I Moved… Part II

The Roman numeral looks a lot better than the “2” right?  Anyway, here I am again, and surprisingly here YOU are again for more of the tour… so without further ado ….

Kitchen:

The Kitchen is sooooooo much bigger than the other flat.  It still has no disposal or dishwasher (except me and Chris) but I enjoy the room.  It is quite outdated, but we actually have cupboards in this flat as well – bonus!!  Just a question – is is strange to have curtains in a kitchen??  Should I get something for the window besides the roller blind?

Our squatty fridge complete with collection of DIY things on top – hopefully when we re-do the Sitting Room we can get rid of this “feature” – not the fridge obviously – the collection….

The window  ledge.  Cookbooks (thanks Mom and Abbie), recipe cards, (the cups have gone now), and plants.

The Bathroom:

The Bathroom is a lot bigger as well.  They put in the 70’s bathtub – just for us (they hate us).  Chris came in the bedroom the other day and said, “Its amazing, after 5 years of marriage I FINALLY have my own shelf in the bathroom!!!”

P.S. Still no shower Boo!!

The Bedroom:

This room needs the most help – by far!  But, it is second on our list so it will have to be plain and boring for now.  Yes, that is a stuffed rabbit, and yes I brought it from America with me, and yes, occasionally it has a spot on my bed.  So what?  My life my business – right!?!?

The view from the bedroom window.  The pub across the street.  People think that because it is a small town that we live in, that it is nice and quiet – its not.  That road has constant traffic all day and on the weekends we have all the drunks walking home from the pubs and clubs and it is NOISY.  That is one downside to moving – at our other flat we were far away from the street we never heard anything.  It’s a bit different now and we are still trying to get used to it.

These are more flats on top and the local take away and fish and chip shop on the bottom.  Sometimes the smell can be lovely – but most the time the smell of the food – all the time, until 2:30 AM is quite sickening.  Oh well!!

The car park.

The Office:

My desk – quite busy I mist admit.  But, there is method in my mess.

Shared bookcase (by shared I mean Chris has a FEW books on here – the rest are mine.).  Also, remember when you were little and you saw adds in the magazines for Sea Monkeys and you asked your mom and she always said no??  No, just me??  Anyway, the other month we saw a kit at the shop for a reduced price and so I got them and now am raising my own tank of Sea Monkeys (but really, that is a whole other post).  Also yes, that is a teddy bear, but I have it here for a reason.  When we first viewed the flat we walked in this empty room and I immediately thought – Nursery!  I realize in my mind that devoting a whole room to a baby that might never be would be silly so the logical thing would be an office – and I love the office.  But, I keep the teddy bear in the room to remind me that miracles do happen and that, if God sees fit, this room might not always be an office.

The view down.  The office is on the same side as the bedroom so the view is pretty much the same.

Chris’ office desk area – empty compared to mine – well they do say opposites attract.

 

Well there you go – there is my new flat.  We really do love it.  There is a lot more room and Chris and I have even had to shout, “Where are you?!??!” Which never happened in the old flat.  I wish I had a magic wand and could have it all decorated to my taste but I am having to learn that, as an adult it takes time.  This is the last move until we move back to America (hopefully) so we want to make it as homey as possible.  I am going to be re-doing the Sitting Room within the month (oh yeah, I’ll take pictures).

Have a good weekend!!!

I Moved…

I moved last month.  It was a very quick decision.  We had been asking our landlord to move us to a 2 bedroom for years (that is not an exaggeration)  now – but because we didn’t have kids, they wouldn’t move us.  Luckily one day we got a phone call saying a 2 bedroom was available and so we jumped at the chance – even though that meant we had a weekend to move everything.  The best thing was that we moved from one of the apartment buildings to another on the complex so it wasn’t too complicated to move.  Even better, was we got some men from church to help us move.  It is amazing how many things 2 people can have in 5 years of marriage. 

Well this next series of posts is going to be a tour of the new flat.  I realize that this is going to be quite boring for most, but my mom has asked for pictures several times and her wish is my command (most the time!).  So today you get the…. Sitting Room (alright, try to contain your excitement!).

 

These are the French doors to the outside world (the curtains and carpet where here when we moved in.  They are nice, but not my style.).  This is one of the things we LOVED  when we viewed the  flat.  Upon studying this picture it also looks like something one might see while dying…. “head to the white light!!”

This is the sitting room.  We have soooooooooo much more room now.  The washing is drying (I couldn’t take it all down to take a picture, the sun shines so rarely we always take advantage.) 

The piano and my American magazines – when I find them over here its like I’ve won the lottery.  The blue on the wall was our first try at painting the room – it is horrible in person so this weekend we are going to try take two – with a light brown. 

 

The View Outside – these are all taken from the doors in the Sitting Room:

Those trees are lovely but in the spring the amount of things that flew through the open doors from the tree was quite annoying – I think Autumn might be worse!  But the shade is so nice in the warmer weather – so I shouldn’t complain (I will, but I shouldn’t).

