Friday, April 06, 2007
blimey! 2 years in the Engerland
yup, thats right, its been 2 wonderful, colourful, meaningful two years over in the UK - its treated me well and couldn't have asked for better. Now its all coming to a close I'm getting rather teary eyed and emotional, this making a new life over the other side of the world just to leave again is tough man!
Well, lots has been happening since my last post - for most of March I was just working lots and lots to earn pounds whilst I could - but that was all good, it was a choice place to work and it was rather sad to say goodbye and finish up, Sobo has ended up being a big part of me life over here! But had a good send off - the whole staff rocked on up to roller disco for a night of dancing on skates and falling over ourselves..
Also during my last week at work we moved house - said so long to St Matts and East London to move into the Tottenham Job Centre (think WINZ building) in North London! Great place and huge, 3 stories high and lots of space... we all settled in to our lovely new home (about 20 of us, a mix of folks from St Matts and others from mix), but after a week got court papers! bugger! So not sure how long we will have, been to court and could be 6 weeks or 6 days till we get kicked out.. selfishly hoping we can stay till Tabs and I leave the country!
So my visa coming to an end has posed some stress also. I don't automatically get an extension and must leave the country to get a renewal. So after a finished up work I went to Ireland for 5 days. Stayed with lovely mate Renee in her cool cottage in Dublin and was treated to a fab time hill walking, Guinness drinking and Southpark watching! It was great to see her again, and also had a day hanging out with Mike whom I met olive picking in Italy, wicked...
Only down side was on re-entering England I didn't go through immigration cos of some special agreement - great!! Wish I had known that! But luckily had a few days to spare and quickly organised a day trip to France for try number two.
Big day catching a bus to Dover and the ferry to Calais and back, not much to do there but hang out in the big mall and buy cheap grog. Fat Freddys Drop were playing in the supermarket though so I took that as a good sign!
and sure enough, after a bit of interrogation on the border, I was given my tourist visa and let back in - phew!! I was soooo relieved and happy! Thank God for that booze...
So, now I am unemployed and able to concentrate fully on the plans for our trip. Going well except we still have loads to do, visas to apply for and train tickets to buy etc. And send my stuff back home.. We have a leaving date of May 1st, departing London a few days before to get up to the ferry taking us to Holland..
Very sad indeed knowing I have 3 weeks left in London with my mates here - Easter long weekend has been wonderful though, great warm weather so lots of outdoor activities. Picnics in the park, cycling along canals, houseboat parties, bonfires, sunbathing on the roof..
Hope you all have a good break, hugs and love.. thinking of returning to you all is of course the up side of leaving here!!
claire
Well, lots has been happening since my last post - for most of March I was just working lots and lots to earn pounds whilst I could - but that was all good, it was a choice place to work and it was rather sad to say goodbye and finish up, Sobo has ended up being a big part of me life over here! But had a good send off - the whole staff rocked on up to roller disco for a night of dancing on skates and falling over ourselves..
Also during my last week at work we moved house - said so long to St Matts and East London to move into the Tottenham Job Centre (think WINZ building) in North London! Great place and huge, 3 stories high and lots of space... we all settled in to our lovely new home (about 20 of us, a mix of folks from St Matts and others from mix), but after a week got court papers! bugger! So not sure how long we will have, been to court and could be 6 weeks or 6 days till we get kicked out.. selfishly hoping we can stay till Tabs and I leave the country!
So my visa coming to an end has posed some stress also. I don't automatically get an extension and must leave the country to get a renewal. So after a finished up work I went to Ireland for 5 days. Stayed with lovely mate Renee in her cool cottage in Dublin and was treated to a fab time hill walking, Guinness drinking and Southpark watching! It was great to see her again, and also had a day hanging out with Mike whom I met olive picking in Italy, wicked...
Only down side was on re-entering England I didn't go through immigration cos of some special agreement - great!! Wish I had known that! But luckily had a few days to spare and quickly organised a day trip to France for try number two.
Big day catching a bus to Dover and the ferry to Calais and back, not much to do there but hang out in the big mall and buy cheap grog. Fat Freddys Drop were playing in the supermarket though so I took that as a good sign!
and sure enough, after a bit of interrogation on the border, I was given my tourist visa and let back in - phew!! I was soooo relieved and happy! Thank God for that booze...
So, now I am unemployed and able to concentrate fully on the plans for our trip. Going well except we still have loads to do, visas to apply for and train tickets to buy etc. And send my stuff back home.. We have a leaving date of May 1st, departing London a few days before to get up to the ferry taking us to Holland..
Very sad indeed knowing I have 3 weeks left in London with my mates here - Easter long weekend has been wonderful though, great warm weather so lots of outdoor activities. Picnics in the park, cycling along canals, houseboat parties, bonfires, sunbathing on the roof..
Hope you all have a good break, hugs and love.. thinking of returning to you all is of course the up side of leaving here!!
claire
# posted by claire @ 5:37 AM 
