tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87253461498544490702011-11-27T23:42:10.114ZMy Expat Life in Manchester and Adventures in the UKbrittunianoreply@blogger.comBlogger341100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-79662112009451260072010-03-02T21:51:00.000Z2010-03-02T21:51:50.642Z

It has been nearly a week since Matthias and I tried used controlled crying with Eva.  From my last post, I am sure you gathered just how awful I felt about doing it. I am happy to report she didn't wake up the next morning to tell me what a horrible mother or what a failure at attachment parenting I am. As a matter a fact, she has only been waking once between midnight and 1am to let out a few

brittunianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-86606108177797796562010-02-26T09:48:00.003Z2010-02-28T18:18:40.725Z

It is raining today in Manchester. And to many of you that doesn't really come as a surprise. But it is, at least for this winter, an unusual occurrence. There have been so many gloriously sunny days and so much one-day-snow that the normal gloom of the place is nearly non-existent - except for today.It is cold and wet and I don't even dare dawn my galoshes (wellies that is) and bundle my baby to

brittunianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-41104510142880743942010-02-24T11:08:00.001Z2010-02-24T11:09:09.464Z

I think it is just shy on one year since I have actually blogged. One year. That is a long time considering writing courses through my veins. But my muse (and my knitting needles) had to make way for a beautiful baby girl who was born in June of last year. One could say that all my creative juices were flowing to one place and one place only. But that only just sounds nice. The truth is that I

brittunianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-17183576181214346102009-02-03T10:52:00.006Z2009-02-03T11:22:13.205Z

Pregnancy is truly a miraculous thing - not only because of the wonder of new life growing inside you, but also because of the miraculous growth one goes through physicall and emotionally. All the sudden, I am finding the motivation to do all sorts of projects which I have nicely managed to put of for so long. The universe seems to be playing along, too. In the same week, we are getting our

brittunianoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-69105060292899262022009-01-05T10:33:00.000Z2009-01-05T11:22:47.771Z

It was a particularly long hiatus, friends. I admit it. I didn't write for over two months and I didn't even tell you I was going to have a break. How rude. And my Adsense results are proof. The truth is that I really hadn't planned to disappear. I decided to let my muse be in charge of 'leisure' writing and she, unfortunately for my blogging, got pregnant and very distracted. My professional

brittunianoreply@blogger.com3Manchester, Greater Manchester, UK53.4807125 -2.234376553.378558000000005 -2.467836 53.582867 -2.0009170000000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-53450147676913565722008-09-29T11:21:00.001+01:002008-09-29T12:15:59.648+01:00

If you are reading this and thinking, 'Oh God. Britt is shooting up Metamucil', then you have a strange sense of imagination, my friend. No, I am talking about fiber of the wooly type and the needles used to create fabulous garments from such fiber. And it is truly a lifestyle- for me and many others.This weekend, I was out at an open house for a small company that sells undyed, natural wool yarn

brittunianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-10316113751960910092008-09-26T09:32:00.002+01:002008-09-26T10:19:34.716+01:00

What happens if you take a blithering idiot and 1) elect him or her to an important office such as state governor and 2) nominate this person (behind whom is 'nothing but panic and emptiness ') for the vice presidential candidacy?The answer is Sarah Palin. And she could be our next VP, or even worse, take over the presidency if John McCain were to die in office (which is not to be excluded as a

brittunianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-18313407081579013232008-09-24T17:22:00.001+01:002008-09-25T17:30:37.749+01:00

Yes, the path to hell is paved with good intentions...and retroactive blog posts. I have been busy and it is good. My post a week ago really seems to have sent the universe a message: I am ready to work and earn money consistently! Currently I am working on a research project for another writer attending the Frankfurt Book Fair next month. That and my 'usual' activities like hunting for leads

brittunianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-35814617779884091902008-09-23T16:26:00.001+01:002008-09-23T18:52:19.353+01:00

It has been nearly two weeks since Matthias and I went to London on our UK 'staycation'. It was an interesting trip in many respects. We tried to go 'budget' since we had just spent a month of entertaining guests which backfired in a way. Instead of having fun and just experiencing the marvels of this world metropolis, we were totally focused on saving as much money as possible. We stayed at a

brittunianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-10675157408053927952008-09-22T15:18:00.000+01:002008-09-22T15:33:15.233+01:00

Even though it was the most gorgeous of weekends here in Manchester, it seemed to be the time to hunker down and get ready for fall. I spent most of yesterday 'winterizing' our garden which was little more than planting a few pots to be taken to the kitchen window sill, pulling out the now *sick* tomatoes and the completely out-of-control bolted arugula/rocket. Yesterday, sensing the onset of

brittunianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-68027136632354727982008-09-19T21:19:00.001+01:002008-09-19T22:06:57.995+01:00

I think it was sometime in March that I proudly came home with a few seed packets and a whole lotta hope. With a green plastic propagator on my kitchen windowsill, I somehow managed to raise a handful of black specks into eight tomato and nine zucchini seedlings (well, I suppose it isn't rocket science). Matthias and I had dug up a strip of lawn next to our fence, sifted out all of the gravel

brittunianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-4607930451915994062008-09-18T17:36:00.000+01:002008-09-18T18:40:51.138+01:00

