I’m at the table in the breakfast room, freshly washed and pyjama-d. It’s Thursday evening as I write this, and I’m calm, which is truly delightful.
This time last trip, I was stuck, panicking, blowing grape-flavored* Hubba-Bubba-Tantrum-Bubbles, wrapped in my kaftan, being talked through the process by my wonderful amazing BlogWife, Beth. “Just do the next thing,” she kept telling me. We made a list. I somehow found the force of will to get up and DO some of the things, and then some more of them, and eventually, with no small amount of encouraging, cajoling, and ootzing, it was done.
We all need our hands held sometimes. I definitely do. I’m so, SO grateful to those who take the time from their days to hold mine.
THIS time, my hand didn’t need holding for packing, because I did that on Wednesday. There’s something about realising the constraints of three days left (which must needs include full-time work) before leaving for a fortnight** for a ‘see what’s possible to get me to Murica for good’ trip, which proved to be galvanising, and I was organised.
I had no list, but remembering how things went last time, and what I used and what I didn’t, and the fact I’m going to all places civillised, where more Things can be purchased if a sudden need is discovered (like toothpaste – I must get toothpaste when I arrive, because last time I forgot and had to borrow everyone else’s, which (it must be admitted) gave me an interesting take on the varied flavours of America). It’s not the end of the world. I’m also MEGAHUGE thankful I found plenty of dollars, so I don’t have to also factor in a trip to the bank and the bureau de change!
Forty years of time have passed for our wonderful co-host Sarah, whose birthday celebration originally sparked the timing for me to visit. I’m looking forward to her party, and I wish more of our TToT gang could join us, but we’ll raise glasses to you all, and have a sup in your honour. And maybe a little stumble and giggle and send tipsy messages to the people who we miss and wish were there too. I’m excited partly because I don’t get invited to birthday parties, and partly because I get to see so many wonderful people, and partly because I get to wear (my version of, so QUIRKY but delightful) a pretty dress and FABULOUS shoes***.
I’m so grateful for my SanFranFriend (who no longer lives in SanFran, but I forget the name of the place he moved to), who is my tech guru and phone-guy, and who chats with me every day, and occasionally does wonderfully useful things like ghost-mode my laptop to make it work, or tell me to restart it (THAT works), and hooks me up with a suitable AT&T connection for my time in Murica.
I’m HUGELY thankful to WonderAunty for project-managing my trip, and making the time to ensure I have All The Things (flight numbers, booking references, insurance cover, correct terminals to go to…that kind of thing), and who organised everything into a set of very VERY useful print-outs for me. She’s so kind and sweet and lovely, and I really do (in these kinds of cases) need to learn from her outstanding organisational methods, how to do this. But she held my hand this time *relief*.
[Sub-WonderAunty thankful, for time we spent plotting and planning and throwing ideas around about my Six Sentence Stories murder mystery, A Whodunnit of Hercule-Poirot-ean Proportions, which is progressing each week with Ivy’s cues, and which now has a BIG, EXCITING PLAN for very soon, so watch my blog’s Facebook page to make sure you don’t miss out!]
I’m also veryveryverythankfulindeed to Mum, who’s made time to take me to the airport and will collect me again when I return. It’s lovely to spend the car journey chatting together and anticipating the fun. Last time, for the return (and this now planned for this time too) she thoughtfully brought a blanket and pillows, so I could zonk out and sleep the way back.
I have to finish off a job application TOMORROW and ensure it’s in before I leave, because FINALLY my chance for promotion (long overdue, really) has been set in motion, and I really REALLY want to get it. I enjoy my job, I make a difference, I’m good at it, and it’s interactive, extroverted, gives me time to write, and lets me write within it too…it’s really rather perfect, and if they had a simple equivalent in the US, I’d be RIGHT IN THERE!
A delay in postage (or an extension in geography, whichever) took the surprise out of the parcel I received this week from Clark, but I’m still very thankful for the Graviteer t-shirt, even though I’m the worst Graviteer of them all, having joined late, been thoroughly and miserably inconsistent, then backed out in a panic because I wasn’t making any headway and it was getting to me. I may try again, because I don’t like being a quitter on this. I liked being part of the group, and need to learn to see the belonging as more important than the outcome.
I’m kind of really excited and super-thankful about all the people who stopped by to read my piece this week about how we all write to be read. I think the only time before that I’ve had such levels of interaction was when I got Freshly Pressed, and a whole bunch of new people came over. So this was delightful and gratifying to see such high and ardent levels of endorsement, and of course, now, my ego’s the size of Texas and I may not fit in the plane after all!
