished.
Listening to...the sound of rain. Lots of rain. Did I mention I live in England? Hello rain!
Eating...vegetarian English fry up! Alicia was down for the weekend, and we had yummy poached eggs, vegetarian sausages, baked beans and toast for lunch as a send off for her long journey home. We always have delicious food when Leashie's down to visit and this was no exception!
Giving thanks for...my awesome family, both the one I was born into and the one I married into. Leaving after college was me running over my perceived overbearing-ness of my family, and now I just miss them like crazy. But I also love family I've gained over here, especially my two adorable little nephews.
Staying fit with...my new jump rope! I bought one yesterday and I can't wait to get started! We had a jump roping session yesterday, and I don't think I've ever seen anything more amusing than my husband jump roping.
Wishing...I was closer to friends and family. Every day. :(
Reading...The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood. I've been meaning to read this book for years, and I picked it up second hand a few years ago. I'm not very far in, but it makes the commute a little bit easier.
Watching...The Queen's Jubilee Celebrations. All. Weekend. Long. And actually? I've really enjoyed it. I'm no royalist (nor am I married to one...) but 60 years is a bloody long time. I work in the center of London, and sometimes I have to just stop and appreciate all the history around me. Watching the parades, flotillas, etc, has had the same effect on me...I just need to stop and appreciate all the history.
Anticipating...summer weather. I thought you were here to stay, but it seems I was wrong! I can't wait to see you again sun!
Making...a Hawaiian shirt for my newphew. The pattern is all cut and marked, and now I need to get over my fear of the new and just SEW IT! It's super cute, and I will post a picture when it's finished.
Listening to...the sound of rain. Lots of rain. Did I mention I live in England? Hello rain!
Eating...vegetarian English fry up! Alicia was down for the weekend, and we had yummy poached eggs, vegetarian sausages, baked beans and toast for lunch as a send off for her long journey home. We always have delicious food when Leashie's down to visit and this was no exception!
Giving thanks for...my awesome family, both the one I was born into and the one I married into. Leaving after college was me running over my perceived overbearing-ness of my family, and now I just miss them like crazy. But I also love family I've gained over here, especially my two adorable little nephews.
Staying fit with...my new jump rope! I bought one yesterday and I can't wait to get started! We had a jump roping session yesterday, and I don't think I've ever seen anything more amusing than my husband jump roping.
Wishing...I was closer to friends and family. Every day. :(
Monday 2 January 2012
New Year's Resolutions
I tend not to be very good at keeping up with New Year's Resolutions - maybe I pick resolutions that are too big for me to realistically keep... But I feel like 2012 has big things in store and there are some changes I'd like to make to help them along! Nothing too big, just little tweaks to help me feel better about myself, mind, body and soul.
1. Blog/document more
Well, 2011 saw 6 posts for Make My Funk the Pea-Funk! As this is my second post, I'm already 1/3 of the way there : P I also want to keep track of all the books I read, and all the films I watch!
2. Detox January
Every January, R and I give up booze for the month. It's a nice cleanse after the festive period! This year, we've gone a step further, and we're going proper vegetarian for the month. I want to try and document some of our yummy recipes (once my camera is fixed!)
3. Start up my exercise regime again
When I started my new job in late 2010, I got the added bonus of a 2 hour commute each way. Now I don't get home until about 7pm, so I've definitely slacked off on the exercise-front. While I get a 2 x 30 minute walks everyday, I want to try and start running again, at least twice a week - hopefully once on the weekend, and once during the week.
4. Learn new crafts
Last year, I did plenty of crochet projects, including numerous baby blankets, scarves, hats, etc. While I still have plenty of hooking to do this year, I really want to try and work on other skills. I'd like to try knitting again, get more use out of my sewing machine and finally learn how to make a quilt!
5. Finances in order
This is always an ongoing resolution, but I feel like I'm making headway on it! I've been good about my pension, been setting aside money into an ISA account and making significant payments on my credit card. This year will also be my 4th year of student loan repayments, and it feels good to know I'm almost half way done with paying them off! I would like to be debt-free (minus student loans) by December 2012, with a decent amount of dollars set aside for our potential move to the US in 2013!
6. Plan for the future
R and I first moved to Brighton more than 4 years ago when he started his PhD. A lot has changed since then, including jobs and flats, but we have known that we'd be here for at least 4-5 years. Well, we're finally coming up to the end of our stay here. There's no immediately plan to leave yet of course, but R's definitely gearing up to finish this bad boy, and it looks like he should be finishing up this year. This means we can finally start looking forward, and plan the next step of our lives! It depends on a lot of things, including where he can find work, where I can find work, etc, but it's exciting to think we might be in a new city 365 days from now : )
1. Blog/document more
Well, 2011 saw 6 posts for Make My Funk the Pea-Funk! As this is my second post, I'm already 1/3 of the way there : P I also want to keep track of all the books I read, and all the films I watch!
2. Detox January
Every January, R and I give up booze for the month. It's a nice cleanse after the festive period! This year, we've gone a step further, and we're going proper vegetarian for the month. I want to try and document some of our yummy recipes (once my camera is fixed!)
3. Start up my exercise regime again
When I started my new job in late 2010, I got the added bonus of a 2 hour commute each way. Now I don't get home until about 7pm, so I've definitely slacked off on the exercise-front. While I get a 2 x 30 minute walks everyday, I want to try and start running again, at least twice a week - hopefully once on the weekend, and once during the week.
