A Bit of Our Weekend

After a full day of online shopping (for flat related items) on Saturday, Jeff and I went to a dinner party! Through Andrea and Mike, we were introduced to a really nice couple, with two adorable, little girls. We all had a wonderful time. Saturday night was full of great conversation, guacamole dip and Spaghetti Bolognese! When Jeff and I were leaving the hosts' flat, we noticed something interesting in the elevator.

Never have I seen a -1 floor.

      Before our long day of searching, and eventually purchasing pots/pans/oven trays/electric tea kettle, Jeff and I started Sunday off at a cute cafe in Wimbledon.

Our view at breakfast.

Breakfast tea w/ milk and a brown sugar cube.

 

My breakfast - Toasted English muffin with bacon, baby spinach, poached egg & hollandaise.

Jeff's Full English breakfast - smoked back bacon, gloucester old spot cumberland sausage, black pudding, mushroom, baked tomato, fried eggs & toast.

What is black pudding? Oh, it's just a blend of onions, pork fat, oatmeal, flavourings - and blood (usually from a pig). Yep, congealed pig blood. And as weird as it may sound, I tried it and liked it. I can't really explain the flavor, but it is good. Really good.

     After breakfast, we headed to Chelsea to shop. I really enjoy the public transportation here. The double-decker bus is my favorite way to get around the city because you get to see so many beautiful things.

Our view from the top.

 

View of the Thames at low tide.

View of the Thames at high tide. Taken on our way back from shopping.

     Before Jeff and I made it home, we stopped by Sainsbury, a local supermarket, to buy ingredients so we could cook our first meal in our flat. We encountered this before we made it in.

One pound coin to use buggy.

 The coin is refundable as long as you return the buggy. No big deal. I was enlightened about this interesting practice before we moved here, so it was not a surprise. Andrea's experience was a bit different, and you can check that out here. Thanks again Andrea for filling us in and the sweet blog. :)

For dinner, we ended up having spaghetti, caesar salad and garlic bread. Great first cooked meal. What made it even better was this new tomato sauce that Andrea shared with Jeff and myself. While we were staying with her and Mike earlier this month, she made spaghetti one night, with the awesome tomato sauce, and (goodness!) it was so delicious. You can check out the recipe here, and you won't be disappointed. But beware, lots of butter involved.

Finished product. So delicious!

Jeff and I also ended the day with a nice cup of tea.

The awesome electric tea kettle.

My Pooh mug and Jeff's Philip mug. ;)

Yes, it may seem a bit strange to have a mug with my brother's face on it. I don't remember when we received this awesome gift, but I just really love the fake facial hair that Philip drew on his face (with marker, I believe). Just another reason why I love my brother so much.

     There is still a large list of things that our flat lacks, but that will all come in time. All in all, not a bad day.

A Little Reminder

     I found this photo online about a month before we left for London. I remember laughing when I saw it. I ended up saving it to my laptop because I had this feeling it would be used on my blog sometime after we moved here. Well, that time has come, and that photo explains how I have been feeling from time to time. It doesn't last for long. Just comes in short waves. 

     I am still, very much so, enjoying London. I wanted to move here. I know this is where God wants me to be. But, I still miss what I left in the states. I miss my Dad, Mom, Bec, Philip, Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery, Kyle, and countless other family and friends.

     Today, I came to a local coffee shop to have breakfast and check my email/Facebook. My brother had posted on my timeline that he missed me. I almost lost it. I probably would have, but I was sitting in the corner of the coffee shop facing everyone, so, for their sake, I kept it together. I am allowing myself to be sad at times. However, I don't want to be sad all the time. I'm trying to keep a good balance.

     When I was in high school, my Mom wrote a Bible verse, on a note card, specific for me, Bec and Philip. For most who know me, know that I tend to worry about a lot of things. In anything related to school, I was anxious about getting good grades or doing well in sports. Not coincidentally, the verse given to me was Philippians 4:6-7, "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." With this move, I have been anxious about a lot of different things. I am grateful that Mom gave me that verse when she did. It has helped me remember who I get my strength from, and who I can always turn to when I need peace. Christ is the ultimate Comforter. Little did I know, at the time, how dear this verse would be to me. I kept that note card, and I brought it with me. It has and will continue to remind me of the One who relieves all anxiety. Thank you, Mom. :)
  

Recent Happenings

     It's been really hard for me to believe that we have been living in London for almost 2 weeks. Not visiting, but living here. Maybe things will become more real once we move into our flat tomorrow, which, by the way, is completely perfect for us. I was getting very frustrated during our flat search when numerous letting agents would glaze over, in-person or over the phone, at the phrase, "We have a small, house-trained dog." Andrea and Mike, our friends that we have been staying with the past 2 weeks, told us when they would walk their two dogs, Hannahbelle and Kricket (adorable Japanese Chin), that people would actually cross the street to avoid walking past them. Japanese Chin are sweet, little dogs and hardly anything to be afraid of. I can somewhat understand someone being nervous by a large dog, but a small one on a leash? I can also understand a landlord's hesitancy to allow dogs, but if they are trained, then what is the problem? I realized that I can say all day that I have a small, house-trained dog, but that is not what they picture. It is my word (someone they don't know) that they have to trust. Why bother chancing it? I was almost at my wits' end, when one day last week, I went to a website called Gumtree (US equivalent would be Craigslist), and began searching for pet friendly flats. I only found two options, and one of those options was not in our price range. So, I sent a detailed email to the other ad, informing them about Monk and that we could move in at any time, and the next day received a reply for a viewing. After our walk-through, we knew this was the place, and things were on a roll from there. Our landlords were the previous tenants, so the flat is in great condition and they have a small dog. Our letting agent told us the landlords were happy to have a couple with a dog moving in. :) Jeff and I did not expect to hear that because it is not the norm here. So now, Jeff and I have an affordable place to live in that not only has all of our needs, but wants as well. It's a 2 bedroom, ground floor flat that has a private garden, dishwasher, 3 fireplaces (only one works), good furnishings, storage, character, and an enjoyable walk to the tube/stores/park. We really were not expecting it all to work out this well, but it has and we are so grateful. Here are some photos from the ad I found online.

