This past Saturday my sisters in law Louise and Sarah threw a wonderful reception for me and Simon here in the UK. It was a bit overwhelming, in that there were lots of new faces there to meet, but it was also wonderful to be so accepted into not only my husband’s family but his circle of friends as well. Cheers all around, y’all! One thing I especially loved was the food on the buffet. The only thing missing, seriously, was Yorkshire pudding. Pork pies, mini scotch eggs/egg biters, bread and butter, and trifle. I love that it was very representative not only of England but of the particular part of the country where we live.
I had some doubts earlier this week about my place in this country and specifically in Yorkshire when the European election results came in, but I’ve had a good think about it since and I’ve decided that I love where I live. The people around me are real, genuine even to a fault, and they have all been so very nice to me. Also, if I understand the results correctly, there were two specific parts of “Yorkshire and theHumber” that had a large hand in voting in the British National Party and neither of them was Keighley . I was guilty of doing the same thing that I find annoying in others…painting an entire area with the same brush instead of seeing the individual parts that make up the whole. There are a lot of very progressive, intelligent, forward-thinking people in Yorkshire, just like there are everywhere. Sadly, there are also closed-minded, xenophobic people everywhere too.
The big news of the week, though, is that yesterday I took my first solo train trip yesterday. Although it was only to Bradford, it was all by myself and to a station I’ve only been to once prior. I popped over to go to a fantastic pet shop that Simon and I visited on my first trip over in 2007 so that I could get some nail trimming implements of doom for the cat. You’d think that I spent the entire trip berating myself for not doing it sooner, for being unnecessarily cautious, but I didn’t. Instead I thoroughly enjoyed my new found freedom (and talked on twitter/posted pics to twitpic till I killed the battery in my phone) and made the entire journey in just over two hours. I can’t say that I could have done that faster with a car.
I’ve applied for a job and for a BSL course at a college in Leeds…in two weeks I’ll be visiting home…Daisy and Mills seem healthy and happy….dare I say all feels right? I still miss Hunky more than I can put into words…his loss makes Jeany’s absence more acute and more bearable, all at the same time. But we’re moving on; books to write, Yorkshire to explore.
I’m resolving to do better with the blog too…weekly updates on Wednesdays at the least. Hang in there, Lettuce Readers, the blog is heading back to normal, whatever that is for me anyway.
My Hunky. I miss him already. I miss cuddling with him and listening to him roo. And his ears. I loved his ears.If you need me, don't hesitate.I love you.
Hip hip hooray!!!!!!!!!!!Looking forward to seeing you guys soon!
Just about a week and a half till we're knocking on your door…Do warn Guinness, please? LOL
Love you too, K. And you know, even though he wasn't as demonstrative as Prof, Hunky loved you very much. I'll never forget him watching you walk by our tent like \”here she comes, here she comes…hey…wait…there she goes,\” then sighing.
Good on ya for making the trip on ya own – after coming over here on my own I've found I've had to do a lot of things on my own where back home I wouldn't have and I loved it! It's a huge learning curve but I have to admit there's an element of excitement in it too 🙂 xx (rossco_nz from Twitter by the way haha 😀 )
Oh my god I have tears in my eyes after reading your post but I hope you don't when you read this because as a 'dog person' I know it will probably take you back to the worst moment of saying goodbye. I love dogs and I can't wait to have one of my own as all the Westies I've had have been my parents in that they're 'the boss' haha. Weird to say but to a dog person it's so true – dogs are different towards different people and I am so looking forward to a day when I have a dog to call my own! 3 years ago my mum and I went to the vet to put down 12yr old Serene cos her cancer had come back (after having it taken out 2 years previous they said she had about another 2 years which was pretty much spot on). I was devastated but I'll never forget the moment. I love the happiness dogs bring to our lives and I just love \”He was my heart dog\” xx
Hey Amanda! I recognized you from the avatar there, believe it or not. I didn't get the job, as you know, and haven't heard back from the college, but I'm still thinking of those things as small victories.
Hunky's death was peaceful, but the moments leading up to it were not, and THAT is what I can't seem to get past. The other night I had to get up and go watch TV because when I closed my eyes all I could hear over and over was the vet saying, \”I'm so sorry, he's just died.\” Poor vet wasn't ready for an hysterical American, that was for sure…It DOES help though to know that folks get it, and understand it. Thanks so much.xx