2024 – a recap is needed – RedLipsRedNails

Oh wow, the last time I was around here was in 2020 during Covid (let’s not rehash Rona times…it went on too long).

Lots happened during 2024, so let’s do a quick recap:

Going to Italy on holiday
Getting engaged
Deciding to move to the UK
First marriage ceremony
I resigned from my job
AM departing for the UK
Second marriage ceremony
I moved to the UK
Life in the UK

Italy
In January 2024, we decided we wanted to go to Italy for a holiday. We started planning in earnest – organising visa application papers, researching Italian train lines (while their trains are super efficient, the websites are very much not – it’s all in Italian, so we had to use the Chrome translate function), finding suitable accommodation, and trying to book tickets for major attractions (The Last Supper, the Vatican Museums, and Sistine Chapel) that only go on sale on certain days and sell out incredibly fast. Can you book these through an agent or tour guide? Yes, of course. Did we? No, never, because we’re money-savvy like that, and paying triple for something we could do ourselves makes no sense. I would rather use that money for something else (another Aperol, anyone?). Italy was amazing and a must-see for everyone – I’ll do a separate post on this trip. Standing in front of things I’ve wanted to see for most of my life was a dream come true.

Engagement
I only found out afterward that AM had started planning this in January already (I also caused some ring design drama). It was only supposed to happen later in the Italy trip, but the poor man couldn’t handle walking around with a ring in his bag any longer and popped the question on my birthday next to a pretty fountain in Parco Sempione in Milan. I genuinely did not expect it. We had a lovely picnic afterward and popped some bubbly! I tried to phone literally everyone around the world, and of course, no one answered their phones. It was actually quite hilarious when I finally managed to get someone on the phone and all the yelling ensued.

The Big Decision
In September 2023, we decided to explore moving to Australia. AM started looking at what type of roles would be available for him, and I, well, I contemplated what I would do. We both wrote the required English test (obtained Superior English scores, thank you very much) and submitted a PR visa application. Then the waiting started. With a PR application, there isn’t much you can do – you get added to the queue, and when an invitation round comes along, you hope you get picked. We waited and waited and became impatient. There was also a realisation that there weren’t that many roles available for AM within the scope of what he really does professionally. Before our trip to Italy, I encouraged AM to have a look at available positions in the UK and, if he deemed any suitable, to apply. Within days, there were positive responses, and after following the process, he received an offer from a UK company just after we got back from Italy. We decided to accept – what a day that was. More bubbly popped.

Marriage Ceremony No. 1
We had a civil marriage ceremony on 10 July 2024 – it was a bit of a surreal day. We literally popped out during lunch, went to the officiant’s office with some of our friends and family, and got married. It took 15 minutes, we had coffee afterward, and then we went back to work. That evening, we had a lovely dinner with our families to celebrate. I would advise anyone getting married to do this – sorting the paperwork bit beforehand takes the stress off immensely.

Resigning
When we started discussing a move (to either Australia or the UK), my work always came up. We made the decision that whichever route we decided to take, I would resign. I was unhappy with my job and needed a break. The burnout was real, the anxiety immense, and I was not enjoying what I did anymore. It was surreal resigning, knowing I wouldn’t have a job anymore, and it’s been a mental adjustment for me, but it was the best decision. I do miss my work wife, though.

AM Departing for the UK
AM’s visa approval came in early September, and just after his birthday, he left for the UK, as he had an employment start date close to the end of September. We thought it best that he have a few days to try and settle, take a look around the area, and possibly scope out some accommodation for us. We were incredibly lucky that he found us a fantastic flat within a week of arriving.

The Big Tree from our flat window – I take a daily pic of it.

Marriage Ceremony No. 2
After we got engaged, we of course started planning our wedding. AM came back for the weekend at the end of October (he arrived on Friday and left again on Monday, with our wedding taking place on the Saturday). It was a hectic few days, but I wouldn’t change it for anything. Our friends from Australia joined us, and it was a magical day. The whole weekend was just so much fun.

Moving to the UK
My visa approval came in within three days after applying, and we booked my ticket to depart on 15 November 2024. It was manic trying to fit in everything I wanted to do in those last three weeks while also trying to fit my life into three suitcases. It was really hard leaving and saying goodbye, and I’m forever grateful to the stranger handing me tissues while I sat crying at the gate before getting on the plane. For someone that doesn’t like flying (fear of turbulence) and was flying alone, I don’t remember the two flights it took to get me to the UK. I just remember AM standing outside the doors waiting for me when I got out and what a relief it was (also, super cold). I miss Bertie (my dog) every day.

Life in the UK
I arrived when the darkest 10 weeks of the UK winter started. It was pitch black by 16:00 (the earliest was 15:29!) and only got light after 8:00. Everyone told me the weather was horrible and that I would hate it. I honestly don’t think it was that bad, but I do think the fact that I didn’t have to travel to work every day helped. If I didn’t have to go outside, I wouldn’t. But still, we were not deterred by the dark and walked to the shops, went out, etc., when we wanted to without issue. The first evening we had snow, we of course ran outside like crazed people not used to anything – it was magical. Soft white flurries coming down from the sky while it was absolutely dead quiet.
The first festive season away from family was hard, but we had wonderful friends visit us over the Christmas holiday, and it was so lovely to have friendly faces with us. For someone who has never lived in a flat, the idea was daunting, but it’s been great. Smaller spaces are easier to keep clean, we don’t have masses of stuff, and our flat is really nice. We have two bedrooms and lots of storage (closets don’t seem to be a thing in the UK). While this is not our forever home, it is perfect for us currently. We have bus stops close by and a train station a 15-minute stroll away, allowing us to take a train to central London in 50 minutes. We border a park dating from war times, and knowing I can walk around there without fear is comforting – although not something I’m used to yet. I am enthralled by the foxes! We are loving the cultural aspects – so many museums, palaces, gardens, and the like to visit. I am looking forward to seeing and exploring as many as we can!