a Lovely day for a non-wedding OR warning, rambles to follow

I am soooo excited today. Well, at the moment things are pretty low-key and Sam is absorbed in the cricket which he woke up for after having had 2.5 hrs sleep this morning after his night shift. "But its the Ashes!!!!"

Anyways... everything is going fine, except for a small laceration in my foot which happened when a tiny piece of glass went into my heel, which I thought was a small rock or something, and which I tried to remove by scraping my heel over the top of my other foot. Ooops. But, its only minor, and won't impede my dancing and merrymaking this evening.

I'm looking forward to trying all the wines Sam and I picked out of the catalog. We've got a Chilean Cabernet, an Italian Sangiovese, a Semillon from I think Chile also, a table red from Spain, another white one from somewhere or other... it'll be good times had by all. And we're having pork pie as only one of the delicioius buffet items.

So, in a little while, I'll go try to distract Sam long enough to run through our non-vows, then dry my hair, and wait for people to arrive and pitch their tents in the back yard in which they will sleep after we all roll home in a merry state very late tonight. I think I'll take my cozy bed, but I'm sure sleeping in the garden in a tent would be fun in a different sense. Also, I will be wearing my ultra-cute new dress-- black georgette with white polka-dots and yellow flowers on and a ruffle around the slightly dropped waist. Don't worry, there will be pictures.

All in all, it is a very exciting time. Like I said, a bit strange and unprecedented for a ceremony, but nice and I'm looking forward to giving thanks to the Lord and praying for our marriage in front of lots of friends and family.

P.S. Mom and Dad arrived 2 days ago and are having such a great time. They forget how much they like being on vacation, I think. But, it is so nice to have them here to experience this whole other place and people that I know.

bits & bobs

Right, so a quick update before I head to bed after reading just a little Harry Potter. Like most of you, I'm sure, I'm both enjoying the new read and trying to pace myself, unlike the whirlwind read through book 5 which I am now trying to piece back together, oops.

So, Thanksgiving service this Saturday! Plans are whirling into place, and I'm getting pretty excited, actually! It is quite a strange circumstance, gathering ones family and friends for a big do complete with something in a church and then, well, you're not really married. But, its uncharted waters in today's global community. Gotta do what you gotta do. And while you're doing it, you might as well have a great time and drink lots of wine, woohoo!

One thing I've been meaning to tell my readers who may be unfamiliar with the old country is that I never cease to get a kick out of how English men, bless them, as soon as its warm outside, just up and remove their shirts. It cracks me up. There're shirtless guys all over the place. In FACT I was walking home from work the other day, which happened to be particularly hot, and Mr So and So around the corner was mixing cement in his front yard and wheelbarrowing it to the back yard ... in a Speedo. That's right, a Speedo. Just your ordinary working in the yard attire, no?

Anyways, in an unrelated but humorous aside, here is an excerpt from a conversation with Sam earlier. The setting, he is getting ready for work at the Holiday Inn, and comes in buttoning his shirt, previously misplaced tie hanging around neck.

Me: Hey, where did you find that tie?
Sam: (sheepish) It was on my tie rack. (pause) I forgot I had one.
Me: You forgot you had a tie rack? After you put the tie on it?
Sam: Yes.

I'll never be short of laughs, I can tell you that right now.

National Trusting

So, this Saturday Sam, his parents, and I all traveled over to one of England's old historic homes, now tended by the National Trust, which Sam and I became junior members of as well. This one in particular was built, um, sometime, by a woman named Elizabether Shrewsbury. Well, that was her name at the time, since she had about 6 names over the course of her life. Born the daughter of a yeoman farmer, she erected this cozy little beauty not far from the site of the farmhouse in which she was born, and all just after a few strategic marriages and re-marriages. And about a billion kids, but you know, that was normal back then. Here are a few shots, and unfortunately, photos weren't allowed inside. It was amazing, and my favorite parts were the hand-woven rush-mats which carpeted most of the upper stories, the floor-to-ceiling tapestries, on giant hallway displaying the story of Gideon, and the muniment room, which was a little room that looked like a bank-vault with little drawers from floor to ceiling. In each of the drawers would have been kept all the deeds and documents having to do with all the properties the Lord or Lady owned. Enjoy the photos! Oh boy, you know its going to be a good day when it starts off like this.

