International Wedding plans--Wiccan and British

American:

It is with great Joy 

we announce our 

upcoming nuptials:

Les C. Biggs

 & 

Jaqueline M. Almdale

will be handfasted

in an official 

Wiccan wedding ceremony

Saturday, June 18, 2011

10:00 am

Kamiak Butte

Pullman, WA USA

 Private luncheon 

to follow at the home 

of

Jim and Karen Barron

320 NW Joe Street.

An open reception 

will be held on

Saturday, July ninth, 2011

at

Keith and Chrisi Kincaid's farm

1251 Enman-Kincaid Rd. 

Living on a narrow boat 

means space is at a premium;

We ask guests to bring 

a pot luck dish to share 

in lieu of wedding gifts Please!

Join us for dinner, 

wedding cake, sparkling wine,

and dancing under 

the summer evening sky!

British: 

With joy and 

thanksgiving 

for having 

found each other,

Les & Jaqueline Biggs

will reaffirm 

their vows of marriage

in the presence 

of 

family and friends,

sometime in September, 2011

at a British church

to be announced. 

Reception after

also to be announced. 

We will be

in residence at home 

aboard NB Valerie, 

somewhere on the

canals of England!

Hi everyone, 

     It's me, Jaqueline--or Jaq. Les asked me to write this blog post--typical init? The wedding plans always fall to the Bride!! ;) 

     Given that we come from two different countries with different laws regarding marriage and immigration, we have an international wedding team!

     After a thorough perusal of the U.K. Border Agency web site we determined it is less time consuming, far less expensive ($2400.00 vs. $3600.00 and one less visa step) if we married here in the States and I applied for a Spouse Visa.

     In the United States one may get married literally anywhere. One goes to the county clerk's office in the county where one resides, pays a fee of $58.00, flashes one's birth certificates, tells the clerk names, dates of birth, and place of birth of one's parents, show a photo I.D, and the marriage certificate is issued. 

     The happy couple wait a minimum of three days, and then get hitched by the judge or clergy of their choice, in the presence of a minimum of two witnesses. A church wedding will have additional fees attached.

Kamiak Butte, Washington USA

We will be married in the morning on Kamiak Butte in a Wiccan handfast. My dear friend Patti Gora McRavin has gone and gotten herself ordained by the Church of Scientific and Spiritual Humanism, and the Right Reverend Patti will officiate at our ceremony. (For her inspiring love story which is intertwined with ours please continue to follow my blog.)   

     Since we will already be married when we return together in late August, we will arrange an affirmation of our wedding vows through the Church of England. These arrangements will be firmed up while I am over visiting from May 22nd-June 11th.

     While I may visit England on a visa waiver for a period of six months, Les may only visit America on a visa waiver for a period of three months. Les and I will fly back to Pullman together in June, get married, and begin the daunting Spouse Visa application process.

     There is only one shot at this--make a mistake or leave something out--the British Embassy issues an automatic denial and there is no appeal process.

     It can take up to three months--and sometimes longer for a Spouse visa to be issued, and if the British Embassy clerk in Los Angeles, California has any questions about my application they may request an in person interview at their convenience. 

     We must file a five page application, pay an initial $1200.00 fee, and include my passport, our birth certificates, Val's death certificate, my divorce decree, our marriage license, six months worth of our bank statements,  a year's phone records and any emails we have sent one another; a letter from my employer about telecommuting from the U.K., and I must have my biometrics taken at the Federal courthouse in Spokane, which will be kept on file for ten years. (And this is the easiest route for lovers from our respective countries to make legally abiding arrangements to live together until death us do part!)

     In the meantime I must find a good home for my feline friend Wee Man, who would never survive the six month quarantine required by the U.K., put my home up for sale, and winnow out most of my belongings, paring everything down to the essentials. While I am blessed with a home full of lovely things--they are only "things" and with very few exceptions, most of them are meaningless without Les.

      My deepest thanks to all who have offered their good wishes and blessings to us both. I look forward to meeting you all on the cut.
May you have joy in your journey!

