Best wishes my friend

[rebeccajo 14]

Well, if I remember correctly, Mary has flown out today to Tom in London. Her house is sold, her possessions are shipped, and very soon she'll be in their new little house in Gravesend! All the separation will be over - this time Mary it's for good!

I know their visajourney didn't turn out like they planned. But when true love finds you, well then there is always a way to make dreams come true.

Mary, I know we didn't get to talk before you left. But we will soon. Get some rest from your flight and then check in with us okay?

Give Tom a big hug for us. You've both got a brand new life now. Enjoy it - you deserve it!

Edited September 2, 2006 by rebeccajo

[Daisy 0]

Wishing you both all the happiness in the world. Ive been saying a quiet little prayer for you guys, you have overcome more than the basic set of visa challenges and are an inspiration to so many.

Have a wonderful re-union and a long and happy life together.

daisy

[cheeky^Wolf 0]

I wasn't aware of their situation and have just read what they have been through. My goodness what a nightmare it's been for them.

I wish you both much happiness and hope you settle in well to your new life. Being apart from family is never easy but you have to do what you have to do... and webcams are a great invention!

I used to work in Gravesend, there's alot of nice places around there.

Best of luck to you both

Helen

[Welshcookie 17]

All the best to you both!!...I know things haven't worked out the way you expected and I admire the way you have dealt with things....

WELCOME TO THE UK MARY!!!!

[gwenneh 7]

Welcome home, Mary!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Good luck, Mary and Tom.

[Baileyj96 0]

Mary and Tom,

We are thinking about you and wish you both the best. I know all of this was so hard for you. Hopefully you can arrive and just enjoy some rest and relaxation. Take some time to just enjoy each other and be together. No more stress or disappointment.

Vicky

[Fandango 1,440]

Mary & Tom....man you two have been thru the ringer! Congratulations for this new step in your lives & I wish you both the best of what life has to offer. You both are a wonderful example of when there's a will, there's a way!

Lots of !

[wherezdabearz 1]

Mary & Tom

Wishing you all the best

Alison

[beetee4ever 0]

I hope you had a safe flight and a happy reunion.

I wish you and Tom the best of luck from now on and lots of love and happiness

[mary&tom 0]

Well, if I remember correctly, Mary has flown out today to Tom in London. Her house is sold, her possessions are shipped, and very soon she'll be in their new little house in Gravesend! All the separation will be over - this time Mary it's for good!

I know their visajourney didn't turn out like they planned. But when true love finds you, well then there is always a way to make dreams come true.

Mary, I know we didn't get to talk before you left. But we will soon. Get some rest from your flight and then check in with us okay?

Give Tom a big hug for us. You've both got a brand new life now. Enjoy it - you deserve it!

Thanks for all the good wishes everyone! I was in the air when you started this thread. It has been an extremely hectic week and I am exhausted.

I had to be ready for the shippers on Tuesday (had to stay up all night), turned over possession of the house to the new owners on Wednesday ( was moving out as they were moving in which got rather confusing - ended up just throwing things into the cases, boxes, and car so I could get out), finished up alot of in town business on Thursday, and finally packed the luggage and flew out on Friday. Literally closed the last case as it was time to leave for the airport. Even though I have shipped things by sea, I still needed a third piece of checked luggage. Luckily the extra baggage is allowed to be as heavy as 70 pounds instead of the normal 50. Mine was 69.5! LOL! The other two bags were 43 and 49 pounds. I could have taken 8.5 more pounds of stuff! Friday I was just throwing things into a pile to leave behind or I would have needed a fourth case. Some of it I will ask my daughter to bring to me if she visits. The rest of it can be given away. There are a few things that I realize would have fit into that underweight case but too late now.

I left tons of stuff for the new owners of my house. I left behind furniture, my stereo, kitchen equipment, a computer monitor, printer and scanner among other things. The young couple who bought the house were quite happy. I had sold quite a few things, had given plenty to goodwill etc., given much to various family members, and had thrown away 6-12 trash bags of stuff per week since my return in May. Thats what happens when you live in a 2000 square foot (plus full basement) house for 30 years! At least thats what happens if packrats live there. I am actually lucky that the new owners were happy for me to leave things behind. Some people would have wanted it totally cleared out. That would have taken another month or two.

Security at the Detroit airport was stressful. I was chastised for not having my laptop out of my carryon bag. I didn't know. I have never traveled with a laptop, I was just trying to get it here. After going through the normal security checkpoints, all bags were searched again just before boarding... near the boarding area.

Anyway, after all that I was relieved that the flight was actually quite pleasant... other than not being able to sleep of course. There was a young man in the seat next to me who helped alot.. put my carry on in the overhead bin etc. The food was ok and I didn't get quite as motion sick as I did when I came here in November. I have discovered that it helps me to keep my eyes shut the entire time that the plane is descending, landing, and taxiing. Of course I am one who gets motion sick from elevators! lol!

The POE at Gatwick (London) was so much better than last time. Last time I think I was very close to being turned away. A woman traveling alone for twelve weeks, no job, no money.... the girl was definitely suspicious. She asked so many questions. This time I had a proper visa and all went well. After picking up my bags and wrestling them onto a trolly (with the help of the skiniest guy I ever saw) i walked right through the "nothing to declare" area. As far as I can tell my bags were never opened or searched.. which is just as well...they would have been unable to get them closed again. One bag had a photo printer and three hard drives in it among other things! I have one of the drives (external firewire) working right now. I took the other two drives out of my ancient retired pentium 166 and brought them along so I can pull some data off them. I didn't have any time to work with that old PC. I had planned to. Now it will be disposed of minus the drives. I actually did boot it up for a day after my main PC was shipped. That was actually an nice little machine that old pentium.

When I finally entered the waiting area I saw Tom rush past the barriers with the biggest smile on his face and I got the biggest hug It feels so good to finally be home.. to finally be together again. I could easily have just stayed here in May and never gone back had that been allowed. Going back did make things more difficult as I had to actually say goodbye to the kids and grandkid. I spent the evening Thursday at my son's place and then spent the night and all day Fridayat my daughers place. My little four year old granddaughter gave me a goodnight kiss Thursday night on her way to bed and said "have a good trip to London Grandma Mary." As she turned to go to her room I was unable to stop the tears but she didn't see them.

Tom had to work night shift last night and tonight but we had some time to relax in the afternoon first. Starting tomorrow (Monday) he has a week off. I am so exhausted having only slept 4 of the past 6 nights. Jet lagged as well... it's definitely more difficult coming this direction.

So... now... 16 months after we first filed the K1, 19 months after we first knew we wanted to be together permanently, we finally are. I wouldn't wish this difficult a journey on anyone but perhaps, like the pain of childbirth, it will all fade. We plan to marry as soon as the system here will let us. I think we have to wait 7 days to register and then 15 more to marry.

Yes, we both have a brand new life now. We plan to enjoy it and yes, we do deserve it!

mary

[gimygirl 0]

[TracyTN 237]

Best wishes, Mary!!!!!!!

[rebeccajo 14]

As I sat here reading this to Wes (as he listened to BBC radio online) all I could do was smile and choke back tears.

Mary, you are a dear friend! I'm so very happy for you and Tom. This is the life you were meant to have - to be with someone who loves and cherishes you dearly.....

In my minds eye I can see the London skyline. And I have the photo of the Thames you sent me. In many ways I envy you - to live together with the man you love in a country so full of culture and rich history. But most of all, I'm just soooo very happy for you, to be with him at last, and to know that this time, it's forever.

[govols 1]

Mary,

I am so happy for you guys! Best wishes!

Karen