Boy, it's been warm in Utah! Dumb comment, I suppose - a desert state in August is warm, who knew? lol But a few days before Gininda came over for my emigration flight, the temps in the UK were down to low 50s fahrenheit, and I arrived to mid 90s!
Gin had the following day off, so I got my first Utah driving experience heading off to grocery stores etc.
Every day since, Gin has taken the car to work as I want my lie-ins in the mornings lol But I've been the driver most nights when we've gone to do stuff, whether it be shopping for personal stuff or wedding stuff.
Weather might've now broken - we're down to 79 during the day time today, which is much more comfortable :-)
Focus now turns to vehicles for myself - motorcycle and VW camper, probably. Just have to check the local classifieds to see what I fancy and what's available.
Friday, 2 September 2011
Arrived!
Arrived and settled on 23 August, 2011
DHL picked up my 11 boxes of stuff on Monday morning at about 11.30, so the journey really started. Loaded up at 6.45am Tuesday morning for the journey to LHR for the flight - Mum, Dad and my brother came with us, brother driving a rented Ford Galaxy to get all of us plus luggage in.
Got into Chicago O'Hare a few minutes early and headed off for Immigration.
I cornered a CBP officer and confirmed with him that I needed to complete a white I-94 and that the customs declaration only needed to have the back completed if I was bringing with me things that I'd had for less than a year or was planning on selling in the US.
Joined the immigration queue - we actually joined the USC/LPR queue as they said it didn't matter which. Got a youngish female CBP officer who took the brown envelope, opened it and started stamping forms left, right and centre. She chatted away with the two of us (Gin had come over to the UK a few days before so that we could journey back together), stamped everything that needed to be stamped and sent us on our way.
Picked up the bags from the carousel and went through to the customs point - they looked at the declarations, and waved is on through - even with 4 large suitcases, two cabin cases and two backpacks
No stresses at immigration/customs whatsoever! No secondary, nothing. Of course, that hadn't stopped me getting stressed about what could happen when the plane was coming in to land...
Over 3 hours at O'Hare, then onward flight to SLC where we were picked up by Gin's parents in her dad's old pick-up with topper (the only vehicle big enough for 4 people plus all the luggage.
Home and in bed by about 10.30pm.
Wednesday, and we were up early (the joys of an early night!) ready for errands - Gin handed me the keys to the car so that I could start getting used to driving in the US (only done it once before for a week on holiday) and we were off up to the county seat for the marriage license, then T-Mobile for my new sim card (Gin and her family are on T-Mob so it's easier, even though I do lose 3G from my iPhone), and finally grocery stores for bits and pieces.
Got home for lunch and there were the 11 boxes dumped on the drive - a little battered and bruised from their journeys though. We had lunch and then dived into the boxes - all 11 unpacked and some of the stuff sorted away by dinner time. Only a few breakages (5 glasses, a mug, a Le Creuset baking dish and a sponge tin dented to buggery), so not too bad all considered.
The stresses and strains then left me in bed all day yesterday suffering, but I'm better today, so hopefully it'll all be OK now, and, of course, Gin is off work as it's the weekend from tonight.
Only thing left to sort is my health insurance - the company I was going to go with (Humana) requires me to have lived in the US for 6 months prior to taking out the insurance, so back to square one. Gin's health insurance from her employer is a lot more money to add me on than the quotes I was getting, so if we can beat that, it'd be good. More to look into tonight and this weekend, I think - wonder if I'll have to speak to an insurance agent...
All photos are being added here
DHL picked up my 11 boxes of stuff on Monday morning at about 11.30, so the journey really started. Loaded up at 6.45am Tuesday morning for the journey to LHR for the flight - Mum, Dad and my brother came with us, brother driving a rented Ford Galaxy to get all of us plus luggage in.
Got into Chicago O'Hare a few minutes early and headed off for Immigration.
I cornered a CBP officer and confirmed with him that I needed to complete a white I-94 and that the customs declaration only needed to have the back completed if I was bringing with me things that I'd had for less than a year or was planning on selling in the US.
