5 Years
Wow--Martin and I have been married for five whole years now. Where has the time gone? And was I ever single? It's amazing how time can pass so quickly, and how it can go so slow at the same time!
We have had a really nice weekend so far. Martin and I took the day off work yesterday and we went to the temple in Preston with the Mundays. We had a great time--fun AND spiritual, though not very romantic. We did a session last night and one this morning, and then drove home. And we discovered something we hadn't realised about the accommodation centre at the temple. They have a KITCHEN!
Martin and Lewis cooked us dinner and breakfast, while Emma and I relaxed. She's 6 1/2 months pregnant, and not very well. I have huge blisters on both my feet and it hurts to stand up. So we both played the "sick" card and sat around talking while they did all the work. There's also a fantastic dining/lounge area. From now on when we go to the temple we are going to cook instead of eating out!
We are going to a movie tonight--for the first time in about a month and a half (that's a long time for me and Martin to not see a movie) and I need to get ready. But I'll probably post tomorrow and let you know how church goes. The Primary are preparing for their sacrament presentation, and the choir is singing. Plus, the ward organist is not going to be there. So basically I will be working my butt off for all of church. Better get a good night's rest to prepare for that!
Love you all!
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Saturday, September 16, 2006
The week behind us...
Let's see, what can I tell you all?
It's been an incredibly busy but very boring week, all at the same time. Martin and I have both been running around like chickens with our heads cut off, but ahven't done a single thing that's new or exciting, or even that much fun!
We've been having an interesting time trying to sort out our finances. We got into a bit of a jam, and have to try and dig ourselves out. When we moved over, I decided to let Martin handle the cash. That may have been a mistake, in hindsight. He has as much money sense as a 4 year old child, and about that much self control when it comes to spending. My fault, too, of course, for not stepping in and taking it over, but it was so nice to not stress about it constantly. Now Martin is stressing about it instead. It'skind of fun to see. Anyway, if we can make it to the end of this month without spending more than around 50 quid we should be ok. I hate living in poverty!
My massage course was fun thins week, I guess. We started practising the different techniques--Effleurage, pettrosage, tapotment, friction, and vibration. I had a homework assignment, to practice the techniques, so everyone has been getting back rubs this week. Martin hates it, but he grins and bears it and moans in pleasure when I am giving him a massage. I have a feeling this course could make me very popular!
Choir was good. I spent most of our time working on tone quality, which was interesting. I told Martin what I wanted to do, which was mainly to make sure our vowel sounds were all uniform, and he had a bit of a giggle. He said, "You want to teach a room full of English people how to speak English?" I hadn't really thought about that, but I realised the irony of it right away. So we turned it into a joke at practice, and it went over ok. After only two practices with me, I can really hear a difference in the choir. They sounded really great by the end of the practice!
We went to the Mundays' house last night for dinner--a yummy curry. I was all about it, because we don't have much food in the house right now. I am trying to make things up from the random cans and rice & pasta we already have, and it makes for strange meals! We stayed there for 3 1/2 hours just talking about everything from Emma's pregnancy and breast feeding to religion and the phrase "the road to Hell is paved with good intentions." I love going to their house.
Today Martin is at work, then has a football game in Grimsby. After he is done there, we are going to the Mundays' again to help Lewis change the oil in his car. Then, we are going to come home and work on the house. And of course, tomorrow is church and all the activities that brings with it.
The past two weeks have been so busy and frantic! When I weighed myself yesterday, I got a pleasant surprise. All the weight I gained when I stopped going to the gym, I've lost again. I phoned Martin up and told him I'd lost 5 1/2 lbs. in the last ten days, and he reminded me that our scales are set in kilos. So actually lost just over 11 lbs. in the last ten days. I think I should be a student for the rest of my life. I use every scrap of energy I consume, and by the time I get home I am too tired to eat. Just can't be bothered, you know?
So that's life for the Gilberts in Barton. What's going on with all of you? I need to do some house work before I have an intelligent life form develop in my bathroom sink!
Let's see, what can I tell you all?
It's been an incredibly busy but very boring week, all at the same time. Martin and I have both been running around like chickens with our heads cut off, but ahven't done a single thing that's new or exciting, or even that much fun!
