I watch too many romantic movies!

Sam, good move by telling the BF to go enjoy himself - that does give you extra GF points.  It seems that DH is always either at the pub, doing something stupid with his mates or gardening (I'd pick the pub, personally!).  What is it with the Brits and their gardening??  I think he and his neighbour/good friend have a competition or something and I'm afraid DH is losing  
But I do think its adorable when he calls me when hes out at the pub - hes trying to make me feel included and I love it even if I cant hear/understand a word he is saying because its so loud in there.

Funny you say this, Steve has been at work in his garden most of this week after work (except when it's been raining -.-) since he's trying to sort things out and level things off so he can put up his shed. He's just being stubborn and trying to do everything himself, but he's at the point where he needs to pour concrete so I think he needs help, but he probably won't listen to me if I mention it 

It sounds like you and me think alike, I'd much prefer the pub as well And eeeeeek! for your visa, I just kept glancing at mine since it didn't feel real at first, I had to make sure I wasn't just making stuff up.

That would drive me mad if I saw large/offical looking packages waiting for me day after day only to find out it wasn't what I am desperately waiting for! I hope you hear something soon. 

Yeah, I've been mean and have put off calling her to let her know about the mail.  I may be lazy and just put "Return to sender" (or is it "No such addressee"?) and leaving it at that...if she's not going to actually clean her carpet like she said she would, I'm not going out of my way to deliver her mail.

Woohoo Carey!!! That's fabulous news!

I never got the whole garden thing but yes, most Brits are very proud of their patch of lawn and flower beds 

I'm going to rely on my American husband-to-be to deal with all that, I may potter ineffectually with a gin and tonic trying to look useful lol.

Sam

Woooohooo Carey!!! Congrats!! And EQ nerd.. it will be soon, I'm sure!

My mom's over until Thursday, and we've been doing a bit of travelling w/o the bf.  (7 days, so far) It's been really sad being away from Ross and I am totally dreading leaving in August.    Plus, I love my mom but she drives me a bit bonkers.  We head back to Cambridge tomorrow, and I can't wait to see my bf and sleep in my own flat.

Congrats, Carey and welcome newcomers.

ohh sarah fun fun - I love trip time with Mom! When do you go back in August? I can't even imagine - blah

carey - woohoo time will fly now! Such great news

Sam - I am with you - hand me a drink and I will "supervise" whatever I touch dealing with flowers or even the yard - dies...The BF witnessed this first hand and said let me handle that part as I cracked a beer ;-)

eques - how did it go with the people who came to look at your horse? Any good vibes?

Me... Just getting day by as I didn't realize how miserable I would be once the BF went back after 2 weeks.  Thank goodness for email/chat and Skype ! I can only count down the days til I get there but at least I can worry about what and how to pack! Weather in mid September? Dressed up or jeans - geezz I can just practice packing to see how much I can fit into one case (ya right).

Well I guess I should do something work related

eques - how did it go with the people who came to look at your horse? Any good vibes?

I've got someone coming out to look at him tomorrow who sounds promising.  Another person e-mailed asking if he could jump 4ft and be a "man's foxhunter"...I e-mailed him back, but I don't really get a good vibe from him.   I'm sure my boy could jump 4ft pretty easily, but I wouldn't want him doing it regularly just to be "manly".

He was REALLY good for the show this weekend, though.   We had one part in our test where we both screwed up a little, but overall it went quite well.  And then we had fun running around the field jumping over logs and fake houses and stuff.

Next up - a full horse trial this weekend, which I'm super excited about.   (I'm attempting to focus on it and selling furniture and not on obsessing over when UK mail will arrive with my citizenship stuff...if only because I could have another 4 1/2 months to wait on that.)

I don't want to jinx anything, but I think the person who saw my horse today might be seriously interested in him.    She kept raving about how much she liked him, and kept jumping him over things because she liked the way he jumps.

Of course, watching her have fun on him reminded me yet again how little I want to sell him.   But she's a junior in high school, I think, so potentially she'd want to sell him in a few years when she goes to/graduates from college, and then I could have him back.   Either way, I'm pretty sure she'd give him a good home, so we'll see.

