Cheese Chips and Gravy @cheesechipsgravy - Tumblr Blog

Hahaha. This has nothing to do with England, but it describes our relationship perfectly.

Potential Luggage? Hahaha.

Canadian Thanksgiving!

As Bran said, what a week! I’m just starting another round of sickness. I woke up with NO voice, which makes things interesting when I’m working as a server. This is where my interpretive dancing can finally come to some use! Thank god I have the next two days off so I can just chill in bed.

Well. Maybe not. My mom has instructed me to make the turkey tomorrow. I repeat, my mom has put the future of our household into my hands. See, I’m not a very good cook. Actually, the word “I” and “cook” shouldn’t even be allowed in the same sentence. I can’t even make a slice of toast. YOU THINK I’M JOKING BUT I’M NOT. So, seeing as Brandon was talking about things to be thankful for, I’m thankful that today, being my apparent last day to live, was good. I spent 90% of it at work, but it was still a good day.

I’m also thankful for having a more than full time job. I spend more time at work than I do at home. The people I work with are becoming more familiar faces than my close friends and family, but thankfully they are all wonderful people!

My friends and family are more things i’m incredibly thankful for. Without them, I don’t know where I’d be right now. I’m thankful for Brandon and this experience we are going to be able to share together!!

I’m thankful for my cute puppy Peachy. She’s gotten me through a lot of tough things this past year, and no matter what she can always make me smile :)

Right now, my nose is thankful for lotion kleenexes. And I’m thankful for buckleys, no matter how hallucination like my dreams become. (seriously tho).

It’s bittersweet knowing that this year is a bunch of “lasts” for Brandon and I. Well, I guess not technically LASTS but lasts for a year!!! This is our last Canadian Thanksgiving until 2015 (WHAT?!?) And the next birthday I will get to celebrate won’t be until then either! Maybe Brandon and I can make a turkey together in England and have our own thanksgiving? HAHA JUST KIDDING I DON’T KNOW WHAT MURDER CHARGES ARE LIKE OVER THERE.

All in all, there’s a lot for me to be thankful for. I’m thankful for every experience I’ve had in life so far, no matter good or bad, as each and every one of them has taught me something. That’s why I’m so excited for England! It’s going to be such an incredible and life changing experience and I’m happy I get to share it with one of my best friends!

-xoxo Laura

Giving thanks.

What a week! I’m just coming to the end of my sickness. I lost 8 pounds in one day from being so sick. I’m pretty sure from always working and hardly time to eat like Laura said.

I’m giving thanks for losing weight (even in an unconventional way)

I’m giving thanks for my Gramma Heather, who’s allowed me to move in until I go to England to help save money and I’m giving thanks for her preparing every meal for me.

I’m not quite as far as Laura with saving because I had last month rent to pay before I moved out of my friends, and car insurance sneak up on me at the same.

I’m giving thanks for having a good paying job.

I’m giving thanks to my friend Judy who helped me out when I needed it most. And has always been there when I needed to talk and is a person who has already heard the song I’m listening too. Allowing me to always know I have advice when I needed it.

My next paycheque is 80% savings and the others will be some groceries and giving my Gramma some rent money regardless if she wants it or not. It so happens that in November I’ll have three paycheques so by the end of November I will have England money! WOOO! Then from then on after I will save up spending money and paying bills on time ;)

I’m giving thanks for being able to be presented with this opportunity.

My Gramma is always baking. ALWAYS. BAKING. She woke up last night from “heading to bed” two hours before because “she wanted to bake”. Now don’t think I’m complaining because I’m not. This house always smells like what I imagine heaven to smell like. Cookies. Heaven smells like cookies I’m sure of it. Well, cookies puppies and kitties and all baby animals.

I’m giving thanks for cookies and baby animals.

This weekend is Canadian Thanksgiving. I’m so excited, turkey. Delicious food. Pumpernickel bread. Pumpernickel bread dip. Turkey gravy.

I’m giving thanks for My Gramma and Mom because these two beautiful women, my rocks. Will be cooking this food.

One of the biggest downfalls to all this working is I don’t get to see any of my best friends Laura, Shonna and Katie, anywhere near as much as I used to. But I know it will work out and this will be one of the greatest experiences of my life with Laura.

I’m giving thanks for all of my friends and especially Laura because without her I wouldn’t think this even possible.

Happy thanksgiving everyone and count your blessings.

-Brandon ooxo

Dying. That is My Permanent State Now.

SOOOOO I thought this would be fun. No, I guess not exactly "fun," but I didn't think this was going to necessarily be a step towards death. I'm exhausted 24/7 now. Bran and I both are sick, Bran getting the much worse end of things, which I think is the direct result of us having no sleep, no time to eat and working constantly.

HOWEVER, as of right now I have enough money to afford England! THANK THE LAWDDD. Like it's 11 pm right now and i'm ready for bed. That's sad. I basically live in yoga pants and my work shirt. Not that I'm complaining. I BASICALLY HAVE NO LAUNDRY TO DO EVER THESE DAYS BECAUSE I WEAR ONE SINGLE FREAKING OUTFIT. The other day I went out and purchased more yoga pants. How sad is that? I'm pretty sure the cashiers at these stores I buy these things from think i'm perpetually breaking up with people. Oh heyyyy, just getting my 14th pair of yoga pants and a tub of ice cream. Later bros. Peace out. See you next week.

Honestly though, WHO CARES BECAUSE IN 7 MONTHS I WILL BE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY WUT WUTTTTT. And I can wear my yoga pants over there and eat ice cream and be judged by people with cute accents.

xoxo Laura

Work Hardening is Over.