My route is on the Gd. Union that started life as the Gd. Jct. Canal following the granting of an act of Parliament in 1793. The Oxford canal company`s route to London via the Thames was long and the Gd. Jct. was to be a much shorter and therefore more competitive.
Braunston Tunnel opened in 1796 was originally planned at 1,600yds long but ended up at 2000+ to reduce the long cuttings at each end. At the same time the canal opened to Weedon.

My first overnight stop is Norton Jct. at the top of the Buckby flight of  7 locks, take heart fellow boaters that if the original plans had stood this flight would have been 10 locks.
Down the Buckby flight and just a short distance brings me to the scene of much tree felling. The trees are on the

 Brockhall estate and are being commercially harvested and the site will be replanted soon after. Now the two men on site were not going to let me take any large pieces but were quite happy for me to remove small cuttings and my top box was soon full of a lot of good oak logs. Making them Coffee seemed to speed negotiations to the benefit of all.
I decided to stop the night at Weedon but so far this has stretched into 2 nights because of the lovely sunshine and the need to touch up the paintwork below the Gunnel's.

The mooring next to the church has it`s good and bad points, the bad being the close proximity of the railway and the bell practise in the church last night but the deciding factor was the very low concrete edging that made it 

easier to do the paintwork. The temptation now is to wind the boat and do the other side but i`ll wait and see how the weather is tomorrow. Time is on my side as i`m meeting Jaq at Heathrow in May so have plenty of time to get down to the Watford area which will be easier by cab when i pick her up. Together we have made plans for our future and i will reveal these perhaps in the next blog.

                                                        Signs of summer are all around.

AWAY FROM BRAUNSTON

It`s been quite pleasant here in Braunston waiting for post to arrive but the time has now come to break out and head for pastures new.
A meal out with Sue,Vic,Chas & Anne was lovely as was chatting to other non-blogging friends. The arrival of George & Carol on Rock `n` Roll resulted in a lovely evening aboard their boat for drinks, thank you it was a lovely evening.

Over the w`end the BCBM boat share show took place and Braunston marina was a hive of activity with 2 days of good weather attracting a steady flow of people. Marques were erected and several commercial outlets were

 present including Barrus Engines, Kinver Furniture, Top Box, and i spotted  Waterway Routes with a fine collection of DVDs. Also the Cheese Boat was attracting a crowd.

What interested me most, i have no need of a boat share, was the stand for the restoration of NB Lucy.  A lot of boaters will remember her sunk along the Puddle Banks here in Braunston and might wonder what became of her. Nb Lucy has been raised and now resides on dry land just next door to Midland Chandlers.

Another interesting exhibit was the old working boat Raymond the last wooden narrowboat built for carrying and

launched here in Braunston in 1958. The only wooden boat built since on the canals is i believe `Maid of Oak` built for Julie and Peter Thorn the hull being launched in Jan 2004 at the yard of Bates Boats on the Grand Union Aylesbury Arm. I had the honour of being shown around the boat by Julie back in 2006.

Away heading south past the Admiral Nelson

Into Braunston Tunnel



BRAUNSTON with a problem

The plan was to head north for a while and then return south for Jaqueline`s visit in May but an electrical problem has dictated a change of plan. The Alternator on NB Valerie started mis-behaving back in August and i removed it and had it tested.........no problem says the man. Back on it went and ever since has behaved itself at least 99.9% of the time. Perhaps it was happy being on NB Valerie and decided to mend it`s ways. Just lately, the past 3 weeks, it has been playing up with the warning light/buzzer faintly coming on although the volt meter shows most of the time to be fully charging, most being 75%.
So no second chance Mr. Alternator you have to realise i need power all the time. All is well now with a new one installed and performing admirably although it seems strange not hearing that faint buzzing.

Depending on our wonderful Royal Mail i might be around for a day or two waiting on post from my son`s house via the Poste Restante sevice. I`m also waiting on a card from Jaqueline in the states which is coming direct to the local post office  but will probably go off and collect that on the way back through.

