Ripping the bandaid off

I hear this faint beeping sound that quickly gets louder and louder. I suddenly realise its the dreaded alarm clock going off and it brought me out of those really deep sleeps. One minute I was dreaming about taking on an army of ninjas to save the world and then next I am lying in my new home in Romford at 5:00am in the morning! Yep, you read right...5:00am! This is the time Dean gets up to get to work by 7:00. He is sweet to say "I will try and be quiet", but once he is up and I get disturbed by him coming in and out the room a few times then I can't get back to sleep and I may as well get up. 

Also, since I am not working at the moment and Dean is helping me out by not asking for rent money yet, I have taken the role of a bit of a housewife, even making his lunch for him every morning. I know, please don't cringe with worry, ladies. This will not last once I have a job! And again, being the honeymoon stage I don't mind doing it.

I watched this show once called "making couples happy", as it was all about how to make relationships and marriage work, and since I LOVE psychology and what makes people tick it's been one of my favourite shows. In it it talks about people's 'Love Language', which simply means what actions or words shows you that someone loves you. For example, for a lot of woman it would be their man doing chores around the house for them that makes them feel loved, and for a lot of guys it might be their partner doing the washing, cooking dinner for them or just simply having sex with them that makes them feel loved. 

Anyways, while I have the time and can do it I love that I can make lunch for Dean and do chores around the house for him, because It makes Dean feel loved and appreciated (well it better!) and I feel good about making Dean feel that way. I guess his love language to me is his unwavering support and patience while I set my life up here. He never complains about having to pay for stuff, he always supports my ideas in what I want to do for a job, he doesn't have any expectations on what I should be doing with my time while I don't have a job and he never asks "what have you done about getting a job today". He even went to the point of surprising me with an iPad so that I could speak to everyone back home and write my blog easily. I wouldn't have cared if an IPad was worth only $2, it was the reason he gave it to me that just makes me know I am so with the right guy for me. (Sorry, you may need the sick bucket again :S) 

As I sat their on the couch of my new 2nd home in England and watched Dean walk out the door I smiled and tried to keep calm by just gluing myself into a TV show called 'One Tree Hill'. I would let all their drama consume my thoughts so that I didn't have to think about the fact that I was now on my own :S (not the best idea as now I am addicted to the bloody show!).

Well I couldn't procrastinate any further...after 2 hours of silly daytime TV and not being able to handle a 3rd I decided to venture out and explore my new home town. 

As I jumped in the broken shower over bath thingy I realised that while holding the shower head yourself (as the bit to connect it to the wall was broken) might be ok in summer, it's going to be a bitch in winter when it's freezing and you have to keep putting the shower head down to apply soap, shampoo and conditioner.I remember over FaceTime last winter Dean saying how bloody cold this place gets...he said they nicknamed it the 'Icebox'! That says it all doesn't it :S To be honest, at the time he told me I chuckled a little bit picturing him trying to shower when it's negative degrees outside, not thinking that it was going to be me one day.... I don't care how much it cost, I am definitely going to have to fix that before winter! Especially since I also put the shower head down wrong and water went everywhere! Ah well, one of those 'annoying things now, but will be a funny story later' moments. or just straight up funny for you lot reading as it wasn't you ;P Don't you just love how us humans love to laugh at other people's expense... God we are bastards ;P 

I decided to dress really nice and put some effort into my hair, makeup and outfit. It's amazing the effort we can put in when we have ALOT of time on our hands...and are trying to procrastinate venturing into the town centre. I don't know why I was so nervous about it. No one was going to be looking at me. I would just be another of many faces on the street. However, in my head i felt like everyone would be looking at me thinking to themselves "she isnt from here". 

As I walked out the door the adrenaline kicked up about 50 notches! My heart was going and i had tingles all over my body. The funny thing is, I didn't want to get noticed, but by bloody dressing up to the nines made me get bloody noticed! I haven't got ticket on myself, but if you can picture Frankston sort of area, where no one really dresses up, and then someone walks through fully dressed up - you're going to notice them! 

I decided to check out the bank, how to get the Internet and the gyms! By the time I got back to the safty of home and not having achieved anything but going round in circles, I was BUGGERED! The adrenaline had worn off and i could relax...Also, I didn't realise how hard it was going to be getting everything set up and going...the bank said I need a bill or something with my current address on it to open up an account, but then I need a bank account to set up a gym membership or to sign up for the Internet, which if I sign up, I would get something with my address on it! POP! (That was my head exploding). 

I climbed into bed as the thought of having to sort all that out did my head in and I just wanted to switch off. However, as soon as I did there was a knock on the door. It was Dean's Boss's wife's friends (did you follow that? :P). She just moved in next door and wanted to come say hi. She was lovely and we chatted for about an hour. When she left I hit the palm of my hand on my head as I didn't offer her a cup of tea! SHIT! In England it's rude not to offer a drink or a tea when someone pops in...and if its the same in Australia then double crap, as I am not only the worst hostess here in England, but in Oz too! I quickly messaged apologising and, of corse, she was fine with it and told me not to be silly..phew! 

