#30daysofappreciation {Round 2}

If you're new to the blog, we are down to the last couple weeks in our journey abroad. I can't believe I am typing that. It has flown by, and I definitely have mixed feelings about leaving.  I am getting pumped for the events and new things planned in the upcoming months.

On my instagram account, I started a #30daysofappreciation daily picture post.  Since many of you are not followers of mine on instagram, I thought I would share the pictures and reasons behind my appreciation or "I'm really going to miss ______" posts.  Check out the Round 1 pictures 1-10, here.

#Day11: Energy Saving Outlets
This is a weird thing to appreciation...but I love the electrical outlets in England. I love how you can keep something plugged in (i.e. phone charger) all the time without it using electricity by turning the switch off.  What a great invention!

#Day12: Cheap Airlines
I LOVE the cheap airlines like Ryanair, EasyJet, jet2.com, flybe, etc. They quick (although annoying during the flight at times) and efficient.  We can be in Rome for 30 pounds and in 2 hours...that is amazing! I know airlines in the continental United States are expensive, so I know we won't have this luxury when we return back. 

#Day13: Experiencing New Traditions
I have already posted about friendships, but experiencing new cultural traditions, like our friends' wedding.  It was fun wearing a fascinator (hat or hairpiece English women wear during special events), seeing the differences in the ceremony & reception, and enjoying the fun with our local friends. 

#Day14: Breads, Eggs, and Cheese
Another food obsession, shocker! I will miss the amazing bread, eggs, and especially...cheese over here.  Wow, it tastes so much better.  Not only do they all have less preservatives, but you can just tell they are made with the right ingredients.  I wish I could take all the different cheeses back with me, because I love ending my meal with a cheese plate. Such a great idea!

#Day15: Adventures with my Best Friend
Here's the one you were all waiting for...the sappy appreciation!  I have loved spending the last 18 months with my best friend, traveling around Europe.  Not only have we gotten even closer, but we also feel like we can conquer anything! What a great man I married!

#Day16: No Alarm!
This is one I can honestly say I have thought about every morning, and appreciated it every single day.  I know Jeff and my parents can attest to the fact that I despise my alarm clock.  So every morning, waking up naturally for the last 18 months (minus the early rise flights) has been amazing.  Now before you think I'm a lazy bum, I don't sleep in.  I usually wake up when Jeff leaves for work, and just enjoy my leisurely mornings.  Don't hate me.

 
#Day17: "The Gym"
I have really enjoyed having a place that gets me out every day.  The gym I go to is called "The Gym" and it is not anything special.  It is large in size with many different types of equipment.  Although, all I need are a few weights and a treadmill, and I am happy.  It has been a nice getaway during the day, and it has been nice on those rainy days....it forces me outside. Ha!

#Day18: Reading
As a teacher, I am sad to say I did not have a love for reading growing up.  I started my passion as an adult, and it has been fantastic to be able to have time to actually sit down and read a book (or 15).  I made it a goal to start reading books that were soon to be coming out as films.  I am still hitting my list pretty hard, but the local library doesn't have the ones I need to finish my list.  I am looking forward to continuing this new found hobby in the states. 

#Day19: Road Trips
Love, love, love our road trips.  It is probably easy for me to say that given, I don't have to do any of the driving.  So thankful for Jeff and his fantastic English driving skills.  Although there are times I get car sick on these windy roads, I still love seeing the countryside and being to a new place in just a couple hours.  I will miss jumping in the car, knowing I get to experience a new place and new things.  I am hoping Jeff and I continue this in the states and visit places fairly close to home on our free weekends. (P.s. The picture is from last spring at the Peak District)

#Day20: New/Favorite Restaurants
Brown's is one of our favorite restaurants in Nottingham.  The restaurant is a block from our flat.  We used to just go there for drinks, as there is a cute little patio to the side of the restaurant.  Although, we have been there for dinner quite a few times, and each time the menu has changed and it has been fantastic! It has a classy feel, but still the classic British food (fish & chips, pies, etc.).  We were excited to have our "Leaving Do" with close friends there on Saturday night to enjoy the spot one more time.

On to the next adventure...

I Said, Brrr...it's Cold in Here!

