The Land of the Free & the Home of the Brave (expats)... All Those in the US!

[UnderRated]

I just finished the old thread by accident

We're in Summit.

Oh, I only know Elizabeth (Ikea), Newark (Airport) and of Ocean City, Atlantic City

I am possibly going to Michigan this weekend. Woohoo

(although if I don't find out in the next 20 minutes, I won't be going anywhere. Not having a cell phone sucks. Razr phones are crap. And AT&T are shite too. Can you tell I'm a little pissed off?)

Evening

I went to Michigan this weekend. It was lovely. We went to Saugutuk which seems to be where the rich Chicagoans bring their yachts. Sat on the beach and watched the sunset over the lake. Was lovely.

Today I went to JoAnns and Michaels (but not Hobby Lobby because it is closed on a Sunday ) and I got one of those cake caddys and a few other bits and bobs.

Might go Apple Picking tomorrow but I suspect it will be horribly busy and I will get cross.

Hope everyone is having a lovely holiday weekend.

Anorak, what lovely pictures

Hi all,

Our relocation plans have suffered a set back. I have had to have an operation to stop the baby coming early (am only 18 weeks) and we are weighing up the options.

Most likely at the moment is that dh goes on his own and does say 2 weeks in US and 2 weeks back home from November until baby comes and then me and dcs join him. Its a toss up between managing without him (but having loads of other support from family and friends in UK) and moving out together with risk of early labour in a place where we know no one.

Of course having baby in UK means no insurance type worries.

I think the main thing is we all want to be in US longer term.

Anyway sorry to rattle on am just glad we have found a way of moving as last week when things all kicked off it looked like we would have to cancel everything.

Hope everyone's ok!

Oh goodness bunkups, how are you? Sounds very scary. Please take good care and let us know how you are doing. I think moving is probably not the best option - and you'd need to see if your pregnancy would be covered. Sometimes insurance companies and doctors won't accept pateints who are pregnant as it is a pre-existing condition.

When you do decide to come, let us know if we can help. Obviously we do much in the way of practical things but if there is anything else, you'd only have to ask.

Thinking of you.

What a nice story Cali.

Is everybody ok? You've all been quiet.

Oh yes, start of school. DS started his new playgroup this week. It's fab. Only 3 children, 2 of whom are slightly autistic. DS is going as the 'model' child. He gets to jump around on squishy cushions and play in the wendy house full of beans for an hour and a half and I get that time all to myself. It's amazing what you van get done in 90 mins when you don't have a 3 yr old in tow.

What a busy bee you are, Cali.

Dooney, I need the link to that food blog search place. I have too many apples. Anyone made cider? (as in the American version)

Busy here too, had a pleasant low-key holiday weekend, including a drive out North to see a bit of Ontario countryside and a nice art gallery.

My experiment with selling stuff on ebay prior to imminent move back to UK, has been a dismal failure, I think the parcel postal rates are astronomical in Canada, so can understand why people don't get involved.

Has anyone tried selling/buying from Once Upon a Child and are they any good? I'm not looking to make $$$, just want to get shot of bulky stuff quickly and without faffing around (high chair/baby gym etc) and there doesn't seem to be a noticeable charity-shop network.

Though what to do with legion of region 1 DVDs DH has gathered is a bit of a mystery, I thought Ebay saddos would lap them up!

We had such a good visit, I didn't want to come home. We kept running into friends wherever we went, and hardly saw In-laws the whole time we were there. It made me feel much better, because almost all my friends have boys born a few weeks before or after Colin, and there is only one there that isn't holding her DS back from starting Kindergarten.

for you, SuperBunny

Never heard of Once Upon a Child, Mrs S. Have you tried Craigslist by any chance? I stopped doing E-bay when they raised fees and wouldn't let sellers leave feedback, and have had tremendous success with it around here.

I wish nothing but the best for you, Bunkups.

Off to wake them up to take them to the Doctor. I'm not looking forward to that at all. I haven't told them yet, as they're both petrified of shots.

MrsSprat, I have sold stuff on Craigslist before. I hate ebay.

Thanks for the link Dooney, hope the Dr was ok

It's cold here. Well, chilly at least...

Oh, ugh, I'm green.

They gave Colin a blood test in his finger, and everything was fine. Then a few minutes later I looked down and my pants were covered in red. He was bleeding all over. I opened the door and yelled for help, and they had to get the room all cleaned up. He stopped bleeding quickly, but yuck. To top it all off, the machine gave a reading that they said wasn't really possible, so they need to do it again, but I told them not today. Colin was upset when he was bleeding, but was laughing after at the thing that was "drinking the blood".

Dooney

Why did he bleed so much? Poor thing. Although it sounds as though you suffered more than he did.

Thanks for liking my photos, SuperBunny. If anyone else is interested I had a week of days out with DS and took loads of photos and put them on my profile.

We had a fab time playing the tourist from one end of Bermuda to another. It's great to finally have the energy to do stuff like this.

Term began for DD today (secondary school) but DS in primary doesn't go back till Monday.

Poor Colin. Tell him I said hello.

I don't know why, UR. When the nurse went to put the band-aid on him, she had a hard time finding where to put it, because he hadn't bled very much. And then a few minutes later, my leg was covered. He stopped quickly after we got his finger in the air, but for some reason just did that.

I told Colin hello for you, and showed him your pictures. He said he wants to go to "Bur-mooda" next after we go to Chicago. I was surprised in the Dr. office, because they had a map of the US without any state names that showed allergens, and he told me where Texas, Florida, California, Oregon, Oklahoma(????) and Boston were, and he was right. I had to show him Burmooda on a map, too. I think he inherited my map geek gene.

Well, I'm glad it stopped, Dooney. Next stop, Bermooda, eh?

No, now I have to panic about how soonly we are going to be in Chicago, and how I haven't really thought about it the past few weeks.

Don't panic! If you forget anything, we have Walgreens where you can buy more or less anything. You might have heard of it

Seriously though, when do you come?

I have told you often enough you are welcome here tell Colin to get a piggy bank to save up the fare.

Hello all - I'm not over in the States yet, but am on my way...! Thought i would wander in here for a bit!!

Don't know if any of you have seen my current thread about childbirth in the US?

Feeling pretty low about moving over to Seattle in Oct - perhaps you can all give me some positive notes on moving to the States?!

(apart from being able to pick up a latte on every block)

Hello Annie

Welcome. I always wanted to go to Seattle. The West coast seems a bit more civilised than other places I have visited/ lived.

Moving is never fun and moving overseas is a pain in the arse but lots of people think it is worth it and you can come here and vent

Remember to bring Marmite, tea, angel delight and crisps. And chocolate.

OMG, they just opened a Legoland Discovery center in the 'burbs