Yes, that is my baby crying on the plane. (Back in the USA)

Well I'm here, safe and sound. After our visitors left last week, we were in full pack mode. I also was fully consumed with filling out the visa form. Let me tell you that it was not a fun process at all and I'm still working on it. The worst part of all of it was they don't tell you what you need for supporting documents until you submit the application online and you can't set up your appointment for the biometrics until you also submit online. Both of these could have been a huge problem because I had to submit in America when all our documents were in the UK and who knows if I'd get a biometric appointment soon or even in Maine. All of this was a complete stress while we were packing.

Then came travel day. I'm going to everyone a word of advice, if you are flying with an infant on your lap that is over a year old and the flight is more then 4 hours, pay the extra money to get them their own seat. Not only was the day very long as we started traveling at 9:30 am GMT (4am here) and didn't finish until 12:30 pm GMT, but being with O on our laps for a 6.5 hour flight almost put me over the edge. She is on the constant move and gets bored very quickly. We had to wait about 45 minutes just to check into the Belfast airport and then run through security and do a quick grab of food before we boarded immediately. So O was already getting tired and bored while we waited in lines in her stroller. It was a completely full flight so no extra seat next to us. Luckily we had a nice guy about our age sit next to us that O kept flirting with the whole time. The plane did have the individual touchscreen TVs in the back of the seat in front of you, but that still wasn't enough to keep O entertained. Plus she got overtired so everything made her cry and she was very hyper. Finally about 3 hours in she fell asleep and we got an hours peace. After she woke it was just as bad. I would also like to mention that the flight crew on our flight to Newark was horrible and you could totally tell that they didn't like their job at all.

Once we landed in Newark we had to go through security and then collect our luggage just to give it back again. Then we had to check into airport security again to get back to our connecting flight. All this would have been ok, if we didn't have a bored, hungry, tired baby. They even make you take the infant shoes off. Again if you have to fly with an infant and you're flying on your own, I would practice folding up the stroller if you're taking, one handed holding the baby. Also pack lots of snacks or get food at the airport cause snacks are the easiest way to keep them quiet and happy for longer period of times.  Anyways, after the hour getting in and out of security we had another 2 hours to burn, so we bought expensive, crappy food and let O run up and down the powered walkways. Luckily the flight from Newark to Portland was just over an hour cause we were all at the end of our rope. She was the only baby so of course when she cried everyone I'm sure rolled their eyes. We did walk up and down the aisle about 5 times just so she could try and charm everyone. Everyone did think she was adorable so that made her crying not so bad.

Our friends, C & B picked us up and they are so happy to have us home with them and to see us. O has settle right back into life into their house. (We stayed at their house for 4 weeks before we left for N.I) They have two cats so she is constantly chasing them. I'm wondering when it's going to get old, but it probably won't. We've had a lovely morning. I was finally able to submit the visa so everyone please pray for a smooth process. Out of the two problems I mentioned at the beginning, I was able to make the appointment for biometrics early this week in Maine, so that's great. However, there are some random documents that I left in NI that R's parents will either have to copy or overnight them.

I am looking forward to seeing most of you very soon. I'll be at Brunswick church next weekend but have plans afterwards. We're going to try and get a cellphone number so you can contact us, but if you want the house number where we're staying, just let me know.

oíche mhaith

Home Sweet Home

The weather here has been perfect. Sunny and in the 50's all week. It's weather like this, that makes me very happy we moved when we did. However it's weeks like this that make me miss my old apartment, my job and my cars.

I was going to write a blog about how hard it is to live with your parents and or in-laws, but it was too hard without making it sound like a bitch session. If any of you have moved in with your parents/in-laws as adults, especially when you are bringing the grandchildren along, I don't have to say anything. You know exactly what I'm talking about. If you are still curious, email me and I'll give you the low down. Let's just say it's hard for grandparents to just be grandparents when you're under their roof. But instead I'm going to talk about our much awaited trip back to the states.

As I have mentioned previously, I need to go back to the good old US of A to sort out my visa. For those of you who do not remember I have a visitor's visa right now, but can only stay in the UK for 6 months and even though I have birthed a UK citizen and married one, I cannot change my status here. So I have to go back to the states, fill out a huge form and then get fingerprints and photos taken (that part is called biometrics). My husband had to have that done when he was getting his US citizenship.  This all comes to a large $$$ price tag and to rush it so that I can have it in 15 days versus 12 weeks is even more money. The whole thought of all of this has been stressful, there is no guarantee I'll even get one, not that they wouldn't, but still the possibility is out there. Out of all this I do get a chance to come home. We fly out of Belfast on April 9th. This was a hassle in itself. We normally fly out of Dublin to Boston, since it's alot cheaper, but since I have overstayed the Ireland visitor visa (3 months) I'm not supposed to travel down there. Plus I have to fly back into the UK to have my visa validated. However flying out of Belfast has it's advantages. It saves us 3 hours in the car and we land straight into Portland which also saves us 3 hours in the car. We'll be in Maine for about 6 weeks and I really can't wait.