Joined the immigration queue - we actually joined the USC/LPR queue as they said it didn't matter which. Got a youngish female CBP officer who took the brown envelope, opened it and started stamping forms left, right and centre. She chatted away with the two of us (Gin had come over to the UK a few days before so that we could journey back together), stamped everything that needed to be stamped and sent us on our way.
Picked up the bags from the carousel and went through to the customs point - they looked at the declarations, and waved is on through - even with 4 large suitcases, two cabin cases and two backpacks
No stresses at immigration/customs whatsoever! No secondary, nothing. Of course, that hadn't stopped me getting stressed about what could happen when the plane was coming in to land...
Over 3 hours at O'Hare, then onward flight to SLC where we were picked up by Gin's parents in her dad's old pick-up with topper (the only vehicle big enough for 4 people plus all the luggage.
Home and in bed by about 10.30pm.
Wednesday, and we were up early (the joys of an early night!) ready for errands - Gin handed me the keys to the car so that I could start getting used to driving in the US (only done it once before for a week on holiday) and we were off up to the county seat for the marriage license, then T-Mobile for my new sim card (Gin and her family are on T-Mob so it's easier, even though I do lose 3G from my iPhone), and finally grocery stores for bits and pieces.
Got home for lunch and there were the 11 boxes dumped on the drive - a little battered and bruised from their journeys though. We had lunch and then dived into the boxes - all 11 unpacked and some of the stuff sorted away by dinner time. Only a few breakages (5 glasses, a mug, a Le Creuset baking dish and a sponge tin dented to buggery), so not too bad all considered.
The stresses and strains then left me in bed all day yesterday suffering, but I'm better today, so hopefully it'll all be OK now, and, of course, Gin is off work as it's the weekend from tonight.
Only thing left to sort is my health insurance - the company I was going to go with (Humana) requires me to have lived in the US for 6 months prior to taking out the insurance, so back to square one. Gin's health insurance from her employer is a lot more money to add me on than the quotes I was getting, so if we can beat that, it'd be good. More to look into tonight and this weekend, I think - wonder if I'll have to speak to an insurance agent...
All photos are being added here
Wednesday, 17 August 2011
Closer, ever closer
Well, with 6 days until my emigration flight, checklist time:
Motorbike sold a couple months ago
Car sold last Saturday
DHL booked to collect 11 boxes of household/personal effects on Monday 22nd August
Last run of shredding of paperwork etc done
Memberships and direct debits cancelled
Gin arrives Friday early evening, two cases and a cabin case in tow.
Family party lunchtime on Saturday
Out with my friends for a meal Sunday night
Leave early Tuesday morning for Heathrow and the flight through Chicago to Salt Lake City :-)
Motorbike sold a couple months ago
Car sold last Saturday
DHL booked to collect 11 boxes of household/personal effects on Monday 22nd August
Last run of shredding of paperwork etc done
Memberships and direct debits cancelled
Gin arrives Friday early evening, two cases and a cabin case in tow.
Family party lunchtime on Saturday
Out with my friends for a meal Sunday night
Leave early Tuesday morning for Heathrow and the flight through Chicago to Salt Lake City :-)
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
Counting down
Well, since approval, I've been back to the Isle of Man for work, and then, once I got notification that the passport, visa and documents were with the courier, Gin and I booked out flights.
Gin is flying over on the 18th August, arriving 19th, we have a family get-together on the 21st, the boxes should be picked up by the courier company on the 22nd, and we fly out on the 23rd!
12.50pm flight from LHR to OHD (Chicago), 4 hour stop-over to pass immigration, then OHD to SLC, arriving at my new home airport at 9.30pm local time!
It's really real now :-)
Wedding invitiations have been sent, car is going up for sale, ISA has been closed...
Gin is flying over on the 18th August, arriving 19th, we have a family get-together on the 21st, the boxes should be picked up by the courier company on the 22nd, and we fly out on the 23rd!
12.50pm flight from LHR to OHD (Chicago), 4 hour stop-over to pass immigration, then OHD to SLC, arriving at my new home airport at 9.30pm local time!
It's really real now :-)
Wedding invitiations have been sent, car is going up for sale, ISA has been closed...
