Crisis week

It has been a tough week. I guess I will try to start with the good.

Well, last Monday we actually made it to Battle Abbey! Yeah!!! We left the apartment around 9:00 to pick up a few things and we were on our way. Unfortunately we had to go through Hastings again and then take an additional bus to Battle. But we made it there on a drizzly Monday. We packed a picnic lunch and were able to sit and eat it because the rain had slacked off once we got there. So after lunch, we were on our way with our audio guide. We took the long route walking all around the battlefield and the ponds. Most of the year they have sheep all over the place, but on our visit they were nowhere to be found. But we did find some nice blackberry brambles! Yum! After we finished touring the fields we toured the abbey ruins and buildings. I think Andy had a really great time and I was so happy for it. After we saw everything we decided to go to the corner grocery because it was about 5:30. We sat at the bus stop and ate discounted salads and the crushed cherries we had gotten in Canterbury before we left (they didn't fare very well in my bag) After that we were back on our way home and on the bus with all the terrible people again. 

Well after Monday I spent the rest of the week in the library, as usual. On Friday, I decided to stop by the department office to see if they had any information about formatting and binding my thesis. It is there that I found out that my thesis is not due in the middle of September.... it is due the last Friday of August!!!! AUGUST!!!!!!! I had a panic attack. It was the most depressing news ever. I felt like I was on the perfect tract to complete in September with 2 weeks to proof and bind and all that fun stuff. But no, I barely have 4 weeks. So this weekend was spent stressing. And when I get stressed I clean. So Sunday (the day the library is closed) I spent the day scrubbing my kitchen from top to bottom! And sadly that means scrubbing the floor on my hands and knees. But I guess it made me feel a little more in control. 

So now Andy and I are trying to make some decisions about what we need to do. Our flight is scheduled for September 22nd, but we think we are going to move that. So I might be home the very first week in September. We also talked about Andy going home next week and trying to find a job and get everything set up, but he doesn't want me to have to take care of the apartment by myself before I leave. And that's another thing, our lease runs out August 2oth, so we are hoping they will extend it for us for a week. 

I did feel a little better today because I had a nice long talk with the head of my department. She gave me some great resources to work with and some good words of encouragement. Unfortunately, my advisor is out of town this week and half of next week. I am going to try to email him to hopefully find out what he thinks about everything. We will see how it all goes. I have a revised plan and it is now into action.

Another stress is about money. It is really expensive to pay for things here. That is another benefit of going home earlier. It means we have more money to furnish our place when we get to Birmingham. Right now, we have a set of mattresses that Mark and April are giving back to us, a tv cabinet and dresser from my mom (which we have no idea how to get to Birmingham), a shower curtain with French words on it, a milkglass compote and vase, and a set of pots and pans from our wedding registry. That's about it. So I am trying to wrap my head around living in Birmingham with no furniture and praying that we get jobs quickly. I actually have been searching a lot on etsy for simple things that can go in my place. I am thinking that most everything we have is going to be white because it's simple. I am going to try to add color with different accessories so I can change everything with the seasons. Right now I am thinking about doing my kitchen in white, black, and grey. So I have picked out a few things that I would love (because it makes me feel a little better to get some ideas).

I love these dishes!!! I think I am in a tree phase right now. And it also has to do with Andy. When we were in college, Andy had to do a lot of sketching for school. I would love to sit and watch him draw trees. He is a really good artist and it was my favorite subject to see him do. 

Along with the tree theme, I found these tree kitchen towels.

I also really love these hand towels (another thing that I am into at the moment) 

I love the fact that this person takes old bottles and smashes them. I am really enticed by the amazing blue color.

I love this persons tea towels. They have several in their shop that I would love to have. They have one that is a full English breakfast menu. If you ever have been to England, you know how seriously they take breakfast.

I love, love, love these prints. I was them to be the art for my kitchen/dinning room. I also love the fact that they are in French, which is a big thing at our house. 

We will see what happens. Just a start to putting our home back together. I have tons more ideas but don't really have time to explore them, we will see what happens when I get back home. 

FAIL!!!

Our day trip was a complete and utter failure!

