The Voyage Home

About a week back, we got back from “sunny” Croydon, getting various things sorted out, and it’s left both of us desperate to get back there as soon as possible. The visa interview at the US consulate was fairly painless, after a mere 3 hours, we were on our way, having been officially government-approved to get married. Then, the next day, after picking up my very nice rental Renault Scenic, I had a meeting arranged with a company down in Brighton to discuss the possibility of me heading up their new motion capture department. This went pretty well, I thought, and could indeed precipitate our return to the UK a fair bit sooner than we were anticipating, more than likely down to the Brighton area. I shall know more about this over the next couple of weeks, but this is looking increasingly likely to be happening. There was also a chance for a band rehearsal of sorts, since Ben (drummer) wasn’t able to make it, but the rest of us went through the songs in anticipation of the US tour in just a couple of weeks. More on that later.

So, here I am back in the US again, after a nightmare of a trip back. Ostrich-ups galore (like a cock-up, but a lot bigger). Firstly there were problems checking in for the flight, then there was a fault with the plane which meant everyone getting off the plane and waiting hours for another one, then a somewhat sleepless overnight flight (largely thanks to a very annoying drunk’n’stoned passenger a couple of seats in front of us) that resulted in us getting back to JFK at 3am with a very sore neck from sleeping awkwardly. But getting through immigration with the visa was easy, and I am now officially allowed to work here in the US.

The thing is, now we’re back, we can’t wait to leave again. The thought has crossed my mind that I should at least attempt to try and make a bit more of my time here, after everything that’s gone into it. There is still a lot to like about the US, especially now that all work possibilities are now open to me and I now no longer have to pump petrol for money, but there is still a lot that doesn’t, and hasn’t sat right with me about things here – see previous post. And Gwen is a full-on Anglophile and, if anything, is even more desperate to get back over there than I am!

There’s a lot to do before we go back though… most of the bills, etc over here can go to hell, frankly, but there’s getting together a deposit for a place back out there, then getting a car, and having that taxed and insured, etc, moving our stuff out there, then moving ourselves and the cats back out there. This could prove to be a somewhat expensive endeavour, which may well have to be done with judicious use of excess baggage, as it’s cheaper than shipping! There’s plenty of things to sell over here in the US to help finance this, two cars, two TVs, furniture, and various other bits and pieces, plus if we let the bills go to hell, we can put aside some money out of our usual budget. And there’s a lot of stuff I still have back in the UK, a TV, DVD player, surround sound system, some furniture and a few other things, so there shouldn’t be all that much that needs buying again. Things will become clearer over the next couple of weeks.

Then there’s the impending US tour for 5th Man Down – this begins next week, and should prove to be a great laugh. I am a little concerned about Ben, our drummer, though. His motivation has been off since late 2004, and, according to Steve and Glen, he seems to be losing interest rapidly. Hopefully the tour will give him the kick up the arse that he needs, failing that, a new drummer may be on the cards when I get back to the UK and the band reconvenes properly. Despite all this, I’m still very optimistic about the band’s future – we’ve still got it! It just needs focussing and packaging properly.

But, the most exciting bit of all… I will be a married man in 6 days!

This is the more low-key wedding, for the visa, etc, with the big one following in June. Hence the “getting married twice” thing in my main description…

I can’t wait!