We've been having an interesting time trying to sort out our finances. We got into a bit of a jam, and have to try and dig ourselves out. When we moved over, I decided to let Martin handle the cash. That may have been a mistake, in hindsight. He has as much money sense as a 4 year old child, and about that much self control when it comes to spending. My fault, too, of course, for not stepping in and taking it over, but it was so nice to not stress about it constantly. Now Martin is stressing about it instead. It'skind of fun to see. Anyway, if we can make it to the end of this month without spending more than around 50 quid we should be ok. I hate living in poverty!
My massage course was fun thins week, I guess. We started practising the different techniques--Effleurage, pettrosage, tapotment, friction, and vibration. I had a homework assignment, to practice the techniques, so everyone has been getting back rubs this week. Martin hates it, but he grins and bears it and moans in pleasure when I am giving him a massage. I have a feeling this course could make me very popular!
Choir was good. I spent most of our time working on tone quality, which was interesting. I told Martin what I wanted to do, which was mainly to make sure our vowel sounds were all uniform, and he had a bit of a giggle. He said, "You want to teach a room full of English people how to speak English?" I hadn't really thought about that, but I realised the irony of it right away. So we turned it into a joke at practice, and it went over ok. After only two practices with me, I can really hear a difference in the choir. They sounded really great by the end of the practice!
We went to the Mundays' house last night for dinner--a yummy curry. I was all about it, because we don't have much food in the house right now. I am trying to make things up from the random cans and rice & pasta we already have, and it makes for strange meals! We stayed there for 3 1/2 hours just talking about everything from Emma's pregnancy and breast feeding to religion and the phrase "the road to Hell is paved with good intentions." I love going to their house.
Today Martin is at work, then has a football game in Grimsby. After he is done there, we are going to the Mundays' again to help Lewis change the oil in his car. Then, we are going to come home and work on the house. And of course, tomorrow is church and all the activities that brings with it.
The past two weeks have been so busy and frantic! When I weighed myself yesterday, I got a pleasant surprise. All the weight I gained when I stopped going to the gym, I've lost again. I phoned Martin up and told him I'd lost 5 1/2 lbs. in the last ten days, and he reminded me that our scales are set in kilos. So actually lost just over 11 lbs. in the last ten days. I think I should be a student for the rest of my life. I use every scrap of energy I consume, and by the time I get home I am too tired to eat. Just can't be bothered, you know?
So that's life for the Gilberts in Barton. What's going on with all of you? I need to do some house work before I have an intelligent life form develop in my bathroom sink!
Saturday, September 09, 2006
It's Back...
It's Saturday morning, and I don't have to be up for another 1/2 hour, but here I am wide awake and typing. Why, do you ask, am I foregoing some much needed beauty sleep? It's because I woke up this morning with a familiar feeling in side, though it took me a long time to realise what it is.
The "longing" is back. Before I had my ectopic pregnancy two years ago (has it really been nearly two years?) I used to feel this way most of the time. My life felt empty and hollow, and I felt like something important was missing. More than anything I wanted to have a baby.
After I discovered I would need to terminate the pregnancy, went through the treatments with the Methotrexate, and was so sick for all that time, the longing went away. For the longest time I didn't even want to consider having a child. I honestly could not have gone through that whole experience again, and didn't even want to take that risk. About six months after I started feeling better from that, I was ready to try again. Mostly because I knew how long it would probably take! But that total desire to have a child has stayed away until now.
In a way I'm kind of relieved that the feeling is back. I guess it means that two years down the line I am fully healed emotionally from the whole experience. In other ways, I am sad to see it back. I know that I will start waking up with a gnawing hunger inside of me that won't go away no matter how much food I eat. I know that I will feel intensely lonely again.
Martin wants to have children, but I don't think he feels it as keenly as I do. I can't explain the desire to anyone. I guess it is a natural urge, to want to further the species, that is born inside every animal on the planet, but there is more to it than that. Last night I was watching Emma read to her daughter, Caitlin. They share this bond that is incredible. I know that Caitlin is annoying sometimes, and she gets so frustrated with her, but I could see that attachment to each other while she read her a bed time story, and it was beautiful. I want that bond with my own child. Mine and Martin's.
In other news, I had my first choir practice as the director on Thursday, and my first massage lesson on Wednesday. Both were good! It was kind of fun to be back in a classroom, and there are some really nice people doing the course. I think I might actually make a few friends, which would be great! And people actually showed up for choir practice! There were 14 people, which is about twice as many as came before! I was so petrified that nobody would show up, and when I walked in to find the choir seats nearly full, I almost cried (you may have noticed that I am a little emotional right now anyway?). Life is going to be incredibly busy for the next little while, but it will be that much better for it I think.