Monday, 18 July 2011
Interview day!
Well, today was the culmination of seven and a half months of form-filling and waiting - time for my visa interview at the US embassy in London.
I caught the train up yesterday (Sunday 17th) with my brother, staying at the "cheap as chips" Travelodge right next to Marylebone station - cheap was for a reason, mind... The bathroom wasn't the most salubrious, no air-con, wi-fi costs extra - but the beds were comfortable enough.
This morning was interview time, so up at about 7.30am, shave, dress, black cab to North Audley Street so that I could put my phone into the safe-keeping of Gould Pharmacy, then wander down to the embassy. Queued for a little while outside, then through the scanner (both me and my bag, separate scanners, naturally) and into the embassy proper.
At the welcome desk I was allocated my number (I915 - presumably the 15th immigration visa of the day) at 8.17am, and sent to the waiting area.
Find a seat, sit down, and wait....... and wait...... and wait.....
Take a book, this bit is very boring!
I was called through for the first part of the interview, where my documents are checked and my fingerprints taken by the scanner - this was at 10.15am.
Sent back to the waiting room again....
Half an hour later, my number is called again, and off I trot for the interview proper. Scan one hand to prove it is I, raise my right hand and affirm that what I say will be the truth. And off we go.
Well, off we go may be a slight exaggeration - I was asked if Gin and I had met, if I'd been in the US for more than 90 days at any one time and to complete one of the forms with Gin's full name and my signature.
That was it.
APPROVED!!!
All done by about 11.50am, sent to the courier desk to pay the fee, and off I jolly well trot out of the embassy.
Go back to the pharmacy, retrieve my phone and proceed to wake Gin up at 4am Utah-time with the good news - followed by my Mum & Dad, and then off to meet my brother for a very British shake of the hand in congratulation lol
I caught the train up yesterday (Sunday 17th) with my brother, staying at the "cheap as chips" Travelodge right next to Marylebone station - cheap was for a reason, mind... The bathroom wasn't the most salubrious, no air-con, wi-fi costs extra - but the beds were comfortable enough.
This morning was interview time, so up at about 7.30am, shave, dress, black cab to North Audley Street so that I could put my phone into the safe-keeping of Gould Pharmacy, then wander down to the embassy. Queued for a little while outside, then through the scanner (both me and my bag, separate scanners, naturally) and into the embassy proper.
At the welcome desk I was allocated my number (I915 - presumably the 15th immigration visa of the day) at 8.17am, and sent to the waiting area.
Find a seat, sit down, and wait....... and wait...... and wait.....
Take a book, this bit is very boring!
I was called through for the first part of the interview, where my documents are checked and my fingerprints taken by the scanner - this was at 10.15am.
Sent back to the waiting room again....
Half an hour later, my number is called again, and off I trot for the interview proper. Scan one hand to prove it is I, raise my right hand and affirm that what I say will be the truth. And off we go.
Well, off we go may be a slight exaggeration - I was asked if Gin and I had met, if I'd been in the US for more than 90 days at any one time and to complete one of the forms with Gin's full name and my signature.
That was it.
APPROVED!!!
All done by about 11.50am, sent to the courier desk to pay the fee, and off I jolly well trot out of the embassy.
Go back to the pharmacy, retrieve my phone and proceed to wake Gin up at 4am Utah-time with the good news - followed by my Mum & Dad, and then off to meet my brother for a very British shake of the hand in congratulation lol
Sunday, 12 June 2011
Just another step on the journey
Received my "packet 4" letter a couple days ago - that's the confirmation of my visa interview appointment.
Visa Interview Appointment!!!
It's set for Monday 18th July at 9am, so my brother Cris has said he'll keep me company, and we'll go up on Sunday morning on the train, stay at a hotel near to the embassy in London, then spend the afternoon wandering around the city before getting an evening train home.
Packed my hard suitcase today, ready for the move - two motorcycle helmets, Mac Mini, two Minimax external hard drives, Mac OS discs, wireless keyboard and magic trackpad, motorcycle gloves, original Star Wars videos and two Harry Potter ultimate edition blu-rays. All for around 22kg, so ready to fly :-)
Also went through the stuff in the garage, and have hooked out the last of the stuff that will be coming with me (I think!), and also through the loft of the house, so I know what's left now (I think!).
