Big changes a'happening...

Wow, I've logged on and was told my last published post was July 17! And there are several new faces on Facebook who told me they only joined because I've been so bad about blogging. (Sheepish shrug) Sorry!

So let's see, what's been happening...Wickus and I celebrated our first anniversary mid-August, a week after his surprise birthday party, and between those two events he ran off to Rome to get his tourist visa for our upcoming trip to the US. (Rome because the London embassy wouldn't give him an appointment until October which is slightly too late for our trip that starts this Thursday evening.) Luckily the process in Rome was very smooth (South Africans are often denied several times before they secure an American visa), and the visa is good for multiple entries for a 10-year period, woohoo!

For our anniversary, he made reservations at a fantastic Italian restaurant in Bermondsey...it was a perfect little place with a wonderful atmosphere, dee-licious food, and for the first hour we had it to ourselves. He gave me some beautiful earrings that he picked out himself, and a Nintendo DS Lite...very cool and very Wickus! And I am now addicted to a game called Animal Crossing. I gave him some artwork for his walls, which he always talks about wanting. I took a close-up picture of a snarling cheetah in South Africa which was his favorite, and also the one I got the most comments on from people who have seen the pictures. I had it blown up onto canvas, 2 foot by 2 foot, in a sepia color and separated into 4 square panels and voila! Artwork :-) And I also played a song for him from my a cappella group in college where I sang the lead-- luckily, he loved it.

We have both been busily working, trying to tie things up before our trip to the States. I have successfully interviewed for and taken a job on a community stroke rehab team, which is a promotion for me. I'll be starting that job as soon as I get back, so I'm trying to tie up all the loose ends on this job before we leave. This has all happened so quickly that my supervisor, who's been on annual leave for the past two weeks, doesn't even know I won't be returning to work with her after my holiday. The new job means I now have to get a British driving license and a car. Aside from the fact that this will mean I get to do work I love to do, it would be more trouble than it's worth with all the associated costs. But I've chosen a very reliable make and model that should cost me very little in maintenance, gets good MPG, and is in a low tax and insurance bracket. And I've got a car fund now so that by the time I've got my license I'll be ready to buy.

The housing market here is starting to plummet, so W and I are also talking about buying...the plan was to move in together in October or November (renting), but it may just make more sense to buy in terms of an investment. He makes a good salary, and I am what they call a "key worker" which gives some nice advantages in terms of getting a mortgage.

So lots of changes going on around here. I am very very much looking forward to going home again, the week in July was just a big tease. It's been too long since I've last seen the Aveyards so the wedding in Denver is going to be a blast! I'm very excited to show Wickus some different sides of the US (Denver, NYC, Pennsylvania for ex-housemate Nicole's wedding), and very excited for him to meet the most important people in my life (Aveyards, Heilalas and Burks, Viv and Eric, Jenn and Chris, and Carla, Brian and Brett). He's already met my parents, my sister (who will also be home while we are!) and the Florys. Can't wait, just 4 days now!

Love to all