Moving West

Week three has officially come and more of the same ensues. I read my husband's rant (I thought he was going to redo some of that as it was purely a low moment) but in reflection of the highs and lows of the last month or so, I'd like to report that things are looking up. Why? Two things:

• We're moving to West London this Friday! No more construction at all hours of the day (not sure if we've shared that- but directly across the street from us there are HUGE construction crews who start EVERY morning at 8am - saturdays, sundays, no difference and jack hammer until 6pm every night). No more hour long tube rides to meet our other friends out! We can unpack our stuff and settle in!


• I am pretty close to getting a job! I have a couple prospects on the table, but the one I'm most interested in is looking very good. I'm hopeful to be reporting in a few days that I am gainfully employed in the UK- imagine that!

Here is a picture of our new pad from the outside. How cute does it look?

We are the second floor (well, here we are considered 1st floor) of the last doorway on the right. Those two windows on the second floor are ours. The place is nice, it has two bedrooms, a big great room with an old fireplace, high ceilings, hard wood floors, and a kitchen with so much cupboard space we will have no problem packing away our Costco supplies when it arrives next month.

The best part of the place is it is in a more central part of town, closer to our friends, and much bigger than our efficient corporate housing.

Also, we have a lot to look forward to. We've planned two weekend trips in the coming 6 weeks- one weekend away in Bath with another GEP couple. Then at the end of November we'll hop a flight to Nice, France and experience a couple days of the French Rivera. Yeah, life is terrible. :)

Our first visitor has claimed her bed in the new casa- Anneliese will be visiting the Menendez/Sciammarella B&B in mid-December. She comes a week before the first London Family Christmas will take place with Gracie, my sister Nikki, and her boyfriend Dan.

(Pictured left- Chris, Michele, and Dave- Chris & Dave are GEP, Michele is a trailing spouse like me)

On the friend front- we are meeting lots of expats. The GEP community is a lot of fun - there are couples and singles who are always up to go out for a pint. We've also been introduced to other expats through friends in the US and have been setting up different times to meet them. To those of you who have sent me a random email here or there telling me to email so and so for a drink- you bet I've done it! The more friends we meet, the better! However, we've been warned that it will be a long process to make friends with a native here. The cultural consultant here issued a challenge to us to determine success here in the UK- get yourself invited to the home of a native for dinner. If you can do that, you've made it. Imagine that. This whole experience has made me sensitive to the plight of expats in the US- those RSP's who used to come into EY during busy season who we would just pass in the halls. I think in the future I'll make more of an effort to be friendly.

Today is a nice day- sunny but a little chilly. With the sun comes my favorite thing- running outside! We are close to the Thames river here with a nice running path. I might as well take advantage of this lady of leisure thing and get myself back in shape. I'm off to run- tootles until next time.