Last week in Blacksburg

The last week has been a bit stressful with the move. Everything had to be sorted, sold, packed, shipped etc within 10 days. Plus sorting a bunch of forms for the next job. Thankfully I sold all of my furniture. Which did mean for the last week I was sleeping and sitting on the floor.

My "sofa"

 And then there was all the cleaning. I spent Wednesday and Thursday (when not working) just cleaning. It was made more bearable with some music and a great bottle of wine!

Bribery to clean

 On my last day at work, the weather was gorgeous and I got some nice last pictures of campus.

Burruss Hall

War Memorial 

VT (and road works)

The campus is definitely the prettiest I have been on. (Minus all the current road works.)
For the past week I have been helping the VT police department with orientation, doing demos of the RAD stuff. I am really going to my police department and my friends there.

Watching the presentation

 The last night was exhausting but I managed to get everything done. And finished off in the morning.

My last BB breakfast

I got a lift to the airport from Nicole and we had a lovely lunch before checking in. (My luggage was exactly at the maximum weight.)

The first part of the trip from Roanoke to Washington Dulles was mostly uneventful though we did have some serious turbulence thanks to thunderstorms. And I managed to be leaving Dulles from a food dead zone it seems. The flight out was delayed. First, they hadn't stowed the luggage. Then the electrics kept crashing through the cabin and then the cockpit. They had some great movies but I ended having to restart and fast forward the avengers film about 5 times as it kept resetting. Then they couldn't detach the outside stairs from the plane. Thats a new one!

I was hoping to catch up with Caroline at Heathrow as we both landed at the same time. But you needed a boarding pass to get to where she was leaving from! :-( 

I am now home, after a lovely English breakfast in the sun (it has, of course, since clouded over), a shower and a nap. The main reason I am updating this is to stay awake! I have to stay awake so I avoid jet lag. Which considering I got no sleep on the plane is not easy! 

But it's good to be home even if it is only for a short time. :)

4th July Celebrations.

I have been trying this weekend to get everything done that needs to be done while still having a good holiday week (my timing with the move sucks) and seeing everyone I want to before I leave. And I think I have done pretty well. I have packed the boxes ready to go next week. And I have just sold my chair which, other than the bed which goes tomorrow, was my last piece of furniture. So the next week is not going to be the most comfortable but will make me appreciate furniture all the more in the future. Plus it's a lot easier to clean! (Or would be if I hadn't covered the floor with the things that were in the said furniture.)

Anyway, Cait asked if I want to join her and some friends for the evening on Saturday, Independence Day. I jumped at the chance not to spent the evening packing! Plus, I was secretly hoping someone would ask me to do something for my last (for a while at least) Independence Day. :)

Her friends were so lovely and I really appreciate them letting me join them. The food was amazing, though I only took a photo of the best watermelon ever. (Though Cait thought it was a gun. It is the US of A after all.)

Watermelon flag.

 After nibbles, I played my first ever game of corn hole. I have seen this a lot of tailgate parties (pre-game parties using involving truck tailgates oddly enough) but have never played. The idea is, in teams of 2, to throw the beanbag onto the board (1 point) or through the hole in the board. Cait and I lost miserably - we really weren't very good. But were having too much fun to care.  :)

Playing corn hole. 

After playing and eating, Cait and Lauren practice some of their Acro Yoga. Thankfully they know what they were doing and no one got hurt! It was super impressive. (I wish my balance was that good.)

Flying

The throne

No idea what this one was called but still impressive.

Deb also decided to have a go. They asked if I wanted to to and normally why not? I'd give it a go. But I have 3 flights int the next 2 weeks and really don't need any broken bones. Plus I didn't want to hurt any one! With my current weight and amazing grace (not!), that's more of a certainty than possibility.

Deb flying!

After this we went up to the deck ready for the fireworks. Thanks to the rain in the last few days, the bugs were out in force. I have (thankfully) doused myself in bug spray (I was not going through that again so soon) but I forgot to bring it with me. Cait went to extra lengths to avoid the bugs. 

The ghost that is Cait!

