Countdown

[MissusM09 1]

that look's freaking gorgeous

We plan on getting hitched in the next two weeks, as we are having a pastor marry us he has to meet us twice before doing the do, thats Michigan!!!

:dance: :dance:congrats Ellie . I realised in packing that I was totally unorganised, but it will get done in the end. I dont know if anyone does this, but my dad is sending over a barrel with my stuff, its cheaper than normal shipping we use it alot when we go back to the West Indies.

Still adjusting, at the moment just decorating. I hope Marm will light my visa fire with the excitement of the visa arrival however. :thumbs: LOl I was so happy last week, I actually forgot it was my birthday on Thursday. Silly me.

Belated happy b-day Prima! Glad to see things are settling in. We are not in any type of Admin Processing as we are consistently being informed by DOS...I don't really know the reason for our delay in receiving the visa in hand. DOS keeps telling us we should get it soon, it is not in AP/AR. I just hope this week is our week! We are close to hitting the 11 month mark (even though I know many have waited more than 11 months, MonkeyJuice for example ) but it is frustrating because we are not in AP/AR so there is no reason we see feasible for the hold-up. We have contacted the embassy by email and should be getting a reply in a day or two as to what is going on...I just hope we get the visa in hand before their reply

Marm well you definately win the prize for grace under pressure, I didnt fair too well. Marm, Its over with, just ooooooone final push, and heeeeres the baby. so keep doin what youre doin, and i'll keep hoping and praying with you.

xx

Edited July 15, 2009 by primahen

[Nik+Heather 121]

Nik and the best man have made their flight reservations!!!

I'll see him in 66 days!!!!! :dance:

We are meeting in New York because we are going to a wedding ring workshop there, and it's also convenient for them to fly in there.

All three of us will fly in to JFK on the morning of Friday Oct 2 (Boys from London, me from Phoenix).

We'll be tourist-y, make our rings on Saturday, then be tourist-y until all three of us fly on back to Phoenix Sunday Oct 4!!

One thing that has been strongly suggested to us to see while we are there is the Statue of Liberty and also do an Ellis Island tour. We haven't decided yet, but how fitting that would be, on the same day Nik POEs to go compare how they used to do it!

Edited to say that Nik gave 30 day notice at work today. Eee!

Edited July 27, 2009 by Nik+Heather

[Nik+Heather 121]

Anyone else in the period between visa receipt and POE? I've got 23 days left to wait! Finally starting to feel like all the "AGES" of waiting are behind and that POE is just around the corner.

[imaisha 0]

Yes! The husband leaves Friday. Had just over a month between visa and POE. The last two weeks are not fun at all. In addition to being just about the longest two weeks ever, the packing and shipping may actually be more difficult than the whole year of paperwork before it...

[Nik+Heather 121]

Yes! The husband leaves Friday. Had just over a month between visa and POE. The last two weeks are not fun at all. In addition to being just about the longest two weeks ever, the packing and shipping may actually be more difficult than the whole year of paperwork before it...

Ooh, I see he's coming in to JFK...Hey, do you think you could PM me some pictures or something? I've never been to that airport and want to know where I should eagerly await Nik's appearance from customs in 3 weeks + 2 days...I'll be getting in 3+ hours before him, so I guess I'll have lots of time to figure it out, but would be comforting if I was sure I was standing in the right spot!!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Anyone else in the period between visa receipt and POE? I've got 23 days left to wait! Finally starting to feel like all the "AGES" of waiting are behind and that POE is just around the corner.

That's so soon! I know you're happy.

I just read your July post. I'm facinated by the wedding ring workshop. Tell more about it.

And about the Statue of Liberty. The lines are very long just to get out to the island. You could spend all day doing that and you aren't in NYC very long. Ellis Island is not the same place where the Statue sits. Now that they just re-opened being able to go up in the Statue I bet it's really a hot attraction. I've been to NYC about 5-6 times now and still haven't had the patience to wait in those long lines to catch the boat out there.

So...if you're short of time, here's an alternative idea. Take the Staten Island Ferry across the harbor from Manhattan to Staten Island. It's free. You just walk on and go find a seat or hang out on the railings. It sails fairly close to the Statue and you can get some nice photo ops standing out on the rail of the ferry with the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan in the background. When it arrives at Staten Island, you get off and back on to take the ride back across the harbor. It's free, did I say that? Catch it down at the tip of Manhattan fairly near where people catch the boat out to the Statue of Liberty.