I love that I got to spend gorgeous dollops of time with Niece and Neff this week, and that they’re both excited about my trip, and want to hear about it when I return. We had Niece’s birthday party last weekend, and there were the usual laughs and tears, frustrations and frolics, but it was great to be amidst the extended family, all together in one place.
I’m also thankful for Vince, who invited me over to dinner, cooked a marvellous risotto, (followed by my baked nutmeg pineapple), and for an evening spent laughing, chatting, playing Yahtzee, and hanging out together. After months of turbulence and turmoil due to unexpected circumstances, sudden changes in life-direction, and the runaway rapidity with which so many things have changed, it felt a bit like old times, which was lovely.
While I was back at the flat, I checked (on a hunch) behind a dresser, and YES! There was my glorious THANK YOU card, sent to me at great finagling and HUGE time-investment, by ALL MY CO-HOSTS. Truly, one of the most touching pieces of post I think I’ve ever received, and I loved reading all their words again and again, remembering with a very *happyglowy* heart, that I’ve met most of them In Real now, and know them far more properly than I did back then, but that they’re all utterly, utterly wonderful human beings, and how ENORMOUSLY thankful I am that they rock up here each week and make this hop happen, for you, for me, for all of us.
I’ll end with being thankful in a sort of anticipatory way, for all the time on the plane in a couple of days, to get some important writings done, and for the time I’ve had tonight to get THIS post organised and sorted, so that I can spend my last night playing Scrabble with mum, baking pumpernickelish bread for plane snacks (because I doubt the airlines will offer anything vegan-friendly for less than $1,000,0000), and hopefully stopping in on the Friday Night VidChat awesomeness, which I just LOVE.
And then to the biggest thankful of all – two weeks in Murica, getting to spend time again, with some of the most important people in my world ❤ ❤ ❤ SO HAPPY
So yeah – bloomin FABULOUS week, and TIME very well spent all round, I think. It’s wibbly-wobbly stuff, for sure, and perhaps I can’t count to ten, but I’m happy, looking back and forward, for the times spent, spending, and to spend.
What have YOU been doing with your time this week?
Your hosts
*Because England doesn’t have things flavoured grape. At all. So it has to be in ‘Murican
**What we Englanders call ‘two weeks’, because it’s the correct terminology, but never made it to the New World
***Yes, packed in my case. Flying hand-luggage only again. Because not smart, but also because SHOES!
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Hope you have a wonderful time!!
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So far, so completely wonderful, thank you 🙂 🙂
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You came back! That is so awesome. I hope that this trip is as fabulous as your first time! 😉
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YES! I knew I would come back, and PATTTIIIIEEEEEEE *takes a running jump into a hug, at you* I’ve missed you! 😀
This trip is very different as it has a practical side to it, but it’s awesome so far 🙂
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Happy travels!!
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So far, so utterly VERY happy, thanks 🙂
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What a fabulous list! I’m excited for you for your trip here and looking forward to seeing you!
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ME TOOO! It’s gonna be AWESOME! And yes…this list was a good one 🙂
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I am late, shamefully so, but let me be sure to say THANK YOU for making the trip back to America at a time that you are able to help me celebrate my birthday. I cannot WAIT to see you, and we will have lots of good fun. I am so excited even now knowing you are in ‘Murica and not so very far from me. Eating donuts, I presume.
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I am SO PSYCHED to get to come to your birthday, SERIOUSLY! It was the catalyst for me coming back now and I’m so happy to be here. I am TOTALLY excited about seeing you. No doughnuts cos dairy and stuff…
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I hope you brought really warm clothes with you and that the airline let you take your bread turds on your flight! Have a good trip!
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The bread turds were allowed (and delicious) and I have *some* warm clothes but it was SERIOUSLY warm here today. Like, the sun was HOT warm. And I’m having a glorious trip 😀
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SO HAPPY YOU ARE HERE!!!!
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ME TOO SO VERY MUCH! So SO much 🙂
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Welcome back! I love knowing that you are about an hour away:)
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I love knowing that I GET TO SEE YOU TOMORROOOWWWW
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You’re here!
Look forward to seeing you Lizzi 😀
Can’t believe you’re in my neighborhood 🙂
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I KNOW! It’s gonna be AWESOME to meet up soon 😀 I’m so excited.
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We sure had fun sending that thank you card to you; I’m glad you enjoyed it, too!
Have a great time in the US! If you ever come to California, you’ve got a place to stay.
