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I definitely did :). I am truly blessed :)

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I should think not! You are a girl after my own heart. I brought all my stuffed animals too and have even added to my collection. It has to stop now, otherwise you wont be able to find a place to sit in my living room.:lol:

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Well the big bear on my bed is nearly 30 years old. I do have others but they're boxed up in Australia waiting to be sent over :). I'm looking forward to that day :)

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Do you have any family at all living in the UK?

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I almost cried with jealousy reading that part especially that you had a '99 :( Was there loads of raspberry sauce/juice on it too ?

PS loved the photos too, and that nice plaque on a seat that was in memory of an elderly couple I assume, that was very touching :)

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The ice-cream was vanilla and raspberry and there was plenty of raspberry syrup poured on top as well. Too bad the flake wasn't a bit bigger...but can't complain it was still yummy!:thumbsup:

All of the benches around the lake had a plaque dedicated to someone. It was very emotional walking past them all and reading all the messages!

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I was envious too when I read about the delicious '99 ice cream. I love flakes. WHen I go back to the UK I always get lots of flakes, walnut whips and peppermint aeros.. my mouth is watering thinking about it.:)

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Yes, I have Aunts, Uncles and cousins galore. Of course I haven't seen any of them since 1970 and a lot of the cousins were born after I left the UK. The UK is the only place where I DO have any family left, but none of them kept in touch after my family moved to Australia in 1970. So even though you could say I'm estranged from everyone, it's nice knowing there are family out there. I can always reach out and make contact and see what happens. They're all in Lancashire so it's not as though we're a world away now. lol

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I am the same way! I went into Poundland and you can buy a 5 pack for 99p, so I have Flake, Bounty and boxes of Maltesers and Galaxy chocolate, Fry's, oh you name it - they have it. :rofl::rofl:

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Love the pictures of your hike.
Oh making me homesick!
I think you've done really well. Any word on the job?

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They probably live next door :lol: that would be funny, or you'll end up working with a cousin you hadn't met.

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Sounds lovely to have some relatives and maybe in time you will get to know at least some of them :-) In any case you are doing quite brilliantly all by yourself!! Take care of the blister with some antibacterial cream.
Loved your photos. Thank you for posting them xx

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I have to go in to see them on Thursday! :eek: Mr G keeps saying it's just a formality as he's well thought of in the company and has put in a really good word for me, technically bumping me up the list, and he says I will just be filling out paperwork. They have a huge waiting list of people that want to work there apparently. :) So I will wait and see what happens on Thursday! :thumbsup:

I just love my new housemates ! :) :thumbsup: Mr D made home-made pasta last night with a really delicious pesto to go with it. I told him he didn't need to be cooking for me and he just said 'I love to cook, and it's no problem making enough for three'. lol

I'm really looking forward to having my first shower tonight. I was just too tired last night and it's one of those power showers with plenty of room to move around in, unlike at the B&B where every time I bent over to pick up the shampoo bottle or the conditioner, I'd smack my head against the glass.:rofl::rofl:

Sorry, I rambled a bit there. lol

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Wouldn't that be hysterical??? I'll know by the surname and I know all the names of my cousins, so as soon as I hear that name it would start ringing a bell. :rofl::rofl:

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I'm glad you liked the photo's. :) xx I took a walk, or should I say a limp to get some Compleed patches. I've got 3 blisters, two on the bottom of my feet and one on the side. That will teach me! :rofl:

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Terrific photos, it sounds like you had a lovely day out! Seems like we've all had a lovely day here weather wise, 21c here in N. Yorks. at the moment. I've been out in the garden several hours but had to come in as too much sun and I've got a rash :frown: its lovely to listen to the birds and some very happy dogs though! Good luck with the interview :starsmile:

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Yes it's been an absolutely beautiful day...the sun is shining, the birds are cheeping :) Everyone is out enjoying the weather...and praying it doesn't rain tomorrow.. :rofl: It was just the perfect day to go for a walk, not too hot and definitely not too cold.:thumbsup:

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Get a decent pair of walking shoes! I like those with the gel insoles. Take you miles further than just regular ones.