Jaqueline flys back home June 11th after her stay on board and i have booked a seat on the same flight for an extended stay and will reveal more as time goes on.

In the meantime i have been busy making alterations for when Jaq and I permanently live aboard.

The Bow has an extra step for easier access, Jaq felt it seemed steep. Can`t do enough for the woman i love.

The Fridge & top cupboard have been re-located

 The fridge space below will now house the washing machine giving more cothing storage in the bedroom area. This now needs a panel to neatly box it all in.

The plumbing for the washing machine is almost complete and will have the benifit of Hot & Cold fill.

I would just like to say hello to the crew of NB Juliana? who offered their congratulations as we passed each other, thankyou.

EVEN A LONG WEEKEND HAS TO END SOMETIME

Well the time had come to move on after a lovely w`end. Well yes i know it`s Wednesday but a boater`s w`end can be that long, sorry you working folks. Chas and Anne had moved off i think on Tuesday and when i awoke Del & Al  had arrived on Dewent6 and had stopped by just to say hello, thanks guys.

So time for goodbyes as Sue & Vic move off followed by Del & Al with me off in the opposite direction towards Rugby for some plumbing parts for my re-location of the washing machine. Jaq you will have space for your clothes i promise.


The new marina at Barby looks much the same as the last time i passed. Just a big hole, no pontoons and more

worrying for the intending moorers, no sign of any work force. The site says opening Spring 2011 somehow i think this might be a bit optimistic.


I had just approached the last of the 3 locks at Hillmorton when a boat approached. There are 2 single locks side by side here and as i was dropping in one the other boat was heading for the adjacent lock.

 As the boat got closer i realised it was Mo & Ness on Balmaha so congratulations on my engagement to Jaq  were their first words and after a long chat with us both using a lock each, good job the season isn`t in full swing, we both carried on our journey`s.
So 4 fellow bloggers have crossed my path in as many days, hold on make that 5 as Paul & Lyn on Piston Broke stopped by briefly to help Sue & Vic with a minor wiring problem but were gone before i realised.

A NICE WEEKEND

I knew Sue and Vic on No Problem were not to far from me and as it has been quite a long time since we last

met up a phone call brought us together for a w`end at Barby. On arrival i found Chas And Ann on Moore to Life 

No Problem then Moore to Life and Valerie just out of site.

were also moored up so a nice chance to catch up on the news of our travels. Of course they wanted to know more of my engagement to Jaq and our plans but that will have to be a future blog for you readers as everything has yet to be finalised.

I have had a pocket PC for a very long time with the intention of loading maps and using it to guide me along the 

footpaths, via GPS, leading off the canal system as many of these are just not signed very well. The problem was i just could not get them to load onto the PC. Sue, bless her took it upon herself to spend a lot of time solving the problem, thank you so so much Sue. Also a big thank you for the invite aboard No Problem to join hubby Vic and Chas & Ann for a lovely Sunday roast. Vic and i did enjoy the wine that flowed over our legs, accidents will happen but i`ll leave that bit out in case Sue blogs it.

So off i go to walk to the village of Barby 2 birthday cards and the GPS in hand. Easy way to avoid the mud is along the lane but that would be boring with my new toy to test. So across the muddy pathways i trudged one eye

on the screen following the little red dot. Very impressed with this bit of technology and i`m now keen to start Geo cache searching. On the way i came across this old Mill that looked deralict but might have been home to someone, at least the small lake was being well fished by a few anglers.

CHILLING OUT - WHO WANTS A BOOK - LOST COMMENTS

Getting under way from Napton after 3 weeks  felt good and my intention was to moor in Braunston for a few days to catch up on sleep. Even after crashing out for 15hrs the first night back my body clock still seemed dis-orientated with the 8 hrs time difference and arriving back earlier than the time i left the day before. I never did make Braunston as i decided why not spend a few days in the countryside, for those not living aboard this is one of the bonuses-city, town or farmland the choice is yours.

