It's official!

I'm a solicitor

All change

My life is in a state of flux at the moment. I think I can safely put this out on to the blogosphere because the choices are made and everyone who has to know now knows. Anyway, so here goes. I have decided to leave Robin Simon and join an American firm called Crowell & Moring. I have been very happy at RSL and I am very sad to leave, especially when I have just officially qualified as a solicitor and I have been involved in some really great cases. However, I know this is the right move for me at this time in my career and it will put me in a place where I will have more choices, especially if J and I ever decide we do want to move to the US. But it doesn't make it any easier to leave the comfort and safety of my friends and career at RSL! Luckily, this opportunity arose because one of the partners from RSL decided she needed a change and she is now at Crowell. It was through her that I started the interview process and was offered the job. It is a fantastic opportunity for me and I am getting very excited. RSL have also been very supportive. Although they are sad to see me go, all the partners seem to agree that this is the right thing for me to be doing and have told me that if doesn't work out they want me back asap! Always good to know and I am so glad that I have not had to burn any bridges with such a great bunch of people.

What with a new job and a new house (which we are signing the paperwork on on Friday so we should be moving in by mid-October) it is all change for Mr and Mrs A-S. It's good to have change though. It keeps life interesting and stops us from getting into ruts. So I know these changes will be great for us and our relationship. We always say that we can get through everything as long as we have each other and I am so grateful for the support and love J gives me everyday!

Speaking of J - he is the lead part in a play being put on by our drama society next week! The play is all about his character, who is an adopted son who learns that his biological mother lives next door! It's set in the 80s and was written by one of our am dram colleagues and I must say it is a great script! Anyone interested in it can take a look here. Or see J's announcement/group thing on Facebook. We'll post pics of him in his fab 80s costume and makeup next week.

P.S. Congrats to M&M and my new baby niece OJP! We love you guys!!!!!

Summer holiday

Here are the pictures from our trip as promised.

First, we spent a lovely few days in Orlando - the boys hit Islands of Adventure and the girls went for a nice lunch at Downtown Disney. Then we drove 6 hours to Hilton Head (stopping to see the Castillo de San Marcos and for an amazing lunch at La Harencia in St Augustine. I really loved this little town and could have spent a few days there!

Hilton Head is gorgeous - not too hot not too cold. Just the right temp for sitting by the beach/pool. The ocean was so warm too! But poor Spence got stung by a jelly fish. We had an amazing week relaxing, spending time together as a family and eating really good food! We also got to spend some time with our good friends Justin and Tessa Ward (Justin is in Charleston at dental school). It was great to see Charleston from the perspective of the locals!

Then J and I drove to Savannah, which is also very cute. We stayed in the most amazing B&B (we had an original Picasso and a chest of drawers worth $125,000 in our room!). We enjoyed walking around and eating lovely meals out in this very haunted city! We took a ghost walking tour the last night we were there and I totally got freaked out and couldn't sleep all night. Needless to say, I was ready to get out of there!

Finally, we drove back to Orlando for 4 days at Disneyworld. We were upgraded to the "Dream Suite" at the Boardwalk Villas which was the most amazing hotel room I have ever been in.

All in all it was the best Jensen holiday we have ever been on (although we missed Cameron terribly). Thanks Mom and Dad (and the rest of the fam) for all the memories!

Update

Well it has been a very long time since I have posted, although I have been enjoying reading everyone else's blog!

Our summer has been pretty quiet so far. We have been trying to sell our flat and buy a house, so everything has been up in the air and all our weekends have been devoted to viewings, cleaning, etc. Not sure what made us decided to do this in this property market!

But all the hard work has finally paid off. Last week we accepted an offer on our flat and made a revised offer on the house that we like, which was accepted! We have applied for a mortgage, which is agreed in principle. Subject to surveys and sale contracts going through, we should be moving to a beautiful 4 bedroom detached house in October. It is seriously our dream house and we are so excited. They have taken it off the website, so I can't post the link, but I will definitely post some pictures if/when we move in.

We are also excited because our holiday has finally come round. We leave tomorrow on a fun-filled 2 week break with the Jensen family in DisneyWorld and Hilton Head, SC (with J&I stopping for a 2 day anniversary break in Savannah). We have all be planning and making itineraries for several months now, and I, of course, have been counting down the days as I always do! Can't believe we are finally on our way!

Anyway - I will be back in mid-August with details and pictures of our trip. Hopefully I will also know more by then as to whether our house purchase is going to go through.

A National Trust Spring

We are members of the National Trust, which restores historic houses/gardens and opens them to the public. We love looking at the houses and gardens - geeky I know!

London to Brighton

Last weekend we went on the annual London to Brighton Mini Run with our little Mini. Here are some of the highlights.

Man Utd v West Ham

Last weekend J's firm treated us (and J's clients) to a day out at Manchester United. They played West Ham (who J has always supported, but aren't as good as Man U). We had a 4 course breakfast before kick off, treats and drinks at half time and afterwards, got to meet some of the players. Of course we also had great seats at the match. Man U won 4-1, but there was some great goals - and one of the players got sent off with a red card for head butting. It was so much fun.

We also enjoyed our weekend in Manchester - what a lovely city. Great shopping (although we didn't spend anything cuz we're saving up for our house) and fantastic Indian food!

Monday was a bank holiday and we went for a bike ride through a country park. It was a lovely day, but we still got really muddy. Just made us look like we were more serious cyclers than we really are....

But it was so nice to have a long weekend and such a great one at that.