Flying with a Cat {Part II}

Many of you might remember my post when we got here about bringing Mackey over here.   There was a LOT of paperwork and vet work that had to be done to make sure he arrived safely.  And just to remind you, he did not go into quarantine.  That is only for animals who do not meet the health certifications or their owners did not follow the country's guidelines for bringing animals into the country.

 You probably wonder if I get anything accomplished during the day. Look at that face!

Preparations
There wasn't so much of a paperwork trail and even vet visits when coming back into the states for Mackey.  We had to go through a third party vendor, as the Petsafe program we used through United does to opperate from the UK to the US. Weird.  We found a company that we hope will work out just fine, although we had to buy ANOTHER cage for him to ride home in.  We bought one from United at the airport when we were moving him here...assuming we'd be good for the way back as well.  Well it wasn't big enough. Now we have a cage that could fit 3 of Mackey in there. Maybe he'll meet some friends and they can hang out at "his place" on the plane. 

I should have put his old cage together, so you could see a comparison. 

We had to make an appointment for him to see the vet no more than 10 days before travel.  We made his appointment for the Monday before we flew out.  All I needed from the vet was a letter stating he was "fit to travel".  Mackey also needed to be updated on a rabies vaccination, but we took care of that last July. I walked him down to the animal clinic, which was quite the workout.  The veterinarian checked him over, and Mackey of course was a complete love bug.  Everyone loved him.  The vet wrote a letter that he was "fit to fly" and that he was up to date on his vaccinations.  I was relieved that this part went well, and the only thing we had to worry about was the flight and customs aspect of it.  

Mackey was waiting for his turn!

Exploring the room and being nosey, as always

The Day of Flying
I was a nervous wreck the day we had to take Mackey to the airport...FOUR hours before our flight.  That means we met the pet transportation people at 4 AM!  They collected his paperwork, we transferred him into his hard cage, and they drove away.  I fought back tears as I was so nervous for him.  The service we used was fantastic, as they even sent Jeff a text when Mackey was checked in and ready for flight.  We had not even made it back to the hotel before they sent the text, so that was reassuring.  He was a top priority.

After our long flight to New York, we had to grab our luggage and head out to the car service we hired to take us from cargo area to cargo area for the next ~2 hours.  I felt like I was on a game show at one point, as we were on a time crunch to get to our next flight in 2+ hours.  After we got into the area, we went to the British Airways cargo area to pick up paperwork.  From there, we went to another cargo area to wait in line for some sort of stamping of our paperwork in customs.  I left with the driver to go to an ATM to pay a final payment to get Mackey back.  By the time I got back to Jeff, he was finishing up the paperwork and we headed back to the original cargo area to get Mackey.  I make this seem so easy...it was to some extent---just time consuming.  

They brought Mackey out, and HE WAS ALIVE! That is all I could think about...  We took him out into the parking lot, and switched him from his giant hard carrier to his soft carrier for the next flight.  He was a little overwhelmed, as I can still vividly remember his little legs going limp and swaying from side to side.  Poor thing. Jeff and I continued to pet him in the car to calm him down.  We had to take him back through security, where (yep, you guessed it...) Jeff had to get him out of his carrier and walk him through the security gates. Too funny, and the employees loved it.  He did well, and we were off to sit at our gate.  Our flight was delayed just a bit, which was great because it gave Mackey some chill time.  He was all sprawled out in this carrier and extremely comfortable, which made me feel good.  He rode underneath the seat in front of me.

My wonderful parents met us in Indianapolis to collect him, as we were staying in a hotel downtown for the next couple of weeks and wanted Mackey to get settled as soon as possible.  It was a quick hello with my parents, and they jetted off (no pun intended) to head home and get him settled.

My mom and dad send me pictures periodically of how cute or silly Mackey is being. My dad found him like this in his office. Crazy cat!

On to the next adventure...

West End Play

Before I start this...I am writing this post now, over a month after going to our West End play, so my memory might be a little foggy. A lot has happened in the last few weeks... I took pictures, but forgot the cord in England.  So I had to wait until Jeff headed back to send me a few of them.  So, sorry for the delay! (More updates on life over the last month to come).