Hardwick Hall. Quite an impressive sight. Home sweet home.

Elizabeth Shrewsbury proudly displays her initials all along the top of her stately home.

Here is the imposing side view from the hedges.

What a beautiful day! Sam's mom enjoys the lawn just in front of the Manor.


Here is a shot of part of the lovely gardens.

Bigfoot? No, just a skinny boy. These hedges were so nice to walk around in, though!

Sometimes you just can't resist a chiselled round booty. I'll own up to telling him to do it. I don't think the other tourists are impressed.
Here is a statue of a woman playing air-lute in one corner of the hedgerows.

I'm OK, You're OK

So, first off, as anyone who was/is even remotely concerned already has figured out, I've not been killed, maimed, or injured in the London explosions. In fact, I was 200 miles away. But, the good news is, neither have any of our friends who actually live in London, which is very good. But, tis sad all the same. However, as Sam was saying, terrorist activity is nothing new to the English, what with the IRA, and there are still plenty of oldies that remember the Luftwaffe bombing the hell out of London. That is not to say its nothing, but the English are, as it were keeping with their stoic stereotype as far as I can tell and pressing on as usual. We'll see what happens in the aftermath, of course.

But, I don't have too much new to report. I finished my first week of work, which was very nice, and John reminded me that he didn't send a digital camera with me to keep my hunger at bay on the airplane, so I promise to post some pictures! It really is so gorgeous here. Oh, and the weather has improved, which is good. It is fickle, not unlike OK, but not cold all the time, I am learning. Last night we walked to a nearby town to Wollaton park, which is basically the manor house and grounds of some past nobility or whatever, and it was just beautiful to walk around. Sam took great pleasure in watching me see the giant house at the top of the hill and stop in mid-babble as we came out of the trees and into view of the house. Really gorgeous, though. And there are lots of deer all around, babies and bucks. And they are so used to people that they don't mind coming up close. On our way out of the park Bambi's dad, huge antlers and all, was about 10 ft away, looking at us! So, yes, I'll try to get a pic of this place or someplace comparable.

I highly encourage a visit here, for those who are looking for a place to travel. Its worth it! Now, off to enjoy my Saturday.

Independence Day the British Way

Well, don't I have a lot to report. I'll try to break the default chronological to keep myself from writing all the boring details. Let's start with today. Which was cold. I have realized that the clothes that I brought mentally marked "summer" and "fall" are all melded together into keeping myself warm at all times. I am told that it got up to 95 degrees the other week, but I have a hard time believing it. But... I'm not really complaining as, I'm in England, yay! And, its better than the blazing blazes, dontcha know. Plenty a hot summer to come in the life of Laura, no doubt. So yes, walked home from work in the rain today with Janet, the nice lady who got me my job.

So, I got the job! Praise the Lord, the job interview was indeed just a formality, and they offered me full time, the entire time I'm here PLUS a customary week paid leave when my parents get here. A week paid leave for a receptionist who the company knows will only be with them for 15 weeks. How do you like that treatment? So, this job is really a Godsend, and its not bad work at all. Its about a 15 minute walk down the road, its a hip mod office with an orange and blue colorscheme and light colored wood Ikea furnishings everywhere. The people are kind, and I stay busy. I really could hardly think of anything better! Sam is still diligently looking for work, so keep him in your prayers. In the meantime he meets me with food at my lunch hour; what a sweet boy.