Edited September 9, 2009 by Nich-Nick

[imaisha 0]

Take the Staten Island Ferry across the harbor from Manhattan to Staten Island. It's free.

And there's beer on the boat. And it's really cheap! Will help if he's feeling a lil homesick hehe. So I agree with that recommendation. I haven't been to the statue or Ellis in all my 25 years but I work nearby and I've seen the lines on my lunch hour- they wrap well around the park three or four times on a nice day. Doesn't look like much fun.

I will definitely try to take some pictures of JFK for you Terminal 4 and I are old buds.

[Nik+Heather 121]

Anyone else in the period between visa receipt and POE? I've got 23 days left to wait! Finally starting to feel like all the "AGES" of waiting are behind and that POE is just around the corner.

That's so soon! I know you're happy.

I just read your July post. I'm facinated by the wedding ring workshop. Tell more about it.

And about the Statue of Liberty. The lines are very long just to get out to the island. You could spend all day doing that and you aren't in NYC very long. Ellis Island is not the same place where the Statue sits. Now that they just re-opened being able to go up in the Statue I bet it's really a hot attraction. I've been to NYC about 5-6 times now and still haven't had the patience to wait in those long lines to catch the boat out there.

So...if you're short of time, here's an alternative idea. Take the Staten Island Ferry across the harbor from Manhattan to Staten Island. It's free. You just walk on and go find a seat or hang out on the railings. It sails fairly close to the Statue and you can get some nice photo ops standing out on the rail of the ferry with the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan in the background. When it arrives at Staten Island, you get off and back on to take the ride back across the harbor. It's free, did I say that? Catch it down at the tip of Manhattan fairly near where people catch the boat out to the Statue of Liberty.

Ah yes, we had been told about the Staten Island ferry trick. Also suggested was to do the boat-by for the statue on the way to Ellis island, if we still want to do that. I don't think we'll do anything which requires lines of longer than 30-45 minutes, so will play that by ear. I understand that tickets to get up in the statue are sold out for ages, so just getting close enough to take pictures should be OK.

The wedding ring workshop is something we've been dreaming about for a while (before 'official' engagement even!). Basically, there's a jeweler who takes the whole day and walks you through making wedding bands. It takes a long day, and he's there to catch/fix any mistakes. You go from raw material through rolling, shaping, soldering, grinding, polishing to finished rings made with your own hands! We are going to make Mokume Gane rings, and we're really excited!! http://www.newyorkweddingring.com/ I hope it ends up being worth the money - it's our huge splurge item. I understand there's another studio in San Francisco, and when googling I stumbled across other, unaffiliated programs doing similar things - except those don't do the mokume gane that we got stuck on.

Imaisha, I bet you can't wait until you're in JFK either! Thanks!

Edited September 10, 2009 by Nik+Heather

[Gemmie 142]

Congrats on preparing to make the leap imaisha and Nik&Heather! I bet you're both so excited. And you're right, it really is the longest countdown EVER.

[imaisha 0]

And congrats on the wedding Gemmie- looks beautiful!

And that ring workshop looks like it will be awesome

[Gary_UK 17]

Anyone else in the period between visa receipt and POE? I've got 23 days left to wait! Finally starting to feel like all the "AGES" of waiting are behind and that POE is just around the corner.

OH yes. 3 weeks 1 day and counting...

Notice handed into my employer a few weeks ago. gave them as much time as I could because they are a fine bunch of people! Works out to about 6-8 weeks.

I decided to go with a Dublin POE. and got a good price for my ticket. ( 2 days later the price went up £50 )

Currently throwing away.. giving away and selling all that I can to see whats left and ship to my new home.

Bank loans paid off.. Credit card at Zero

It is very liberating knowing you have no debts. And doing everything I can to occupy my time. But I keep staring at the sealed envelope

that i need to hand over at immigration in Dublin. Hope that it goes well as there is 4 1/2 hours between me landing and boarding my flight.

At least i will get a few pints of the black velvet down me before I leave to begin my new life.

[Nik+Heather 121]

Anyone else in the period between visa receipt and POE? I've got 23 days left to wait! Finally starting to feel like all the "AGES" of waiting are behind and that POE is just around the corner.