I stared at the door, but nothing...it was 6:01pm and he finished at 6:00, where is he? That was how desperate I was to see Dean. Mostly coz I was bored as I had been watching TV for the past 3 hours and I think my eyes had gone square, but also coz I couldn't wait to see him! 

6:07, he walks in with a massive grin on his face and says "y'alright, baby?". And I was all right. I had overcome my fear of venturing out on my own, and I knew the next time it would get easier and easier, and I was one step closer to setting my life up here in England...even if just a small step ;). 

From one home to the next

You know when you want something so bad that you get really scared that something is going to happen to stop it? It's irrational, but that doesn't stop the horrible dreams about things happening to stop you from getting to where you want to be, or in my case who you want to be with... 

As I opened my eyes on that first morning in England I realised that nothing happened...I was were I wanted to be and who I waited so long to be with...it sounds sopping, and I totally understand if you need a bucket right now, but waking up with Dean after a night out knowing that I never have to wake up without him for more then a month ever again was amazing....event though he did snore and smell a bit like booze (definitely honeymoon faze!). 

After 'sleeping in' until 9:30 (I know, not a sleep in for some!) Dean and I got ready to head down to our second home, Romford. A town just 30 minuet train ride out of London (the second love of my life), which I found out is a lot bigger then little Sandy, and also includes a H&M, Topshop, River Island and Primark! If you don't know what these shops are, then do yourself a favour and google it...or if you're a guy, then hide all devices your ladies can access the Internet, as these shops now sell online :S 

Anyways, Dean and I headed off on the 1.5 hour drive down to Romford. As we nearly got there dean gasps in horror...(oh know what's he done?!) "I don't have the bloody keys for the Romford house!".....oh....fucking....no..... 

So if you haven't done the maths already that is a 3 hour round trip to grab them from the sandy house.... Again, I just laughed.... That's the only thing you can do in those situations I guess.... Dean has done another Dean'o. 

With a quick call to Dean's boss we are in luck! Which always seems to happen with us two... We do some really dumb things, but we always seem to get away with it....knock wood! 

Well we met Dean's boss at this pub in Romford where they were holding a mod meet! :-O Mods in their natural habitat! It was amazing....there were so many scooters there! However, no actual mods as they were all old scruffy men... Well, except for my boy, who always looks smart and rocks the sideburns :) 

After a drink in the sun with Dean's boss and then grabbing some supplies from Tescos we were off to our second home! 

We pulled up to this little house which the English call a Bungalow, which says how small the place was....but a nice small...more cozy then small. Perfect for a couple starting out and it had everything we need. 

Dean had been worried that I wouldn't like it as it was old, small and a little run down. However, I think that it had charm, and to be honest I didn't care where we lived as long as there was a comfy bed, warm water, heating, internet and a TV (Again, ask me how i feel about this in 3 months)! Plus it was only a walk into town which would make it perfect for gym, work, train to London and SHOPPING AT H&M!! Hehe. 

That afternoon Dean and I made amazing burritos and ate them on the floor of our living room while we watched what we later found out was the last set of Wimbledon with Andy Murray and Novak! Dean is so cute how he gets so into a sport and he really feels the emotions that come with it...I just can't seem to get as into it. It think its coz my family and I never had a team we supported and never got to develop those strong feelings for a team where you feel like you are apart of a team and if they lose you feel like you lose... Deans one true love is Spurs, his football (Scoccar) team! He said that when its football season it's really going to show me his dark and crazy side....I might just go to the gym or go to a friends then and leave him to it.... 

Well, as you all know, he won!!! Dean and I jumped up and screamed and did this gay highfived in delight!

I never realised it, but these are the moments I have been looking forward to... Not that I got to enjoy such a life event while eating burritos on the living room floor with my boyfriend, but I got to enjoy it with my bestfriend! 

The thing about Dean and I is that we 'get' each other and have always been able to make each other laugh... I am not with him because I feel I need to have a boyfriend or because I THINK he MIGHT be the guy for me. I am with him because he makes me laugh like no one else, he loves the same activities as me, he is so caring, he is the most modest person I know, he is ambitious, he doesn't follow the crowd, he shares the same morals and values as i do, he is a family man, good with money, he is the most giving person I know, he truly loves me for me and everyone in my life and most of all....he is a massive weirdo, just like me ;P I can honestly say that I wouldn't change a thing about him.... Even is Dean'os :P 

I think it was also the right timing...when i met Dean the 2nd time i knew who my most authentic self was, i was happy with myself and my life. The 2nd time you ask? yep, thats the crazy thing! You know those English boys Jane and I met in Thailand, well one of those was...you guessed it...Dean! All I remember saying to him was hi when we met in Thailand as I was tired that night and left early. I had a boyfriend then so nothing would have happened anyways, but I am so glad it didn't as I was so different back then (superficial, a little selfish and immature) and I know we wouldn't have worked out. It amazing how timing can have so much to do with things working out... Have you ever had that? Where you feel like you are in the right place at the right time...or that things that happened in your past have brought you to being the person you are and leads you to that someone special or a life changing event like getting that job you didn't know you wanted..... or leading you to living in England with and English boyfriend and experiencing a life you didn't even know you wanted until it happened. I guess that a lot of people do feel that way, as the saying "everything happens for a reason" exists. 