Just got to sell the gas cooker, 1-piece motorcycle leathers, Henry vacuum cleaner, and some other bits and pieces.
Visa Interview Appointment!!!
It's set for Monday 18th July at 9am, so my brother Cris has said he'll keep me company, and we'll go up on Sunday morning on the train, stay at a hotel near to the embassy in London, then spend the afternoon wandering around the city before getting an evening train home.
Packed my hard suitcase today, ready for the move - two motorcycle helmets, Mac Mini, two Minimax external hard drives, Mac OS discs, wireless keyboard and magic trackpad, motorcycle gloves, original Star Wars videos and two Harry Potter ultimate edition blu-rays. All for around 22kg, so ready to fly :-)
Also went through the stuff in the garage, and have hooked out the last of the stuff that will be coming with me (I think!), and also through the loft of the house, so I know what's left now (I think!).
Just got to sell the gas cooker, 1-piece motorcycle leathers, Henry vacuum cleaner, and some other bits and pieces.
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Sunday Trading - 29th May
I woke up on Sunday morning with a mostly blue sky above central London - bonus!
I decided to forego breakfast at the hotel and decided to walk into the centre, so, leaving my backpack behind I headed off down Gloucester Place towards Oxford Street. At 9.30 on a Sunday morning, there was only very light traffic (mostly buses and taxis) and very little pedestrian traffic either. With the shops shut until 11 or 12 for Sunday trading hours, it made for a pretty peaceful journey, walking all the way along Oxford Street to Tottenham Court Road, then down Charing Cross Road and back into Covent Garden, picking up a pain au chocolat from a Patisserie Valerie along the way.
I looked into the American Classics store for some Dockers trousers, and also the Carhartt store, but neither had the sort I was looking for. I then wandered off back towards Piccadilly Circus and up Regent Street, stopping off at the National Geographic store (wow, that's some expensive stuff!) and the Apple Store, before heading into Nike Town where I tried on the Free shoes - way too narrow for my feet!
I walked back along Oxford St to House of Fraser and Selfridges looking for the Dockers trousers, but no good, so by now it was close to lunch time, so I headed back towards the hotel, via a Tesco express, a-foot. Five miles walked before lunch!
After a little nap, I got the tube back into the center and did some more wandering, while trying to decide what I wanted for dinner. Couldn't decide what I wanted so I wandered off in search of BBQ, but then when I got to Bodeans on Poland St, I didn't fancy it anymore lol I then headed back to Leicester Square and had a Quesadilla in Chiquitos instead.
After dinner I headed back to the hotel for my final night.
Slept well, got up, showered, breakfasted and took the tube back to Waterloo - being a holiday monday, my off-prak travel only card was valid all day, so I got the next available train back home.
So endeth the weekend!
I decided to forego breakfast at the hotel and decided to walk into the centre, so, leaving my backpack behind I headed off down Gloucester Place towards Oxford Street. At 9.30 on a Sunday morning, there was only very light traffic (mostly buses and taxis) and very little pedestrian traffic either. With the shops shut until 11 or 12 for Sunday trading hours, it made for a pretty peaceful journey, walking all the way along Oxford Street to Tottenham Court Road, then down Charing Cross Road and back into Covent Garden, picking up a pain au chocolat from a Patisserie Valerie along the way.
I looked into the American Classics store for some Dockers trousers, and also the Carhartt store, but neither had the sort I was looking for. I then wandered off back towards Piccadilly Circus and up Regent Street, stopping off at the National Geographic store (wow, that's some expensive stuff!) and the Apple Store, before heading into Nike Town where I tried on the Free shoes - way too narrow for my feet!
I walked back along Oxford St to House of Fraser and Selfridges looking for the Dockers trousers, but no good, so by now it was close to lunch time, so I headed back towards the hotel, via a Tesco express, a-foot. Five miles walked before lunch!