Here we go...

We planned our trip home around seeing a West End (the Broadway of London) play. Jeff and I headed down to London on Wednesday night, and the play was Thursday afternoon.  Mackey came along with us, for those of you that were wondering (not the to play...haha).  We headed into the city centre, as we were staying out by the airport a few hours before the play began, as we were seeing a matinee.

We ate at one of our favorite cafe type restaurants before heading to the show.  We ate at a nearby park, and enjoyed the beautiful day.  It was so nice to eat something healthy, people watch, and enjoy some quality time soaking up our last moments in the city centre of London. 

 Our bag filled with goodies

The show began at 2:30 in the afternoon.  We grabbed a couple drinks in the theatre and found our seats.  We saw Elephant Man, which if you do not know much about this true story, please click here.  One of the reasons we picked this show and not a happy-go-lucky sing along type show was that Bradley Cooper had the leading role as the elephant man.  And let me tell you...he was amazing!! First of all, it was so cool to be only feet away from him.  And his acting was incredible.  He had the walk, and the talk as if he really was the elephant man. My favorite part was in the beginning where they went body part by body part talking about the deformations, speech, and other issues.  I would highly recommend going to see this if you ever have the chance.  Bradley Cooper was only going to be in London performing for 3 months, so our timing was perfect.  But he came from Broadway doing this same show.

 Theatre Royal Haymarket

Right before the show started.  We were so close!

What a perfect way to end our time in London.  We headed on the Underground one last time, which was sad for the both of us.  What a great transportation system they have in London. 

Overall, it was a great way to end of English adventure together.  It was so fun to have our English to-do list and looking back I think we did pretty good!  A few more posts over the next month before closing the blog down for good.  Be on the look out for posts about Mackey's flight back soon.

On to the next adventure...

18 Months Down...ZERO to Go!

I guess the title of this post is a bit of a lie...

Jeff will be here one more month, as he has to tie up some loose ends on projects and his position.  But I knew I needed to make an 18 month post to wrap things up, because I'm not sure Jeff will continue to the blog while still living in England.

Every six months I give a bit of an update on places we have been and how life is going.  For example, I created the 12 Months Down post right after the new year, showing you all the places we had traveled in a year's time.  And in our 6 Months Down post I talked about the bests/worsts things about living abroad.  This post will be a bit more nostalgic knowing that I won't be posting another one of these six months from now. Continue reading to see how I honored our 18 months abroad. 

A Final Total of Countries Visited:

1. England 
2. Ireland (2x)
3. Italy (2x)
4. Greece
5. Germany (2x)
6. Czech Republic
7. USA (2x, plus 1 extra for Sarah)
8. France (2x, plus 1 extra for Sarah, AND driving through to get to Belgium)
9. Scotland (2x)
10. Spain
11. Croatia
12. Netherlands
13. Belgium
14. Hungary
15. Denmark
16. Lisbon
17. Wales

Jeff may have a couple trips planned with friends and/or an independent trip.   Not sure if they will ever make it on to the blog.  We spent our last six months here really trying to check off cities and places in England that we had not been to.  Things like theatre nights, Liverpool, Lake District, Farne Islands, and spending time with friends was on our agenda.  We had covered so much ground that first year, that it was nice to stay local for a while.

Like our 12 month post, I have taken a screenshot of our calendar.  The first picture is a duplicate of the first 12 months, and the second picture is from the last 6 months. 


Here is the key:

• Green = Trips/events around the UK
• Purple = Europe (outside UK)
• Orange = Visitors
• Gray = Chilled in our own city/home
• Blue = U.S.A
• Little Red Triangles = Notes on the event/location/activity

First 12 Months: 

Last 6 Months: 

Breakdown of 18 of Our Trips 
I tried to think of a way to tie in "18" and a way to give closure to these amazing trips we have taken.  Jeff and I have compiled a list of some of the "bests" and "favorites" of our time abroad.  It was really hard to narrow it down to just 18.  I think my original list included every country and many trips around England, but I knew I needed to stick with the theme of "18".  I'm sure if you ask us "Where was your favorite church?" or "Who had the best street food?" we would answer in a heartbeat.  Feel free to comment below if you come up with one on your own. 