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Thank you – I have FOUR places in Cali, in fact, and I NEED to make it over there someday 😀
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hey! great vidchat last night…. glad you like the Graviteer shirt and …well, many things in process is surely a good thing. (Love the idea for the Sixtence Novel)… v cool
Will try to wave up in the air, around 10pm or so EST, figure your plane would be passing over as it flies down the coastline.
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THe secret not announced yet? LOL yaaaaah! BUT thanks for waving. I saw lots of snow and mountains and I think I flew over the top of you from the route on the map, which is pretty awesome 🙂
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Have a wonderful time!!
WOW, you are living like a movie star!
FABULOUSssss!!
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I know, right? All I need is the red carpet and the paycheque hahaha
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Oh these are all SO SUCH GREAT THANKFULS!!!! I can sense the strength in your words this time around and the joy in your heart!! I wish I was invited to the birthday party. 😦 lol
Anyhoo… I am THRILLED for you to get back to your *home* and find re-connections once again and praying for many new steps to be built toward your DREAM BABY!!
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Well you know Sarah, right? I’m sure she’d let you join in! Hehehe can you IMAGINE the fun we’d have!
I’m so happy to be back, SO happy. I feel lovely, being in this time-zone, even though currently I’m a bit (okay a LOT skittish because so tired and coffee and timezones and jetlag and whatever) but I’M BACK, BABY!
And thank you…here’s hoping for LOTS of steps 🙂
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Lot’s to be thankful for, Honeybee! 🙂 So excited to your next trip to Murica although, wishing once again, we could meet. 😦 We need to make it happen in 2016!! Can’t wait to read and see pics of this trip! 🙂 xoxox
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I so SO hope we get to meet one of these days!! At the moment I’m just hoping to have the money to make it all WORK in 2016…the more I discover about the complexities of moving over here, the more I think it’s gonna be an increasingly longer and longer term plan which SUCKS, by the way, but you never know, and I’ll aim for the soonest practical time and I’m totally rambling now so I’ll stop…
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Awesome ! Nice vidchat as well…thoroughly enjoyable!!!! Have a blast stateside!!!
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And I’ve LANDED! Vidchat was awesome. I love that we get to spend time there all together 🙂
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Enjoy your time in ‘Murica! We are glad you’re bringing your awesome Beth-lovin’ self to the States! Enjoy every secon!!!
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Hehehe HIIIIIII! And YES! I can’t wait. So SO excited to see her 🙂 I’m gonna be loving this trip 🙂
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Safe and happy travels. Your world is sure peopled by terrific peoples!
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Thank you, May, and yes…I’m really really happy to have such amazing people around me 🙂
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Glad you seem to have things in order this time.
🙂
I am not big on the flying part, but I am on the travel part. Excited for you. Kind of jealous, as I don’t know if I will be doing any real traveling until possibly this summer, which seems so far away now.
I hope the flight is a smooth one and the party is epic.
🙂
Wish her a Happy Birthday.
🙂
Glad to talk to you all earlier. Loved the jokes and the talk on writing, weather, and other assorted topics.
Hate disappearing like that, but there’s always next time.
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Ahh the disappearing happens! It happened to Abbie as well. It was fun though, and I’m glad we were all able to connect.
Flying I like, until I get cabin fever, but take-off is my favourite, and I love to see the world fall away below me. Hope you get some great travel done this summer. Have you got any plans?
And thanks – I THINK I’ve got everything in order. I just checked in…
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Newfoundland I think.
🙂
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I think I flew over that today…
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Hey, you know. Heart, heart heart.
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❤ ❤ ❤ 🙂 It was lovely to spend time with you last night 🙂
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Its going to be such fun having a digital almost front row seat for your adventure.
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Heheh YES! I like that idea very much!
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Ohhhhh! I missed this news! Have a wonderfully, magically, sparkly and gorgeous time, Sparkle!! I’m keeping my fingers crossed that you will get things sorted so you can move to America and be with the ones that make your heart and soul beam with happiness!!!! ^_^ xxx ❤
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LOL I think I even messaged you on Pintrest, my sweet Apfel, but you know what we’re like there, lol.
And thank you, thank you. They DO make my heart and soul beam with happiness (as do some here, it has to be said) and…we’ll see. EITHER way, it’s an adventure. ❤
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Hahaha I saw the Pinterest message after I left my comment and I was like, “Ohhhh!!”. Hehe. ^_^
You should be in the States by now! I hope the flight went smoothly! Enjoy your stay! xo
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I AM! I’m here. The flights were lovely and I’m having a glorious time, thanks 🙂 ❤
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Awesome I’ll be waiting to see all the fab photos you’ll be posting on FB. 😉
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Hey, FRIST! 😀
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Boom!
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EXACKHERLY 😀
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