Movie reference? {Bring It On}

And no, I'm not complaining about the outside temperatures here. I know I will never make comments about that given the weather is so mild here compared to the Midwest temperatures back home. I'm actually talking about inside our flat.  I know our visitors so far have been told to bring warm clothes to sleep in and lounge around because generally our place is cold (single pane windows that give off a good draft).  But anyway, on Sunday our boiler started acting funny.  We noticed our radiators weren't staying warm and then our water wasn't getting hot either.  We called our property management, and they sent an engineer out...although it started working again by the time he got here. Long story short, it went out again...and he was unable to come back to look at it.

 One of the many non-working radiators

The property management did bring over 3 small heaters, so our house looks funny right now with mini-heaters strategically placed around our apartment.  We are staying warm at night with the heaters and multiple blankets on our bed.  Although the lack of hot water has been an issue.  Good thing we belong to gyms, so we are able to have a place to shower.  Jeff made a comment to the property management that it is a bit of an inconvenience going without hot water, and they didn't seem to think it was a big deal. 

 All three heaters are strategically placed around the apartment (where I work on the computer, bedroom, and couch)

Our boiler is unique---so the engineer told me.  Therefore, they won't be able to get a new boiler for a couple days since this one has to be ordered instead of picking it up off the shelf. Hoping it will be fixed soon, as bringing tons of items to the gym isn't ideal to get ready for the day. I felt bad for Jeff this morning as he came back in the flat at least 3x forgetting different things for his day.  Sadly, he texted me later and said he forgot his breakfast as well.

Our boiler

For those that are wondering "go to a hotel or a friend's house"...we have had offers to stay/shower at other places, but we're sticking it out.  The weather is about 29 degrees today and around 38 degrees tomorrow (potential snow, too!).  Cross your fingers that the problem will be fixed soon, and we will be able to live a normal life again soon.

Off to the gym....

[Update as of January 22 at 10:15AM] The boiler is fixed...after 4.25 days without heat and hot water.  They have to send a contractor back out to fix the cupboard around it because the lock is broken...which is a major safety no-no apparently. Hopefully by this evening our house will be back to a normal temperature! No need to worry about us anymore...

[Update as of January 22nd at 11:15AM] The boiler is no longer working...great. Called our property management, so we'll see what happens now. I hope I only update you one more time with good news!

[Update as of January 22nd at 5:00 PM].  After a contractor came to fix the lock on the cabinet and the engineer came back with another worker to work on the boiler...it is still is not fixed. Break out the heaters and another gym shower.  They are ordering a part, and hoping it will be fixed soon. I'll continue updates, as this is becoming pretty annoying.  

[Update as of January 26th at 12:00 PM] Jeff and I were pretty annoyed on Friday as we were trying  to leave for our holiday (vacation). The "engineers" knocked on our door around noon on Friday...we told them they only had a few minutes before we left. Long story short, we kicked them out and told them property management would have to let them in again.  Our property management does not usually stay with the workers, but we insisted they do so.  We left thinking it would be fixed when we got home on Monday (today).  We received a test on Saturday saying they could not fix it and would order a new boiler on Monday.  Needless to say, we are still without heat and hot water. So thankful for our hotel this past weekend to get a break from it all. Cross your fingers it is fixed tomorrow or Wednesday!

[Update as of January 28th at 8:20 AM] Well, the clock is ticking.  The "engineers" are supposed to be here from now until 9:30 to put in a new boiler. I might go nuts if they do not come today...

[Update as of January 28th at 6:00 PM] A week and a half later...we have heat and hot water!! It took them all day (9:30-5:40) to complete the boiler situation.  I was without water for part of the day...but who cares as long as it all keeps working.  We have a fancy new boiler with user friendly knobs and a remote digital thermometer. Keep your fingers cross the heat stays and our first showers are worth the wait! 

[Update as of January 29th ay 5:30 PM] Our first night with hot water and heat was fantastic! I took the longest shower ever and enjoyed every minute of it.  I'm sure Jeff enjoyed it this morning instead of starting his day in a gym shower every morning.  They engineers left a complete mess in our bathroom, so once the contractor comes to put the new cabinet in around it...then I'll do my magic to make the room useable again.  Today was filled with few blankets, zero mini heaters in use, a hot shower, and lots of laundry.  It's the small things...

This whole experience brings back awful memories of the week that the building's fire alarms went off 3-4x a day.   Do not miss that, and I won't miss this either.  Something we all take for granted...heat and hot water.

On to the next adventure...