Busy days.. another move!

Saturday Jason got his frist 'british' haircut (eventhough the hairdresser was turkish) and we went to look for a setting for my diamond. We found a nice jeweler and my ring will be ready next saturday - it is just "lovely"!!!! (that's is how brits describe everything that is beautiful, fun, deliciouse, amazing, etc)
On sunday we move (note to self - never move several luggages by tube/bus... it's worth paying extra for a cab!!!! Luckily it was not raining). In the afternoon we went to the London Bridge, which is amazing an beautiful (aka lovely). We also had our first 'Sunday roast' with yorkshire pudding (which is not a dessert!!! it's rather a plain bread)
We have been busy settling in at our new hotel. We are now in a regular hotel room (fairly small compared to the corporate apartment we stayed until now). This is for two weeks before we move to our new apartment (on Febr.11th). So now we have been a month in this country and we are still living out of suitcases (at least we have room service, our bed made everyday and free breakfast buffet!!!!)
We are now close to our new apartment, so we are getting familiar with our new neighborhood. (Fulham) It is a great location. It still is 'north of the river' (for our LA friends=this is like being west of the 405, for other folks= this can make people have an idea in how much $$$ you have!!!) but it definitely does not have a 'too city busy' like Oxford street or Soho feeling.
My commute has been reduced to 30 min (from 60) and Jason's commute is also around 30 min(from 15)- We all need to make sacrifices!!!!
We got confirmation today that Vinny will arrive on the 11th and our furniture on the 13th, which is perfect timing. We'll need to spoil Vinny a little extra before all the boxes and furniture arrive!
Work has been busy. Lot's of projects being 'dumped' at my desk since I am the new brand manager of a brand that was ran by several people. But I am truly enjoying it. It's challenging and there are great opportunities! (let's talk again in 6 months and see if I still think the same!!!!;)
Jason has been busy as well and interviewing to hire a business analyst for the UK, he'll soon be managing 5 people!!! We went out with his team on friday (in Greenwich) and had a lot of fun.

London Eye - 3rd anniversary

This was on sunday, after the "afternoon english tea".
we were high up on the London Eye....
It was beautiful!

picture from our anniversary 'celebration'

3rd Anniversary :0)

Yesterday was our third anniversary!
On sunday we went to a nice (and chic) English Afternoon Tea at the Marriott on the Thames. It was delicious, beautiful and relaxing. Afterwards we saw the sunset from the London Eye which was also very pleasant! (it was sunday so we did not see the whale go by!) We had dinner at a local restaurant and Jason totally surprised me with a beautiful diamond!!!! He purchased and planned it all without me having a clue. (I thought he was going to give me a watch!!!!) He is such a sweetheart and makes me so happy! (not only because of the diamond..... ;-)
Yesterday we went to a local gastropub and had a great meal (Jason ate liver for the first time, and didn't really like it) We also celebrated with a nice bottle of champagne!!!!
We have had amazing 3 years behind us and are excited with all the opportunities that are in front of us! We make a great team and feel so fortunate to have found each other in LA almost 4 years ago!!!!!
London continues cold and grey!!!!! (which I discovered is the reason why people here appreciate the summer so much!) But we are enjoying London a lot and our original plan of staying 18 months may be extended! (it has almost been a month we have moved here and there is still so much to explore!)
I also got the great news that my little sister, Liesbet, passed the entrance exam at the Vet school I went to in Brazil. She is such a smart girl!!! I am so proud of her and everything she has accomplished. She'll be going to Vet school in Belgium and I am a very proud godmother!!!! Maybe one day we can open our own Vet Clinic (which will sell only Purina products!!!!)

4th time is the CHARM!

Yes, we did get the apartment!!!!!!!!!! We are very excited and figuring out the last details, but it all looks good and we will be (hopefully) moving on the 28th of January.
I started my job on monday! It is definitely a big change for me since I used to have a home office. But my co-workers all seem very nice (many different cultures and young people) and my desk is right on the window on th 4th floor... so I have a lovely view of New Malden (which consists of a train station, one main street and a total of 5 side streets!) and the rainy british streets! (I can also see if it is raining outside to see if I need to take my umbrella, which has been the case every day of this week! ;-)
Jason is coming home tomorrow!!!!!!! I really miss him! I am planning our anniversary celebration for this weekend (since it falls on next tuesday). Every year one of us surprises the other, this is our third year.
Vinny is set to arrive on the 11th! We are so excited about that and can't wait to see how he adapts in our new apartment (I guess we need to do the same!)

"Humps for 650 yards" and a pub called "Young's", I don't really know what to think of it!!! Brits are weird!!!!!

Jason at the tapas bar - Salt Yard.

Third Sunday in London

Yesterday we went to see some more apartments (we have put in 3 offers on different places so far and all were turned down). So yesterday we tried it again... Fourth time is the charm, right? This is a modern apartment with views from the river and city. (you can also see the gym where Lady Di met her 'lover'... Brits also have their gossip!). It's also close to a "super store" which is their version of 'Costco' but pretty much looks like a normal grocery store in the US. Their "normal" grocery stores look like "seven eleven's" in the US.
So, fingers crossed, we should know something on monday!)
On friday I met with Jason at his office (his team is finally complete and they were enjoying a bottle of champagne when I arrived). We had a pint at a local pub (called The Old English gentleman, which pretty much describes the costumers) with some co-workers and then the two of us went to a tapas bar (very popular here). We had fun and the evening was very pleasant (great food, wine and no rain!).
The cold weather is not bothering us that much anymore! I guess you do get used to it!
Monday I start my job and Jason is heading out to Los Angeles for some meetings, he returns on friday :-(

We miss Vinny!

