1. House move
We moved across the country from the NE in Yorkshire to the NW in Cheshire. It's only a 100-miles which probably seems nothing to people in larger countries but 100-miles in England makes a huge difference. The house is lovely, a much nicer size and layout than the old one, it already feels more homely. I'm really enjoying having some garden again and there's a really nice terrace just outside which even for the UK is a bit of a sun-trap.
The village seems really nice, but I stand out as having a really different accent. Again accents vary enormously over here! I'm sure I'll start to fit in a little soon but it's hard with work and my daughter to have time to meet people. There is loads of local history here, the Vikings and Romans had huge influence here and there's tins of evidence of them being here. Oh and bizarrely despite all this history, I seem to have stumbled across the part of the UK which is obsessed with American Civil War reenactments which is odd but funny! My SO thinks it's hilarious and has plans of coming over here and taking over by pointing out all their faults! Apparently there's some link that the local shipbuilders here helped the confederates by building warships for them.
I'm also really liking being near the coast, I can walk to the nearest beach from here and there's a beautiful coastal path where you see loads of seals....I've invested in a new bicycle with glorious images of cycling along it. The air really does seem cleaner here compared to inland Yorkshire and you can almost taste the salt in the air.
Weirdly I feel like I'm on a permanent vacation and I don't think it's sunk in yet that I live here and don't have to go back.
2. New job
It feels weird to be working back in a school environment but also quite nice. The school is very much on an upward transition, it got hit severely by it's last inspection and so there have been a lot of changes. As I'm new I think I've settled in better than some of the older staff who are finding the changes more difficult. My own manager seems a complete b**ch though, she's very rude and abrupt in her manner but the rest of the staff seem nice and they've all told me to take no notice of her!
3. Visas, plans etc
So frustrating! It's going to be December at the earliest we can apply now as even though I have this new better paid job which more than meets the income threshold I'm on a probationary contract for the first term (it's standard in education here) so won't get a permanent contract until Christmas. We could apply now but it'll probably be rejected as a result so we've decided it's safer to wait a few more months. As a result it's looking like it'll be a year between seeing each other again which sucks majorly. Last time was bad enough but I thought that would be the only time, it's been a blow to find out we'll be waiting a long time again
We'll keep plodding on with video calls etc but it's tough.4. Daughter
I'm so proud of her, she's so resilient with all the changes. She seems to have settled in with no problems to her new school and it's a huge help having her grandparents down the road to help with childcare, school runs etc. I think she's really enjoying having them so close too. She also loves having the beach so close and seems more settled in this house which has been a huge relief.
Some photos......(stolen from the web as I can't seem to upload mine)
Our local beach....
The village centre....
A viking relic at the church...
Pretty village church.....
The Cheshire American Civil War Society.....
It must be very hard having to wait so long to see your SO, but on the bright side, at least you will be able to close the distance relatively soon! Then you won't have to worry about visits again