I have missed all of you greatly. I won't have to concentrate on your accents, TV will be horrible and lovely, and the food will be comfort foods.  Any weight I have lost here (very little) will probably come back with reinforcements as I try to get a hold of anything I can. Things they don't have over here that I have missed, are Miracle Whip, Lima beans, proper sour cream, diet coke that takes like it should, proper oreos, regular tortilla chips, margarita's (blended), Olive Garden and good cheap restaurants, oh and most importantly, good old fashion American hot dogs! I'm sure there is more, but I just can't think of anything. They might have some of this stuff in the larger stores, but since we never get a chance to go grocery shopping, ever, I haven't been able to find them. Now I have some of this coming in care packages, so don't worry about getting me anything. I will make a request on facebook if things are needed.  Last weekend I did get a wee bit homesick over something silly. Normally I'll watch the Oscars as I play around on the computer and really don't think anything of it, but since I couldn't watch it this year, that's all I could think about. Really annoyed me actually, silly I know. But thanks to my friend, A, I was able to watch after the fact, which made me happy. I owe you some Jaffa cakes as mentioned for payment. If anyone is wanting stuff from the UK, please let me know so we can do a wee shop before we fly out.

It's funny when I think about flying to Maine, I keep saying I am headed home, but I'm not, I'm going for a visit. Yes, Maine will always be a part of me and is who I am, but I don't have a home there anymore that is my own, we have moved our life to Northern Ireland. When I leave Maine again it will be like starting all over again, but it will be worth it. I miss all of you so much and can't wait for you to see O as well. She is so grown up and getting so big she'll seem like a different baby all together. I'm am looking forward to fresh sea air, left hand drive, going to church and Sabbath school and just hanging out with friends! I guess you don't really notice how lonely you are until you start thinking about your "previous life" What makes the wait a little easier as well is our best friends A & D are coming the 28th of March and leaving 4 days before we do, so it won't be too long before we see friends again!

I apologize for the ramblings. As an update on the smoking. It's been okay, no nervous breakdowns or things being thrown. I have made it through the toughest part of the day, which is after O goes to bed. Luckily I had found a good mushy novel to read to that kept me busy. Now I'm starting Dan Brown's latest book, Lost Symbols. We'll see how it goes. I'll also start watching Jane Austen movies over and over again. That will keep me busy.

oíche mhaith

It's pronouced punk-an-ach (Yankee)

As mentioned above, I have moved to Northern Ireland. Well, let me correct that, I am in the process of moving to NI, as we'll call it. Yes, all my belongings are here as well as my husband and daughter, but I can't stay as long as expected. When we flew over here in November, we were under the impression that since my husband and daughter were UK citizens, then I could change my status to settlement from visitor. NOPE! Come to find out I have to go back to the States and apply for a settlement visa, do fingering printing/pictures and then come back for good hopefully. This creates alot of stress. Will I get the visa? Can I even afford it? Will husband find a job in time? Can I travel back to the US once I get the visa? The movies make an international move look so easy.......

To catch everyone up, I have been here for two months and we are currently living with my husband's parents. They have a lovely huge house with enough room for all three of us plus them plus my brother-in-law, K. In Europe it's not uncommon to have all the family living under one roof. It has been nice to have the grandparents helping with our daughter and also my father-in-law, RG is a great cook. It has, however, been hard with no car, no cellphone and no income. It will get better and after I get the visa sorted I will get my UK drivers licence, but until then the transition period is very trying at times.  The first month was very difficult as we were getting used to sharing our living space again and also the surprise of the visa issue was emotional. We also had to wait for all our household goods in our shipment and that as very hard. But January has been a good month. We finally got our stuff, hung out with our friends and found some things to do during the day to get us out of the house. That is pretty much the last two months in a nutshell.

Since this is my first post on my first blog I'm going to explain some things. I know many of you know me personally and follow me on facebook, I've decided not to use names incase my blog goes big (everyone wishes, right). Since I'm sure I'm going to get tired of typing husband or daughter, they are going to be call R for husband and O for daughter. If you're one of my friends and I talk about you in my post I'll just use the first letter of your first name unless you tell me other wise.  I am also going to talk some things about myself that many of you don't know about me. All I ask is that you do not judge, the information I disclose will hopefully help others in their struggles. I am also just going to put it out there that I'm not an English major and a horrible speller, so again, don't judge and hopefully you all can follow me.

To finish for today, I hope you all will enjoy my future posts and pictures. Comments will always be welcome!

oíche mhaith