Chapter 4 - We're here!

Finally; I'm up and running again. So much has happened since my last post, it's hard to know where to begin!
Our friend Paul very kindly allowed us to stay at his cottage for the few days that we were homeless, waiting for our departure flight on Oct 1. I never had to dirty up his kitchen because so many friends had us over for just about all our meals!
The day before we were due to leave, another friend, Johnny G drove us up to London where we had booked into a hotel. Johnny was going to stay in London to see some client's, but just as we arrived his phone rang and Sarah, his wife had been rushed to the hospital with a very serious asthma attach. Poor Johnny had to hurry back home. We were all very concerned for Sarah, but thankfully she is on the mend now.
Gulliver was as good as gold, and lived up to his name as a great traveller! I'm sure he didn't think much of the flight, but came out of his crate at the other end and seemed to have taken it in his stride.
It's hard to believe that we've accomplished so much in less than the 3 weeks that we've been here. In the first week we really hit the ground running! Our initial idea was to rent an apartment, but after seeing a few places I was really not looking forward to living either on top or underneath someone else - even with a pool and exercise room available. We stopped by the real estate agent we have been dealing with long distance and one of the girls in the office happened to tell us about her uncle who she thought might have a house for rent. We gave her our cell phone number and said to have him give us a call.
He called and we followed his directions to come see the house. As soon as we came down the driveway, both of us thought, "this is too good to be true". We were greeted by a large wooded lot with a lovely house with a full front porch (tick number one on my 'like to have' list) Inside there was a dining room (tick no. 2), fireplace (tick no. 3), and a basement (tick no. 4). It sits on a 4.5 acre wooded lot, and is surrounded by 40 acres of protected woodland and is in walking distance of a beautiful lake. I assumed it would be well out of our price range but was astounded to find it wasn't! Both A and I tried to play it cool and said we would have to go away and think about it. As we drove away we talked about how we loved it but really shouldn't jump at the first thing, but then, I had this amazing 'sign'. A cardinal (that's a red bird, for you Brits)flew right across our windscreen and I felt with a strange certainty that my mother was saying, "this is the place!" I will have to back up a bit to explain.
On the morning of my mothers funeral, I went outside very early in the morning, feeling the loss and sadness intensely; I just didn't know how I was going to get through the day. I was standing by a little bush in the motel parking lot, and suddenly this lovely cardinal flew over and perched on a branch right beside me. Normally, they are fairly skittish, but this one sat very calmly and started singing. I peace came over me and I knew Mom was with me and that everything was as it should be. So now you know why cardinals have a special meaning to me now. (I can hear some of you scoffing - and I can't say I blame you, but that's just how it is)
Anyway, we called the next day and said we would take it. so here we are. I've already painted most of the downstairs in preparation for the arrival of our furniture. We bought a mattress and base and a sofa, but other than a couple of folding lawn chairs, we have no furniture. We are eating off paper plates and using plastic cutlery. Yesterday, a went out and bought a bottle of wine so we could relax and treat ourselves, only we didn't have a corkscrew! I went out first thing this morning and purchased one.
I was hoping to attach a picture or two, but we managed to pack the camera cable. Sorry about that - pictures will be forthcoming!
We bought a car and I now have an official North Carolina drivers license. I think they put someone else's picture on my license though. She looks nothing like me.
Now that we have a laptop, I will be able to add to this blog more often and it won't be such an epic. More later!

Chapter 3 - The Movers are here!

Today is the second day of a 3 day process of packing. The removal people have been busy boxing up everything that doesn't move and isn't nailed down. If I took a nap, I'm afraid I might wake up neatly wrapped in bubble wrap and fit snugly inside a box. (I wonder what sort of label they would put on me?)

Last night we had to resort to eating our take-away Chinese meal on top of boxes. Our poor dog, Gulliver, wanted to find his bed, which I had washed. He searched and searched and finally resorted to climbing inside and empty box, which was too small for him to lie down in, so he just sat there looking very silly, but also sad and reproachful. I had to give in and let him have his clean bed.