 

This is a scheduled post. I am not sure if the links work. I promise to check once I am settled in the states, and I'll fix it if the links do not work. Thanks in advance!

We are looking forward to life post-fairytale.  We have some great mini-trips planned with our families already.  We are also looking forward to getting into our townhouse, starting our new jobs, and seeing all of our friends/family on a regular basis and NOT through a computer screen.

A special note to all of our followers over the last 1.5 year.s  It was a pleasure to write to you and share our experiences (both the good, the bad, and the ugly).  Jeff and I agree that we would do this experience all over again if we had the opportunity.  We look forward to coming back to a few places we never made it to.  Is that bad that I am already thinking about coming back? 

Have no fear, this is not the last blog post. I will continue writing until we are both settled back in the states for good.  You will know when it is my last post!  Don't start going through withdrawal yet.

On to our next adventure Post-UK...

31 Spots on the Final Nottingham Tour

One of my final days in Nottingham, I made sure to just walk around with my camera to take pictures of all my favorites.  I, of course, wanted to share them with my Us in the UK family.  Many of our visitors will remember some of these pictures, as they are places we walked by or visited on our "Sarah's Daily Life" tour.

1. Albert Hall
   
2. Nottingham Playhouse
   
3. Nottingham Castle
   
4. Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem
   
   
   
5. Shopping Streets
   
6. Capital One Ice Arena
   
7. Ugly Bread Bakery
   
8. Wired Cafe
   
9. Train Station
10. Tesco Metro
    
11. Pitcher & Piano
    
12. Nottingham Theatre & Cornerhouse
    
13.  Miscellaneous Parks
    
14. Clubs, Restaurants, and Pubs
    
15. Brown's Bar and Brasserie
    
16. Beautiful Streets
    
17. Annie's Burger Shack
    
18. The Park (Gated Neighborhood)
    
    
19. Our Flat
    
    
20.  The Gym
    
21. Old Market Square
    
22. Wollaton Hall and Deer Park
23. Another Street Filled with Restaurants, Shops, and Pubs
24. Favorite Indian Restaurants (Jeff and I disagree on which is the best)
    
25. Favorite Quick Eat...BarBurrito
    
26. Bus Stop to Derby
    
27. Library
28. Best Late Night Food
    
29. Poundland (Yes, similar to Dollar Tree)
30. The Canal
    
31. Trent River
    

#30daysofappreciation {Round 3}

The final round of my 30 days of appreciation is here! I hope you have had fun following the random and silly things I have appreciated over our time here. Obviously the list could go on, and I am appreciative of more than 30 things! I have lots to be thankful and appreciate in the next few days and weeks as we will be reunited with family and friends (most of who we have not seen in a year and a half).  We have some exciting things happening for us in the upcoming weeks, thinking about housing, cars, new jobs, etc. For rounds 1 and 2, click here!

Here goes my final tribute to my #30daysof appreciation instagram challenge...

#Day21:Pigeons
I got some "heat" on this one for posting it on instagram.  Many not understanding why I will miss them.  One of my best friends commented, "Luckily we have them in the US."  I never see them in Indy, and to most people (like Jeff) they are just an annoyance.  Jeff calls them "winged rats".  I just like watching kids chase after them, their unpredictable nature, and just the fact that they live such simple lives.  I think we could all learn a thing or two.  Pigeons just worry about eating and being their the rest of their crew.  If you think about it, getting things we need to survive and being around people we love is all that really matters.

#Day22: Bus (Public Transportation)

I have mentioned how appreciative I have been of the cheap airlines, but the bus, tram, and train systems around here are amazing.  I wish the United States had a more reliable method of getting places other than our own vehicles.  I take the bus to/from Derby-Nottingham pretty frequently.  I meet up with friends, go to the gym with Jeff, and use it as a change of scenery.  It is a really easy bus ride, and fairly enjoyable as long as it is not stuck in stop/go traffic.  Jeff has looked into how long it would take me to get to my new job via the bus (over an hour) and it would only be a 13 minute drive.  There is a perfect example of how they do not function as well as they do over here.                 

