January 30 2013

Wow I can't believe January is almost over! This month has flown by so fast. all is going well with my temp job - I work with 3 nice ladies at the DSU (Durham Student Union) I am still looking for FT work. I wanted to share some photos with my readers of my weekend and week On Sunday Craig and I went to Whitburn to a local coffee shop a coworker of his suggested. It was a very lovely day - and we walked along the beach.

Afterwards we went to Argos (like a giant walmart but you look at a catalog first and write down the code and they find it) - so I have started Yoga. I got a great deal on a NIKE mat which was 24.99 - now 12.99. Craig took this snapshot of me.

I am not resting really - just following instructions from my Yoga App

 Sunday Meal by Chef Craigy B
Venison with sweet potato fries, onions and homemade bread

 Craigy B in his fleece jacket (from my parents)

Bargain deal for 18 rolls of toilet paper - only 7 pounds

Snow Day - Saturday January 19 2013

My first snow day - where the snow is a bit too deep and we need to stay inside.  Needless to say I wasn't really thrilled because we go out every weekend - but we made the most out of our day.

First thing started by a few knocks on the door from DFS - the sofa couch arrived! They seemed a bit hesitant regarding the room size but all is good.

Once the movers left Craig's steam cleaner finally arrived! He was super excited and immediately opened up the box.  I was really impressed when he told me what you can actually - bathrooms, kitchens, closets, clothes, mattresses, carpets and much more! On another plus note it helps kill dust mites :D (which I said in an earlier post in December I am allergic to).  So for the next hour he was on a steaming spree while I chilled out on the new sofa and read my Twitter stream. 



By the time he finished it was lunch time. We didn't take anything out of the freezer ahead of time so we had limited option and took out 2 chicken kievs - served with vegetable pilau rice.

Craig then decided he needed a few storage boxes and a snow shovel - so we ventured out to battle the roads.  We first went to Tesco to buy some groceries then headed to B&Q (which is like Home Depot) - we had no problem finding a shovel, it took more time looking at the various storage boxes.
The storage box he bought is quite tall - and long.  We were worried that it wouldn't fit in Scarlett (his car) but he came up with a brilliant plan - Put the top down. So for the journey home I am holding this storage box with my head tilted to the side and trying to keep my earmuffs on while the fresh cold air hit my hair.

When we got home to Craig's astonishment most of his driveway was already shoveled - by his neighbor.  I went inside to unload groceries and watch some TV.

We then started putting his HUGE DVD colletion into the storage box and moved everything up to the loft (our version is an attic).

After that Craig updated my PC to Windows 8.

Before dinner I mentioned to him I had a craving for Apple Crumble (Crisp in USA) as on THursday evening the Italian Farmhouse didn't have any - he liked the idea and we scooted off to the grocery store.

Once home Craig cooked up salmon with noodles and apple crumble.

Why England? Timeline explained

So I am not sure if any or all of my readers are aware about my connection to UK/England and why I really enjoy living here etc.

When I was 13 our family hosted a student from Northern Ireland for a couple of summers and a full school year - so my first trip overseas was August 1997 (to visit London and fly to Belfast) with my parents

During my time at Edina High School I participated in People to People - a student ambassador program where we went to various places in the UK - and had homestays.

After graduating from EHS (2002) I participated as a volunteer in Stanley, England through VFP working at a playscheme for children.

I believe (trying to recall) after my freshmen year at Augsburg I visited our exchange student.

Spring 2005 - I spent a semester studying abroad at York St. John  while a student at Augsburg

2007 - I came over to York, England to stay with friends I met at YSJ

2009-2010 - I was a MA student at YSJ in the Leadership and Management Programme

May 2012 - Came to England on PSW visa to find work. 

I really enjoy living here - though I do miss driving.
But nothing will ever replace my home in Edina, Minnesota

Snow playtime

Before I started my temp job on Wednesday - I was able to be a kid again.
I mean I made snowmen! I haven't really had time to be creative or make anything lately so I am dead happy with myself.

On another note Craig made some fantastic Butternut Squash Coconut Soup

Friday January 18 2013

The weekend is here! Though I have to admit it was really hard waking up today because I slept so good! Yep I went to bed early and slept like an angel :D
Packed my lunch - finished getting ready for work and left the house (Craig is so sweet he actually drops me off so I don't have to freeze at the bus stop). After I got on and off the bus I decided to stop in Durham city centre for a beverage - yes a Chair Latte - so predictable right? Well I am not a fan of coffee or tea.

Arrived 20 minutes early to work so I went into an empty room at the Union and relaxed.

Work went alright - Claire is sick so we had to do more work (which is fine as I am still learning)

Highlights of today: Coin Counter! One of the parts about Finance Office is we take charity buckets and count the coins for societies etc.  So that kept me busy this morning.

Processing Society Pay In slips

Processing Society Expense forms

Then Lunch of course! I have decided I know have a healthy lunch!
pickles(gherkins in the UK), some carrots with hummus and some crackers + bottle of water.