Those of you who know me are familiar with my special personal connection Autumn. This year it has a special importance. I woke up to a brisk, clear-skied Manchester and I knew that the season had turned. It was chilly, but the sunshine made everything look so clean, pristine and inviting. But I still didn't want to get out of bed, do my exercise or face the reality that our ten-day 'staycation'

brittunianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-71568830397348640862008-09-17T11:10:00.001+01:002008-09-17T11:48:03.721+01:00

It is funny sometimes. I think people are envious of the cosmopolitan lifestyle that my husband and I seem to lead. A few years here, a few years there, visits to 'exotic' destinations, experiencing the amazing cultural variety this planet has to offer from a resident's point of view. This is all well and true, but there is an underbelly to this marvelous lifestyle:IMMIGRATIONCall it

brittunianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-61299839893707958252008-09-02T16:42:00.000+01:002008-09-02T19:51:44.954+01:00

One Month of GuestsIt is somehow hard to believe that a month we had been anticipating for the last few months has come and gone so quickly. Nearly the entire month of August has brought German friends and family - some we haven't seen in over two years-I have become so accustomed to the solitary and quiet life of a freelance writer, I was not able to keep up my normal routine that I have

brittunianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-5579774014416556022008-08-13T15:59:00.009+01:002008-08-14T12:13:20.180+01:00

Yes, I was AWOL again, but it was in the name of writing and more importantly, having fun while. My DH was lovely enough to get up with me at 4am last Monday and take me to the train station, from which I made the four-hour journey to Glasgow Central Station. I was ecstatically greeted by my dearest of friends, Lisa, who hosted me at her new (to me) flat on the south side of Glasgow for an entire

brittunianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-86009481303408166212008-08-01T15:46:00.001+01:002008-08-01T16:30:06.963+01:00

While we were still living in Vancouver, I started looking for some vegetarian bean spreads for our evening Brotzeit or 'bread time' - low fat protein, baby. So I bought a bag of dried canelli beans a couple weeks ago at the Bury Market and finally decided to do something with them. So here are two of my own recipes just for you. Hope you like them and let me know of any variations you try out.

brittunianoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-90886369633007819072008-07-31T17:27:00.003+01:002008-07-31T18:03:40.915+01:00

Stranded in an Island KingdomI sent away my passport along with a huge stack of other documents confirming my identity and the authenticity of my marriage to an EU citizen to the Home Office nearly five months ago. I have missed two weddings of dear friends in Germany as a result. Matthias and I wanted to book a vacation and go somewhere warm and dry to drink cocktails with umbrellas. Not

brittunianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-20241078446579524162008-07-30T17:05:00.002+01:002008-07-30T17:18:22.046+01:00

Somehow it just doesn't seem accurate that we are only celebrating our third wedding anniversary today when we have really been together nearly ten years. I met Matthias when I was barely 21 and fresh off the boat from the States in Germany.In the three years we have been married, we have moved four times and two of those moves were international ones. Three countries in three years. The loss of

brittunianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-33370323104832627692008-07-29T17:35:00.004+01:002008-07-29T18:33:32.261+01:00

Here I thought I would be all clever and actually write a few posts in advance. But as luck would have it, I managed to post them too hastily, so I actually do have to write something today on expat life (I was hoping to cover that base with the post about the car boot sale on Sunday).My Daily RoutineTo give you a little idea of what an average day in the life of an expat freelance writer is like

brittunianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-85789426283197055402008-07-28T16:03:00.007+01:002008-07-28T17:01:06.078+01:00

Coming from a long tradition of yard sale and thrift store mavens, I can easily share with you fond memories of early Saturday mornings with Mom and Grandma. With a copy of the Thrifty Nickel in hand, we combed the streets of suburban Yakima looking for antiques and all sorts of other secondhand treasures. And, long before it became so überchic, I was digging through the quarter bin at The Plaid

brittunianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-1939527311308587132008-07-26T11:39:00.003+01:002008-07-28T08:48:02.065+01:00

It has been nearly six months since Matthias and I moved to Manchester and I have begun pursuing the creative life full-time. Slowly but surely, piece by piece, I have been building a portfolio and a writing routine. There is always an incredible amount of stimulus everywhere (if you look), but somehow it is a lonely road to walk if you don't actually have many interactions and the support of

brittunianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-84659054529075557762008-07-26T10:09:00.005+01:002008-07-26T11:31:28.499+01:00

I haven't brought you anything new in a while, but I have won new-found inspiration to post on a regular if not daily basis from my new friend, Stephanie aka Domestic Miss. She never seems to run out of things to talk and write about. She is right and I should be posting something everyday for the benefit of my writing and my lovely readers.So, I am brainstorming a topical rhythm for this blog as

brittunianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-66725375338638342902008-07-01T09:53:00.004+01:002008-07-01T13:40:55.030+01:00

