Thanksgiving

So here I am, my first Thanksgiving across the pond. Well, it's the morning of anyway, haven't gotten started on the day yet as it's still early, just got up and got on the computer, letting the sunlight stream in (haven't had many sunny days lately, so it's a bit of a treat to see the sun out today!) and reminiscing on Thanksgivings past. Growing up, we always went up north to see my grandparents for a couple of days, time there always seemed to go so fast, but we enjoyed it so much. Or in the last few years, when it was just me and my mom and my brother, even though it was a quiet day it always still was so nice, to smell the turkey first thing, to see the dog get all excited, to curl up and read a book and watch football and start planning for Christmas shopping, to start eating in the early afternoon and just go back for leftovers throughout the day. Honestly, I really would love to be back at my mom's for a few days at this time, especially if Adam were with me this time. But I'm glad that at least my family here wants to share in the day with me, even though it means nothing special to them, and they'll be over this evening for turkey dinner. It will be good to make new traditions. I think that wherever I am in the world, this will always be one of my favorite days.

I could list so many things I'm thankful for... my parents, my brother, Adam, the whole Sturgess clan here, the holiday season and all it's festiveness in the air, being where I am now after all the planning and stress I went through last year to get here, having a job and getting settled into life here, all the things that make me happy, my love of photography and reading, all the wonderful and inspiring stories that have given me hours of happiness, my computer and my phone so I can stay in touch with everyone I know around the world. All the good things that have ever happened to me, all the people I've known who have touched my life in any way, everyone that has ever cheered me up or encouraged me, and even all the "bad" things or things that have gone wrong and that I've learned lessons from. I'm thankful for the beautiful world I live in and this beautiful, complicated, imperfect, wonderful little life that belongs to me. I wouldn't change a thing, and I think that's what I'm most thankful for.

Anyways, now that I've gotten the sappiness out of the way there, time to go finish planning the turkey day menu. Hope all the Americans out there have a wonderful day, whatever your plans are!

Pottsy and Laura's wedding

So yesterday was Pottsy and Laura's wedding, at a little hotel in Halifax on a chilly, misty November day. Despite the weather, it was a really good day, can't say it was a good day for taking photos outside, but a nice day to spend with friends, drink mulled wine, sit by a fire, and have dinner and lots of drinks and dancing. The ceremony was short but sweet, and the bridesmaids gave a lovely reading, I wish I knew what it was so I could find it and post the words. The night do in the evening was good, and I finally got to see Adam go out on the dance floor and show off his moves. Very nice :)  anyways, I didn't take a lot of photos, but here's a few:

Big congratulations to the newlyweds, and may this be the beginning of many, many happy days to come! :)

Getting Frustrated

It's just not possible for me to keep up with things I want or need to do, when I work 8-9+ hours in a day. I'm not going to come home after working all day and clean the house, it's just not going to happen, it will have to wait until I have a day off and have time. I'm not going to worry about cleaning up when I'm poorly and don't feel well enough to be worrying about it, it will just have to wait for another day. I can't worry about washing sheets when the laundry hamper is full of clothes and I have to wash those first. And that's only the stuff at home, then there's how busy we are at work, when we have three different things we need to be doing all at once while it's super-busy, and we're all yelling at each other that we're not getting things done. Well of course, there's just not enough time or enough of us to accomplish all the tasks we need to do all at once.

Fucking Hell, I'm not cut out for all of this. I hate feeling like there's always a ton of shit to do. Keeping busy is one thing, but at a more even pace, and then with plenty of downtime when I get home. Yes, I admit, if I don't get a few hours to myself every day to just sit and read and relax, forget it, some things will have to wait because I need my Me-Time. Is that really so much to ask?

I have to laugh to myself a little, because I sound like a kid again complaining about having to do chores. I guess some things never change, sadly.

Armistice Day

So I hadn't thought about Rememberance Day really, until we had a moment of silence at 11am. One of the first things on my mind this morning when I got to work was the December rotas, and how I got my wish and was not scheduled to work on Boxing Day. Then during the two minutes of silence, I thought about not just the soldiers who have lost their lives overseas during any of the wars within the past 100 years, but also the troops who are there now, serving both the UK and the USA, and how many of them won't make it home for Christmas at all. In that moment it suddenly seemed a bit silly, my concern about having Boxing Day off, when at least I'm here with Adam, at least we'd have Christmas Day together even if I had been scheduled to work, and at the end of the day I still get to come home to him every night. How many people have been called away to spend months or even a year or more halfway across the world, how many families have had to be missing their loved ones, have had to worry for their safety, and spend special days without them? I'm still grateful that I'll have the time off work to spend with the family at Christmas and Boxing Day, but it makes me think of all of those who are giving up so much to fight for our countries, and how sad it is that they have to be there. I've been against the war in Iraq from day one, and I've always had a lot of empathy for those who get called up to serve, and for their families who have to watch them go and can have no say in when they'll be back.

