Life Update

I have been meaning to blog for the past month or so about our future plans in the UK as John and I knew we wanted to extend our time here a bit longer.  Each time I have wanted to do an official update, life has thrown us another curveball.  Let’s just say that if I had written and posted a blog two weeks ago about our plans, it would have been completely different than what I am writing today.

As John’s year-long contract was quickly coming to an end here in Cornwall, we began looking into available options to stay in the UK until the spring.  We didn’t want to wait until the last minute so we began exploring our options a few months ago.  We have both loved Cornwall, but knew that the possibility of us being able to stay here was slim, so we began searching for opportunities throughout the entire UK. 

As John began looking for jobs throughout the country, he was aware that the hospital here in Truro had received some charitable funds for the stroke program.   As a result, he was asked by his director to write a business case to develop a FEES service for the hospital.  Since John was the only speech therapist trained in FEES here it would be a great opportunity for him to stay on with the hospital a bit longer and a great opportunity for the hospital to develop this service.  Since the economic climate of the hospital is currently very tight, he decided to put the proposal forward but continue to look for other jobs in the meantime.

While the proposal in Truro was being handed from one administrative level to another (and taking forever), he was given a fantastic job opportunity to work at a hospital right outside Liverpool.  Time was quickly going by and the hospital here in Truro still hadn’t made a decision, despite having the proposal for nine weeks.  Finally, two weeks ago, John was told that they wouldn’t make a decision on it for another month so we decided to move forward with plans and move to Liverpool.  As a result, we made the mind-shift and began preparations for a big move by the end of the month.  I gave my four-week notice at work, we told our landlords and officially gave up our home, we set-up a moving van and even put money down on an apartment in St. Helens.  As we finally had a direction and began to accept the loss of leaving Cornwall, it all changed with one phone conversation.

John received a phone call on Wednesday, October 5^th from the Director of Acute Services of Truro hospital.  She had been watching the business proposal closely over the past two months and couldn’t believe it when she heard that the proposal was delayed another month and John was planning to move.  So unknown to anyone, this woman set up meetings with the Executive Director and Financial Director of the hospital and basically told them that they had to fund this proposal and keep John here.  So that phone call on Wednesday was from a woman who John had never met, but offered him the chance to start a FEES program at the Royal Cornwall Hospital.  Yes, this was two and a half weeks before our move up to Liverpool!

So after a couple nights of intense conversations between John and I and multiple meetings about specifics with John’s work and recruitment agency, we made the decision to stay in Truro!  It wasn’t an easy decision to make, but we are happy with it.  And we are lucky as so many things fell into place once the decision was made.  Our landlords had just put our place in the paper and were more than happy when they heard we wanted to stay.  My boss at work was able to rescind my notice and is willing to work around our visit back to the States.  The difficult part in all of this was regarding the job in Liverpool.  John felt bad needing to turn them down but ultimately the opportunity in Truro was too good to pass up.

So now that a decision has finally been made, we are happy to say that we’ll be staying in Cornwall until the contract ends on March 31^st of 2012!  Having a definite plan for the next six months has been nothing short of amazing this past week, as we’ve finally been able to relax a bit and de-stress.  Now we just can’t believe that our next adventure begins in nine days as we fly out to the States and get to see friends and family.  It’s been over a year since we have touched US soil and we can’t wait to remember what it feels like!

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As I sit here at my computer, I realize that it was one year ago today that John and I stepped foot into our magical year as residents of Truro.  With this realization comes a mixture of fond memories here as well as sadness that a year can pass by so quickly.  It is definitely bittersweet.

We couldn’t help but reminisce yesterday as we were sitting by the window in our favorite main street coffee shop and overlooking the Sunday buzz of people spending their day in town.  We arrived in Truro on a Sunday last year and ventured our way into town in the early evening after a day of travel from London.  By Sunday evenings, Truro becomes a bit of a ghost town as all the shops are closed and people have gone home to be with their families.  Even though the town was quiet that first time we took a walk around town, we began to fall in love with the pure charm of Truro. 

And a year later, we have nothing but amazing memories to share with one another.  Our year consisted of learning what it’s truly like to live without a car and using your two legs to get to where you want to go.  We slowly but surely learned our way around the cobblestone roads and mews throughout the downtown.  We experienced for the first time a Christmas parade of lanterns, magical Wednesday night shopping, New Year’s Eve at midnight in Lemon Quay, a spring stroll along the river, the beauty of the Cathedral lit up at night on our walk to a movie.  To top it off we were lucky enough to share this city with friends and family along the way.

So far, we have had a year we could never forget.  We have been fortunate enough to travel, meet new friends and experience work in a different country.  But what stands out more than anything is falling in a love with a charming town called Truro and being able to call it home.

As this 1-year mark quickly came upon us, John and I both knew we weren’t fully ready for our time here in England to be done.  In figuring out a way to stay but not definitely knowing what context it would be in (which city we would continue this adventure in), you can easily say this past month has been very chaotic.  We have had our ups and downs over this past month, but we both know it will be worth it.  And though we have loved every minute of our time here, we are looking forward to a visit to see friends and family in the States.  Our tickets are booked and we will be boarding a plane in 15 days to Vegas to celebrate Mary’s 21^st birthday, then proceed on to visit Wisconsin to see both my and John’s families.  There will be a lot of catching up to do and a handful of babies to meet for the first time.  It can’t be here soon enough! 

So for the next two weeks, John and I will continue to enjoy every minute in Truro and at 38 Richmond Hill.  And upon our return back to England in mid-November, we will continue our time abroad.  As for where that will happen, well, more of that to come soon…….