Hi Y'all!

I am a 57 year old lady from Alabama that will hopefully be moving for good to the U.K. In 1999 after a separation from my husband I unexpectedly met the most wonderful man on earth while trying to get started on icq. We were friends for 2 years before I decided to go visit the UK and meet Mr. Wonderful... He was everything I thought he would be and MORE.. Since 2001 I have been flying back and forth every year on a tourist visa while waiting for my ex to decide to help me with a divorce. Hopefully, we finally are in agreement and the divorce should be filed this week....and then....On to the paperwork for the fiancee visa.. I am very overwhelmed by all this. I am not spring chicken but I will do to be with my love and get to my beloved England. On my extended visits, I have learned to love the country and its people.. I have had lots of fun experiences and I will love having lots of expats to talk to here. I am sure I will need some help and support over the next couple of months.... Oh and I will be living in Hastings!!! Thanks for a great site, BabyJo 53

An early welcome to the UK to ya from a fellow Alabamian!  I'm originally from Montgomery, but lived in B'ham for a few years before moving to Northern Ireland to have a civil partnership (cause ya know you can't do that in Bama!) 

Glad to hear you're excited about the move and hopefully it will all work out for you!

d

Welcome to UKY and I hope time goes fast and you can finally be with Mr Wonderful ;-)

Welcome BabyJo!! 
Glad you have met your Mr Wonderful and good luck with the plans, I'm sure it will be worth it in the end. Incidentally my hubby (US) is in his 50's and is due here in a week and a bit on the spouse visa - he is a sprightly summer chicken 

 

Thanks for the warm welcome all! It is nice to meet others who have been through all this visa stuff which is very scary and daunting to say the least. The past week has been very scary in Alabama as parts of our state have been devastated by massive tornadoes. I am happy to say, my part is fine but it does not help the anxiety I already have...
   Glad to get to know each of you.... Jo

Jo, I know how you feel about the tornadoes.  I have tons of friends up in the B'ham/Tuscaloosa areas, but all are ok.  Glad to hear that your part was unaffected as well.  But....moving here will be less traumatic because the UK rarely gets tornadoes, especially of the magnitute of those in the States. 

I always enjoy the storms in Hastings. I can listen to the wind blow to my hearts content and not worry that I am about to die... Our flat looks out on the sea with big windows and I spend hours sitting there watching storms. It is so much different and so much BETTER! Thanks for all the positive input! Jo