Greetings from an almost blog slacker. I cannot believe that it has already been two weeks since I last posted or that it is already July. That means that Matthias and I have been living in Manchester for almost half a year now! God, how time flies.Writing:I have been keeping pretty busy with 'work' over the last two weeks. It really isn't work because I love the lifestyle so much. It is a

brittunianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-4474034370107866032008-06-16T14:12:00.007+01:002008-06-16T15:50:08.027+01:00

The last couple of weeks have been really great; flying past me incomprehensibly, but none the less good. There has been a lot going on, but at the same time not really much at all. But I am going to tell you about it - that is why you visit this blog in the first place.The End of an Era: Completing the Artist's Way and Textile PassionsAfter twelve weeks of journaling every morning and taking

brittunianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-35237628412053522592008-06-03T11:31:00.011+01:002008-06-03T14:39:11.304+01:00

It is practically unfathomable that it is already June. Time has flown by since Matthias and I moved here in mid-February. We must be having some fun. Even the last week and a half are just a blur in my memory. I can't seem to differentiate days or what I did with them. But I do know and I thought you might like to as well.Post-Birthday Recovery: It took me a couple days to recover from the cold

brittunianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-27094139149898806202008-05-29T14:35:00.003+01:002008-05-29T18:39:00.660+01:00

I had originally started blogging to keep you abreast of my life abroad while showcasing my writing when applying for gigs. But then I thought to myself, why the heck would any publisher want to read my personal ramblings?Since I started my excursion into the blogoshpere (or the world of blogs for my lay readers), I have come to realize how unfocused and perhaps confusing this blog may have been.

brittunianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-14480419001182412432008-05-19T13:24:00.009+01:002008-05-23T10:41:39.791+01:00

This is the most expensive cocktail I've ever drunken. It was a Bajan Mojito and cost 9 GBP/$18 USD!Well, if you must know, I do feel older on my 30th birthday. But that is due to the simple fact that I partied like a 20-something all weekend long: three consecutive nights of drinking, dancing, eating and very little sleep. One of my best friends came down from

brittunianoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-61153443902507645532008-05-15T13:21:00.005+01:002008-05-19T13:23:45.537+01:00

With golden intentions to take a much deserved break from writing, I decided to head into the city center yesterday. I packed my notebook to brainstorm and record my observations while sitting in some outdoor cafe, my camera to snap a few shots of the Manchester that I see and my knitting gear for the Absolute Knitters biweekly meeting at 8th Day on Oxford Road. I rambled down to Gatley where I

brittunianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-90645891872068670112008-05-09T09:57:00.000+01:002008-05-09T10:53:14.883+01:00

Let me just do something I have refrained from doing for the nearly ten years I have been automobile abstinent:  stick out my cyber tongue at all those people upset at the high prices at the pump. I will also applaud all of the citizens of cities like LA and Boston who are 'dumping the pump' and taking the subway to work for a change. I for one am over the moon that gas is going to $4 a gallon in

brittunianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-11206693365364337342008-05-07T16:20:00.000+01:002008-05-12T19:37:52.824+01:00

I just spent two and a half days reading through the last nine weeks of my 'Morning Pages', the daily journal entries assigned in Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way. Every morning before I do anything, I write three full pages of rants, reflections, and revelations in a Mead Composition Book knock-off I bought at a loonie store. One piece of the additional weekly homework for this week (9 of 12)

brittunianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-37228718686492663902008-04-17T16:12:00.000+01:002008-04-17T16:32:48.520+01:00

Like so many other people in this world, I have a tendency to slip into "lack mode". I don't have this, there isn't any that, blah blah blah. It is pretty absurd when you consider what is happening in Haiti, etc, where scarcity is the only thing that abounds. That said, I would like to acknowledge the things in my life that I am so very grateful for.1. I am grateful for the abundance of love,

brittunianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-77473990671368726552008-04-15T16:02:00.000+01:002008-05-07T16:18:50.875+01:00

After spending the last two days researching two new story ideas and getting acquainted with my new software aid (OneNote, fabulous for electronic note taking!),  I spent some documenting all of my current projects on a site for yarn crafters called Ravelry.com. I uploaded some pics on Flickr and Ravelry. Interested in Britt's knits? Have a look: http://www.flickr.com/photos/brittunia/Let me know

brittunianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-84687973508290450242008-04-09T16:40:00.000+01:002008-04-10T21:28:27.591+01:00

...although I don't think it is perfection that I am after. I have spent too much of my life trying to be perfect and avoiding doing anything new for fear of screwing it up (as most beginners do) and looking bad. So, I wrote my first online content article today as a practice run to develop my voice and sense of style. It has been a while since I have really written anything of length or

brittunianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725346149854449070.post-82032181419065837212008-04-08T17:19:00.000+01:002008-04-08T17:40:11.541+01:00

Even though I have technically been here in Manchester since early February, I am just managing to get my ambitions of freelance writing off the ground. There were so many other fun distractions like cleaning our new place, venturing out into the Northern Quarter to check out all the hipster vintage shops, crafty and arty places; unpacking, organizing, and reorganizing; establishing a yoga

brittunianoreply@blogger.com2