Home From Home From Home

It has been a little while since I wrote. Someone on UK Scrappers sent me a message saying how they had enjoyed reading my blog and I thought I had better update!

We went over to the UK for my Nan's funeral service. I felt I wanted to be there and honor her memory.

We were so fortunate financially that some good things happened in the money department that month enabling us to go. The flights cost $1600 - or 1000 pounds.

The way there, we left on a Friday right after school - Charlotte to Philadelphia then Philadelphia to Heathrow. This flight was not so bad as I had been up since 5am and slept through most of it, only waking up to eat or stretch the legs.

The jet lag hit us hard, Daniel much worse as he didn't sleep on the plane at all really.

Here are some of the highlights....
Daniel enjyed chilling with his family cats - Boots (above) and Cwtchi (below)

It was great to catch up with friends - even if brief.

Bryher (above) who has lost a huge amount of weight since I last saw her. I follow her blog but was great to see her in person.

And my best friend (or UKBFF) Natasha and her daugter Keira, who I havent seen on over a year. It was so much fun playing with Keira, last I saw her she was 5 months or so. She wanted stories and playing and songs - it was a lot of fun. It was awesome catching up with Natasha - we have been friends since we were 16 and it never feels like we have been apart.

Me with my Grandparents


My Nan's funeral flowers. On the way home (loooong direct flight) it hit me and I burst into tears. Daniel just held me while I tried to sob quietly.

The funeral went as well as these things can. My Dad is a Minister and wanted to conduct it himself. He was so composed, but warm and sweet. I also gave my tribute and was glad to be there to do so. My Nan left me her eternity ring in her will which is really special to me.

We saw much more family than in the pics - aunts and uncles and cousins as well as our immediate families.

Things here are going well, my little (or big) class of 18 - 3 more than last year - is a sweet class.

I am so proud of Daniel, who this week was asked if he would like to be promoted from floor manager to house manager of 2 of the theatres in the group of theatres that he works for. He of course said yes, though I know he is a little daunted at being 'the boss' he will still get to work regular shifts as well. He works hard and is awesome at his job, recently getting a letter of recomendation from a patron.

Nanny Davis

Today my beloved Grandmother Mabel May Davis passed away.

She was a wonderful Grandmother. I spent a lot of time with her when I was growing up. (as I did with all my Grandparents.)

She had suffered a stroke in February, and had never really got better, she was nable to eat or drink.

I'm glad she is not in pain any longer, but of course I will miss her. I have so many memories of her that I will treasure.



One Halloween, some horrible little children came to the door and put flour through the letter box. It landed in the eyes of her dog, Sandy. He was blind and this frightened him. Nan loved Sandy. She picked up the doormat and ran after those kids, swatting at them with it. Oh how they ran away!

She would always take me to the market and buy me a bag of grapes to eat on the bus home.

She loved taking us to the cinema. She took to see The Little Mermaid and the Home Alone movies.

She loved to crochet and made me a beautiful crocheted blanket which I will keep. She also knitted cardigans for the premature babies unit.

She loved my husband Daniel, had a real soft spot for him. Told him after his last remaining Grandparent died that she would be his Grandma.

She loved Bingo - she was a social butterfly!

She was kind and generous and would do anything to help people. I think I have this trait too.

I love you Nan.

Hey Katie, it's your birthday...

Wow. Long time no see!

I have been writing more on my weight loss blog really.

Anyway, this week saw my 28th birthday and it was really lovely.

The night before we met our awesome friends J and S who gave me a very cool present. It is called a sound spa, it plays relaxing sounds like the ocean or rain to help me fall asleep I love it!

Then we got to my good friend Amy's house as we are staying with her while my family are over here from the UK staying in our apartment. She gave me this...
There are 2 cupcakes under there!