4. Learn new crafts
Last year, I did plenty of crochet projects, including numerous baby blankets, scarves, hats, etc. While I still have plenty of hooking to do this year, I really want to try and work on other skills. I'd like to try knitting again, get more use out of my sewing machine and finally learn how to make a quilt!
5. Finances in order
This is always an ongoing resolution, but I feel like I'm making headway on it! I've been good about my pension, been setting aside money into an ISA account and making significant payments on my credit card. This year will also be my 4th year of student loan repayments, and it feels good to know I'm almost half way done with paying them off! I would like to be debt-free (minus student loans) by December 2012, with a decent amount of dollars set aside for our potential move to the US in 2013!
6. Plan for the future
R and I first moved to Brighton more than 4 years ago when he started his PhD. A lot has changed since then, including jobs and flats, but we have known that we'd be here for at least 4-5 years. Well, we're finally coming up to the end of our stay here. There's no immediately plan to leave yet of course, but R's definitely gearing up to finish this bad boy, and it looks like he should be finishing up this year. This means we can finally start looking forward, and plan the next step of our lives! It depends on a lot of things, including where he can find work, where I can find work, etc, but it's exciting to think we might be in a new city 365 days from now : )
2011 - A Year in Review
All in all, 2011 was a pretty good year. No significant changes, but a nice slow and steady year. Both R and I started new jobs in the end of 2010, and did pretty well for our first proper year. The rest of the year was spent enjoying friends' babies, travelling, not winning Olympic tickets, and thinking about our plans for the future.
Some travel highlights include:
Los Angeles
France
In early September, we went to France to visit R's parents. His sister and her boyfriend were there too! Perfect sunny trip away, with lots of hikes and walks!
Cambridge
We also got the chance to go up to Cambridge a few times this year, to visit R's brother and sister-in-law, and our adorable nephew A. I'm so happy we're able to see him getting so big! We spent Christmas-time in Cambridge, too.
R had a pretty exciting 2011! In October, he ran his first ever half-marathon, in the Royal Parks Foundation race.
He also had an amazing month (or two!) of Movember, and raised over £350! Of course, it took more than 3 weeks for it to reach maturation, so it seemed like such a waste to get rid of it at the end of November. So R decided to keep it for December as well. (Un)Fortunately, we have finally said goodbye to the 'tashe, and it was shaved off today! Here it is mid-December:
How was your 2011?
Some travel highlights include:
Los Angeles
R and I enjoyed another trip to Los Angeles for my cousin's wedding
While there we also had a chance to visit Disneyland! First time for R
In early September, we went to France to visit R's parents. His sister and her boyfriend were there too! Perfect sunny trip away, with lots of hikes and walks!
We also went out for a lovely dinner for R's 35th birthday while we were there!
Edinburgh
R and I had a chance to go up to Edinburgh this year, just before Christmas, to visit some old friends!
Zonko and me
A castle of some sort outside North Berwick
Cambridge
We also got the chance to go up to Cambridge a few times this year, to visit R's brother and sister-in-law, and our adorable nephew A. I'm so happy we're able to see him getting so big! We spent Christmas-time in Cambridge, too.
R had a pretty exciting 2011! In October, he ran his first ever half-marathon, in the Royal Parks Foundation race.
He also had an amazing month (or two!) of Movember, and raised over £350! Of course, it took more than 3 weeks for it to reach maturation, so it seemed like such a waste to get rid of it at the end of November. So R decided to keep it for December as well. (Un)Fortunately, we have finally said goodbye to the 'tashe, and it was shaved off today! Here it is mid-December:
How was your 2011?
Monday 11 April 2011
Celeb spotting in Brighton - of the A-list variety!
So last Sunday, I was at the gym, per usual, just minding my own business on the cross-trainer. I love me some people watching, and the gym is a great place to spy. As I was looking around, I noticed a slim blond woman, and thought to myself, "Ha, that woman looks like Renee Zellweger!" I didn't think much of it and carried on with my cross-trainer.
Hmmmm, let me take another look because it's Sunday and not very busy....
"Wow, she REALLY looks like Renee Zellweger...she's a total doppleganger!"
More cross training.
More looking.
"Dude...that IS Renee Zellweger..."
"What the hell is she doing in the LA Fitness at Brighton???"
So yes, I saw RZ at the gym last Sunday, with another woman (who I believe is her trainer) and it was very bizarre. But awesome to have a PROPER celeb spotting!
Hmmmm, let me take another look because it's Sunday and not very busy....
"Wow, she REALLY looks like Renee Zellweger...she's a total doppleganger!"
More cross training.
More looking.
"Dude...that IS Renee Zellweger..."
"What the hell is she doing in the LA Fitness at Brighton???"
So yes, I saw RZ at the gym last Sunday, with another woman (who I believe is her trainer) and it was very bizarre. But awesome to have a PROPER celeb spotting!
Sunday 27 March 2011
I'm in the mood for....shoes
Spring is in the air, and this past week, it's actually been warm enough to kick off the boots and enjoy some bare legs in the sun! I'm itching for some new shoes, and found some cuties at Schuh. Better get my butt over there and pick them up before the sun goes away!
Now I just need some dresses, too!
Now I just need some dresses, too!
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