OH yes. 3 weeks 1 day and counting...

Notice handed into my employer a few weeks ago. gave them as much time as I could because they are a fine bunch of people! Works out to about 6-8 weeks.

I decided to go with a Dublin POE. and got a good price for my ticket. ( 2 days later the price went up £50 )

Currently throwing away.. giving away and selling all that I can to see whats left and ship to my new home.

Bank loans paid off.. Credit card at Zero

It is very liberating knowing you have no debts. And doing everything I can to occupy my time. But I keep staring at the sealed envelope

that i need to hand over at immigration in Dublin. Hope that it goes well as there is 4 1/2 hours between me landing and boarding my flight.

At least i will get a few pints of the black velvet down me before I leave to begin my new life.

You're leaving the same day as Nik! I've got two weekends to clean the house, then my cousin is in town, then NYC! It's coming up fast! Yay!

That sealed envelope...I'm glad it's not me, I'd be eyeing it too.

[Gary_UK 17]

Anyone else in the period between visa receipt and POE? I've got 23 days left to wait! Finally starting to feel like all the "AGES" of waiting are behind and that POE is just around the corner.

OH yes. 3 weeks 1 day and counting...

Notice handed into my employer a few weeks ago. gave them as much time as I could because they are a fine bunch of people! Works out to about 6-8 weeks.

I decided to go with a Dublin POE. and got a good price for my ticket. ( 2 days later the price went up £50 )

Currently throwing away.. giving away and selling all that I can to see whats left and ship to my new home.

Bank loans paid off.. Credit card at Zero

It is very liberating knowing you have no debts. And doing everything I can to occupy my time. But I keep staring at the sealed envelope

that i need to hand over at immigration in Dublin. Hope that it goes well as there is 4 1/2 hours between me landing and boarding my flight.

At least i will get a few pints of the black velvet down me before I leave to begin my new life.

You're leaving the same day as Nik! I've got two weekends to clean the house, then my cousin is in town, then NYC! It's coming up fast! Yay!

That sealed envelope...I'm glad it's not me, I'd be eyeing it too.

sorry for the late reply. things here have kicked into high gear. I cannot believe that i have had so much stuff crammed into every nook and cranny!

My last week at work is finally here. and planning on having a couple of easy days ( yeah right ) between putting everything in order and making my way to the airport.

A word to the wise who are going to be blessed with a more relaxed time frame for your departure. If you think you can get everything in order before you leave blighty in 2 weeks plan for 6... if you think its 4.. plan for a lot more than 6

Oxfam is getting so much stuff its not even funny, hundreds of books and other items. I have sold a lot to work colleagues and for that I'm grateful. Don't hold onto things to make the best money. just take what you can or you'll end up with a ton of stuff you will have to practically give away. it just adds to the stress of it all. And that is something no one needs.

Think I will give "Parcel monkey" bunch a go next week for the things that I cannot simply leave without. and try and plan for the boxes to arrive a day after I do. I will report what experiences I had with them.

In the mean time I'm planning my goodbyes to friends this weekend. That's something I am not looking forward to... Family will be even harder, especially as I have elderly parents but thats something I am trying to put to the back of my mind for the time being.

I honestly cannot believe that my countdown on my pc says 1 week 1 day 6 hours...

[arwilson80 0]

All being well end of June. Just started the filing at the beginning of the month so i hope we've left enough time. :s

[Big Papa Zone 93]

A word to the wise who are going to be blessed with a more relaxed time frame for your departure. If you think you can get everything in order before you leave blighty in 2 weeks plan for 6... if you think its 4.. plan for a lot more than 6

Tbf, there's no point in stressing about it. I left everything until the last week, and it all worked out fine. I spent the last 72 hours of that week on the lash, too.

Don't hold onto things to make the best money. just take what you can or you'll end up with a ton of stuff you will have to practically give away. it just adds to the stress of it all. And that is something no one needs.

You're right about not being overly fussy about what you get for your odds and sods. Also, a good way of getting rid of some ####### that otherwise probably wouldn't sell, is to lump it all into one "lot." A mate at my UK workplace wanted my telly and sofa, and I said I'd flog them to him at rock bottom price - but only if he agreed to take all the other ####### (that neither of us wanted) as part of the deal, and of course he agreed.