After a little nap, I got the tube back into the center and did some more wandering, while trying to decide what I wanted for dinner. Couldn't decide what I wanted so I wandered off in search of BBQ, but then when I got to Bodeans on Poland St, I didn't fancy it anymore lol I then headed back to Leicester Square and had a Quesadilla in Chiquitos instead.
After dinner I headed back to the hotel for my final night.
Slept well, got up, showered, breakfasted and took the tube back to Waterloo - being a holiday monday, my off-prak travel only card was valid all day, so I got the next available train back home.
So endeth the weekend!
Museums and Movies - 28th May
Saturday morning dawned nicely, woken by the sweet sound of vehicles engines on the four-lane one-way street outside!
Got up, quick shower and down to breakfast, then I put my backpack on and toddled off for the day's entertainment.
First I headed to Lambeth North tube station on the Bakerloo line again, and headed for the Imperial War Museum. This place is big, and has imposing 15" naval guns at the entrance!
I wandered back to the tube station and then headed back into the centre of London for some lunch and a wander. Lunch was at Crème de la Crêpe in Covent Garden, then I wandered around looking through the stalls and down to the various outdoorsy shops, where I bought my new hat, a Tilley T3:
Got up, quick shower and down to breakfast, then I put my backpack on and toddled off for the day's entertainment.
First I headed to Lambeth North tube station on the Bakerloo line again, and headed for the Imperial War Museum. This place is big, and has imposing 15" naval guns at the entrance!
Like the majority of museums in London, they are free to enter (one of the few good things that the Labour government did!). It is pretty packed, with the main hall having the large vehicles, and then downstairs there are the special exhibitions - the ones there now are one about the British Home Front in WW2 and the Fromelles mass grave from WW1.
The permanent exhibitions include First World War (including a trenches exhibit), Between the Wars, Second World War and Conflicts since 1945, among many others.
By the time I reached the Second World War exhibit, I was plum museumed out! lol
I wandered back to the tube station and then headed back into the centre of London for some lunch and a wander. Lunch was at Crème de la Crêpe in Covent Garden, then I wandered around looking through the stalls and down to the various outdoorsy shops, where I bought my new hat, a Tilley T3:
From there, I headed over to Leicester Square and bought myself a ticket to TT3D: Closer to the Edge - a 3D movie about the Isle of Man TT motorcycle races - very good movie it is too!
After the movie I went for another wander and ended up at the Duke of Argyll pub in Soho (Brewer St, funnily enough!)
Being a Samuel Smith's pub, no music, no sports, no tv - just nice, inexpensive beer - 3 pints later and I needed some food! I went back to Leicester Square and a Bella Italia to get a Pollo e Spinacci Calzone for dinner, and then back to the hotel to shower and cool my aching feet!
Around London - 27th May
After I'd had the medical, I wandered back to the hotel for check-in - now that was a real rigmarole! I walked in the door, I was asked for my name and given my keys - that was it! lol
Wandered up to my nice single en-suite bedroom - four foot wide bed, comfy!
After unpacking, I headed back to the tube and off to Arsenal.
As a supporter of the football team since 1979 (hey, my older brother supported Manchester United, so I had to choose the opposition at the 79 FA Cup Final, didn't I!) this would be my first trip to their home soil.
I got up there and headed for the new Emirates stadium (aka Ashburton Grove) which was opened in 2006. I couldn't go in, but I did go around the Arsenal museum, and take some pictures for posterity. The new stadium is pretty impressive, but when I walked the couple hundred yards around to the old stadium (Highbury), I was much more impressed - there's something about a 1930's art deco design that is just classy
Wandered up to my nice single en-suite bedroom - four foot wide bed, comfy!
After unpacking, I headed back to the tube and off to Arsenal.
As a supporter of the football team since 1979 (hey, my older brother supported Manchester United, so I had to choose the opposition at the 79 FA Cup Final, didn't I!) this would be my first trip to their home soil.
I got up there and headed for the new Emirates stadium (aka Ashburton Grove) which was opened in 2006. I couldn't go in, but I did go around the Arsenal museum, and take some pictures for posterity. The new stadium is pretty impressive, but when I walked the couple hundred yards around to the old stadium (Highbury), I was much more impressed - there's something about a 1930's art deco design that is just classy
I then headed back into London, but decided that I'd reached my limit after walking 5 miles during the day, so packed in and went back to the hotel for an early-ish night (I'd not slept well Thursday night, which didn't help!)