So my first day of work was yesterday. Somewhat strange, as I'm usually used to, you know, celebrating Independence and all that. I wasn't wholly without celebration though, on the contrary. Sam's parents took us out to an American restaurant, something like the "Baltimore Bar & Grill" and I had a burger, mmm, but I couldn't resist putting malt vinegar on my fries. Its how the gods eat them, my friends. When we got back, Sam's dad kept us well entertained with a fantastic fireworks show set off from the back garden. And they were flipping loud! The Norman PD would have been all over that shiz, but the neighbors weren't too bothered, apparently, even though we were shooting rockets over their houses and making enough noise for the whole neighborhood! I was cracking up! It was a memorable 4th, for sure. I'm looking forward to the 5th of November. Even though we'll be in Atlanta at Sam's conference, we'll have to make a good day of it.

The weekend was spent generally having a great time with Sam's sister Julia and her friends and absolutely stuffing ourselves with good food. Julia generously helped herself and, very the new living room carpet, to some red wine which was an unfortunate unfortunateness. The latter, that is, Julia is something of a hoot even when sober. Anyways, we watched the entire London Live 8 concert which was really good! Other than Velvet Revolver and Snoop Dogg.

Ok, supper's on it seems! But, I'm having a fabulous time. Lastly, I've been watching Red Dwarf, a BBC budget classic, and one of Sam's favorite shows ever. I highly recommend it, its really brilliant. Bye now!

Settling in

Alright, so approximately 4 days and 2 nights sleep, and numerous cups of tea later, I am now settled into Casa del Negus, all clothes unpacked, breakfast consumed, and a job interview at 2:30! (more on the intereview in a couple paragraphs) Apparently I was in London the same time as Annie and Colleen, but neither knew this nor ran into them on the street (shock). Hope you girls had a good time! I definitely heard this announcement, in just the most public announcement, BBC attitude, android-like woman's voice, when Sam and I were going to catch the tube to the BUNAC office, "Due to man under train, the Picadilly line is not currently in service." Yikes. Just telling it like it is, I guess. Anyhow, Sam and I managed to make our way without incident, and finally were able to collapse for a nap some 25 hours or so after we had last slept.

We went out that evening, though, for quite a treat, meeting Sam's sister, Susanna, and her Irish man-friend for dinner at the Carlton Club. Needless to say, I was impressed. And the food and drink were delicious. And, afterward, a friend and fellow club member of said Irish man-friend chatted with us in the drawing room after dinner while he had a quick smoke and provided us with much entertainment. He was about the most stereotypical little English gentleman one could imagine, and apparently practically lives at the Carlton Club, but we all very much enjoyed his story about his run- in with a large, black, Alabama policeman whilst he was peeing on the side of an Alabama state highway, half-drunk, in the middle of the night, coming home from some engagement at some antebellum establishment or other.

So, yes, we finally made it up to Nottingham yesterday on the National Express, Britain's finest coach service, after having a delicious lunch at a pub across from Victoria coach station. Fish and chips, all- day breakfast (with baked beans, an English breakfast staple), and a couple of pints of Marston's Pedigree-- its good to be back. It's so nice to see Sam's parents again, though, and will see sister Julia and a gang of her friends this weekend as they descend on the house for a weekend of good times.

As for this job interview, apparently a good friend of Sam's mother works at an accounting firm about 10 minutes walk up the road from where I am living, and which firm has been looking for a good receptionist and from what I can tell, this interview is mostly a formality. I praise the Lord many times over, for I was just remembering last night that when Sam and I first thought of coming over here to stay for a good while, I began praying that there would be a job waiting for me to fill, and that I would be needed. And, voila, what do you know. So, I am so excited about that. After that, its off to Pride Park (home of Sam's beloved Rams) to discuss some arrangements for the pre-wedding Thanksgiving celebration coming up on the 23rd of July. Very exciting.

A very happy birthday to miss Elise D.! Glad you liked your present! And I shall pray that 22 is a much more enjoyable year than 21. Drink a few extra Sangrias for me!