Anyway, time to get ready for the day. Emma and I are going over to the Stake Relief Society Enrichment Activity in Hull, and then we are going bra shopping. Martin is going to work on the house and play footie. Then we are going to town, possibly going to hang out with his matie boys. Busy day!!!
It's Saturday morning, and I don't have to be up for another 1/2 hour, but here I am wide awake and typing. Why, do you ask, am I foregoing some much needed beauty sleep? It's because I woke up this morning with a familiar feeling in side, though it took me a long time to realise what it is.
The "longing" is back. Before I had my ectopic pregnancy two years ago (has it really been nearly two years?) I used to feel this way most of the time. My life felt empty and hollow, and I felt like something important was missing. More than anything I wanted to have a baby.
After I discovered I would need to terminate the pregnancy, went through the treatments with the Methotrexate, and was so sick for all that time, the longing went away. For the longest time I didn't even want to consider having a child. I honestly could not have gone through that whole experience again, and didn't even want to take that risk. About six months after I started feeling better from that, I was ready to try again. Mostly because I knew how long it would probably take! But that total desire to have a child has stayed away until now.
In a way I'm kind of relieved that the feeling is back. I guess it means that two years down the line I am fully healed emotionally from the whole experience. In other ways, I am sad to see it back. I know that I will start waking up with a gnawing hunger inside of me that won't go away no matter how much food I eat. I know that I will feel intensely lonely again.
Martin wants to have children, but I don't think he feels it as keenly as I do. I can't explain the desire to anyone. I guess it is a natural urge, to want to further the species, that is born inside every animal on the planet, but there is more to it than that. Last night I was watching Emma read to her daughter, Caitlin. They share this bond that is incredible. I know that Caitlin is annoying sometimes, and she gets so frustrated with her, but I could see that attachment to each other while she read her a bed time story, and it was beautiful. I want that bond with my own child. Mine and Martin's.
In other news, I had my first choir practice as the director on Thursday, and my first massage lesson on Wednesday. Both were good! It was kind of fun to be back in a classroom, and there are some really nice people doing the course. I think I might actually make a few friends, which would be great! And people actually showed up for choir practice! There were 14 people, which is about twice as many as came before! I was so petrified that nobody would show up, and when I walked in to find the choir seats nearly full, I almost cried (you may have noticed that I am a little emotional right now anyway?). Life is going to be incredibly busy for the next little while, but it will be that much better for it I think.
Anyway, time to get ready for the day. Emma and I are going over to the Stake Relief Society Enrichment Activity in Hull, and then we are going bra shopping. Martin is going to work on the house and play footie. Then we are going to town, possibly going to hang out with his matie boys. Busy day!!!
Saturday, September 02, 2006
I'm STILL Working!
So my last day at Hewden was supposed to be last Friday, but I got a call from the agency on Tuesday morning because Alison wanted me to go back. So I will have work for another few weeks anyway. Martin was really happy. I only spent one day--not even that--unemployed this time. And it was nice to be asked back. In the mean time, I'm applying for more jobs. Wish me luck!
Today is going to be a busy day for Martin. He's at work right now--actually went in 1 1/2 hours early so he could get everything done. I'm going to go work in the back garden for a few hours. Martin's football team have a game in Grimsby this afternoon, so we'll go in to that. Then we are going to come home and work on the house until we can't see. Should be a good day with lots being accomplished (I hope). We haven't got much done on the house lately!
The visit from the conservation department was good--they're not going to prosecute us for doing unauthorised work. We just have to apply for retrospective consent on the walls we already knocked down and get consent for the one we want to build. The guys were actually quite nice about the whole thing. I'm just happy we're not looking at a huge fine or jail time!!!
I do get sick of the way the government meddles in all of your business over here. I have this theory that the British government is turning all of its' citizens into children because they keep making all of their decisions for them. Soon, the adults in this country will be completely unable to think for themselves, simply because they never have to. This theory may have popped up because I am reading Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" right now, or it could stem from the discussion I had with Lewis Munday about the children of Israel last night. Still, I think it's a good theory. You spend too long letting someone else tell you what to do all the time, pretty soon you'll wake up and realise you can't function without constant guidance. Use it or lose it, you know?