A successful weekend
Visa medical was set for 12.50pm on Friday 27th May, and as Monday 30th was the Spring Bank Holiday, I decided to splash out and stay in London for three nights.
Got the train up Friday morning to Waterloo, took the Bakerloo line tube to Marylebone and then walked down Gloucester Place to the hotel. Dropped my bag off (too early for check-in) and walked over to the Knightsbridge Doctor's to make sure I knew where I was going!
Bought some lunch and then, still with at least an hour to my appointment, I went for a walk, spiralling out from Bentinck Street. I got bored of that eventually, and presented myself to the doctors at 12.30. They let me sit in the waiting room, and then gave me another questionnaire to complete, photocopied my passport, police certificate, etc.
Then I got called through by the vaccination nurse and, having noticed that I'd only had one MMR jab (why didn't my NHS doctor tell me I'd need a booster when I had the first one in January?) gave me the second one, a copy of the vaccinations report to keep, and then passed me on to the X-Ray guy.
Shirt off, lean against the board, chin up - X-ray taken (presumably for TB and other more nasty possibilities).
Back to the waiting room to sit down before called in to see the doctor. She took my height, weight, checked my eyesight, then I had to strip down to my boxers for more examinations - blood pressure, looked into my eyes, listened to heart and lungs from front and back, palpated my stomach area and checked that I'm a man, man! Finally, took some blood to send off to make sure that I don't have syphilis or similar!
Pay the fee and I'm done!
Got the train up Friday morning to Waterloo, took the Bakerloo line tube to Marylebone and then walked down Gloucester Place to the hotel. Dropped my bag off (too early for check-in) and walked over to the Knightsbridge Doctor's to make sure I knew where I was going!
Bought some lunch and then, still with at least an hour to my appointment, I went for a walk, spiralling out from Bentinck Street. I got bored of that eventually, and presented myself to the doctors at 12.30. They let me sit in the waiting room, and then gave me another questionnaire to complete, photocopied my passport, police certificate, etc.
Then I got called through by the vaccination nurse and, having noticed that I'd only had one MMR jab (why didn't my NHS doctor tell me I'd need a booster when I had the first one in January?) gave me the second one, a copy of the vaccinations report to keep, and then passed me on to the X-Ray guy.
Shirt off, lean against the board, chin up - X-ray taken (presumably for TB and other more nasty possibilities).
Back to the waiting room to sit down before called in to see the doctor. She took my height, weight, checked my eyesight, then I had to strip down to my boxers for more examinations - blood pressure, looked into my eyes, listened to heart and lungs from front and back, palpated my stomach area and checked that I'm a man, man! Finally, took some blood to send off to make sure that I don't have syphilis or similar!
Pay the fee and I'm done!
Sunday, 8 May 2011
Another step closer
The case notes have now been logged into the system at the London embassy, so I've booked my medical for Friday 27th May - and I'm staying up in London for the long weekend too :-)
Saturday, 30 April 2011
We are getting closer!
April 18th, while Gin was here in England with me on vacation, we got notification that our visa petition had been approved by USCIS! Yay!
Gin then contacted the National Visa Center and we now have a London case number, and the file is on it's way to Grosvenor Square to the embassy! Double yay!
Time to make sure I have everything ready for packet 3, when I can book the medical and then arrange the final interview, both up in London! Yay!
In the meantime, while Gin was here, we went through some more of my boxes of stuff to work out what will be moving with me, then my brother Cris went through the charity-run boxes hooking out stuff he wants. I now have a ginormous roll of bubble wrap, and will be starting to box my stuff up tomorrow and monday :-)
Gin then contacted the National Visa Center and we now have a London case number, and the file is on it's way to Grosvenor Square to the embassy! Double yay!
Time to make sure I have everything ready for packet 3, when I can book the medical and then arrange the final interview, both up in London! Yay!
