Category Archives: england

The Royal Wedding

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Ian and I woke up at 4:30 am last Friday to see the Royal Wedding Live (on TV).    It was an amazing event.   I felt like I was there, and I was really glued to my TV until the kiss on the balcony.   Everything was so beautiful.

I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what the dress, which had been speculated about endlessly, looked like.    I couldn’t wait to see the groom’s face when he saw the bride or to hear all of the traditional pieces of a royal wedding..  live.

It’s different when you see it later in the media.  Bits are chopped off and transformed into a good media piece.  I wanted a chance to see the whole thing, as it happened, and I was glad to be able to.

Brit came in while the crowd was assembling outside the balcony.  I said, “Look, Brit!   They’re about to kiss on the balcony.  It’s a big deal!  Look at the crowd!”   She was equally impressed.

I was excited for Britain that day, seeing people happy and celebrating together.

We’ll have to fly in for the next one.  :)

Photos I found taken by someone who was there.

The Economic Fair

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My daughter had an “economic fair” at school today.   It was part of the social studies segment in which they study… economics.

Earlier this week, TLK and her friend got together and made valentine chocolate lollipops.   I’ve never seen candy made before, so it was interesting to watch (and really easy).

Today, they set up booths and sold their items.    The parents were invited.   Upon entering the classroom, we were all handed loads of fake money.    We went around to various tables and asked the kids how much their items were.   Some of them were quite the sales people.   While I was buying a chocolate lollipop, the boy at the next booth said, “I have bookmarks.  I had help making them.  They’re only 3 tickets.”

How could I resist?

I ended up with quite a stash of popcorn, cookies, chocolate lollies, a clay dinosaur and a bookmark.

This was a brilliant plan!   :D

With their profits, the kids were allowed to go shopping amongst the leftover items for sale.  I’m interested to see what TLK comes home with.

Flying In

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Every now and then, my mind wanders back to that moment when I was sitting on the plane, looking out the window, realising that I’m about to land in England to meet my boyfriend at the airport.

The thoughts flying through my head:

  • Wow, I’m finally here.  7 hours wasn’t that long.
  • Look, the sun is coming up (it went down at lightning speed to me, and back up again)
  • Hmmm…  look at the traffic… it’s really backwards (to me)
  • Look at the old buildings..
  • (Big smile)  OMG…  Ian is waiting for me at the airport!  (stares at Heathrow airport… thinks “OMG… again”).
  • Hmmm… how long will it take to get through border control?
  • Ummmm…   *will* I get through border control?
  • Are the questions over yet?
  • Yay!  I’m in!     Now, where do I go?
  • There’s my luggage (grabs it)
  • Wonders what I would have to declare in customs already.   Goes the “no customs to declare” way.
  • I’ll just peek through doorway into the arrivals lounge.   Notices handsome man in spiderpig t-shirt looking around.
  • (jumping up and down inside… and ever since, really)

This is what happy is.   :)    I recorded every second of my visit to England in my head.. meeting Ian, meeting Gem and Fletch, meeting family, adjusting to different ways of saying things, walks through the park and the market..  but mostly just relaxing and feeling at home.

I’ll be back.   :)

Family Time is Nice

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Some of the most memorable moments involved visiting Ian’s family.   I’d heard so many good things about Ian‘s family already, that meeting them was like meeting people I already knew. 

They were all lovely.

One afternoon, we spent awhile with Ian’s sister and nephew and the infamous Bouncer, their boxer, whom I thought seriously about stuffing in my bag.   We admired the garden, the paintings on the wall done by his mother and talked about what we’d been doing since I’d arrived and jetlag and round-a-bouts.

I felt really at home and happy.

Btw, evidently, Fletch knows some sort of Crocodile Dundee move with dogs which calmed Bouncer down, after which he sat down at his feet.

Another afternoon, we visited Ian’s mom and step-dad.  We went through family photos and we talked about various news-worthy items and had tea.  I admired more art on the wall and the beautiful woodwork throughout the house.

Ian’s mum and I talked about making Ian’s tea (when I thought I’d messed it up, she said, “Tell him we both did it”.)   :D    We talked about what would keep Ian and I on the phone for 5 hours at a time, which we have done.   And we talked about their trip to Florida ages ago.

I was touched that Ian’s mum sat right beside me and narrated all the family photos.

Ian’s step-dad is actually Polish.   Actually *from* Poland, not a derivative of some distant relative from Poland.   He’s a master builder and I saw some of his work in photographs, as well as around their house.

When we left, his mum and step-dad gave me a hug and kissed me on the cheek.

It was really nice.   :)

Next trip, I hope to meet Ian’s dad and maybe some others…  :)