A Sudden Life Change

We've only been in Glasgow for two months but we're moving away.

It's bittersweet.

My husband wasn't sure he wanted to attend the University of Glasgow. It was going to be more work than the English university he was accepted into and the course would last a year longer, finishing in four years rather than three years as is standard in England. It would involve moving away from his family and starting over in a lot of ways.

But, it's one of the ancient universities and they have high standards for being accepted, so it was a big deal. We were both afraid that if he didn't go he would regret it. And, there would always be the opportunity to change to the other university if he didn't like it.

We both love Glasgow. We've really enjoyed our time here and we really enjoy living in a big city. But, the truth is, my husband was really beginning to doubt his choice to attend the university here. It wasn't just one or two things; it was a lot of things.

He's 32 years old and the majority of the students in his classes were 17 and 18 years old. Besides studying psychology (the subject he's getting a degree in)  he also had to choose two other subjects to study. In the English university you only ever study one subject. He couldn't find a third subject he was happy with (options were quite limited) and ended up with something he really didn't like. Not only this, but it was loads of extra work for subjects that were essentially pointless in his education. Add on several other issues and it was quickly becoming clear that he'd be happier at the English university.

So, he contacted them to see about getting an application in for next year. Because they were only two weeks into the semester they sent him an email and said they'd still consider him for this year.

So, in one day we made the decision to move back.

Last week was incredibly stressful. It involved staying in a hotel one night, driving back and forth between Cumbria and Glasgow several times, viewing houses, and working out how much money quitting our lease here early was going to cost.

We've found a beautiful Victorian house that has been converted into two places. It's very modern but is full of original features. It's so beautiful. The final checks are going through today and we should be able to sign the lease by the weekend. If the moving boxes I've ordered arrive in time, we could be moving this weekend.

I will miss Glasgow and I'm sad that I didn't get more time here. But, I'm also looking forward to being around my in-laws again and being back to where my friends are. It was a little bit lonely here but I'm good at lonely so it was never going to be a major issue. My sister-in-law just found out she's pregnant this week too, so being around for that will be really cool.

So, busy times ahead! But I am looking forward to the new house!

The Creation Station

I've just discovered The Creation Station and I love it! They appear to have classes all over the UK and I found a local one to our part of Glasgow. I took Isaac yesterday for our first session to try it out. I'm used to taking him to loads of free things back in Carlisle run through Barnardo's and Sure Start so when I heard this was £5 per 45 minute session I thought to myself, "It better be good!" Well, it was and next week I'll be dropping £50 for 10 weeks.

It was held at a local church and run by a really nice, friendly woman. She was great with the kids and the adults as well, engaging us in conversation that never felt forced or uncomfortable during the session. I say that because I can be a bit awkward around people I don't know, especially being in a new city and a new country where I don't know anyone. So this helped me enjoy myself, too.

The session started with everyone sitting in a circle and making waves with a parachute and then lifting it up and pulling it down over us, like we used to do in P.E. as kids. I remember parachute days being the best! The session revolved around autumn leaves so a box of leaves collected from outside was dumped onto the parachute and we made them bounce around and fly all over.

Next we sat at tables and did chalk rubbings of leaves. Then we painted leaves to do prints on some construction paper. After that she passed out paper plates with the centers cut out and a hole punched in the top to make a wreath. We glued down leaves and were given other things to embellish them with (like confetti, pom poms and feathers). Lastly, we got to sprinkle some silver glitter on them.

And finally, she had some cardboard binoculars to put together and then decorate.

We were constantly doing something and it all moved along quickly so Isaac never got bored. I was impressed with all that was packed into that session.

Yesterday I got out a cotbed sheet and told Isaac it was our very own parachute. Daddy joined us and we made waves with it for awhile. Then we added different sizes and colors of pompom balls to bounce around on it. The joy he got out of that was awesome. Then he decided he wanted to be bounced on the parachute! So we very carefully gave him some rides in the sheet. I think it's his new favorite thing to do.

I can't wait to see what we're doing next week!

An update!

I currently have 12 drafts sitting on this blog. That means there have been 12 different times that I've sat down to write an entry and abandoned it before finishing.

Do you know why I suck at blogging? Because I'm lazy. Simple as that.

There won't be much for me to look back on if I don't write entries.

I'm not going to make any bloggy friends if I don't write entries.

So, I'm back at it!

Really, I am.

Like, I mean it this time.

I'm totally going to do it.

Babble

I have been feeling a lot better about what happened at the doctor's office last week. Isaac is bright, he's hitting all of his milestones and I just don't feel like anything is off. If there is some kind of abnormality, it must be extremely mild but I just really don't think there is. We went back to the doctor's office last week though to try to get his files from the specialist sent up  here so he can be referred to the hospital here as I had no luck with them on the phone. The receptionist was very short with me and just answered, "We don't do that," for any request I made. So,  hopefully our new GP is sorting it out for us.