In the meantime, while Gin was here, we went through some more of my boxes of stuff to work out what will be moving with me, then my brother Cris went through the charity-run boxes hooking out stuff he wants. I now have a ginormous roll of bubble wrap, and will be starting to box my stuff up tomorrow and monday :-)
Monday, 21 March 2011
Immigration file touched
Are we getting closer?
The date that our visa petition was received by the US Customs & Immigration Service (USCIS) at the California Service Center (CSC) has changed from 1st December 2010 to 29th November 2010.
That must mean that someone has actually glanced at the file!
The date that our visa petition was received by the US Customs & Immigration Service (USCIS) at the California Service Center (CSC) has changed from 1st December 2010 to 29th November 2010.
That must mean that someone has actually glanced at the file!
Immigration file touched
Are we getting closer?
The date that our visa petition was received by the US Customs & Immigration Service (USCIS) at the California Service Center (CSC) has changed from 1st December 2010 to 29th November 2010.
That must mean that someone has actually glanced at the file!
The date that our visa petition was received by the US Customs & Immigration Service (USCIS) at the California Service Center (CSC) has changed from 1st December 2010 to 29th November 2010.
That must mean that someone has actually glanced at the file!
Monday, 7 March 2011
Still waiting...
This all takes such a long time..
Apparently, they're about to start the visa petitions for November, so we're getting closer anyway. I've sent off for my police records check and had the notification of receipt by email, and have written to the doctor for copies of my notes to take with me. Also had the jabs I've required done on the NHS (MMR and TDP (Tetanusm, Diptheria and Polio).
Gin has booked up everything for her holiday over here at the end of April - flights, train and our hotel in Ilchester :-) so I've now got that to look forward to, and we're both counting the days! Who knows, we might have news by then on the petition! It'd be too much to hope for that the petition is approved and my medical is during her week here, or even the interview!
Found someone who might be interested in buying the Bonneville, so that'd be good, one less thing to worry about!
Apparently, they're about to start the visa petitions for November, so we're getting closer anyway. I've sent off for my police records check and had the notification of receipt by email, and have written to the doctor for copies of my notes to take with me. Also had the jabs I've required done on the NHS (MMR and TDP (Tetanusm, Diptheria and Polio).
Gin has booked up everything for her holiday over here at the end of April - flights, train and our hotel in Ilchester :-) so I've now got that to look forward to, and we're both counting the days! Who knows, we might have news by then on the petition! It'd be too much to hope for that the petition is approved and my medical is during her week here, or even the interview!
Found someone who might be interested in buying the Bonneville, so that'd be good, one less thing to worry about!
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
Holiday season
Finally got home early in the morning of 23rd December, having got a stand-by seat on the evening BA flight - booted to World Traveller Plus too, which was a bonus! Land by about 7am, train into Green Park, tube to Waterloo, on the train by about 9.40am, home by lunchtime.
Still waiting on any further moves on the visa process - they received the petition on the 1st December, but not further news since then. Government departments work to their own schedules :-)
Christmas/New Year (my last as a UK resident! *giddy* lol) went OK, now back to the grindstone of work - or rather, me doing work, breaking programs, waiting for developers to fix them!
Gone through some clothes and books, sending a load to the charity shops, and will have a load of other stuff to go in a few months out in the garage, that I've already split off into what is coming with me, and what isn't.
Slowly catching up on reading the new books that I got for my birthday and Christmas, along with the myriad blu-rays that I've received or bought. Oh, and watching a few series at the same time as Gin, together over Yahoo messenger lol
Still waiting on any further moves on the visa process - they received the petition on the 1st December, but not further news since then. Government departments work to their own schedules :-)
Christmas/New Year (my last as a UK resident! *giddy* lol) went OK, now back to the grindstone of work - or rather, me doing work, breaking programs, waiting for developers to fix them!
Gone through some clothes and books, sending a load to the charity shops, and will have a load of other stuff to go in a few months out in the garage, that I've already split off into what is coming with me, and what isn't.
Slowly catching up on reading the new books that I got for my birthday and Christmas, along with the myriad blu-rays that I've received or bought. Oh, and watching a few series at the same time as Gin, together over Yahoo messenger lol
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