Notes from England - Remember, remember

Remember, remember the fifth of November gunpowder treason and plot - I know of no reason why the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot.

Yes, I know it's the 7th November. So I'm late...so sue me. With all the fireworks going off over here over the last week it's not like I actually forgot the 5th November, now is it? ;-)

So as of Saturday, 4th November, I am officially a resident of the UK! How cool is that? That's according to the vicar that's marrying Helen and I, Father Michael. We had to go see him (see previous post) about some wedding-related stuff, and he talked to us about what was necessary in the way of documents/licenses when it came to making our marriage legal. As you would probably expect, due to my US citizenship, (always a bit confused by that...I think I should say US citizenship instead of American because let's face it...Canadians are Americans too, and it's not fair to generalize) things are a bit different than they would be if I were a member of the European Union.

The bottom line is, he told me that as of 21 days in the country (that's three weeks for you math-whizes) I'm considered a resident! I think that's pretty neat, actually. Now don't get confused, that doesn't make me a citizen of the UK, it just states that because of the amount of time I've consecutively been here, I reside here. Don't quote me, but I think for you to be a resident of the US, it's something like 30 days.

Since I'm a resident, we can be married...but we do need a special bishop's license, due to my citizenship. Father Michael has said that it shouldn't be any trouble getting hold of this.

The interesting news is that normally, to get married we'd just have to have our 'bands' read at church for three weeks. The bands are, apparently, simply announcements that we intend to marry...when the date of the wedding is...and it gives people the opportunity for those weeks to become aware of the wedding so that should they know of any reason we can't be married, they can come forward. But!...since we need this bishop's license, it nullifies the requirement for the reading of bands.

See? You can learn something new every day. Like Helen! She and I were discussing the very interesting subject of Ahnuld Schwarzenhoozer running the state of "Cahlyfohnyah" as their governator or whatever. Helen didn't know that Mr. "Don't come into my jungle and try to kill me with your big-ass-blade and laser-tracking plasma cannon or I'll drop a tree on your ugly face" is married to a Kennedy. See? Everyone has the opportunity to learn something new every day.

So what have I been up to over the last week? Well I've been trying my best to help out with the 'honey-do' list, which seems this week to have consisted primarily of working on table names. "Wha....? Table names?" I hear you say. Yes. Table names. See, as is becoming increasingly popular we're not doing numbers for the tables at the wedding reception. We're doing table names...themes, if you will. For example Helen and I will be sitting at the Cinderella and Prince Charming table.

There's a Beauty and the Beast table...a Rhet Butler and Scarlet O'Hara table. There's even a Superman and Lois Lane table. See? It's all a bunch of great love stories. There's nine tables in all, including the top table...so you just never know where you're going to end up sitting! But we do. Hehehe (evil laugh) Do you fancy yourself a a la Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth? Maybe you're more of a The Phantom and Christine? There's a Robin Hood and Maid Marion. There's Marc Anthony and Cleopatra. There's even King Arthur and Guinevere.

It's been interesting seating people too. We've tried very hard to make sure that everyone's sitting with people they'll be able to converse with easily.

I'm also getting decent at the driving! It's difficult, as I've said before, getting used to the roundabouts...and bar a minor incident or two where I nearly caused an accident, I think I'm starting to get the hang of them and handle them fairly well! I'd even go so far as to say that if anyone of my friends or family felt up to it, they should feel confident in renting a car and, so long as they're following someone else that knows what they're doing, they could get on just fine!

Well, that's all for now. Thoughts? Feedback? Comments? Questions?

Keep in touch everyone.

P.S. - Bourgie, you said you could help me with my blogger blog with the side menus showing up at the bottom? I only notice the problem in IE, not Firefox...yes, I'd very much appreciate advice if you can give it! Thank-you!