In preparation for our move, I went to the doctor 2 weeks ago, just to get a check-up. She took my blood pressure which was fine. Then she put me on the scales. After sitting back down in her office, she leaned forward and smacked me on the back of the head! She said, "I don't normally hit my patients, but you've put on weight since the last time I weighed you"! I mumbled something about it being some years since I was on her scales, but I was definitely chastened.

This move is bound to help. Up and down the stairs, lugging boxes, furniture - and cups of tea for the movers. Anyway, It's swimming and exercise when we get to NC. A new move; A new me! That's going to be my moto.

We are going to shut down our computer today, so this will be the last posting until we get to our hotel.
Wish us luck!

Chapter 2 - Decision Made; It's Time to Go

After much discussion A and I decided moving back to the States was the right decision. Despite living in Kentucky previously, we thought it would be good to try some place new. North Carolina was chosen because, 1. It's a little bit warmer in the winter, 2. It's a little closer to the sea, and after living on an Island (albeit a very big one) we would miss the sea, 3. It's not all that far from friends and family, 4. It's cheaper to live there, and last, but definitely not least, 5. There are some great vineyards with very good wines - a must!

We decided to rent the house, as we were having no luck selling it, which must have been the right decision because the very day we said, "let's rent it", our neighbour knocked on our door and she had someone who wanted to look at it! They loved it, wanted it and as of October 1, will move in.

Clock ticking. I quit work at the end of August so I would have a month to pull everything together. A did all the advance stuff - moving companies, booking planes, hotels, etc. I planned our Farewell Party and Moving Sale!

Planning a large party where you might have to use your outdoor space is a gamble in England, because more likely than not, it will be raining, and this year has been the worst, wettest Summer ever! However, we were blessed with the first sunny day in weeks, and the party was a roaring success. I asked everyone to bring a bottle of wine, and as people left, I gave them a bottle of spirits from our stock, so we don't have to worry about shipping it and paying customs.

The party began at 2.30pm and ended at around 10pm, when we and the few stragglers left staggered up to the pub to round-off the evening. One very good friend who came with us asked me the next day, "did I go to the pub"? I think he might not have been the only one whose memories of the latter part of the evening might have been a bit sketchy.

This weekend is our big 'Moving Sale'. It's amazing what accumulates over 16 years of living in one place. And it's even more amazing what some people will buy! I'm not complaining, mind. What ever isn't sold has to be hauled off to the dump or Charity Shops, so today, being the last day of the sale, I'm trying all sorts of gimmicks to try and get rid of stuff - I'm starting to sound like a market stall holder, "Free clay pots with any purchase! That sweater would look great on you! How about some pots and pans for your son who just started college?"

I may have stumbled on to my true calling.

Chapter One - England

I decided to begin this diary with just a little background on how we came to be in England in the first place.

In 1994, after the death of his brother,My husband, A, and Son J, and I decided to up sticks and move to England to look after A's elderly mother, who didn't seem to be coping to well. At this juncture, may I offer a word of advice to anyone who is thinking of moving in with an elderly parent with your family - DON'T DO IT! If I had know about blogging then, I would have starting this diary much sooner as a terrible warning to others. However, what doesn't 't kill you makes you stronger, and fortunately, I'm not dead. I just kept telling myself, "This too shall pass". And three years later, she did (I'm ashamed to admit, I did start humming, 'ding dong, the withch is dead').

All the negative things aside; we moved to a beautiful little postcard perfect village in Somerset, called Hinton St George. Stunning scenery, honey-coloured stone, lots of thatched roofs - and after 3 different landloards, the pub finally found salvation from the current owners, Steve & Michelle. The village is full of interesting people and we have made many good friends which we are very sad to leave. they have all promised to come see us in North Carolina - I just hope they don't all arrive at once!