Dean doing the washing up in our Romford kitchen. Well trained eh ;P 

Love at first sight? Well, not quite in our story

December 2010 has to be one of the pinnacles of my life to date I recon. There are not too many moments in your life where everything seems to be going right and you have absolutly no worries or stresses in your life. Usually there is always something that isn't going quite right, and i find it funny that as humans we seem to always hoan in on that one negative thing rather then the many positive things happening to us in that moment. And usually that one negative thing is what I like to call a 'first world problem'. Something that when you really think about it, it's really not that big of a deal. I try to not dramatise things and put things into perspective, but sometimes, like everyone I guess, I get swept up in the stress of everyday life and, I'm not going to lie, I feel a little sorry for myself. Like if you are having a fight with a friend, having a stressful time at work, you don't get those concert tickets you really wanted, you didn't get the house you wanted...well, you get the picture. 

ANYWAYS, back to my pinicle. I was at a time in my life where I was doing well in my job, I was about to move into the house that I had built with two amazing friends, I was with a nice guy who treated me well and I was about to head off on an amazing 3 week holiday to England to visit one of my best friends, JH. Who had been living in England with her now boyfriend, CM, for 18 long months. Haha, I guess that I underestimated the balls my girlfriend had! 

JH had decided that that English boy she met in thailand was just too perfect to give up, so she decided to move to England and see what could happen...and thank god she had the guts to do it, coz they really are perfect for each other. 

When things finally finished up with what I would call a toxic relationship with my ex of 2 years about 5 months before my trip to England my girlfriend, JH, said that there was one of CH's best friends that she thinks would be perfect for me and to PLEASE stay single until then as it could just be a fun holiday fling, but half joking/half seriously said that she highly doubted I would be...I am embarrassed to say, I was really that bad :S 

As she, and everyone else, predicted...I was dating someone by the time England rolled around. God, if you were betting on me for getting in a relationship my odds would be shocking....as I was "a sure thing" as they say. 

It was crazy though, as JH's Mum ended up going to visit her just before I got there as JH had an opporation and needed looking after. While she was there Dean bought a get well card for JH and JH's Mum said after he left that JH should definitely set me up with Dean as we would be a great couple! 

I have known JH's family for over 6 years and I feel like they are my second family, so with JH's mum saying that she thought we would make a great match it meant something, as she really knew me. 

It's crazy how your loved ones just know when someone is right for you... I have had it in the past where my parents haven't liked my boyfriend, or liked them, but not for me. They would never say that they don't like a boyfriend, but you can of course tell by the way they act and what they say, or don't say, after they leave. However, its funny when after you break up they say "We didnt really like him for you anyways". Why didnt anyone tell me this earlier?! haha. I know.... coz i had to find that out for myself. I guess that's how come when my family met Dean for the first time It 100% confirmed that I was onto something pretty bloody great. 

It may have confirmed it straight away when my family met him, however it took me nearly 3 months of friendship before I realised it for the first time.... 

When I finally got to England at 7:00pm on a Saturday night we decided that the only way to beat jetlag was to keep me up until really late so that I would sleep through until morning and wake up and be halfway to being on England time. So, keeping me up until late only meant one thing....we were off to the local pub!! 

As CM didnt want to be the only guy hanging around with two girls that barly drew breath when together, he invited his mates to come around to come with us to the pub.

CM and JH said that I had met Dean before in Thailand, but I could not remember for the life of me...but when he turned up...I still couldn't remember! 

Even though I had a boyfriend at the time I still wanted to make a good impression on all JH and CM's friends, so I was actually a little nervous when I heard the door open and Dean walked in. I don't know what I was expecting, but when he walked in I saw this white, skinny guy with massive sideburns and a bright blue Adidas jacket. I thought the guy from oasis had just walked in the room. Instantly I felt at ease, as he wasn't intimidating at all and greated me with a lovely English "How are ya?". 

As CM didnt want to hang around just JH and I he had wrangled in Dean to hang out with us the whole 3 weeks i was there. since I was going to be spending 3 weeks with this guy I was glad that even though a little shy at first, he seemed nice enough and I didn't fancy him at all, so I wouldn't be all shy and alkward around him.....I could just be myself. 

My arrival in the UK 2010 - I accidentally wrote Mr on my ticket instead of Miss...

One our first (awkward) photos together...