 

#Day23:  Education Courses

I was so lucky to find out that Rolls will pay for spousal education.  It has been fun, kept me up to date in the field of education, and occupied at times throughout the last year.  I am only a few weeks away from having my Certificate for Literacy Instruction (15 credit hours) through Ball State University.  This was an area I was passionate about, and I am hoping to take it back to the classroom with me in the fall.

#Day24: No Job
This one is definitely bittersweet, because I definitely missed teaching over the last year and a half.  But I really tried to reflect every single day, enjoying the freedom.  I could make plans during the day, have lunch with friends, go to the gym on non-busy hours, and complete many personal projects because I had the time to do it.  My favorite was grabbing a blanket, book, and sitting in the sun enjoying the afternoon.  Although, I will miss the freedom, I am so excited for my new adventure as a first grade (ages 6-7) teacher starting next month!

#Day25: Better Halves Club
About twice a month, a group called the Better Halves Club meets up for lunch (normally in Derby).  I had my final luncheon with the group, and they all came to Nottingham for a Mexican Fiesta at our flat.  It is so nice to have other Americans here to ask for advice whether it be general living questions or traveling tips.  We are able to comfort one another on those "bad days" that no one really understands but each other. I think we will all hold a special bond for the rest of our lives. 

#Day26: Skype
What an amazing invention!! It has been so wonderful to see family and friends on a regular basis. A few of my friends go out of their way to chat every so often (and it is always fun to meet their new additions through Skype since I can't be there in person), and my family is so sweet to dedicate an hour+ a week to chat and catch up.  It has also been amazing to watch my niece and nephews over the course of the last year and a half.  I have been able to be in the picture, chat about their lives, and have tickle fights though the tablet...which is always hilarious.

#Day27: Historic Spots
Many times we head to a place because it is a beautiful or I fall in love with the pictures online.  It is an added bonus when we visit these incredible spots that we find so much history embedded within.  Of course, we have our outings that are all about the history.  It is so neat to experience and see so many old places around just England or around all of Europe.  

#Day28: Fresh Flowers 
People over in here in England are always carrying around fresh flowers they pick up from the market.  When you go to friends' houses they will always have a vase filled with fresh flowers.  It is a nice touch! Jeff brought me home some "just because" lilies the other day...and they are just gorgeous!

#Day29: Unique [and Delicious] Cafes:
One of my good American friends comes to Nottingham quite frequently so we can try new restaurants around the city.  The quaint little cafes seem to be our favorites.  We tried one final cafe before my "deportation".  The cafe was called the Kitty Cafe, and you guessed it...it has real cats inside! You have to book in advance, but you can enjoy a cup of tea/coffee and/or lunch all while enjoying the sweet (to be adopted) cats.  What a cool idea! We had a blast, and loved continuing our destinies by being crazy cat ladies! Thanks, Emily for a great afternoon!

#Day30: Jeff
Okay, okay, I know I already posted an appreciation for him.  But the both of us have been reflecting on our journey over the last week and we truly will miss life just being about the two of us. Before you think I am a mean person or take that the wrong way---OF COURSE we are excited to see our family and friends!  Life is just so simple over here.  We don't have very many belongings, we travel on the weekends, and we eat in almost every week night.  We enjoy our nights filled with dinner, chatting, and Netflix marathons.  We will miss this quality time together, and hope the hustle and bustle of the US lifestyle doesn't take our quality time away.

Hope you all enjoyed my #30daysofappreciation through instagram and the blog.  It was a great way for me to reflect and get some closure on our whole experience.  I could have continued for another 70 days and did a #100daysofappreciation, but obviously I didn't think that far in advance.  Thank you for letting me share all my trips, the items I'll miss, and all of the items/people I have appreciated while being abroad.  I could have put each and every one of your faces on an instagram post, as you all have been so supportive...even if you are 4,000 miles away!

On to the next adventure...