Home Farewell

Spent 5 days at home - 23rd to 28th. they were a great 5 days. Matthew and I headed out Thursday afternoon but didn't get far as his car sprung a gas leak. We ended up renting a car Friday morning from Enterprise and headed home around lunch time. We arrived in Ben Eion and spent the night with Dad. Graham came up to meet us and the 4 of us skied all day Saturday. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time. Had to say my good byes to Dad when we left - that was hard!

Karen came to visit Saturday night and her and I and mom gabbed for a few hours. The next few days consisted of lots of visiting and spending time with mom and the boys.

Tuesday we had the family in for a gathering. Mom and I spent the day prepaing food and laughing like fools - as always! Matthew & Graham, Linda, Steve & Lexie, Nanny Neil, Nan Hardy, Laurie & the boys, Jeff, Glorie, Hayden, Deb, Michael & Kyla were all there.

Wednesday we woke up to a snow storm! Uh-oh I was gonna leave today! By lunch time it had cleared up a bit and Matthew and I decided to make a go of it. Saying goodbye to Nan & Gamp and Mom sucked too. Mom was her usual foolish self, which made it so much easier for me as I was laughing rather than crying. Once we were on the road, it was clear as a bell right to Halifax. The causeway was one way escorted, but it wasn't bad. Graham left about 2 hours after us and he came up for a few days too so I could spent time with both he and Matthew.

The Packers, The Movers, Long Term Storage

Went to work on Tuesday morning expecting a call that the packers would arrive that afternoon. Keith called me at 9am and says the packers are waiting at our door! What!? Great! Once again, quite typical of this whole ordeal.

Mad rush trying to show the packers what was going overseas, in priority shipment, long term storage, and what would be accompanying us. I hadn't even started separating my clothes! That was probably a good thing, I had no time to dilly dally. Within a few hours our place was half packed and in total disorganization. Now off to a hotel to spend the next few weeks....

Wednesday the movers arrived and took everything that had been packed for overseas. Friday, the movers handling our Long Term Storage arrived. Tuesday we stayed at the Radisson, Wednesday The Citadel, Thursday the Four Points Sheraton and then each of us went home for a few days.

My Last Day Of Work

What a surreal feeling to get up this morning and head into work for my last day. This can't be real. We had an appointment with Tiverton's to show our condo at 12:30pm so I had little time to finish up everything I needed to. It was a hectic morning but I tied up all the loose ends. At 12pm I was basically running out the door saying good bye. It was best that way as good byes suck and the few tears we all had were probably minimal compared to what they could've been if the goodbye was stretched out. Kathy and Dale were out which was probably a good thing because they would have made me cry the most. Lots of hugs and I was on my way. I ducked out quickly so I didn't have to see anyone outside the HR department - I didn't have time and the less people I had to see, the less tears I had to shed.

Last week, Frank took me out for lunch, then he took us all out to the Shoe Shop for a farewell dinner. Then Monday at work the girls & Jeff bought me a cake, and a beautiful Great Britain travel book and a Jacques Whitford duffle bag. Oh, and they made me cry! Even if they made me cry it was all so much appreciated and I love them for it. God, I'm going to miss them. We all worked so perfect together and everyone has such similar work ethics that it was a great environment to work in. I keep telling Frank I'll be back in 4 years!

St. Paddy's Day & Farewell Celebrations!

The NB crew arrived on Friday and spent the weekend with us; it was fantastic! We even had a visitor from Kingston; Gymps!

Friday night was somewhat tame, but Saturday was far from it! We all got geared up, ate lots of great food, drank lots of booze, carried on like fools, and had a great time with our close friends and family.

Destination Inspection Trip

We are finally approved for married quarters and a DIT is planned. This is only a few weeks late, but very typically for the way this preparation is going. Keith left Sunday night to go to England to do an inspection of a house he's been told he's not able to inspect?? No, it doesn't make sense. However, once he arrived Defence Housing was much more helpful and arranged for him to view the house. It's liveable he tells me via email. Oh Good! Sounds wonderful! God, what are we going to live in?

We're Married!!!

Oh My God! We got married today!! In our livingroom! By a JP!

Thursday, we found out that if I were to apply for a Visa on my own, I would not be considered a military spouse once I arrived in the UK to meet Keith, therefore I would not have any of the rights or privileges of one. This was not an option at all for either of us. So marriage it is! Oh My God!

Friday, I applied for our marriage license. It would be ready in 5 days - Tuesday February 27th. I called a JP, Mrs. Kimberlie Bell and she was happy to marry us that Tuesday evening at our place, 6pm.

I picked up our marriage license this afternoon! It says we're getting married???? Keith & I!?? I don't understand? We seem to have missed a few steps!

It was perfect! Aimee, one of my closest girlfriends who's known me longer than anyone else (since we were babies) was my witness, and Jamie was Keith's. My oldest brother Matthew was also there. We stood in the middle of our livingroom, held hands, and said our vows. It is still surreal as I think back on it. No rings were exchanged and my name has not changed. We are saving this for the day we have a wedding. Although I am very proud to be Mrs. Keith Esliger.

After we completed the paperwork, George & Julia arrived and the 7 of us went out for dinner at The Vines to celebrate. When we returned home, I called my grandparents to tell them we got married!

Marriage!? Who Said Anything about getting married!?

Keith arrived home from work today with an issue...

Keith - "We have a bit of a problem"
Mandy - "Am I going to cry?"
Keith - "I hope not"
Mandy - "Oh God"
Keith - "Well, there's an issue with your Visa application, it isn't going to be approved"
Mandy - "Okay" (with look of confusion and uneasiness on face)
Keith - "So, we have three options. One we don't take the posting, which is really not an option. Second, you apply for a Visa on your own and meet me in a few months. Third, we get married."
Mandy - (Gulp) "Ummmmm" (I really was at a loss for words at this point)

I had so many thoughts and emotions running through my head at this point that my mind was blank. No words were spoken, I just stared at Keith waiting for him to say something. We had quite a lenghty conversation (obviously) and by the time we went to bed we were laughing that we may have to get married. Laughing, because really there's no way we're gonna have to get married in a few days! This was not how we pictured it. This is not how we wanted it to be. We wanted the say, we wanted to plan it, we wanted a party, but that was all about to unravel...