Currently Listening Christmas Songs By Diana Krall, Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra see related

We never saw the coast of Italy. In fact, we never walked out the front door. Ok, I take that statement back. We did walk out the front door in a state of panic. Not because we nearly missed our flight but because I was four days away from being deported. Alright, maybe the circumstances would not have been so drastic. But, there was a possibility.

Let me explain. The night before we were to leave for Italy we excitedly began packing. I packed my favourite Adrienne Vittadini luggage piece full of chic London style fabrics to dazzle the Italians with or at least attempt to dazzle. I then proceeded with a quick scan through my passport (to ensure my terrible psycho killer photo was still there), I noticed the date on my 'definite leave to remain' stamp was the same day we were to arrive back in the UK. Panic. I was told that I would need no more paperwork until next September when I applied to be a Citizen. This information was partly correct. I actually needed to fill out a form, send evidence that my husband and I were in fact married & living together (and that I didn't move here to be a UK hooker or the sorts) and write a cheque (errrmmm, check) for £350 (There goes part of our holiday money) in order to gain "indefinate leave to remain" for the final year leading up to gaining citizenship.

I cried for three days.

It was bad enough that I didn't get to see Italy. As my dear friend Andria said, "Italy will always be there." Yes, that is correct. The daunting thought is that once we arrived back in the UK from our Italian holiday, they would have not allowed me to enter and alternatavily would have put me on the first flight back to America. Thoughts of, "what about my life....my husband.....my teaching job....my home...my car.....my England!" It all was a bit much for me. If I had never booked that holiday to Italy, I would have not looked in my passport until my next trip (which is March of 2007, when I take my students to Paris) and by then would have been classed as an "over-stayer." This would have made it nearly impossibly to gain residency.

I still want to cry.

To soften the blow, my husband took me to Bedfordshire where we picked up this tiny treasure:

And, it made things seem not so bad. Her name is Zara, but she hasn't quite grown into the name yet. For now, it is "meow meow". She is a ball of energy and such a darling. She sleeps in our bed with us and while we are working she nuzzles under the duvet to stay warm. She loves chasing balls of yarn, jumping in boxes, chasing toes and unwrapping the christmas gifts (the bows and tags are her favourite!). We care for her with such pride. I even catch my husband chatting to her and asking her if she is ok. She loves playing with him and some evenings I hear my husband laughing while I am trying to sleep only to realise he had is lazer pen and has the kitten chasing the red light around room. Such kids.  It is too cute to watch. Click here to watch her as we put her new collar on today. She absolutely hated it.


I have even better news as of yesterday. My mother and father are flying to England next spring! I am beyond words and probably will not sleep from now until then - I am much too excited in planning their stay and all that I can reveal to them the place I call home. 

I am also throwing my first dinner party since moving into our new home. This excites me to no end! :)

Thanksgiving in the UK! My friend Beth and I are preparing Thanksgiving Dinner together. Just thinking about our family recepies on a British tables makes me incredibly happy.

Finding it hard not to get out the christmas decorations.....so tempting....