Reception Room/Guest Bedroom

Master Bedroom

Dining Room

Kitchen

Laundry (entrance to Bathroom)

Bathroom

Garden

     Jeff has been enjoying work, and he found out, earlier this week, a couple of projects will take him to Ireland and Scotland sometime in February. Not sure if I will be able to go because I might have a job by then. Maybe a weekend trip though!

     As I had said on Facebook, I have applied for more than a handful of jobs, and am just now receiving responses about interviews. My first is next Tuesday, and I am a bit nervous about it. Thank you to those who have been praying! Greatly appreciate it!

     Jeff and I were introduced (thanks Andrea and Mike!) to this awesome, contemporary rendition of Sherlock Holmes. It stars Benedict Cumberbatch, and wow, he was the perfect choice for the role of Sherlock! Good stuff.

     We are on the second go-around with selling our house in the states. These buyers have been less  easy to deal with, but really, Jeff and I don't want a mortgage and rent to deal with. So, we are just praying this time, everything goes through.

    There have been a shortage of pictures of London because I haven't been able to take any. Currently, Jeff has been using a tiny Nokia phone, provided by his work, and I have been using a pink RAZR (thanks Bec!). They are definitely no match to the iPhone, but they fulfill their original purpose. Jeff and I aren't sure when we will be able to get iPhones. Hoping to within the next week, if not two. The camera we have uses rechargeable batteries, and we can't use an adapter to recharge them, so we've got to get new ones.  

     So what now? We move in tomorrow and begin preparing for Monk to fly over in a month or so. I am hopeful to get settled soon. My history of unpacking, when Jeff and I have moved before, is not too good. We will soon scope our area out for a church to get involved with. I know it's out there, and God will lead us to it. Jeff and I do miss our church family at The Village. What great community we had there! We also miss our families in Frost/Dallas/Denton/Ft.Worth and everywhere else! I am very thankful for Skype and a free texting number through Google.

     That is all for now. Thanks to those who have been reading. Hope everyone has a great weekend! :)   

       

In London, We Are

     Yes, the title of this blog is in Yoda speak. The reason for this is because Yoda came with us to London. Let me explain why we have Yoda. Last year, a family tradition was started on Jeff's Mom's side, where during the Chinese Christmas, a stuffed Yoda doll along with a photo album is included as one of the gifts. Whoever ends up with the gift has to take pictures of Yoda, during the year, wherever they happen to be. We are in London, so everyone decided we should become the caretaker of Yoda for the next year. I'd taken a few photos of him on my iPhone, but that was left in the states because Jeff and I will be selling them and getting new iPhones here. I've only taken one photo of him with my camera. Yoda found a comfy spot to chill before the flight to London.  

Yoda waiting to board the plane.

     Jeff and I arrived in London at 7:30 in the morning (back in Texas, it would have been 1:30 in the morning). We decided fly with British Airways instead of American Airlines because Jeff had read their coach seats were a bit roomier. I am not really sure if they were any comfier than AA's seats, but I really wasn't focused on that (too much) because I was too busy sweating myself to death. Yes, I am being a little dramatic, but the flight (temperature wise) was very, very uncomfortable. I am naturally cold-natured, while Jeff is very, very hot-natured. If I start sweating, then Jeff is already dehydrated. The one plus to flying with BA's is that their movie selection on the plane is way better than AA's.

      Once we landed in London, we went to baggage claim and tried to round up 9 large bins, 2 large suitcases, 2 large carry-ons, 2 large personal items, a bulging purse and Yoda. We met the driver and made our way to the 8 passenger van that we had rented. The driver was so kind to load our huge haul in the van. I'm sure his back thanked him the next day. We arrived at Andrea and Mike's at 9:30, unloaded our life out of the large van, and chilled for a bit. It was so nice to sit down with my legs stretched out and not tucked under my chin. The rest of the day was full of searching for a flat and sleeping.

     Today, we woke up bright and early around 1:30 in the afternoon. Jeff and I ate with Mike and Andrea at Nando's, a place with yummy chicken pita's and refills that are FREE! I was sad to find out that 99.9% of the restaurants in London don't do free refills. I was expecting tap water at lunch (oh and say tap water because you will get charged otherwise), but to my huge surprise, we ate at the one place here that offers free refills. Thankfully, the glass sizes in London are much smaller than in the states, so even with refills, I still didn't consume half as much as I normally would. Yay for less calorie consumption! Now if I could just shake the soft drink habit completely...

     Tomorrow, Jeff goes to his first day of work in London. He is excited and not too nervous. His first week should just be orientation, so he will be able to ease into a normal routine. Tomorrow, I will continue to search for a flat, apply for jobs, and go shopping with Andrea. We are going to Anthropologie in Chelsea, and I am super siked! I don't own a lot from there, but I just really enjoy looking at all the trinkets and clothes. A lovely day, it will be.