Anyway my body clock has adjusted with the help of a few daytime naps, the Wind Genny is up and putting in a few amps, the Satellite signal is good as is the Internet. I`ve food in the fridge freezer and a full tank of water so for now that other world can carry on while i enjoy some solitude in my world, ok so i share with a few thousand others but at the moment there`s just me in this particular spot.

The view out of the windows is of nothing but open fields, i`ve seen just two groups of walkers in the last 2 days and the only noise is from the Sparrows in the hedgerow and the odd duck. Boring you non boaters might think

but remember at the turn of the key i can be back in a town or city, you just don`t get that choice with bricks & mortar.

As you all know Jaq and I will be sharing our lives aboard NB Valerie in the near future. NO i am not going to say when as at the moment we are going through the motions with immigration sites here and in the States trying to figure out the best method of Jaq`s entry into the UK, choices are Fiancee or Spouse and all i will say at this time is keep reading the blog.

The bachelor life aboard has meant my not having to much of an issue with storage but that is due to change and one idea Jaq and I have decided is to move the fridge up on top of the worktop, after i re-locate the cupboard, and put the washing machine in it`s place. Also while i`m plumbing in the washer i`ll sort out a hot & cold fill. This will then free up some space in the rear of the boat for a full length wardrobe. I have some other ideas but will hold fire on those until Jaq`s visit in May when we she can let me know her opinion as they concern galley storage. This lady is a great cook and having sampled her dishes i`m for sure gonna make room for all her ingredients and cooking utensils.

 

My good friend Sue on board NO PROBLEM , Vic do you realise how lucky you are, has e mailed to say she has recovered most of my lost comments and will give them to me when we meet up shortly. This has put me in a very good mood as the loss of  all the best wishes you folks out there sent recently was to say the least a pain and i hope all being well they will be back in place soon.

 

Who Wants A Book, Just recently i was going through the dozens of blogs i read and also some i don`t read often enough. The thing is someone mentioned their looking for a missing title in the Ian Rankin Rebus series. I commented on their blog i might have the book, Hanging garden, i think, but my mind being either jet lagged or loved up, not sure which as i can`t even remember when this was, means i have no idea whose blog it was. So if the blogger or anyone else remembers reading the particular post please let me know.

THE BATTLE TO GET HOME



The great escape or my sad return from America, i prefer the latter, was due to begin on Wednesday last at 11.15am from Pullman Airport.  The 76 seat plane would leave Seattle pick me up and return to Seattle via Lewiston for a connection to Minneapolis and onto London.

So off i set driven by my Alaskan born driver,  6" of snow and a blizzard is no worry for Jaq,  and we arrive an hour before take off. Paperwork checked, the counter staff advise that the plane has been delayed by a mechanical fault and not only is it running 30mins late in all probability it will not be able to land due to weather conditions.

The advice being given to all passengers is to travel 30 miles to Lewiston and board the plane. The reason for this is that Lewiston is some 2000`+ lower elevation than Pullman and at the time has no snow.

So this lady (fiancee) has Eskimo nerves of steel and estimates the trip will take 45mins so off we go and in no  

time we are approx. 2000` above Lewiston (right of picture above), the snow has now almost stopped and we descend down highway 195 into the city and onto the Lewiston airport with an hour before the plane is due to 

take off. In the picture above looking back up the 2000` we have descended you can see the snow high up has given way to a clear landscape. So in the queue to check in  it soon becomes apparent something is not right and an enquiry soon reveals the plane has been cancelled due to a mechanical breakdown. After queuing for an hour flights are re-arranged for 6.30 pm to Seattle, New York and onwards to London.

So back at 6pm and the plane is running late as runways are being cleared and planes de-iced at many airports causing not cancellations but minor delays. Sitting waiting i studied my new itinerary and noticed the time between flights at Seattle was diminishing rapidly and knowing the Seattle airport layout i knew i wouldn`t have time to get from one side of the airport to my New York flight. Back at the desk the agent agreed and i decided a flight the following day from a different airport would be better. Now i had Spokane-Seattle- London by British Airways on the Thursday.

