Snow Tiger's Musings

Hi everyone!

We've just returned from a nine day trip north to Northumberland.  I think we made it to within about 20 miles of the border of Scotland.  Our purpose was to visit one of Dave's (and now mine) dear friends who can't come to our wedding.

She and her husband live in a wonderful country house in Northumbria.  The first part of the house was established in the 1500's and has different wings added to it since.  It's huge, and it was such a treat to be offered hospitality there.  You can see the pictures on my web site along with others from the trip including a castle tour we did.

For that we were blessed with spectacular weather with no wind and brilliant sunshine.  Something rare for that far north and in January no less!

Coming back south we stopped to see others that wanted to meet us/me and spent a little time with each.  Everyone was very warm and welcoming, and at each stop I was able to see different parts of the country.  We went from high, wild, and open all the way to 'Oklahoma flat'!  It was wonderful.

Now it's just four days to our wedding, and frankly I think we're both just a little nervous.  I've been notified by the movers than my shipment will be here tomorrow afternoon.  Yea....we can wear our cowboy hats after all!  We shipped them to keep them from being crushed in our flight luggage, and almost failed to have them in time.

Still don't have our wedding rings though.  The jeweler has assured us they will be ready for us on the fourth.  Talk about the last minute!  We check in the hotel, drop the cake there, then pick up the rings with only hours to spare!!!

If Dave's ring wasn't ready, we had a large key ring that fits his finger ready to use for the ceremony....it's the truth...I'm not kidding!  We'll do anything to make this work!

Keep watching the site folks...there's going to be a lot of pictures to see.

Dear diary

A new year has begun, and now we're making final plans for our big day.  Our clothes are ready and I've chosen the silk flowers for my bouquet.  That was a bit of a problem given the fact that we've created a western theme for our wedding.  I wanted flowers that looked like they've come right off the Oklahoma prarie and this is England!  Nothing like attempting the impossible...right?  I did find some that looked like what I want, and there will also be a big dusty pink wild rose in the middle.  It will be very pretty I think.

Last week we had some photos taken at a farm belonging to the photographer doing our wedding pictures.  She suggested a few natural shots to be mounted and placed on a table for guests to sign instead of a guest book.  We then can have it framed for home.  We're in the process of choosing the ones we want to use.  We've asked our guests to wear western clothes, and even the registrar conducting the ceremony will be dressed that way too.  I think it's going to be a real affair that people will be talking about for some time.

Oh yes...we also ordered our wedding rings...plain matching bands.  They will be ready in about two weeks.  So...things are just about ready and I can't wait.  This is the culmination of all the waiting, planning, and hard work we both have done in order to make our day possible.

I'm a happy woman....

Here it is...Christmas holiday and our first!  Can't believe how time has flown since my arrival.  It's odd how during the times we were making preparations for my move, time just couldn't pass fast enough.  And now it's flying! 

I still don't have my shipment from the US.  We've agreed that it probably won't be till well after the first of the year now.  I know it's on this side of the pond...I'll just have to be patient.

Oh and by the way...the picture with Dave's last entry ???? I wasn't ASKED if that could be used!!!  Sorry bout that!  I guess one can't be perfect all the time huh! 

I fixed Christmas dinner and gave them American!  Totally untraditional, but it was really tasty, and I've promised to do traditional English next year.  We did have Christmas cake and Christmas pudding with brandy creme over it.  WOW...what flavour that was!  Now I need to get out and walk, walk, walk......(don't we all?)

New Years is coming up, and with all the bad news, financial crises etc...I still want to wish all reading this a very happy and healthy new year.  Please give some thought to changing only one small thing about yourself for the new year.  It doesn't have to be something big and dramatic, no one even needs to know...just something to dwell on and feel a sense of pride and accomplishment.  You'll undoubtedly feel better for it.

Till the new year....

Sharon

My goodness time is passing! I've been here nearly 6 weeks already! I've gotten a few things accomplished...established a bank acct, etc. I've received notice that the ETA for my shipment from the US was the 19th of December. Of course we are still jumping through hoops getting it to the front door! More paper work, more fees to pay, and arranging for parking for the 55 ft container truck when the delivery is made. Had I known all that would be involved (including the money) I'm not sure I would have done it...but it will be nice to have some of my possessions around me at last.

Since this is the Christmas season with all the mad shopping and tv hysteria going on, it's hard to find something to do that is low key and quiet. Having said that, we did have a lovely experience taking a Christmas walk at
Spetchley Park Gardens.

We stayed at a
country Inn called "The Swan"
in a village not far from the gardens. It dates back to the 17th century, and it was lovely. After our tour we went to their pub for a drink, then had a fabulous evening meal. You can visit my photo slideshows to see pictures of the event.