I can remember when I was in 6th grade, and the first war in Iraq broke out back in the early 90's. I remember one of our teachers having a rant at us, about how this was all going on and we didn't care. Well, to be fair I think it didn't really touch our lives then, this was something that was going on half the world away, and we were at an age when most of our family members would've been either too young or too old to get called up. But when 9/11 happened, here we were in our early 20's, having to worry about many of the people we knew and what this might mean for them. I feel lucky that no one really close to me has had to go, some I've been acquainted with have, and some people close to those I know, but I know how scared I was at the time that someone I loved might have had to go. It's just sad that this has gone on for so long, and I don't know that we're really seeing a light at the end of the tunnel ahead. But for today, for Rememberance Day, and for the upcoming holidays, I hope we'll all think of all of those out there who have served their country, or are currently serving, and the family members of those who are there now and of those who haven't returned. I don't have any more words left, but just know that my thoughts are with you.

Remember Remember the 5th of November

So, with this being my first Bonfire Night that I've been in the UK for, I couldn't let tonight go by without going to see a bonfire. So Adam and I went out to Gildersome tonight for the bonfire and the fireworks. Was a good night, not too cold, it felt nice and toasty near the fire :) anyways, since photos usually speak louder than words, here are some (would've been better if I'd brought my proper camera, but alas I left it at home)

the results of the redesign at work...

So, we all went in to work yesterday with no idea of what to expect I'm sure, and I must say they did a nice job, it really does look nice, although I think it'll take at least a day or so to decide if all the changes are practical or not. Some things I know I like, like having a rubbish bin right under the counter where we do milk is so wonderfully convenient. And our entrance behind the counter is no longer right where people are cueing for drinks, so that makes it a whole lot easier to move around too. But we're still trying to sort out where everything is and get used to the changes, which will get easier as we go along, but when we first opened yesterday it was such a hassle, especially since we opened before we were quite ready and were still missing basic things we take for granted, like pens, scissors to open milk pouches, numbers for sandwich orders, coins for the till. It got better as the day went on, but overall it was quite stressful. I suppose it can only get better from here though, even though it's going to get busier now with Christmas coming, and our hours are about to be extended for the holiday shopping season. It may be a rough couple of months ahead, but I guess all we can do is take it one day at a time and do our best. For better or worse, this new redesign is here to stay, so hopefully we'll grow to like it.

time sure flies

How did it get to be November already? Here we are approaching the end of the year, my first year living in the UK. I don't think it feels like it's really been almost a full year yet, but I guess the calendar doesn't lie. Halloween passed yesterday and I barely noticed. By the end of this week, Christmas season will be starting to get underway, especially working in a busy shopping center I'll be seeing Christmas decorations and hearing Christmas music all the time now very soon. I do love this time of year, but I suppose it feels a bit too soon. Thanksgiving will be in a few weeks, and of course I'll be one of the very few people here who will even care. I'm carrying on the tradition of Thanksgiving over here still though, by starting to make new traditions this year, and convincing Adam to humor me and play along, LOL, but I suppose it'll feel like something's missing, with it being just a normal day here while for me it's always been one of my favorite days of the year. I suppose this is a time I'll really be missing the States more.

Anyways, right now I'm having the second of one of my days off while our space at work is being redesigned. If all goes according to plan, we'll come in tomorrow to a nice newly designed cafe and will be ready to open around noontime, but I guess we'll see how it all works out when I go in tomorrow, at this time. For now things are pretty quiet, I'm just setting up our new pc which just arrived this morning, much to Adam's frustration I think since if it had come yesterday instead he'd have had all day to play with it, instead of being stuck at work today while I'm taking over his new toy, haha :) other than that, nothing new and exciting really, work's going to start getting busier and taking up more of my time, especially since the new Christmas hours are starting this week and we'll be open later. Saturday is Bonfire Night, my first one ever so I'm hoping Adam's going to take me out to see some bonfires and fireworks. And Pottsy and Laura's wedding is in a few weeks, I just bought a new dress and looking forward to a fun day with everyone.

And wow, I guess now we can really say that Christmas is next month! It still feels like it's still a little ways away, but when you put it like that I suppose it feels like it's starting to get a little closer as well. And the way time has been flying, I think it really is gonna sneak up on us fast. Hopefully some fun times are around the corner then :)