The fireworks were very cool. And, as usual, at the end, they just seemed to set everything off. The deck was perfect for watching the display.

After the fireworks, we rushed back inside to avoid the bug invasion and eat desert. And it was all gluten free so I was in heaven!
We spent a few hours playing card games (I now know some very cool new ones) and Taboo. It was so much fun and I spent most of the night just laughing. A great way to spent the holiday evening. I love all my friend here but I have been missing nights like this with people my own age, so it was great to do that and I really appreciate them including me. :)

Today I spent the morning skyping home, organizing next weekend and finished the boxes (now 90% ready to go - just waiting for the labels to be spent). And a few hours this afternoon with Cait and some of her friends playing Kickball and soccer at the Blacksburg Rec Centre. As there were only 5 of us, kickball was a lot more running than I have done in a very long time. It's basically a cross between baseball where you kick the ball instead of hit it, and dodge ball, so if someone can hit you with the ball you are out. So a lot of fun but with our small numbers, much running.

After kickball. we tried soccer. Much better as I installed myself in goal as soon as possible. You may get hit with the ball a few times (which I am fine with) but a lot less running. Plus they were very competitive. And like I said, broke bones = bad!

group photo, post soccer

We were all pretty tired (and hot) at the end. And I am definitely the less fit. :( they all do cross fit etc so this didn't come as a surprise.  But it was nice to get out.
now I get to spend the rest of the evening doing some more packing. Oh the joy! :(

Floyd jamboree

The past week has been crazy. My travel plans changed when I got the new job contract and I am now leaving the US two weeks earlier than planned. Which means I only have one week left to sort everything out. So crazy stressful. I have managed to sell nearly everything and early Friday morning finally got everything inventoried and the paperwork (excessive amounts of paperwork!!!) sent and shipping sorted. 

My apartment is a mess. (And actually now looks even worse as I have sold even more furniture so there is more on the floor!)

Chaos!!!!!

However the YMCA must love me. They got a ton of stuff and I still have more! It all has to go.

1/4 of the YMCA donations. 

 So Friday, after finally getting the shipping sorted, I took a bit of time off to chill out and watched some of Game of Thrones (playing season 5 catch-up). And on the evening I meet up with Steve. He was teaching in Floyd for a few hours in the evening, so I tagged along. We headed out early and went to get BBQ. We have been hearing about this place and it did not disappoint. It was only a truck stop really but the food was so good.

True south BBQ

With Beans, Sweet potato fries and the required sweet tea!

It was a bit uncomfortable as there were a group of guys standing by the truck near where we were eating, showing off their guns to each other. It was a true complete American experience. :-/

We had a bit of time before Steve's class so we grabbed a glass of wine, true southern style.

In the mason jar.

As Steve had to teach, I amused myself at the Floyd Country Store where they have a Jamboree every Friday night. The first band was gospel. The music was very pretty but I'm not really into religious music or gospel. 

Gospel

It was standing room only which was actually great as I found a stop near an AirCon vent. As it was so hot in there, it might have been the best spot!

Enthralled. 

I chatted the the couple in front of me who were lovely. And when they found a seat, they snagged me one too. :-)

The country is still a store, with the front section selling all sorts of interesting foods and cute signs.

The store

The second band were more to my taste, with some great mountain music. And at this point the dance floor was packed. I am not really sure about the dancing. It was, for amateurs, hopping from one foot to the other, and for the more advanced, doing the same with a few tap shuffle steps throw in. I decided to just photo it and not join in .

Second band.

Dancing

Having a great time.

Fiddle on fire.

Waltzing.

I chatted to lot of people and just lost out for the free cap for the the furthest travel to someone from Norway. :-( But the people were all so lovely and the music was fun. 

It was a good way to spend my last Friday night in the US. (This time next week I will be home!) I am hoping to weather improves before I leave. With the UK in a heat wave, it really doesn't seem fair we are having heavy rain! 

Leaving party and Sangria

It's a little early as I am not leaving for another month but a lot of people are going away in July. So Saturday night Debbie throw me a little party at her beautiful house. It was mainly my friends from the wine club and a few from Uni. It was the usual, bring food and wine and drinks will be supplied.