The massage course starts on Wednesday, and I'm really looking forward to it. There's a day spa opening just down the road from us, and I think I might be able to get a job there when I'm done with my course. I may even be able to get a job at reception there while I'm still doing the course. That would be nice--I could walk to work in 5 minutes instead of driving there in 25.
The driving lessons are on hold as my pervy instructor is on holiday. He said that I am ready for my test though--we are going to have a few lessons in Scunthorpe, where the test is administered, when he gets back. I have applied for my provisional license, and I need to take my theory test. Soon, I will have a full English driving license!
Martin has been doing really well with the football thing--they have yet to lose a game. He's getting on well at work, and has applied for a promotion again. It's frustrating, because they won't promote him, but they treat him like he's already an assistant manager. He didn't get home until 8 pm last night! But I have faith--he'll get the job when the time is right.
Still on the "I love England" kick. We have been here for a full year now (it was a year on Tuesday), and I have seen the seasons come full circle. Everything is so full and lush right now. The hedge rows are full of berries and fruit, and everywhere you look something is ripe and red. I have taken a series of photos that I will be printing and hanging in our house--all different sorts of berries. I like England in late summer. But spring is still more beautiful.
I met some really nice people, Pat and Brian, the other night while I was out walking at Water's Edge. We were all down there feeding the ducks. It was nice to chat with a few friendly people because it very rarely happens. I'll probably see them again, since they said they feed the ducks about 4 times a day.
That's life for the Gilberts right now. More later!
So my last day at Hewden was supposed to be last Friday, but I got a call from the agency on Tuesday morning because Alison wanted me to go back. So I will have work for another few weeks anyway. Martin was really happy. I only spent one day--not even that--unemployed this time. And it was nice to be asked back. In the mean time, I'm applying for more jobs. Wish me luck!
Today is going to be a busy day for Martin. He's at work right now--actually went in 1 1/2 hours early so he could get everything done. I'm going to go work in the back garden for a few hours. Martin's football team have a game in Grimsby this afternoon, so we'll go in to that. Then we are going to come home and work on the house until we can't see. Should be a good day with lots being accomplished (I hope). We haven't got much done on the house lately!
The visit from the conservation department was good--they're not going to prosecute us for doing unauthorised work. We just have to apply for retrospective consent on the walls we already knocked down and get consent for the one we want to build. The guys were actually quite nice about the whole thing. I'm just happy we're not looking at a huge fine or jail time!!!
I do get sick of the way the government meddles in all of your business over here. I have this theory that the British government is turning all of its' citizens into children because they keep making all of their decisions for them. Soon, the adults in this country will be completely unable to think for themselves, simply because they never have to. This theory may have popped up because I am reading Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" right now, or it could stem from the discussion I had with Lewis Munday about the children of Israel last night. Still, I think it's a good theory. You spend too long letting someone else tell you what to do all the time, pretty soon you'll wake up and realise you can't function without constant guidance. Use it or lose it, you know?
The massage course starts on Wednesday, and I'm really looking forward to it. There's a day spa opening just down the road from us, and I think I might be able to get a job there when I'm done with my course. I may even be able to get a job at reception there while I'm still doing the course. That would be nice--I could walk to work in 5 minutes instead of driving there in 25.
The driving lessons are on hold as my pervy instructor is on holiday. He said that I am ready for my test though--we are going to have a few lessons in Scunthorpe, where the test is administered, when he gets back. I have applied for my provisional license, and I need to take my theory test. Soon, I will have a full English driving license!
Martin has been doing really well with the football thing--they have yet to lose a game. He's getting on well at work, and has applied for a promotion again. It's frustrating, because they won't promote him, but they treat him like he's already an assistant manager. He didn't get home until 8 pm last night! But I have faith--he'll get the job when the time is right.
Still on the "I love England" kick. We have been here for a full year now (it was a year on Tuesday), and I have seen the seasons come full circle. Everything is so full and lush right now. The hedge rows are full of berries and fruit, and everywhere you look something is ripe and red. I have taken a series of photos that I will be printing and hanging in our house--all different sorts of berries. I like England in late summer. But spring is still more beautiful.
I met some really nice people, Pat and Brian, the other night while I was out walking at Water's Edge. We were all down there feeding the ducks. It was nice to chat with a few friendly people because it very rarely happens. I'll probably see them again, since they said they feed the ducks about 4 times a day.
That's life for the Gilberts right now. More later!
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