I was able to get off work early as Stacy had to go home during the afternoon and I was done with all my work by 4:45

After I took the bus home - I put in 2 stuffed peppers in the oven (which after 30 minutes burnt but were still edible) - did a load of wash and now I am blogging and watching tv.

Craig isn't in tonight as he is working doing some various computer patching gig and won't be back til 2am.

So one of the nice things is he gave me permission to have the heating on til I go to bed :D which means my fingers won't go cold :D

I got a job! Temp job though

As of Wednesday January 18th I got a job through this temp agency in Newcastle.  Unfortunately it is not back with the International Office (which I really loved!) I am now working in the Finance office at Durham Student Union and occasionally will be working reception.  I work with a nice set of women and 1 man. Everyone welcomed me and I am still learning.

The building that I work in is a bit old - so I now have to bring long sleeved tops with me stay warm. On the positive side it only takes about 5 minutes to walk into town.

To my readers - I am still looking for a FT job in the Northeast (Newcastle/Durham area) in Administration or Social Media. I have faith everything will work out for me as I already have 1 secured UK job reference.

This week I had 2 sleepless nights because of stuffy nose - I really need to talk to my DR about a steroid nasal spray.

On Wednesday night Craig and I went to DFS to look at various sofas and lucky enough he found one he loved and it was on clearance too! I must take the credit for pushing him to bite the bullet because the first sales man said they would have to talk to their manager as this was a full set and they wouldn't be back til Saturday
**But I told Craig to ask another sales guy - mention he is really keen on the sofa - and BAM! he made Craig a deal*

So retail lesson: If they say they aren't sure or whatever - keep asking and remain interested.



Also this week Craig and I watched 21 Jump Street on Netflix. Good movie.

My Return Journey to Durham

Hi everyone! ::waves:: I can't believe I have been back in the UK for over a week now.  My journey went alright but I had some minor frustrations regarding my flights from MSP to Philly and Philly to MAN. So I am entitled to have 1 carry on and 1 personal item (and I follow the measurement requirements) and to my surprise when I check in to my first flight they can't flipping guarantee I will get an overhead compartment so I have to check 1 bag (which is expensive luggage) and to find out I got the window seat and had to hold onto my carry on. It was similar with my Manchester flight from Philly - they had to check one of my bags.

I don't mean to vent on my blog - but I do want to share my thoughts/opinions with my readers because if you pay a good chunk of money you expect to have great service.

When I arrived to Manchester and went through immigration I had to wait around 4 hours in baggage claim area after picking up my bag as Craig wasn't going to be able to get off til 4:30 - so needless to say I am very in tuned with the cleaning staff and seeing people work in the cafe.

Took a train a little after 1 - met 3 nice people. What I really like about coming from the airport is the train station is connected to it plus you can just strike up conversation with people you sit with near and say where you coming from or go?
A lady and 1 man said Australia (which sounds so DEVINE!) and a girl whose a student in Huddersfield just came back from her holidays in China.

Arrived to Durham at 4 - Grabbed a Chai Latte at Costa and waiting til Craig came.
Started to drizzle outside - then he picked me up - got home and immediately unpacked.
Had some dinner - watched TV and went to bed.

For my readers that don't know where Durham Is please check out this web link for more information
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durham

Recap of rest of my time in Minnesota

In the last week of being home I have had a fantastic time seeing friends and family. I wanted to share my highlights:

• Breakfast at Mr. Gangsteads (Steve I mean!) - and I had my first bloody Mary :D Plus I got to see Sue.

• Saw a French Foreign film with Mr. Gangstead (Steve as I am suppose to call him) 

* Spent time hanging out with friends and family. Was really fun to be home for 3 1/2 weeks

Chi-town a.k.a Chicago

Many of you know I am from Minnesota - yes land of 10,000 + lakes etc and known for Mall of America.  I totally love where I am from - I can walk around so many different lakes too. I recently went on a girls weekend trip to Chicago and I had so much fun! I wanted to share my highlights with you.

* We stayed at Hotel Felix - Great location! Eco- friendly hotel. Its a boutique hotel which has its own unique flair - unlike chain hotels which are practically the same wherever you travel. Mom was really lucky to have gone on Priceline and put in a bid for $75/night - which thankfully was accepted :D

*We saw Book of Mormon - for people that don't know this play I can tell you tickets have been selling for $200+ - it is a cute music. Luckily mom and I found a couple that got chosen for a drawling - for $25 each seats which they won - they sold us their previously bought tickets from a year ago. In summary it is a great musical even though we didn't know much about it. I am not sure if I would go again.

*We also saw another theatre performance - I Love Lucy - tickets were only $25 each because I had my student ID.  When I was a kid I used to watch loads of I Love Lucy episodes - so funny!

*We saw Parental Guidance - starring Bette Middler and Billy Crystal. Funny film! Totally suggest it.
I got a bit teary towards the end but that's me.

*Went to some great restaurants

For my UK friends and everyone else - Chicago is such a great place to visit! It is called the Windy City so I always wear long underwear but it is so fun!!!!