My food contribution - balsamic strawberry and goat cheese nibbles.

 Debbie even got me an amazing GF cake from Bollo's. It was so good.

My pretty (and tasting) cake

 And Jan spelled my name out in peppers on the salad.

Me

We got some lovely group photos too as I don't have many of the group.

Cait, Jan Me, Betty and Debbie

Walt, Richard, me, Bob and David

The wine club

With David 

Debbie and the amazing food display

Cutting the cake.

And nearly everyone went home with some of Richard's fractal pictures, which are seriously cool. Here are mine.

fractals

More fractals.

It was a lovely night, very relaxed and a lot of fun. Blacksburg hasn't been the kindest to me overall, but I have been amazing luckily and blessed to have known such a lovely group of people. :-) So definitely not all bad.

On Sunday evening, I went with Debbie to a Sangria workshop at Zeppolli's. It was fun even if some of the concoctions were not so good. I did like the one with jalapeños which was different but had some heat to it.

Make your own

Stephanie had made a bunch of pitchers which were very tasting and we got glasses to make our own. Mine just tasted like fruit juice, so were very nice, but I imagine very easy to get very drunk on.

My concoctions.

And it was not as easy as you would think. One of Debbie's, which sounded like it should work, really didn't. They looked very pretty though.

More colorful concoctions.

It was a lot of fun and put me in the mood for Tenerife as I can now officially say I have accepted a job there. It's only until December I think but still. Ready for Island living!

Summer Solstice 2015

Sadly I spent most of last week home sick, thanks to that large bug bite, which just got worse. And my body really hates it when I take antihistamines. When awake, which wasn't often, I couldn't even walk in a straight line while holding onto the wall. Thankfully by Friday I was feeling better and could stop the drugs. And I now do not leave the apartment with being covered in bug repellant! I haven't put pictures of the bite up because frankly it was gross! (And never google pictures of bug bites especially when you have one - it will freak you out.)

Saturday was another of Blacksburgs Summer festival. Last weekend was the Summer Solstice Festival. After checking the weather forecast, I went early, as it opened. It seems everyone else had the same idea. We are having a lot of thunderstorms at the moment, thanks to the high temperatures. I don't mind the storms. Some are very dramatic and they usually come and go quickly, refreshing things. Not so keen when caught out in one though, which has happened a few times. Soaked in seconds.

Anyway, the weather was good for the first part. The festival is great if you have kids; if not, it's nice to be outside. They have a lot of different stalls and displays.

Karate demo. 

I want to play 

Elsa.

I caught the part of flea circus again.

Starting soon

Showing me Paddy, the flea.

I didn't stay for the whole thing as I couldn't see much. Anyway I have seen it before.
They also had a petting zoo, which was free last time. This time you had to pay. So no thanks.

Llama

 They even had a Blacksburg Hackers group

Hackers 

Tech

 Like I said there are tones of things for kids.

arts and crafts art.

Water balloon fighting 

Marshmallow launchers

 The area for adults was near the stage and you could get drinks. But I decided at $5 a glass of mediocre wine to go for the cheaper lemonade instead.

Steel drum band

 I took a closer look at Black House as well. They have been renovating for a while and I haven't had a chance to check it out. It looks great.

Black House and Cultural Centre

 I only stuck around for an hour before checking out the Saturday market (and getting a great deal on fresh greens) and heading home. It was perfect timing as I was just getting home when the rain started. Later I saw Jurassic World and had dinner with a friend. If you haven't seen the movie, the dinosaurs are great. But be prepared for some of the more stupid scenes. And the characters in the original are 100 times better.

Today was my last time at RAD class. :-(

last RAD class

In the photo, I am hiding to the right of the Hokie bird, thankfully a little blurry - it was a tough work out and I look like it! I am already aching. Tomorrow... ouch!

 I think RAD may be the thing I miss most about leaving Blacksburg. I have loved taking the classes and helping out where I can. And the instructors are just simply awesome!!!!!! I wish I could stay in the States and take the course to become an instructor myself. Maybe sometime.