We’ve asked our visa application case officer’s permission for Matty to apply for a tourist visa. Our thinking is that at least then we can spend time together whilst our application is being processed. (It’s miserable to be apart for so long.) It means we’ll be living on a single income, but my salary is enough to support the both of us – particularly as we’re both able to live quite frugally. Matty’s happy to keep himself busy with sport, possibly some volunteering work (there are plenty of organisations who could use extra manpower) and looking after me, so he won’t be bored.

Matty sent an email asking for permission a few weeks ago – then it was simply a case of waiting for a response. However, we then started to get anxious… our anniversary is in November, and it’d be horrible if we weren’t able to get permission for Matty to make it over here in time for that. (We’ve also got friends’ wedding to attend… and just the chance to spend time together would be wonderful!)

We figured our case officer would have to look at our paperwork before deciding to allow Matty a visa, so at least a short delay was expected. But, after waiting a few weeks, we started to debate whether we should ‘ask again’. The last thing either of us want to do is harass the person responsible for making one of the most important decisions in our life… but, we gingerly opted for Matty to make contact again.

So glad we did! Matty got a response from our case officer the next day (I think, hard to tell with time zone differences), asking him to phone her to discuss. She also requested a copy of our original (Spanish) marriage certificate via email – so I’m going to try to send that off tonight. (Why is there never a scanner around when you need one?!)

Back to waiting again… but I’m feeling very positive! If we were to get permission this week, we could apply for the tourist visa immediately. It’s a 1-2 week processing time, so by the time we purchase tickets… Matty could potentially be here by early November! Fingers crossed!!

from the airport tomorrow morning!

WOO HOO! :-D

Last I heard, his trip was going well. (Although, he had to send me an email, as he and his phone parted company in Seattle. Gah! It’s just like the first time I turned up at his place!)

One very-excited sleep to go!

I’m so excited! :-D

Planning for Matty to make a quick visit here in July. Won’t be nearly long enough, but any time is great and I can’t wait to see him!

:-D

We’d designated this year as ‘go with the flow’, because we knew a lot of things would be out of our control. (In the hands of bureaucracy, mostly.) This attitude has helped to keep everything in some sort of perspective and, particularly for me, has served as a reminder that there’s always another option.

Doesn’t make it any less sucky, though, when we have to delay our plans to see each other. All rationale and practicalities aside, it’s miserable to be parted for so long. But, I keep reminding myself, and we keep reminding each other, that it’s not for much longer; there is the light at the end of the tunnel.

Although, at least this time it didn’t feel like we were losing a limb as we tried to rip a plaster off.

Tuesday, we said our goodbyes at Heathrow. Tuesday night, I moped around the house.

Wednesday I was back to work… and straight into a full-on, non-stop clinic day. Which was good, because it kept me busy. By the end of the day I was exhausted. That night, I was both mopey and tired.

Thursday started off exhausted, because I didn’t sleep much on Wednesday night. Talking to Matty after work helped to perk me up a bit, but that night I was mostly too tired to be mopey.

Friday… still exhausted. Again, I’d had a night with not much sleep. The day dragged on and on. When I got home, the first thing I did was crawl into bed. I snoozed for an hour or so, then indulged in sharing take-away curry, a bottle of Shiraz, some funky folk music and a good chat with my house-mate, L. Off to bed at a reasonable-ish hour.

This morning, I woke up at seven… then lolled around in bed for a long time. I think that did me good. It gave me a chance to put things in perspective. In truth, it’s not so bad. We just spent a wonderful two weeks together. It won’t be too long until I see him again, and our long-distance days should be done by the end of this year. That’s not so long to wait, in the scheme of things.

he’s in San Francisco airport. Probably sitting in the departure lounge, waiting to board the plane for the second leg of his journey. (Hopefully not climbing the walls.)

Which means that he’s just under eleven hours away from landing… and in a little over that, I’ll be seeing him! Best I go to bed now, so that I’m alert enough for the drive to Heathrow.

:-D

_{Although, it may take me a little while to get off to sleep… thanks to the spidey I had to deal with a few moments ago. Ick.}

super-duper-jumpy-up-and-down happy about this coming Wednesday!

I went through a couple of days mid-last week when I felt a little miserable. Part of it was PMS. I finally figured out that the other part was because Matty’s finally almost here, so I was ‘allowing’ myself to feel all the misery of us having been so far apart. Worked through that, thankfully.

Bring on Wednesday! :-D

Less than two weeks, and I’ll be picking Matty up from the airport.

Can’t wait, can’t wait, can’t wait!

Woo hoo! :-D