The actual day was a lot of fun. I had many cool presents and a lot of fun at a local theme park called Carowinds.

phantom of the opera charm bracelet from Daniel


presents from the grandparents

I love this. One of Daniel's online friends drew it and I fell in love with it. When we met her at Charlotte airport (she had a stop over) she slipped it to Daniel while I bought us a coffee. I am so very pleased to own it.

The Family

Blowing out a fake candle!

Electric Slide!

School is out! Woo Hoo!

We have one work day tomorrow though but thanks to my excellent teaching assistant I have little to do except play on the Wii!

We had Kindergarten graduation which was awesome. Daniel came along and said it was a privilege to be there. He was so helpful getting me all set up and taking 98 pictures! I had to give out awards in my own classroom following the official ceremony and I was so nervous. Daniel kept saying I did an awesome job and was so positive about the whole thing which made me feel great!

Then today was the last day. All the teacher and staff walk up to the road to wave and scream goodbye to the kids (it's a long summer) and then we go into the hallway and dance it up with line dances like the electric slide or macarena! Very cool.

Plans for the summer include a trip to Wilmington (where Dawson's creek was filmed) in just over a week. My family are coming for the best part of a month. Daniel and I will celebrate 10 years 'together' and 7 years married. I hope to take some day trips with my friend Amy.

hey pretty....don't you wanna take a ride with me...?

As you can see from the quick post below I did pass my driving test. I have to say that while the road test in the car was easy the DMV NC definitely needs to improve it's organization....

The knowledge test part on the touch screen was not as easy but I managed to pass it.

The road test was 7 minutes long and I drove to a side road, did a 3 point turn, reversed back straight and did an emergency stop. Then drove back to the center 2 mins down the road....my uk driving test was an hour long and included reversing round a corner, parallel parking, dual carriageway etc.

I'm not complaining though, I'm glad it's done...and it is much easier to use my license to buy alcohol than carrying my passport everywhere and explaining how the date of birth is set out differently.

We also got cable tv and a new tv this weekend...I know we must sound indulgent but we have never been able to do this kind of thing...we are blessed in that my wage is tax free, I have done extra tutoring and that Daniel got a job so fast. It almost feels wrong to not be struggling and to have expensive things!

I'm getting excited about the end of school...we will be having a graduation for our kindergartners. They are just the sweetest thing. Even at 5 years old, they have been wishing me luck for my test, telling me not to worry and making me good luck cards. They are saying that they love me the most and don't wanna go to 1st grade!

My favorite recent quote is from a little boy in my class who is just so smart. Well they all are! I was giving clues to what the word female means, I was saying (names changed) lucy is female, Amy is female, I (Mrs McFarland) am female. He chirped up...does it mean pretty?! How cute!

Yesterday I got to see my parents and 2 of my grandparents on the webcam kindly provided by my cousin! It was awesome and both parents and grandparents were impressed with the wonder of technology! It was my Nan's birthday so I got to sing happy birthday to her!

I passed

Content

Bad blogger, just been so busy.

I actually bought my own laptop the day after I presented Daniel with his.
It was completely unplanned, just a spur of the moment good deal. We have never before even had the remote ability to buy stuff like this and I view it as a total luxury as enjoy it immensely!

School is busy, VIF told me my contract IS being renewed so I am am happy and hopeful about that as things can change with them until you are signed up in your own blood so to speak! There have be occasions for others where things do not work out as they were promised so I'm never 100% but as things stand right now we will be doing another year.

We also made some new friends, colleagues of Daniel's who live right around the block from us. We went out with them this week for chicken wings (well not me, as a former veggie I hate meat bones, I had chicken tenders and a honey bbq sauce which I loved).

We hung out with them and watched American Idol and Dancing with the stars (aka Strictly). I felt like we really clicked with them, it was awesome.

I have to take my NC driving test on Monday including a vision test, written test and road sign test, plus the practical test. I'm not confident! When I passed my UK driving test on the third try, I thought that was something I would NEVER have to do again! If you fail you keep going back daily til you pass!

Here is to a weekend of reading the NC handbook!