*fingers crossed*

I don't want to jinx anything, but I think the person who saw my horse today might be seriously interested in him.    She kept raving about how much she liked him, and kept jumping him over things because she liked the way he jumps.

equestrianerd - Very good! I am sure it is bittersweet - You will be happy he will get a good home but sad to think he will be leaving.  That is AWESOME if you can get first dibbs to get him back if she decided to get rid of him when she goes to university!  I will cross my fingers for you and send good karma :-)

Keep us posted...

Side note: Ok weather in NE England in Sept? I know in the 60's what is typically worn? Remember I live in Texas where it is 100 degrees so 60 will be cold...I am trying to pack in my head but I figure just jeans, khakis, few light sweaters and layer!  Shoes are my weakness and not sure I will cope with less then 4 pairs! haha any advice?

Just out of curiousity:  How much does a horse cost?

Zoya - September will be easy - jeans and jumpers.  I woudnt necessarily only go with light sweaters as it can get chilly in September.  You will probably want some thicker sweaters that you would never wear in Texas   Layering is always the way to go.  As far as shoes - one pair of comfortable boots, one pair of super comfortable trainers (only the cute kind of course!) and maybe some nicer shoes for any evening outings.  Remember that shoes are the heavy part when packing!   
Oh oh, also it will finally be fall again so you can break out skirts with tights and boots if you are a skirt girl.  I cant wait for fall!!!

equestrianerd - Very good! I am sure it is bittersweet - You will be happy he will get a good home but sad to think he will be leaving.  That is AWESOME if you can get first dibbs to get him back if she decided to get rid of him when she goes to university!  I will cross my fingers for you and send good karma :-)

Keep us posted...

Thanks for the well-wishes.  I'll probably be paranoid and ask her for references if she decides she wants him, but yeah, I wouldn't sell him without a first right of refusal clause.

Another friend also said she could hook me up with pretty cheap board if I wanted to just keep him while I'm abroad until I know whether I'm staying there or not... it's tempting, but I know Murphy would come and kick my butt with injuries, illnesses, whatever I can't deal with well while 3,000 miles away.  (A bit hard to walk your horse 2x/day from across an ocean...)  So, we'll see...it'd be a nice backup plan, but I'd rather sell him to a good home and see if I can buy him back if/when I return to the states.

Just out of curiousity:  How much does a horse cost?

It depends on what you want, obviously.   Anywhere from $0 to 6 figures, for a show horse, and for a race horse, you can get into the millions.  My horse is priced quite reasonably (I think) at $7,000.  I could probably ask more for him, but in this economy, I'd rather focus on the good home rather than the cash.

Another friend also said she could hook me up with pretty cheap board if I wanted to just keep him while I'm abroad until I know whether I'm staying there or not

equestrianerd - I can get you in touch with my Aunt as well if you want to board - it would  be in Jersey but I can guarantee she would walk him and do tons with him!  She is out there every morning and every night.  She used to show her horse and rides them and her baby used to jump - she has been with her horse since she was in her 20's and now she's 40...BIG time horse person

Oh oh, also it will finally be fall again so you can break out skirts with tights and boots if you are a skirt girl.  I cant wait for fall!!!

mirrajay - YES I am planning for my knee high boots with a few dresses and maybe a pair of city shorts with a cute sweater! At least the BF says don't pack to many shoes if I need some he will buy me them lol So at least I have that as a back up plan.  I am super excited as we are going to the lake district for a few days and spending a night in York as well.  I just need it to hurry up and get here, I can't wait to get out of this heat and of course to see him ;-)

Zoya- The Lake District is cold! So keep that in mind.  Also, I only brought 5 sweaters (light to heavy) for the summer and I very much wish I had brought more! It gets chilly here, especially in the North.  Last August in the SE of England, I was already wearing my coat some nights!  But, I may just be a California wuss. 

Last August in the SE of England, I was already wearing my coat some nights!  But, I may just be a California wuss.

yikes! i really hope that the boston winters i've experienced in the past three years have prepared me for the weather over there...maybe a uk winter will feel warm to me!

EN: good luck with selling your horse!  sounds like a tough process!

sarah: when do you leave again?  i arrive on the 12th-- it would be great if we could arrange to meet up before you go! 

LilyBelle (I can't remember your spelling of Carrie  ) I leave on the 17th, anytime before the 15th works great for me. I'll probably be a big ole' baby about leaving my boy at that point - just to warn you.    I may just be a giant wuss about weather, I am a born and raised Cali girl- and I don't have much meat on me bones.