...The one good thing about writing a blog every two weeks is that I am guaranteed to have something interesting to say! Firstly, however - if you haven't read on facebook - I bought my wedding dress!!! The massive sale I thought was going to be a nuthouse breeding bridezillas, was instead a big hotel conference room FULL of dresses organized by size, plenty of helpful people, lovely classical music, and just a handful of brides! No crazy dress snatching, hair pulling, or outrageously prices gowns! Most dresses were designer made and on huge discount! I paid £595 all in for a £2000 dress!! I ended up going on my own (please don't feel sorry for me! It was a great decision!) It's not that I don't love my friends and appreciate their opinions - but this way I knew that if I picked a dress it would be because I loved it, not because my friends said it looked beautiful on me. They say when you find the dress, you know. I DID KNOW!!! I only tried on two. Both were lovely, but the second one was the winner! I did get some pictures but I definitely can't post them on here or else someone will see! Leave me a comment if you want to see and I'll email you a pic!

I also ordered my wedding invitations. I did think about making them - but that idea is long gone! I just don't seem to have the time and besides, aside from our parents, most people will likely chuck them out!! I got a good price and since it's a small wedding I didn't order very many! Hopefully those will be ready soon and I can get on that! I know it's a bit early but the time is just going to fly by so quickly I don't want to be late!

Last week was also Lizzie's week for Come Dine with Me. It was absolutely delicious! Totally meat free, but still so good! She made one of the best soups I've ever had in the world! Pea and Pesto with Pine nuts - amazing! (Mom, you don't even taste the peas!) We had a great night in at her lovely flat and enjoyed all of her lovely cooking together. Jane's night is next week and I'm sure it's going to be wonderful! Jane is a music teacher, but is also an opera singer! Her evening is themed "A Night at the Opera" and I know wine tasting is involved! Thank goodness next Friday is the last day of school and we wont have to be too awake for it! Speaking of good dinners - Barret took me to one of London's most posh restaurants called "The OXO Tower" on Monday night! The food was delicious, the service impeccable, and the view across the Thames was incredible. We got dressed up to celebrate Valentine's Day a week early and even though it was probably too rich for our blood it was still really nice! Thanks Barret for taking me, even if it wasn't exactly your cup of tea - I had a great time with you!

I've been hitting the gym a lot and trying to get back to the fitness level I was before I moved to this lazy country. Do you know that out of all of Europe, British women are the most overweight?? Obviously Americans beat them, but still - I look around the gym and there aren't really any girls that look like they do back home. IF they do - all I have to do is look at their gym gear and see "Lululemon" to realize they are from N. America! Girls who are naturally slim, like Eastern European, Russian, or French girls are never seen at the gym - they don't have to work out!!! I'll just keep carrying on, avoiding the pub, and with spring around the corner we will be out on the common playing games in no time!

The interviews we had two weeks ago went really well. We interviewed with one lady for a bunch of different international schools that are all affiliated. We won't likely be going to Dubai, however, depending on the political situation in Egypt, we might be heading to Cairo! There is a massive school there that teaches k-12 so we would be in the same school, me teaching Primary Art and Barret teaching secondary. They've said they have a position for me, but are still working on something for Barret. We are not going to hold our breath on this one because so many things need to fall into place, but whatever happens happens and maybe it will all work out! Otherwise, we are still on the lookout for other possibilities! We've been looking into teaching in the NWT and in the middle of nowhere Canada but there is SO much red tape and things you have to go through to be considered. I was given a list of contacts who I could send my resume to - mailing addresses! I searched online for ages to try to find email addresses... you'd think being in the middle of nowhere these people would rather use electronic formats... nope - need to post it snail mail style from London. Sheesh. If anyone knows any place that we can go teach - please let me know!!!!!!!!

One week tomorrow before we are off (again) to Ireland! I am really looking forward to this trip (and have been for months now...) So unless situations like a freak snowstorm, volcanic ash cloud, or an airline strike happen - nothing should stop us this time! We are looking into trips for our upcoming breaks as well. We have nearly the entire month of April off because of Easter (normally a two week holiday) and the Royal Wedding so we should be going somewhere! We are thinking about sailing along the coast of Croatia either in April or our June break. It might be the death of me, but we both really want to do it. I will take plenty of drugs with me and might end up being a zombie - as long as I'm not puking it should be fine! Everyone keeps saying "it's all in your head". Go fly a kite! We are also thinking about going to a Scandinavian country - Sweden maybe. There are so many places to go and with our time (and money!) dwindling it's a bit scary thinking we might not get it all done!

Thank goodness it's Friday - roll on the weekend!!! Barret's head of department, Kat, has a birthday party tomorrow night that we plan on going to so that should be fun. Otherwise, it's a lovely weekend of having a little sleep in, cooking, going to the gym, and hopefully if the weather is good, some frisbee on the common!

I hope all of you are happy and healthy,
All my love,
Amy