Snips, Stitches and Sparkles

It's so funny to me that a lot of people in Europe don't travel extensively whereas in NZ, when you hit 18 people start asking you when you're going on "The Big OE" (Overseas Experience!)

Rich is getting by on schoolboy French (5 years at High School) and although he struggles, I think he does really really well considering.

It was funny when a guy came to look at our dishwasher the other day.  He didn't speak any English and I don't speak any French so we communicated with signs and I could understand a word here and there. 

I ended up phoning Rich just to find out what he was trying to tell me at the end (that the secretary would make an appointment for him to come back and fix the dishwasher) but even Rich had to pass the phone to someone at his work.

So there was this chain of people all involved with the riveting topic of our leaking dishwasher! lol

We got the first quote back from one of the moving companies and oh.my.god, do they know how to charge!   I hope the next one comes back a bit better - I nearly needed smelling salts when I saw it!

And typically, Callum's British Passport has expired.  I've sent off the application for a new one and it should get to the British Embassy in France tomorrow.  Hopefully it will arrive back here in time for us all to travel at the end of next week.   We're really pushing it though!

Meanwhile, Rich is being courted by a company in Sth England so we might yet end up there.  Things to consider are the fact that it's a longer contract 6 months + rather than 3 months +.  It's closer to here so it won't cost us as much to move nor will it take as long, closer to London, we won't have to fly from Glasgow to the wedding we are attending next May amongst other things. In the end it will come down to money, length of contract and whether it will be ok for the kids' schooling. 

Neither Rich or I have any idea how it's going to go!  Regardless, he has the one in Glasgow to fall back on, so that is great.

We're moving to Scotland...  ummm, next week!

Rich was offered a contract and will start work on Dec 4th.  (Nothing in writing but that's how it goes until they meet face to face.)

It's great to have back to back contracts even if it will make it a little tricky giving notice on the apartment, finding somewhere new to live etc.  It'll work out though.

We've enjoyed Luxembourg but will like Scotland too.  I'm looking forward to Lush, English bookshops and a good British Drama on TV.

Callum is looking forward to going to an English speaking school but will miss his best friend Phoebe.  They were planning on getting married when they grow up.  *sniff*

So, that's it!  Time to pack up and move on!

Ooh, look!  Glasgow has Christmas Lights!  Click on Camera One:

http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/AboutGlasgow/WebCams/#