The church car park.  It is a rare occasion when there are no cars there.  It makes for a good seat for weddings and awkward seats for funerals.  Funny story:  The first week we were here, I had the music BLASTING to give me motivation to do the unpacking and cleaning with the doors and windows open wide.  The song Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis came on and I was singing along.  I happened to look out the door and noticed that there was a funeral going on.  The hearse had just pulled up and there were a lot of people standing outside solemnly.  I decided that the music (especially that song) wasn’t appropriate for a funeral and promptly turned it off.  I am a bit more careful now.

The view looking right.  There is the Zebra crossing right there and that building is the town museum.  Open only 2 days a week and never busy!  I’ve never been there.  The metal gate is a favourite for the nieces and the twins that I babysit.  There are always fights over who gets to swing it open – it’s the simple things right?!?

This is the view looking left.  That is the alley way to the car park.  We are quite secluded here (only 4 have doors this side of the building).

The view looking down.  We are on the 2nd floor (if you are American) or the 1st (if you are English).  Just one of those things that make my life more complicated than necessary, like on the phone when I tell the delivery person that we are in a second floor flat, only to have Chris shout out FIRST!   Also a favourite spot for the kids to hang out of and give their parents regular, tiny heart attacks.  (Don’t worry they are safe!!)

The view straight across to the church.

 

All in all it is a lovely place.  We are working on decorating it, but it has given us so much more room.  There will be other posts this week  for the other rooms (I know, you can hardly wait).

A Change, maybe...

We had some drama yesterday here at the Flattley household.  We are struggling to not let things get to us and to forgive.  Two things which are very difficult when the things that we are working on involve people who are very close to us.
I was very, VERY lucky to grow up in a loving family.  One that used to fight when we were little, but, now loves to spend time together.  We spent the good part of my holiday playing games, laughing with, and just enjoying being together.
I know Chris and I are our own family now - with or without kids - and lately we feel like we have to defend that "family" to others. 
So now comes the time to decide - should we move?  Right now we have lived in our apartment for almost a year to the date.  We do love the apartment, but Chris is struggling to find a job in this small town and I think we need to break away and start a life of our own - far enough away from family that we can be our own family, but close enough to be around when needed. 
But I struggle.  I want to go back to America.  Maybe not move to Utah, but move back (I think I hear the East Coast calling our name).  We need to be around people who love us and can give us the emotional support we need.  And moving somewhere else in England makes that dream further and further away...
But.... I want to start school.  Once I get my visa here (June) I can take a 2 year midwifery course - free of charge.  What a great opportunity!  So that would make the move worth it... right?
I think I am getting to the point where I have to honest with myself and stop trying to trick myself.... "Jamie you are not going to be able to move back to America anytime soon, you dont have the money or the resources in America." 
And dont you think I should start to live in the moment... not live in the "When I get back to America" moment?  Sometimes I look back at the time I've been in England and I get quite frustrated that I've wasted so much time - looking too far ahead to make NOW as good as it could be.
Maybe it is about time to realize that England is my home - now... maybe not forever... but now, and I should take advantage of it and enjoy it.
That makes sense, you know... Thanks for the chat Internet....

I'm back, are you??

Hello my dear blog friends...

I am back.  I have access to the internet here in the wilds of England ;) and can now become part of the blogging world again and keep everyone up on my life.

Chris and I now live in our own "flat".  We are getting used to it and trying to get used to being on our own. 

Hopefully I will be able to keep up on this more often now!!!  Keep visiting -- things will keep changing....

Bits and Pieces....

Things here in Doncaster have been going unusually well.  The Dragon is being quite kind and I am happier....  I think the reason for both of those things is that I am moving Friday night.

Friday Chris got off work early and we ventured into Sheffield... I wasnt impressed by anything there except the fact that we drove past a street called:   Butt Hole Street (I kid you not, how would you like to live there?!?!?) and a Wilcox Street.  All in all the visit was boring and it took us 2 hours by bus to get to our appointment and even longer to get home.  It is times like that, that I really REALLY miss my car. (It would have taken 20 minutes by car).

Saturday night we went to the ward social - a talent show of sorts, including the award winning road show.  It was a good night.  The road show was great and it took place in America, they were all cowboys, so it was fun to listen to them all try to do an American accent.  At one point the missionaries (2 sisters and 2 elders) got up and did a lip sync (I spelled it sink at first) to a Sons of Provo song.  They were all dressed in street clothes and were mouthing the words and jumping around on stage.  I thought it was great, but I think it verged on breaking missionary rules.  I was thinking... the fact that they even know that song exists just goes to show they are from Utah and Idaho.  I am sure it is something the ward will be talking about for YEARS to come.  We got a ride home with Chris' friend Colin and his wife Amanda.  Colin is in a wheelchair and he has this great car that is all controlled by hand.  When we pulled into the parking lot he said, 'not bad for my first time driving in rain.' Which, I am glad he decided to wait until we were safely in the parking lot to say.  On the way out of the parking lot he was backing up and, you must understand, people in England get REALLY close to cars when they park.  They are parking pros and could fit into spaces with just inches to spare.  Anyway, Colin was backing up and getting really close to the car behind us, but I just thought he was looking and getting close, and then he hit it.  And then, in the church parking lot, he said, 'lets get out of here!' and we drove off.  In my defense I dont know who the car belonged too so I couldnt tell, and it didnt do any damage to his car, I doubt it did damage to anyone elses. 