We decided that we would make Monday's our day trip day. We want to be able to visit some of the wonderful historical gems that are scattered throughout the countryside. I am trying to spend 40+ hours in the library each week, so that means working Tuesday to Saturday in the library, using Sunday to do laundry or take long walks or do laundry, and traveling around on Mondays. Yesterday, we decided that we wanted to go to Battle Abbey and explore the battlefields from the Battle of Hastings. So we left our place around 1  and headed for the bus station. (I have to admit, I am not a morning person and so not move quickly in the mornings) We asked the lady in the office what was the best way to get to Hastings. Well, she said take a bus to Folkstone for 40 minutes and then a bus to Hastings which would take an hour. So we thought that would sound great, we would make it there with plenty of time to explore. So we had to wait about 10 minutes for the first bus and we were on our way to Folkstone, which took a little less than 40 minutes. We got off the bus and immediately got on the next bus. Unfortunately this bus ride was not pleasant and was not an hour long. We wanted to sit on the top of the bus to see the countryside and the ocean when we passed by it. The bad thing was that we forgot that the top of the bus is the popular hang out place for 10-16 year olds.------ I know it's not nice of me but I think the children here are the most horrible children I have ever met. They are rude, vulgar and obviously undisciplined. -------- To make  a long story short, we didn't make it to Hastings until 5:15!!!!! In order to get to the abbey, we had to still travel to Battle and make it before it closed at 6. So needless to say, we walked on the beach in Hastings, played an arcade game, ate dinner and had a cup of decaf. And then we began our trip home. We were so let down, and it was my fault we wasted a whole day riding on a bus. Our return trip was faster but still longer than an hour and 40 minutes. When we arrived at Folkstone, there was a drunk man under one of the bus stops. He looked as if he had passed out and thrown up on himself. When we made it to the bus, the driver was away from the bus and on the phone. Apparently the drunk had been there for 2 hours already (this was around 9:30) and had been refused by every bus he tried to get on. Oh well, at least we had a better day then him. We finally made it home around 10:15, disappointed and tired. Hopefully, next weeks trip will be more successful. 

Just a lazy Sunday.

It's Sunday and that means it's my day off. After spending long hours in the library on a Saturday, Sunday becomes the most amazing day of the week ----- the library is closed. The thesis is in full swing. This week I paid for the use of a carrel at the library because it will hold me more accountable to actually study at the library (and to have my own space!!!!). In exchange for £15 and the promise of 25 hours per week in the library, they give you a closet with a desk in it! Fortunately mine has windows, but don't be fooled, they don't open more than a couple of centimeters. So after paying for the carrel, Andy and I went up to clean it. I honestly don't think it had been cleaned or used in a long time. The light switch was brown from grubby fingers and there was a layer of dust on everything. Even though it took some work it was worth it. I am a little afraid of getting swine flu which seems to be running rampant here and has spread to the university. So now I can collect my books and lock myself behind a door and read.

I have to be honest, I have been really down over the past couple of months. We have been a little strapped waiting for a money situation to work itself out. It finally did this week. It is really great not to have to invent new recipes using rice!!! So this week has been my cooking week. I had a list of things that I wanted desperately to eat like watermelon, avocado, and salmon. I have to say Andy is reaping the benefits (honestly he would eat anything and he tells me that my best cooking is when we only have 3 or 4 things and I just come up with something from scratch) It feels so good to be able to provide for him in that way. It also makes me feel good to know that he is not eating fried rice for 3 weeks straight like he did in college. 

So another part of being more secure is that we are able to travel to the few places on our travel list. We don't have many because we are trying to save up for our move back to the US (we will only have mattresses when we get back!!!!) So next weekend we are planning on going to Paris for a day. Next Sunday is the end of the Tour de France and I want to see it. It's not really because I follow the Tour or that I enjoy seeing malnourished men in spandex on bikes, but it's because I want to experience it! I just hope that we can also do the other things that we want to do while we are there. We only have one other main place to go and that is Edinburgh. We will be planning a trip there very shortly (because we will be home in 2 months!!!!!) Other than that most places are day trips of interesting places or events, like going to see Romeo and Juliet at the Globe theatre. 

I just wanted to thank you all for following our time in England and giving us all the love and support. I have had so many positive emails and facebook messages encouraging me. I just wanted you all to know that they have been so helpful. We love you all and can't wait to see you!!!

Okay, well I guess that's all for today. It is almost time for me to fix some dinner and get ready to go see Harry Potter. Until next time.......