We've also been for a lunch at Okehampton Golf Club with friends and that was very enjoyable as well. The view from the windows was spectacular, the conversation was fun, and the food was great. Gotta watch the food intake though, and keep walking! It would be easy to gain weight...and don't all we women sing chant that mantra at this time of year!

Our Christmas will be quiet...a little company....a nice meal (of course I'm cooking!)

To all who read this...I wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Lazy Sunday...aside from doing laundry and cleaning the house!  :)  It's been two weeks since I've last written,  Time is passing and Okehampton is feeling  more like home.  This has happened sooner than I expected.

I've had one rough day since arriving.  Suddenly I felt very sad and missed Tulsa terribly.  I have no idea what started it, but I'm glad it (and the tears) passed quickly. 

Yesterday was my birthday (not going to say which one) and it was a very nice day thanks to Dave.  There is a little diner here that serves American food ...(well...almost American)  We stopped there and I had a hamburger.  Later we took a walk and went to see Okehampton Castle. 

What an incredible place.  I had only seen it from the road when we passed, but being there was something very special.  Of course I had my camera and after we scaled the locked gate like a couple of monkeys, we started up the foot path.

My legs sorta gave out and we didn't do the final climb to the top, but even so I was in awe of being in a place like that...so steeped in history.  It dates back to the 11th century, and of course my mind went crazy imagining how hard life must have been during those times.  You can see the pictures I took on the photo gallery page. 

After we walked back home we had a nice hot cup of coffee and a treat from the birthday present I found at my door.  I'm sorry I missed the person who left it, but in a way it was nice to find it that way.  People have been so warm and generous, there's simply no way I could feel like a stranger now.

Christmas is coming soon and I had Dave dig out the Christmas decorations he had stored in the loft.  It was fun going through the boxes to see what was there, and I've created a very pretty Victorian Christmas tree with them.  The mantel is decorated as well, and it's a pleasure to look at.  Just think...our first Christmas together....I'm happy!  Can you tell?

More another time.

Hello everyone!

I've been here two weeks, and things are beginning to make a little better sense now. I'm less tired, and am able to function better...so I guess that's progress.

I've decided I like it here. I think Dave was a little worried that I might not...but good heavens...what's not to like! The scenery is spectacular, the town is lovely, and everyone has been very open and friendly Of course I'm still the new kid on the block, and will have to carve a niche for myself, but that comes with time.

Dave has been touring around with me and my camera in tow ! I've been going crazy taking pictures and most of them have been posted in my gallery for you to enjoy.

I received a phone call from a man in Plymouth who stated he has known one of my sisters and her husband for years! Dave and I both had a hard time getting our heads around that one!!! My world suddenly got a little smaller!

He wanted to meet up with us in Tavistock for a lunch, and that's what we did Friday. We had a really nice time. They're great people and a relative of his even works where Dave does...he already knows him! This was almost too much to believe!

With all that has happened and with email...Tulsa doesn't seem so far away now. I'm sure at some point I'll miss home....any normal person would. But I'm comfortable here, and my man is making sure I'm well taken care of.

So I'll keep writing, you keep reading, and we'll see ya later!!!

Well folks....here I am in England!  I'm still tired, but happier than I've been in years.  All the struggles, waiting, endless paper work, and even the surprise extra charges (whew) from the shipping company have been worth it.  (I could write a book on international shipping alone!)

Okehampton is truly beautiful, and I've received a warm welcome with flowers, and visits from new friends.

I've been out a few times on my own with my handy dandy hand drawn map furnished by Dave. Only on foot though.  Think I'll leave the driving to him for a good while.  He says we're on the correct side of the street, I say you've got it all wrong. 

I'm thrilled to be here, and as things calm down and as our routine develops I'll be writing more.  Untill then.....

Hello everyone!

Would you believe we've nearly reached the end of our 6 month saga????  I retire tomorrow!!! And my man arrives Sunday at 10:20pm!!!  I can't believe we've done it.

Soon all of our lonliness, frustration, problems, endless texting, phone calls and seeing each other on our web cams will be things of the past.  Of course the future will have it's own obstacles, everyones does.

Today I had a bit of a clitch.  I received email from the shipping company asking if the movers could pick my stuff up today or tomorrow!!!  This wasn't supposed to happen till the 24th!  I wrote back that tomorrow would work....then Dave reminded me that they would be taking the computer and it's equipment!!  I panicked and emailed them "change of plan...can't do it"  After some negotiations we settled on the 30th.

This is one of those times I could have really messed things up!  I'm glad one of us was thinking, and obviously it wasn't yours truly!

The next two weeks will be a whirlwind of packing, storing, and seeing family and friends for last good byes.  We're taking the first week of November to travel around a little and relax before catching our flight.

I imagine my next entry will be from my new home in England.  And I'm sure I'll have much to write about.

See ya'll soon!