Whirlwind Trip Through England and Europe with Friends

Our blog posting has been a little more infrequent lately because we've had quite a busy couple of weeks!  We were so lucky to have FIVE of our friends come over to visit at the same time.  Emily & Jon came in from Washington D.C.; and Jamie, David and Kristine came in from New York for a couple of weeks so we could explore England and then take side trips to Europe.  Walking around these places, we felt our own mini tour group.  =)

After showing everyone our home in Bury St. Edmunds, we ventured over to Bath, still one of my all-time favorite vacation destinations.  Along the way, we made a stop at Waltham Abbey and Stonehenge.  We had the most beautiful weather in Bath and really enjoyed walking around the city and doing all the fun attractions, including walking up 212 stairs to the top of the Bath Abbey and visiting the Roman Baths.

After Bath, everyone (except Brian who had to go to work) headed into London for a couple of days.  It's exhausting trying to do that large of a city in such a short amount of time, but I think everyone got to see what they wanted to see.  We probably spent most time in the Tower of London, which is still my #1 recommended attraction in London.

Once we were done in London, Emily & Jon headed on to Scotland for a few days while I went with Jamie, and David and Kristine to Paris.  It was my second time there, and it was just as beautiful as I remembered it!  We did a beautiful sunset boat cruise - definitely the best way to see the city!

Jamie, David and Kristine headed back home directly from Paris.  I headed back to Bury St. Edmunds to catch up with Brian, Jon and Emily (and I'd like to point out that I did the Paris Metro, Eurostar train, London tube, and a drive home all by myself!).  Then the four of us headed over to Vienna for a fun weekend!  Check out tomorrow's post to hear about that part of our adventure.

If you want to see more photos, please click here.

Jacqueline is a Licensed UK Driver!

As an update to our previous blog, I am happy to report that as of Friday, I am officially a licensed driver in the UK!  I went back for a 2nd attempt at my written test, after studying BIG TIME.  Luckily, I passed it with flying colors and was able to quickly move on to the actual road test.  That's where I ran into a bit of trouble again...

As I mentioned, the road test is a 40-minute drive around town with a proctor.  You are allowed up to 15 minor mistakes, but if you even have 1 serious mistake, you fail.  Unfortunately, I failed.  I was so darn nervous having this strange man in my car writing on his clipboard that I wasn't driving normally.  I only had 8 minors, but I had a major that ruined the test.  I was trying to merge onto the highway from the inside merge lane, and I was so afraid of revving my engine that I didn't get up to speed fast enough and he said I created a hazard.  This happened about 2/3 of the way through my test, but I didn't know I had failed because of it until the very end.

I went back for my retest on Friday and was a little disheartened when I saw I had the same proctor.  He was very condescending - I stopped behind a bus and told him I didn't want to go around because I couldn't see well enough, but when a person behind me chose to go around both of us, he commented "That person didn't seem to have any trouble."  And then he commented after my test that his biggest pet peeve is how Americans merge onto highways.  I was actually kind of offended.

Long story short though, this time I PASSED (see my certificate below for proof)!  I had 13 minors, so I had to listen to a whole long lecture about how "lucky" I was and how he "reservations" about my driving, but I do have a license now.  This was a HUGE relief because our foreign licenses expire next month.  It's also a relief because I didn't want to pay for more of these tests!  It cost me about $50 for each of the written tests and $90 for each of the road tests.  *sigh*  Thank you everyone for your support and encouragement!

An update on Brian's driving story - he passed his written test on his FIRST TRY (I'd like to think it's because I told him what to expect and helped him study!)  =)  His road test is this week.  Wish him luck!  We really don't have the time or money for him to fail!  =)

Update on Driving Tests

Brian and I are officially in the process of getting our UK licenses, and like I said in a post before, it is quite a pain!  I am further in the process because Brian needed his passport a few extra weeks so his initial paperwork is more delayed than mine.

I am sad to say that I FAILED on my first written test.  The test includes 50 multiple-choice questions (you have to get 43 right) and what they call a hazard perception video clip test.  You are shown 14 clips and have to click your mouse at certain times for potential hazards.  I passed the question part, but my timing was off on the video game part so I failed.  Now I have to retake the entire test, which is going to cost me another $50.  Needless to say, I'm not happy.  =( 

To give you an idea of how ridiculous this test is though, let me run through a few of the things we need to know:

• We must stop if a sheep herder on the road asks us to because we might scare the sheep and cause a road hazard. (As I've told my Facebook friends, I responded that I would NEVER stop for this random guy - there are way too many crazies out there!)
• If my car catches fire in a tunnel, I'm supposed to keep driving it if possible until I get out of the tunnel.  (Yeah, I wouldn't do that...  I would want to get out of the car ASAP!)
• We have to know how to medically treat accident victims, including how to treat burns, shock and bleeding wounds.  (FYI, in case you are wondering, to treat someone for shock, I said to walk them around but the real answer is to reassume them constantly.)
• When passing horses on the road, we must give them plenty of room and drive by slowly.
• To prevent "dazzling" other drivers, if we are in a traffic queue, we are supposed to use our handbrake only.  (Seriously, who would do that?)

There are a ton of other random questions, but so far, those have been my favorite.  Wish us luck as we continue to go through this process!

New Series - The Adventures of Owning Our Dog Lilo

As anyone who knows me can tell you, I LOVE my dog Lilo.  We got her 2 years ago at a very difficult time in my life - my mom was being treated for cancer, Brian was traveling a lot, etc.  She provided me with a lot of company and a lot of joy.  However there are also certain things she does that can definitely frustrate me, including her latest thing of being a MORNING DOG.  I am NOT a morning person, and I know my dog can sleep in, but lately she wants to get up at 5 a.m. and start her day. 

The last 3 nights, we have gone to bed at a normal time, but around 5, sure enough, Lilo comes to my side of the bed (she knows she can't wake her father up!).  At home in Florida, our bed is so high that she can't reach me, but here, she puts her little head on my side and licks me.  It's such a great way to wake up, let me tell you!  =)  She doesn't stop until I get up and go downstairs with her to let her out, give her water, and of course feed her.  (My dog is a little chunky, and mealtime is VERY important to her!)  I usually do this as I am still half-asleep and then go back upstairs and try to fall back asleep.  When she is done with her breakfast, she comes back upstairs too, and in the past, she would lay back down until we really got up.  But lately (and I'm not sure if this is because Brian just got home from a trip), but as soon as he gets up for work, she runs and grabs her toys to start playing!

Now I know my dog can sleep in...  When Brian was out of town last week, she let me sleep every morning - the earliest she woke me up was 830 a.m.!  So what has happened?!?  How can I break this streak?!?  I know my friends with children will tell me this is starting to prepare me for that chapter of our lives, but until I get there, I definitely need my sleep!  If you have any pearls of wisdom for getting her to sleep in, please let us know.  In the meantime, enjoy this picture of what I wake up to...  =)