I went to the Salvation Army auction for that ball chair. As soon as I was there I spotted this two guys and girl who were very hipster looking and I just knew they were there for that chair. Sure enough, they were after that chair and it was clear that they decided it was theirs and they were going to get it no matter how much it cost them. In the end they paid £330 for it! So, no ball chair for me.

I love that Salvation Army though. The amount of stuff that goes through there is unreal. The back of the store is right across from my window so I see the truckloads going in and out every day. Yesterday I popped in and found an Ikea laptop table that seems brand new for £5. I was looking at getting that very one so it was a lucky find. I also paid £2 for a brand new skirt with the tags still on it. Now I'm watching out for a small table to go inside the hallway by the front door.

My mom is going in for a major major surgery next month. She's really scared and it sucks that I can't be there. So I'm trying to put together a care package for her but with no food items as she'll be on a liquid diet for several weeks after. When you think about care packages they are usually stuffed with food so it's not easy trying to think of things to put in it. I'm going into the city tomorrow and will see if I can find some bits for it.

My flat

I'm slowly working on getting our flat decorated. We're looking to order two pieces of art for our living room walls. I'm going to choose one and my husband is going to choose one. We've decided to try to find something from the DeviantArt shop so that we have something different from the same old stuff we keep seeing in the shops. Some of them are really expensive and after browsing the online shop on several different days I still haven't decided on anything yet. I'm waiting for something that really speaks to me.

We've got beige carpet and dark chocolate brown leather sofas. We're going to go with red as an accent color. The Salvation Army across the road from us is having an auction this week and this awesome white with red interior ball chair was in it!

I've wanted one of those chairs since I was a teenager so if I can get that it'll be like a little dream come true for me!  I don't know yet how much we'll have to spend on it but they average £500 brand new and it is in immaculate condition as far as I can tell. So, fingers crossed! I'd love to be curled up in there with my laptop.

I've also got this lovely 60 litre BiOrb that I get to put up. It sat in a closet at our last two places so I'm looking forward to getting it running again and finding some fish to go inside. I'm thinking maybe just some guppies because they're really colorful and it'll hold quite a few. I think Isaac might really like them. I'm hoping to try out some live plants for the first time, too.

 I'm really looking forward to getting this place completely set up. Most places we've lived I haven't bothered with getting stuff on the walls because of how often we move but most of the walls in this place have picture hooks on them already so I won't be doing any damage. I can't wait until my husband gets through university and grad school so we can look for a house to buy!

So What! Wedensday {4}

This week I'm saying so what if...

• I have been eating more than my planned calories the past few days. I've been feeling extra hungry.

•  I didn't go out for  a walk the past two days aside from going to see the doctor and going to the corner shop.

•  It's rained at some point every single day since we moved to Glasgow three weeks ago. EVERY DAY.

• There is an awesome Salvation Army across the street from me that sells furniture for insanely cheap prices. I go there every day hoping to find some awesome random things to add to our flat.

• I still haven't tried out the American cafe across the road. I had hopes of going there for breakfast a few times a week when my husband starts classes but it's a bit too expensive for that.
  
• I'm still playing Minecraft. It's fun.
  
• Moving house got me hooked on caffeine again because I was convinced it would help give me energy while packing.
  
• I still haven't been shopping in the city centre. There is plenty of time.
  
• I downloaded a hidden object game on my phone and it's been taking over my reading time before bed. Why are they so addictive?
  
• I'm wearing mismatched socks, as per usual.
  
•  It's 5pm and I haven't woken Little Man up from his nap. The peace and quiet is...well, peaceful and quiet.

Life in an Instagram {7}

I haven't done this link up in several weeks due to moving but I'm going to dump all the photos here anyway!

 

1. Isaac playing with a numbers board at softplay.

2. Picking Peppa's nose.

3. He loves these car rides. I'm a sucker and always give him a coin for them.

4. Near my old flat in Carlisle.

 

1. This hot air balloon would fly over our old flat about once a week. We got in the car and chased it down this time because Isaac loved it so much.
2. Church in Carlisle that I snapped a pic of walking through the city centre.
3. Isaac with his  cupcake mix watching an airplane.
4. Making cupcakes.

 

1. Cupcakes!
2. Pretty road near Carlisle
3. Birds!
4. Wheat field

1. Those trees in the background are lining the road in the above picture. It's so pretty there.
2. Sheep!
3. Isaac thinks sheep are hilarious.
4. Out for a pub meal with the in-laws.

1. Take from the train to Leeds.
2. Isaac on the train to Leeds.
3. A bunch of designer stores in Leeds.
4. Leeds city centre.