We went to church yesterday and although, there are people I will miss (just a few) I am so glad to be going back to March.  I've done all my packing, which is unusual for me to be done this soon, but I just cant wait to get out of here.  The Dragon is having her daughter and granddaugher here until Thursday so it will be a good send off to know just why we are going... as if we dont already know.

Moving House.... again...

Hello Blog Readers! 

As you can tell my the title we are moving house again....  Olga (The Dragon) talks too lound for her own good, but this time, loud enough for my good.  I overheard her talking to her son saying she was going to just have the house empty for her trip to Australlia.  Chris and I were blind to this fact  until I heard this - at which point we talked about it and decided to have Chris ask her ;) She said she did want us out so we were back to asking his parents to take us back - which I didnt feel too bad asking about, because at dinner the other day Chris' mom and dad both spoke to us about how much they wanted us back.  And there is a perk to moving back.... a car.  Thats right... look out England -- Jamie is going to be driving! 

So pretty much these last 2 months up here have been a waste, we never would have moved up here, had we not had the offer to have a house to ourselves while she was gone.  Even then not just the last 2 month, but since we got here in July, because since then we'd been planning to move up.  So we miss out on 3 months of work, maybe our own place to live, and a lot more piece of mind for me.

I have been completely depressed while we've been here in Doncaster.  I have been taking St. Johns Wart to help, and it takes the edge off a little.  I was sad in March (Chris' parents house) but I think a lot of that was homesickness... Here I have had a hard time the whole time, and that is with the homesickness under control (I think).  It is a chore to get out of bed, it is a chore to act happy around friends and family and Chris.  He knows I have been struggling but not the extent.  As much as I hate to say it, I feel better knowing we are moving back.  I will be around my amazing Mother-in-law, a great church group, my sister-in-laws, and all the other family.  Dont get me wrong there are things here I will miss, the friends I've made here and especially the landscapes. 

I hope things get better in March.  Every now and then I get a far off view of happiness and contentment but right now it seems quite far away.  I am having a birthday in a few weeks and look back at the last year and realize that most of it has been filled with UN-happiness and I hate that it is a whole year wasted.  I hope this year will be better and I hope that I can appreciate things more. 

I feel alright now... I must, if the only thing I am REALLY sad about today, is having to take down my Halloween decorations before Halloween.

So Long, Farewell......

The time has FINALLY come for Chris and I to move up to Doncaster.  This Saturday we are saying goodbye to the caravan, the family, the amazing branch, the noisy trains, and the city of March.  Am I sad?  Yes!  I am sad because I have really grown to like my new family (especially my mother-in-law -- and that isnt kissing up -- she doesnt read this).  It is also scary to go to a new city that Chris and I know nothing about at all.  Chris is brave... he already has job interviews set up and doesnt know how to get to them.  I am going to hold things off until I get a little settled.   We are going to be staying with an old lady called Olga who is gone with her senior friends a lot and is legally blind.  I am wary of moving in with someone that I dont know at all but the other day when Chris called her (he always does, I dont understand anyone on the phone here) she asked if we wanted her to get us any food for when we come on Saturday.  I have a feeling it will be like living with a grandma - a grandma who I cant understand - but a grandma none the less.  It will be good to get on our own.  Olga informed us that she will be gone all next week.  I turned to Chris and asked, 'What are we going to do with a house to ourself?????!?'  It is something we've never NEVER had.  It will be strange for him to go to work each day, strange to have a bathroom in the same house as us, strange to have some space, and strange to have a closet -- we havent had one of those since we've been married.  I dont think she has the internet so it might be a while until I write again, but its my blog - you faithful readers are used to that!

...And the number one reason why people do blogs.... They work for theGovernment!

Okay so... why do a blog?  I guess my reasons are two-fold -- wait, more than two...
1. The first reason is that, here at work I have an ample amount of time on my hands.  So, I think to myself, why not start a blog and decorate it in pink and give other people who are bored at work something to do...
2.  The second reason is that very often, as my closest friends can attest, things happen to me that are worth writing down.  I figure this is a good way to keep up the "Jamie's crazy stories" archive... Amy will be most happy with this reason - and probably least happy with the next one...
3.  For the third and probably most important reason, I plan on moving in the near future. I thought this might be the best way to keep in touch with all my loved ones - internationally.  Depending on what side of the world I am on family on both sides can be kept up to date.
So here I am writing my life on the computer...