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That is my biggest UK shower complaint. I want to rip out the old shower in the house we'll have and put in a double wide, I might be little but I smacked my head trying to shave my legs and again picking up the soap, :eek:

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Or maybe there is a bicycle in your future :D

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I don't often get homesick but your photos are making me want to move back to UK! Not my time yet but maybe in few years. We'll see. So happy for you Linzi..

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I have just had THE best night. One of the neighbours came over and the conversation turned to a BBQ so he parked his motor home in the drive and we had a BBQ. Mr G opened a bottle of wine for me and we ate burgers, chicken wings, black and white pudding, sausages etc and had the music blaring from the motor home lol :). I took some photos so hope they turn out because it was dark although I did use the flash lol. Will upload them tomorrow as I've got to head to bed because I have appt at the job centre back in Oldham tomorrow morning and like our neighbour Mr S said I need to take my passport, a packed lunch and a water bottle. Lol :)

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Goodness, just when I thought it couldn't get any better.......it does!!!
You have been such an inspiration to me that I ordered an exercise pen for my brother's garden, otherwise it would be his Irish Setter v two Chihuahuas and of course the Chis would win......;-) also some really cute bedding.
My darling daughter is getting married on 18th in Manhattan. After that I hope to make real plans.

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I wish you'd taken a picture of the 99 :)

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Linzi, you're a real 'go-getter' and such an inspiration to many of us. Well done and posting!

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Hopefully there'll be another :lol:

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The better it gets, the better it gets! Good for you! :thumbsup:

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Are the electrical outlet plugs the same in Aus. or Did you have to buy an adapter for the UK?

what make of laptop is it.

We just had a downpour here and I thought it was overcast because of the fires in California.

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You can buy a plug adaptor so that you can recharge your laptop. You won't have any trouble with getting on to wifi wherever you are, as long as you have the password if it's a password protected connection.

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So lovely- congratulations! Nothing beats a full English breakfast *sigh* :D

Good luck with the job/flat hunting! It's a shame about the B&B, but hopefully you'll find a place with loads more space and more of those lovely views!

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Just love those pics! :D Keep 'em coming!!!

Your landlords sound absolutely delightful. They are really treating you like part of the family and it is so good to read the tidbits about them :)

I noticed in the pics that the dogs' bowls are at the top of the stairs :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

PS: I just want to add that it is this sense of caring (from the landlords), the willingness to help and to be understanding to another human being that makes me want to go home the most. It is just missing in the USA - non-existent!

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I keep meaning to say that as fabulous as your new landlords are I do think they are also lucky to have found such a wonderful tenant!

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[QUOTE=windsong;10695758
PS: I just want to add that it is this sense of caring (from the landlords), the willingness to help and to be understanding to another human being that makes me want to go home the most. It is just missing in the USA - non-existent![/QUOTE]

:amen:

Can we get another :amen:

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:thumbsup:

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Actually the bowls at the top of the stairs are for the cat..lol. He stays upstairs most of the time and to stop any food issues they keep the food bowls separate.:rofl:

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Okay...here's a good pic of Mr G and our neighbour at the yummy BBQ last night.. lol. I didn't manage to get one of Mr D because he was inside the house mopping the conservatory between bites....:rofl::rofl:

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Oh he looks really sweet. Love the flowers in the border, beautiful. I am just so very happy for you. Hopefully you will get the job and you'll be all set. You have done so very well. Hope the blisters are healing up now and not as painful. Maybe one day you'll get to meet your relatives, that would be wonderful. Take care. xx

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They're both sweethearts! :) They really do love their garden and they're busy planting all sorts of colourful flowers and an assortment of herbs.:thumbsup:

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Well I am shattered!!! Talk about a BUSY day! I've ended up catching 7 buses today and I am so tired my eyes keep crossing..:rofl:

To start it all off there was a 6 car pileup on the Motorway so all the buses were delayed in one way shape or form, or didn't turn up at all. Naturally I only found this out when i was chatting to a lad at the bus stop. Normally the buses run every 10 minutes where I am, so once I heard about the accident I realised that was why I'd been standing at the bus stop for 40 minutes... So an hour later the bus finally showed up and I was on my way....

First off I went into Oldham (first bus) because I had an appointment at the job centre and I wanted to update them of my change of address at the same time. So i get there, only to be told that my advisor had written the date down wrong and my appointment is for next week. So then we get onto the change of address and they tell me I'm no longer covered by their office, and that I have to go into the Rochdale Job Centre, tell them my new address and all my records need transferring over.