1. Isaac loves wearing other peoples' shoes. Here he is with my cheap flip-flops.

2. Walking to the playground.

3. Trying on a hat at H&M. Bought him that sweatshirt because he didn't want to take it off and it was cute.

4. At Morrisons buying flowers for Grandma's birthday.

1. Way proud of this drawing as it's the first time he's ever said he was drawing something specific. This was a duck. he even asked for an orange crayon to make the "nose."

2. Brownie and juice at Starbucks.

3. A little American cafe in Glasgow that is across from our new flat. Looking forward to trying it out.

4. At a random playground we came across in Glasgow.

1. Helping to get his car bed to the lift on moving day!

2. Stayed a night at a hotel during the move. He got a new little scottie dog that he made watch tv.

3. Fruit Loops at Tesco! Apparently, only for a limited time. They aren't as good as the American ones as some of the ingredients aren't allowed here.

4. Isaac and I playing with the camera.

1. Isaac's self portrait!

2. I love how foreign this makes it seem here to me.

3. Hunterian Museum at University of Glasgow. Museums are free here!!

4. Signs in a little shop on Byres Road. I love my west end flat, too.

1. An old police box at the other end of Byres Road. Dr Who fans will recognize it as a TARDIS.

2. Took Isaac for some ice cream while we had lattes.

3. I don't know what these were but they were hanging from a tree outside the library at the University of Glasgow.

4. This shop...just... I can't decide if it's amazing or awful.

1. Found a four leaf clover. Immediately after I found a five leaf clover!

2. Isaac driving a bus at the store.

3. Playing with the camera before bed.

Scotland

Well, we're now in our new home in Scotland. I like Glasgow quite a lot so far.

We've been in our house for a week now. Moving was hard work with a toddler and we are still only half unpacked. Trying to sort out a new place for everything isn't easy, especially since we've moved into a smaller place. I do like the flat though.

Our location is brilliant. It's a one minute walk out to a major road that is absolutely filled with shops, restaurants and cafes. There are also loads of charity shops and I can't get over how cheap they all are compared to down in Carlisle. I love a good bargain and don't mind second hand toys for Isaac at all. I even picked him up a brand new pair of Ted Baker jeans for 75p.

There's an American breakfast and lunch cafe a very short walk from us. I haven't been in yet but I'm looking forward to trying it. The owner is from Scotland but he spent five years living in New York City and Florida and has modelled his shop on NYC cafes. He even imported a NYC police car and a NYC cab that sit in front of his shop and also get hired out. He parks the cars across from our flat at night and he was driving the police car yesterday while we were out there. I was pointing it out to Isaac and the guy turned on the lights and sirens for Isaac and he got so excited. Now he's constantly pointing out the car.

Last weekend my father-in-law and his wife came up to see our new place and we went out for lunch and coffee and also took them to the university and to the Hunterian Museum there. It was a really nice day. At the moment they're talking about coming up every other weekend. Not sure if that will actually happen but I am looking forward to it.

Izzy Says

I bought Izzy some little animals from a 10p bin at a charity shop in Glasgow yesterday. Just now he brought this one to me.

Izzy: "Bird!"
Me: "That bird is called a peacock."
Izzy: "Peapock."
Me: "Can you say peacock?"
Izzy: "Peapock!"
Me: "Peacock."
Izzy: "PEAPOCK!"
Me: "Yeah!"  LOL

So What Wednesday {3}

This week I'm saying so what if...

• I haven't watched any of the Olympics, including the opening ceremony. Apparently, because I'm living in the host country I should be really into it but I'm not. 
  


• We didn't move when we were supposed to due to my husband being ill.
  
  
• I bought my son an entire pack of Happyland animals just to get him the chicken in a nest with baby chicks.
  


• I didn't log my calories on MFP for the past 3 days. I'm back at it now.
  


• We kept toys from the toy library for like 5 months. I returned them today! Still can't believe they never phoned me or sent me a letter about them.
  


• I returned a bunch of books late to the library because I knew we wouldn't be checking any out again before we moved. Now I owe fines.
  


• Tomorrow we have to drive up to Glasgow and sit around in our new and very empty place all day long just to wait on a technician to come out and set up our phone and broadband. That's three hours of driving to look forward to.
  


• I think I'm going to start deleting people on Facebook who post pictures making fun of obese people. It angers me every time and I don't need the negativity. Rant about this coming soon on my blog.
  


• Tesco is now carrying Fruit Loops so I'm suddenly desperate for some. They were out of stock yesterday but I'll probably buy some as soon as I see the on the shelf just because....homesickness, ya know.
  


• I started playing Minecraft again because one of my cousins is now running a server. Like I don't waste enough time these days.