Mission accomplished

Yesterday was the big interview at the US Embassy.  It took a couple of hours but we are in 🙂

We (Vicky and Simon) stayed in London on Tuesday night to ensure that we could get to the embassy nice and early – appointment was for 8am – we were there at 7:40.  We were given a ticket (number N115 if it matters) and we began to wait.  The counters opened at 8:10am and in honesty they were really quick. 25 minutes later we were called up, and the lady began to process our documents.  And then the question came – “where is your kajdhfdskjf878?” Simon’s classic response – “erm, what?”.  Then she checked the documents again and then said that we had been given the wrong ticket – we are there for an E2 Visa and not a standard N visa… Great, so we had to go back to the beginning and start again.

So, we now had ticket E903 (again, for those who are interested) and then sussed out that although there were 8 counters open, and only 2 people in front of us (E900 was already done, and E901 was just starting), we found that ONLY ONE of the damned counters were doing E2 visas!!!

So, 45 minutes later and we were being seen.  All systems go, and we would be getting the second interview shortly.  a further 30 minutes and we were given the all clear, asked to pay $420 and then a further £35 for delivering the passports back to us in 10 days 🙂

As well as this – we saw Dermot O’Leary applying for a visa of some description

So, we are all set now.

We have also figured out that HSBC offer some bank accounts that we can use to minimise the cost of money transfers between UK and US – so we have an appointment setup to proceed (subject to all being satisfactory of course)

The letting agent came around today and will be coming back in the next week or so to take photos and measure up etc.

Now all we need is for a buyer for the cars…..

Taking it easy…

We all went swimming this morning.

We just played at home all afternoon and got an early night – well the boys did.

We have packed up the crystal tonight and sorted through Elliot’s old clothes to set Olly up with a few and to figure what is left and then prepare to move it on.  There is an awful lot unfortunately – we definitely spent a lot of cash on designer clothes and the like.  Oh well, can’t take it with us…

No sale yet…

The 7 has been on sale for 6 days and not a single bite 🙁  Wondering whether the £14k is too much obviously – but think not – think it is just a case of big car takes time…. Hoping anyway..

We have made good progress during the week with a realtor in the bay area so hopefully our home will be much easier and quicker to locate when we head out there in a month. Visa interview this Weds and then we are all set.

We are thinking that we will take not much with us and hence minimise on what we end up shipping out to CA.  Just about toys and clothes really. Oh, and Simon’s computers…

Swimming tomorrow morning hopefully.

Another weekend dispatched :-( Great time though

Matt, Sara and the girls came over on Saturday and stayed overnight.  We polished off a couple of bottles of very nice Red Cabernet Sauvignon, half a bottle of Sambuca – clearly we had an ace time. 🙂

Elliot came back into his mummy and daddy’s bedroom with Jessica in tow, explaining to his parents that he had found his best friend and that they were going to watch Lightning McQueen and play with stickers 🙂

The 7 series is now officially up for sale 🙁 – it has (or shortly will) make an appearance on Autotrader for the next 3 weeks – hopefully this will be enough. please cross your fingers for us on a quick, efficient sale.

The small cosmetic damage to the 7 was put right by Grant from GHL Bodyworks in Ossett.  He did a terrific job and charged a VERY reasonable price.  Took two days and he earned himself a 18% bonus in beer tokens – really pleased with the work.

Olly has begun to move around a little finally – he kind of shuffles on his bum when he is sat upright.  He is also feeling better again although has returned to requiring feeding in the night etc.

Elliot and mummy seem to be coming down with a cold – and daddy has whinged on about a throat complication – painful swallowing which makes eating and drinking painful.

Simon and Oliver’s passports arrived at the end of last week so we are all set for the home search trip to CA.  We have also got an interview date for the US embassy for the Visa for Vicky and Simon – so we are heading nicely in the right direction.

Finally, it rained heavily on Friday night and we woke up on Saturday with pretty much NO snow left – the original snowman is still there although looks more like a large football at the minute.  The back garden is extremely waterlogged however – I guess this is to be expected given the amount of snow and the rapid nature of thawing