Today we checked out a new gym. We both want to prepare for a Half marathon here in England in April, and since it is cold and rainy most of the time, we need an inside place to prepare! Again, very expensive and smaller then in the US.
Today I walked around and explored a couple of neighborhoods, and even did some 'touristy' stuff like going to Westminster Abbey. On my walk home I past next to the "cabinet office" and saw John Kerry! (different kind of celebrity we were used to in LA!)
We are counting the days for Vinny to get here (a month from now his 'house arrest' [=quarantine] will be over and he will be ready to come)... we miss him very much and are curious in how he will adapt in this new 'world'. We are trying to find our place next to a park so he can run around and hopefully enjoy his new neighborhood! He will probably start loving his new outfit he felt miserable in a couple of weeks ago in LA. Vinny is now staying with Kim and Tom, they have several other animals (Tom trains animals for movies and Kim is a animal lover too!) so he is in great hands which makes us very happy!
Fingers crossed for my third full day of 'home hunting' tomorrow!

Second weekend in London

This was our second weekend in our new town. (I was not feeling that well, getting over a cold I got from Jason). On saturday we went apartment hunting (again, frustrating) but this time we saw a couple of places we liked, unfortunately there were other bids on the apartment we liked most, so more frustrating moments this week!!!
On saturday evening we had dinner with our 'new' friend, Tiffany! She is so nice and very helpful. Tif is originally from Michigan but has been in London for the last 18months.
On sunday we did one of Jason's favorite 'activities' (unfortunately I do not share the same 'enthusiasm' for this particular activity) we went to The Tate Modern (=Museum), afterwards we went to the popular Spitalfields market. Which was fun.. but it was COLD and rainy! I just wanted to go home and take a bath with a good book and a glass of wine. Which I did and enjoyed it as much as Jason enjoyed the museum!

PICTURES

This picture is minutes before new years 2006! We celebrated our 3 year engagement! This was @ the Thames with the OXO towers and London Eye in the back. It was beautiful, fun and cold!
Anne - London Eye - minutes before 2006

Jason - New Years 2006 - Fireworks at the London Eye!

"flat to let" hunting and bank accounts....

Yesterday was my first full day of apartment hunting. One word: F-R-U-S-T-R-A-T-I-N-G. They are VERY expensive (an apartment double the size, on the beach in CA is cheaper) and all are pretty old.
For those whom know our previous house in Redondo Beach, some bathrooms were almost half the size of our guest bathroom (= airplane bathroom), seriously, no wonder the brits have such a bad dental hygiene... No space to brush your teeth!
Getting a bank account has also been an 'interesting' experience. We have been to 3 different banks, showing our work contracts, bank account and investment statements in the US, etc.. And nobody "wants to have" our money! And unfortunately we need a bank acct. To rent an apartment and the only way to get a bank acct. We need a permanent resident here.... I thought these 'unlogical circles' only happened in Brazil.... Oh well, in the mean time we'll do it the old way and hide our money under our mattress.
Yesterday we went to have dinner in Notting Hill... Very 'chic'! We also walked around on Oxford street(= shopping). The winter sales are in full power, which means - INSANITY!!!! People really get into fights and become very aggressive in stores! It's actually funny and great people watching (I did not even adventure buying anything!)
Today I am feeling a little sick and it is 32F, so I'll just stay home and enjoy some days off before I start work on the 16th.

Grand Canyon

So here we are looking at the Grand Canyon on our road trip to Colorado. Such a spectacular place! The canyon is so incredibly expansive; every minute you get a different perspective as the canyon walls adjust to the changing shadows of the desert sun.

This particular picture was taken inside a lookout tower on the Eastern Rim of the canyon.

Arriving in London

So, here we are... in London!
We arrived on the 29th after a fun week in Colorado with Jason's parents and a road trip, which included the Grand Canyon and Santa Fe.
The weather here has been 'typical'... rainy, overcast and cold!
Jason has been sick since the 30th. Hopefully he'll feel better soon.
Our temporary housing is great! (besides the mouse I caught this morning in our living room ;-)
It has 2 bedrooms and is located in "the City", close to some pubs, fun restaurants and 5 blocks to the Thames.
We went out to find a neighborhood we plan to move into at the end of january, when our furniture arrives from the US. So far Fullham, Parsons Green and Bishop Park are the strongest candidates! It would be a 30 min tube ride to either our jobs (Jason's office is in central london, marble arch area, and my office is in New Malden, south of Wimbledon)
New years was fun. We went to a nice restaurant and then to the Thames to watch the fireworks. We had a bottle of champagne in hand!!!! (you're allowed to drink on the streets here!)
Jason starts work tomorrow and I start on the 16th. It gives me some time to look for an aparment and adapt.