Monday 1 April 2013

A = Adventure




I am starting the A-Z blog challenge with the word ADVENTURE because that is what I am on right now!




On 15th January 2013, I left Nottingham in the UK and moved to Irvine, California with my husband, Richard and cat Minnie. I left behind my family, friends and my job of 15 years to start a new life in the sunshine. I call it ‘Our California Adventure’ and have lots of photographs to show what we have been up to since we arrived.




We moved to SoCal due to my husband’s work and we are planning on staying for a few years. Its strange moving to a new country and starting a new life but we knew if we didn’t do it, we would always be thinking ‘What if?’ and life is way too short.

After a couple of months I think we have just about settled in. We have explored Orange County, visited lots of beautiful beaches, driven down Pacific Coast Highway, been whale watching from Dana Point and eaten at lots of nice (and expensive) restaurants. I’ve got used to driving an automatic car on the wrong side of the road and we have found a nice house to live in on a lovely complex in Oak Creek. I think Minnie (the cat) has found it more difficult than us as he is no longer allowed to go out and has become a house cat.

I am currently looking for a job so that I can work too and have some sort of routine (and more money)....other than sitting by the pool and enjoying the beautiful weather! That’s definitely one thing I don’t miss about the UK where it has been bitterly cold and snowing since we left. I’ve managed to keep in touch with family and friends using Skype, email and Facebook.


At the moment, we are enjoying our adventure and I hope it continues.....watch this space x

19 comments:

  1. Make sure you visit the La Brea Tarpits. I grew up in California, and that was an awesome thing to see. I'm hoping to go back later this year and see it again.

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    1. Hey Linda, thanks for the recommendation. Just checked out la brea tarpits and will be planning a trip soon! Is there anywhere else not to be missed?

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  2. Here's an "A" for AWESOME! We had a similar experience a few years back when we picked up and moved to the foreign country of New York City. I was scanning through old pictures and journal entries, and man! I miss the crazy and fun of the new experience...but it's also good to be settled. Enjoy the sunshine, eh?

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    1. Hey crystal, I love the word AWESOME...it's my new favourite word since we got to the USA, (i quite like the word JERK) too....Moving to NY must have been cool, I visited a few years ago and loved it. There are so many places in America to go.

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  3. Adventure is a perfect word to launch the A-Z! And Linda' right. Do not miss those bubbling tarpits.

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  4. p.s. During the A-Z it's best to turn off those security code things.

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    1. Ooh, not sure how to do that, I will google it now! Thanks for the advice and checking out my blog.

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  5. Welcome to America and here's wishing you an amazing adventure in California! We lived on the Central coast for seven years, near Santa Barbara. Now we are in Wyoming, and I really miss the ocean.

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  6. Sounds like an epic adventure!

    Look forward to the rest of your challenge posts! Please replace Captcha with comment moderation to receive more comments.

    Damyanti
    Co-host, A to Z Challenge 2013

    Twitter: @AprilA2Z
    #atozchallenge

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    1. Thanks Daymanti....Ive changed some settings so hopefully this will help with comments

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  7. Hey Rowena, 'awesome' post for A; I think you're pretty brave moving half way across the world. My Hubby and I went to Australia on our honeymoon and talked about moving there but it just seems like such a big task - how'd you manage it? How do you deal with the homesickness? How have you gone about making new friends? Sorry for all the questions, I'm just so interested because the pull of 'Down Under' is growing stronger! Good luck with the rest of the challenge x

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    1. Hi Laura, glad you like my post! It was very scary moving so far away from the UK and family/friends but we kind of decided that if hubby got the job he applied for then it was meant to be. We had visited california before but not Irvine where we are based so we did'nt really know what to expect. It was easier with my hubby having a job to go to because the company he works for sorted out our recolation. They shipped our furniture over from the UK, bought the plane tickerts, paid for an apartment for us to live in for a few weeks and for a temporary hire car. They also sorted out moving the cat over so all we have to do was get our house rented out in the UK, pack our bags and get on the plane. There were a lot of tears and leaving dos before we left home but Skype and Facebook make this easier. I think I speak to my mum more now on Skype than I ever did back home. I've not really got homesick yet....making friends is difficult, especially with me not working yet. We have lovely neighbours where we are now and I would say they are my first real friends. If I were you and you really want to move to Australia, you should try and sort a job out (for at least one of you) before you go. If you have a house in the UK, rent this out so you always have a base to return to if things dont work out. Basically if you dont try something you will never know. Life is what you make it, you gotta take risks sometimes! x

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  8. Welcome to California! I am blogging the whole month about the state. You have landed in a lovely place (albeit expensive) and there is a lot to see in your area. I envy you with this great adventure as I have lived in California all my life. I will enjoy reading your blog.

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    1. Thanks for the welcome Ann, I will make sure I follow your blog to read all about this AWESOME state.

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  9. How exciting to have traveled so far. I look forward to reading about your adventures to come :)

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  10. Glad you're enjoying California, the sun came out today here in the UK, but I don't think it will last long :). I hope California continues to be great for you, my god-daughter's family moved out there from the UK a few years ago and they seem to be having a great time.

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    1. Hey Natasha. I just spoke to my mum in the Midlands, she said they'd had a little more snow but it was sunnier later on. I am enjoying California so far but miss the UK lots, even the snow!

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  11. Wow! What a great start to your lifelong adventure. And I'm loving your blog header.

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