Hi all,
Firstly apologies for the unacceptable delay in posting an update to the website. I have no excuse except a bit of laziness!! As a result of the delay however there is lots to update you with since my return back to the UK. Read all about how the US visa is progressing, Sara's visit in October and what I have been up to.
The Visa
Well the update on this is that we are progressing but at a pace very beatable by the average garden snail. I am applying for a fiance (K1) visa which allows me to enter the USA, get married and then remain as a permanent resident. The K1 visa is in two parts; part one is filed in the USA by the US sponsor. Once part one has been approved then all the paperwork moves to the US embassy in London for part two. Part two involves more form filling, medicals and an interview at the embassy. There is one thing you need for this process - patience!!!After filing on 1st August we have completed part one and I am awaiting the paperwork for part two to turn up from the embassy any day now. We expect my interview to be some time in January - the visa is normally approved at the interview. I would then be free to enter to the US.
Sara Comes Back To England
After three long months Sara managed to drag herself away from work and make a visit to her English bloke in October. It was not only one American I had to contend with but two as Sara's friend Robbin also came over too. It was a fantastic ten days which, as you can imagine, flew by. We started by spending a couple of days in Portsmouth on the south coast of England. I had purchased a couple of tickets to see Jamie Cullum in concert there. The concert was great and highly recommended if he is in your area. We were also blessed with great weather so a perfect start for Sara's visit.
Robbin flew in couple of days later and so we visited Windsor and also Oxford, as well as sampling the English delights of the "Sunday Roast" and the "Ploughman's Lunch". For those not in the know here is a Wikipedia link for the Ploughman's Lunch!!! In return for this english food we were treated to a Halloween breakfast complete with pumpkin pancakes and scary masks - great fun.
Our Halloween Pumpkin
We then boarded the Eurostar for three days of (rioting) sightseeing in Paris. We did all the usual tourist stuff (Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysee, Notre Dame) but also just enjoyed sitting in the french cafes and munching on the odd Pain-Aux-Chocolat!! Our new favorite cafes were "Pierre's" in Place De La Republique and Angelina's next to La Louvre for the best hot chocolate. Here are some pictures from Paris:-
Eating Pain-Aux-Chocolat by the Eiffel Tower
It was meant to be a kiss but turned into a raspberry!!!!
It was then back on the Eurostar for the return journey through the Channel Tunnel to London. We spent two days (thanks again Andy for the use of the accommodation) in the capital seeing the sights, shows and shops. As a birthday surprise for Sara I bought tickets to see the show Guys and Dolls. The show was the best I have seen and cannot recommend it highly enough - "a must see". We were also in town for November 5th and therefore visited the Battersea fireworks display. For the US audience on November 5th we celebrate an event 400 years ago when a plot to blow up our parliament was foiled. It sounds odd but is good fun with fireworks and a large bonfire.
Crossing the millennium Bridge to St Pauls Cathedral
The Christmas Lights on London's Regent's Street
We finally made it back to my parents house for a Sunday Roast before the girls flew back to LA on Monday morning. It was a flying visit but a fantastic time. Sara has already bought her ticket to come back at Christmas so only a few weeks before she will be back. I need to start planning more surprises again!!!
So What Have We Been Doing?
Well that is a good question! I have finished work now in preparation for moving to the US however I have spent the past three months bringing my IT skills up to scratch. I have completed three exams and am now Microsoft (MCSA) and Hewlett Packard (HP APS) certified. I am currently studying for a further Cisco qualification (CCNA). Hopefully this will stand me in godd stead when applying for work in the US.
Sara has resumed nursing and is currently on a three month contract at a hospital north of LA in an area called Redlands. Her contract is due to expire just before she returns here for Christmas.
Well that is just about all the news from me here in the UK. I hope you are all well and I will try to provide more timely updates in the future ;-)
Sara Comes Back To England
After three long months Sara managed to drag herself away from work and make a visit to her English bloke in October. It was not only one American I had to contend with but two as Sara's friend Robbin also came over too. It was a fantastic ten days which, as you can imagine, flew by. We started by spending a couple of days in Portsmouth on the south coast of England. I had purchased a couple of tickets to see Jamie Cullum in concert there. The concert was great and highly recommended if he is in your area. We were also blessed with great weather so a perfect start for Sara's visit.
Robbin flew in couple of days later and so we visited Windsor and also Oxford, as well as sampling the English delights of the "Sunday Roast" and the "Ploughman's Lunch". For those not in the know here is a Wikipedia link for the Ploughman's Lunch!!! In return for this english food we were treated to a Halloween breakfast complete with pumpkin pancakes and scary masks - great fun.
Our Halloween Pumpkin
We then boarded the Eurostar for three days of (rioting) sightseeing in Paris. We did all the usual tourist stuff (Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysee, Notre Dame) but also just enjoyed sitting in the french cafes and munching on the odd Pain-Aux-Chocolat!! Our new favorite cafes were "Pierre's" in Place De La Republique and Angelina's next to La Louvre for the best hot chocolate. Here are some pictures from Paris:-
Eating Pain-Aux-Chocolat by the Eiffel Tower
It was meant to be a kiss but turned into a raspberry!!!!
It was then back on the Eurostar for the return journey through the Channel Tunnel to London. We spent two days (thanks again Andy for the use of the accommodation) in the capital seeing the sights, shows and shops. As a birthday surprise for Sara I bought tickets to see the show Guys and Dolls. The show was the best I have seen and cannot recommend it highly enough - "a must see". We were also in town for November 5th and therefore visited the Battersea fireworks display. For the US audience on November 5th we celebrate an event 400 years ago when a plot to blow up our parliament was foiled. It sounds odd but is good fun with fireworks and a large bonfire.
Crossing the millennium Bridge to St Pauls Cathedral
The Christmas Lights on London's Regent's Street
We finally made it back to my parents house for a Sunday Roast before the girls flew back to LA on Monday morning. It was a flying visit but a fantastic time. Sara has already bought her ticket to come back at Christmas so only a few weeks before she will be back. I need to start planning more surprises again!!!
So What Have We Been Doing?
Well that is a good question! I have finished work now in preparation for moving to the US however I have spent the past three months bringing my IT skills up to scratch. I have completed three exams and am now Microsoft (MCSA) and Hewlett Packard (HP APS) certified. I am currently studying for a further Cisco qualification (CCNA). Hopefully this will stand me in godd stead when applying for work in the US.
Sara has resumed nursing and is currently on a three month contract at a hospital north of LA in an area called Redlands. Her contract is due to expire just before she returns here for Christmas.
Well that is just about all the news from me here in the UK. I hope you are all well and I will try to provide more timely updates in the future ;-)