Next I go to the bank and tell THEM of my new address and that one was easy..they just changed it over on the computer and I was all done.

So then I go into the Dr's office to tell THEM my new address and they hand me a form to fill in and tell me to bring it back with something that shows my name and new address (such as a bank statement, utility bill etc etc). If I had known I could have got something from the bank while I was in there, and I couldn't be bothered walking all the way back as I wanted to get into Rochdale.

I walked back to the bus station and caught bus number 2 to Rochdale. I manage to negotiate Rochdale and find myself at the Job Centre, where I tell them who I am and what I need to do. I end up speaking to an advisor who tells me they have to set me an appointment to be re-assessed and brought into the Rochdale sysem. So we set an appointment for Thursday at 11.00am because I already have an appointment there for 10.00am for my job interview. By that time I am literally dragging myself back to the bus station to catch bus number 3 and head home.

No sooner do I walk in the door, get smothered in kisses by the doggies and say Hi to the guys than my phone rings. It's a lady at a cafe in Diggle where I had applied for a job. This was before I even knew the guys and even thought about moving. She wanted to meet me and have an informal chat about a supervisory position she has available and could I get there for 4.30pm? So i said yes and then quickly went to speak to Mr G! I asked his opinion about what I should do and he said it always helps to have a fallback plan just in case this job I'm interviewing for on Thursday doesn't need me to start straight away, and this way if I got the job at the cafe I could at least be bringing in some money while I wait. He mentioned that I should tell them I couldn't start until late next week and that way I could have the interview on Thursday and know more about how soon I'd be required to start work with Mr G's place of work. Which seemed like a good idea! :thumbsup:

So then I raced out the door and caught bus number 4 heading back to Oldham. Then I caught bus number 5 in Oldham, heading for Diggle and back in my old stomping grounds.:rofl:

Apparently the position at the cafe is only for between 16-20 hours per week, helping with the cooking, the opening and/or the closing of the place and rotating between the kitchen and serving the customers. They've only just opened up, so once things start to pick up business wise they'll re-evaluate the number of hours and possibly turn it into full time. As the Diggle buses only run every hour and there is a bus at 5.28pm and then nothing until the very last bus at 11.20pm I asked about the latest they work and luckily they close at 5.00pm so that would give me plenty of time to catch the bus. They said they'd also work with me for opening hours to help me catch the morning buses too.

The only drawback, is saying the responsibility that is required, they're only paying £6.75 per hour, which is just over minimum wage, so by the time you consider tax, NI, bus fare etc etc, I'm wondering just how much would me left? Probably just enough to pay the rent I should think, but not leave much left over. Plus they were hoping to have someone start early next week so they could spend a couple of weeks training, unless the owners wanted to do a second interview which would mean the person they hire would technically start mid to late next week. Which worked according to Mr G's plan..:rofl:

Then I caught bus number 6 back into Oldham and bus number 7 home! Don't forget that each bus takes me between 30-40 minutes to get where I need to go...so home to Oldham (40 min), Oldham to Rochdale (35 min), Oldham to Diggle (30 min) Rochdale to home (only 15 min at the most). So I've spent a fair amount of time on a bus today..:rofl: Good job I got the £13 weekly ticket and that's unlimited bus travel for a whole week, so long as it's on a 'First Manchester' bus!

I finally walked back in the door at 6.45pm roughly! To think I left the house at 9.00am this morning. :eek: Mr G asked how it all had gone and I told him everything about the job, the hours etc etc and even he said the pay was low considering they're calling it a 'supervisory' position. But he also said that after the interview on Thursday I should hear something by Friday because he's under the impression they'd want someone to start right away. So....:fingerscrossed::fingerscrossed:

That was my day! Now it's time for a shower, some dinner, some TV and then BED !!!!! :rofl::rofl:

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Good luck with the job interviews :fingerscrossed:

If it useful - here is a calculator (there are others around) which should give you an idea of take home pay - just plug in the gross amount. I should imagine part time earnings on that hourly rate would leave you under the threshold for tax & NI.

I've posted this one before, but you can mess about with this calculator using different incomes and hours worked to check your benefit entitlements ...

http://www.entitledto.co.uk/calculator/