So back to Jaq`s and in the picture above can be seen the conditions after climbing the 2000` out of Lewiston. Having to spend another night with Jaq was hard but someones got to do it and we were brave.

The following day we set off on the 80mile drive to Spokane and in the  picture above taken from the passenger seat can be seen, well almost, the road leading to the main highway. The posts at the side of the road are the only

guide to the road`s route with no tree line or hedgerows to give a clue. Getting on the main highway in the picture above was a lot better as snow ploughs were very much evident and we passed several on the journey.

All the way it was evident that life just carries on as normal with traffic moving quite fast even the trucks.In the picture below you can see what is a common site here, an articulated lorry(semi) with an additional trailer added.

The pictures above and below show a body scanner that i had to go through on my inward journey to the States.



Snow is cleared on the aircraft stands at Spokane

Planes de-iced before take off

De-iced the plane taxi`s out with the snow plough still clearing the runway.

One of 9 ploughs keeping flights going at Spokane.

 Safely in Seattle and here is my BA flight that has delivered me safely back in the UK.

                                                                                         

Oooops I`ve deleted lots of comments

Looking at the dashboard of Blooger i had 1000+ comments and thought i would clear them off not realising they were deleting from the posts.
I assume they have gone forever unless anyone knows otherwise.
A real shame as there were some wonderful comments relating to Jaq and I. Sorry everyone, just posting this quick in case anyone feels offended.
I am back in the UK and will post very soon.

An EXTRA DAY whose`s complaining.

SHORT BLOG

Well at this moment in time Thursday 17.14 U S time or 01.14 U K time i am sitting having a coffee in Seattle Airport waitng on my direct British Airways flight into heathrow.
Although the weather has been bad it was not the cause of my 1 day delay.

Full update when i return and get over the jet lag.

SNOW HERE shall i bring it home?, if i can get home.

It`s mid morning over here with a lot of snow having fallen overnight with more forecast. As i am due to leave here Tuesday i`ve been checking flight departures at the 2 Airports i`ll be using well the 2 main ones, Seattle(SEA) and Minneapolis(MPS). Even the small Airport here in Pullman that i will use to make the 50minute flight to Seattle is running as usual with just a few early morning delays of up to 30 mins for the snow plough to clear the runway for each departure.

So no Heathrow dramas here and it looks like my flights will be more or less on time for my Wednesday departure and Thursday arrival at H`row. Just keeping my fingers crossed the snow fall forecast tonight is not exceptional otherwise i might have to stay here longer......think i can hear Jaq praying for more snow.

We have booked Jaq`s flights for her 2 week stay in May and have also managed to wade our way through the UK Border Agency website for the necessary visa`s etc that she will need to enter the UK and settle later in the year. Our UK government wants  £750 to process this application plus other fees for a right to remain as my wife stamp in her passport. Expensive business this love affair maybe i should........Oooops Jaq is going to read this........just say what`s a few English pounds when you`re in love.

Personally i think they should pay my Alaskan born, 5` 1'', highly educated (BA), incredible cook(my waistline needs a few locks to get back in shape), lovely personality etc. to enter the UK but that`s my  prejudiced view.

The bin man (yes singular) was just 30 mins late. The one man operator pulls alongside the bin and operates a grab that lifts and empties the bin and places it back in position outside Jaq`s home.

                          Yes Jaq just sit there looking pretty while we talk about you.

                       Just a few inches of snow, studded tyres will get us out and about.

        The small snowplough clears the way from Jaq`s cul de sac home to the main road.

                                         Another `So this is Love` blog in the making.

                                             A piece of Jaq`s Pencil & Pastel art.

                                                             Homemade bread

                                                Mim with 7 week old Connor

So as you can see life, apart from our being defeated by an inch of snow in the UK, is much the same here. It`s been a great visit and leaving here is going to be hard tomorrow leaving Jaq behind but she will be over on the 23rd May to sample the English canals.
Just checked the airports again and delay times have slightly gone up but flights are still arriving and departing. Oh well what will be will be, at least i don`t have to be back at work on my return.