I just started a general labour position recently where I work a mandatory 45-48 hours a week and overtime is offered often. I'm rarely working under 55 hours a week. In my health and safety training I learned about "work hardening" Essentially your body is adjusting to all the muscles you're using often now, or how you're using often used muscles in different ways. I'm happy to say that I'm basically done with it and my body has pretty well adjusted. Thank. Goodness. Because I was tired. Thinking about all the upcoming opportunities we have really helps me get through. It helps that my team at work is mostly my age and super fun and have even invited me out to their weekly fish bowl Fridays. Heck yes I'm going! But not next week because it's LAURAS BIRTHDAY!!!! Super fun :D Time is going by so fast already but not fast enough!!!! Goodnight! -Brandon ooxo

#youthmobilityvisa #travelling #abroad #travellingabroad #tourist #UK #Engalnd #Birmingham #London #Manchester #workersholidayvisa #visa #howto #britishembassy #newjob #work #stress #workstress #worthit #money

ARE YOU HAPPY NOW BRANDON!?

K so. I’m more or less being forced to write something on this blog right now by Brandon who made it clear last night that he wasn’t impressed by my lack of motivation to write anything on here. That could possibly be the result of the fact that I’m working two jobs to afford this trip and I am literally exhausted at the end of every day. Or maybe it’s for another reason. Highly doubtful tho ;)

So yes, two jobs to afford this trip. SO IT BETTER DAMN WELL BE WORTH IT. That’s all I’m saying. I’m the kind of person who hates waking up early. And by early I mean anytime before noon. And the fact that I’ve had to wake up at 5:30 IN THE MORNING to start work says something about how motivated I am to make THE MULAH to go on this trip.

I’m seriously so pumped about going to England for a year. Getting to live in another country, let alone even visit another country, is an opportunity a lot of people don’t get. I’m excited to experience life somewhere else for an entire year. I’m also really nervous. I’m leaving all my friends and family back here and having no face to face contact with any of them for a WHOLE. FREAKING. YEAR. SCARY OR WHAT!? It especially doesn’t help that I’m the kind of person who gets homesick. So this should be interesting. I’m going to miss everyone here so much! AND WANT TO KNOW WHAT’S THE WORST?! NO FREAKING POUTINE IN ENGLAND. YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME. Like I feel like that should be a staple, like bread. I will make poutine happen in England. I’m not kidding. I can’t go 365 days without cheese and gravy on my french fries or chips or whatever you cute English people call them over there.

-Laura xoxo

#england #poutine #moving #travel #country #scary #early #mornings #job

Better Be Worth It!

Ugh! So now that I’ve got myself a good paying full time job with guaranteed overtime. Coming up for the money for England will be as easy as explaining a colour without using the name of the colour in you’re explanation!

Yes I should be happy that I have a full time job that pays well to boot, and I am. I’m just grumpy because I like to sleep past 5:45 am.

After I’m done training I will be on straight afternoons. PRAISE!

Laura and I are working 50+ hours a week and we’re definitely feeling it. Hopefully after these first few weeks of work hardening we will be less grumpy.

Silver linings are my motivation. Debt free before we leave and spending money on top of that. I am thankful but IM TIRED TOO!

So now that I’ve vented and kept you guys in the loop. I’m off to bed!

P.S. Laura and I will be updating the steps to start this journey yourself at a later date likely in a separate blog. If you have questions NOW. Please feel to message us on here we check the tumblr every couple of days.

-Brandon ooxo

#travel #abroad #work #overseas #traveling #youthmobilityvisa #workersholidayvisa #visa #workabroad #fun #money #friends #life #journey #hardwork #stress #help #England #London #Birmingham #Manchester

Reality Sinking In.

So up until today Laura and I have been reveling in the thought of this upcoming journey; staying up late sending each other pictures of England sights, discussing how we will both be 25 when we come back home, how we will “LITERALLY BE AWAY FROM EVERYTHING WE KNOW FOR A WHOLE YEAR!!!” -Laura.

Today while at the mall we took the opportunity to speak to a travel agency about some basic questions; when should we get our Youth Mobility Visas (formerly workers holiday visa). The best time to buy plane tickets etc…

He shot back with answers almost immediately convinced us he really knew what he was talking about!! Awesome right? No.

He had us convinced we were too late to do this journey. He cruelly had us convinced that we were maybe a little stupid for not knowing this stuff and leaving it “so late”.

Laura: Do a lot of people do this? Traveling Expert: ….. Well are you teachers? Laura: No. This is where it gets to the point we were overly stressed with him and believed all of the garbage flying out of his mouth Traveling Expert: Oh well uh… Here let me print this off for you…. Just because you’re asking questions I’m not really aloud to answer. Confused we took the piece of paper he wrote two websites on. And got in the car and drove home while Laura theorized how we’ve lost our chance.

Our advice to you is never ever go to a travel agency and just go to some websites we will list for you.

Www.endlesslychanginghorizon.com A blog from people who have done this whole thing before, very helpful.

Www.international.gc.ca Www.visafirst.com

All info you need is on those websites

So we came home and attempted to go on the websites give not to us from the Travel Expert and they all would not load. Dead ends. So we vowed to never talk to them again. We scoured the Internet until we found those websites and found that everything was there for us, we had not lost our opportunity, we have plenty of time still!! We are going to England!

Hope you all were snuggled up for that novel! But now you are up to date with Laura and I! Feel free to ask questions if you have them!

-Brandon ooxo