October???

Is it really possible that it is already October? I guess I shouldn't be surprised since it began to feel like Fall in June.

Well, I've started my nutrition course again. It's going to be a very intensive year with classes and a student clinic that we need to run. I'm the clinic coordinator so I'm the point of contact and I schedule the clients. I'm looking forward to it.

To give you an update with the latest immigration saga...Andy and I are driving down to Reading on Sunday (staying with his mom and Eric) for our immigration meeting on Monday at the US Embassy in London. We are still trying to prove that Andy is not in the US. We need to do this before our final hearing on Dec. 5. I think deportation proceedings will commence if we are not successful. It should be interesting to what they try to do to deport someone that is not in the country.

As for me, I have fallen into a very expensive (and somewhat corruptive) loop hole in the UK system. My spousal visa expired at the end of August. (The 25th to be exact which is the day that Andy and I arrived in the UK to live.) So at that point (or within one month before) I needed to apply for indefinite leave to remain, or permanent residency. So I did. Then about 4 weeks later I received a rejection letter. It said that I didn't arrive until the 17th of November 2005. Hmmm...interesting. I would have an extension to stay until then but then I need to re-apply for my new status. Thing is...I've been paying taxes here since Sept. 1, 2005. Seems like they are as good at knowing how to keep track of their visas as the US!! So basically, due to their national security error of letting me in the country without stamping my passport and the fact that my visa expired on the 25 August 2007...I need to pay another £750 to get my new visa. Can you imagine if a company ran this way? I do not think it would be in business that long. With all the fees it wouldn't have to apply for bankruptcy though would it.
So that is our immigration issues for now.

My newest obstacle (due to my laziness mostly) is that the car insurance company won't renew me on the policy as I've been here with a US drivers license for 2 years. I need to get a UK one now in order to be able to drive. So...looks like the bus and my two legs will be my transport for a wee while. I guess that's okay as I like to get my exercise. This should definitely help towards my weight loss. :)

What else...We are quite settled in our flat now. We've been here since the end of August. Our neighbors seem good and quiet which is nice. Snoopy has settled back in well.

I've taken up Lacrosse. It's a fun sport. I've been playing for about a month now. It's a coed team. That is all they have over here due to the limited involvement of players. I am playing in my first game this weekend. Wish me luck!!! (I guess it is time to become acquainted with the rules)

Andy is doing well. He is working quite a bit these days as he is training trainers and clients. He is back playing rugby which is another definite sign of the fall. Thank you to all of you who voted for him for player of the month. He won!

Oh...I've been having this discussion with people at work about the show 'The littlest hobo'. The Scottish people (important to note that) tell me that it was an amazingly popular show...especially in the US. Funny that I had never heard of it until they told me what it was. So I polled facebook and asked all my American contacts if they knew what it was. I had one response that had heard of it from way back when. Everyone else said..what is it, is that cartoon, never heard of it.... So yesterday I told the (Scottish) guys that they are crazy and it was never a big hit over there. THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE ME!! Apparently it was a big Canadian hit. Not that I don't love our friend to the north...but that has nothing to do with the US!! Sometimes these Scots get a wee bit stubborn. It is one of those conversations that makes you want to scream!!!! Anyway, thought I'd share that with you. Maybe you can weigh in on this chat.

Well I think that is it for now. I have Lacrosse practice tonight and Snoopy is itching for his dinner. Until next time...all my best. K