Cardiff and ILR

Finally, the day of judgement had arrived.  I don't think I've ever been more nervous in my life.  What would I do if my application were rejected?  How could I pack up and move my entire life, everything I've ever known, back to the US?


The Young Dutchman called me the night before, both to talk about his CV, to reassure me as I was in a stressed-out mess, and to just pass the time as he was on the train back to London.  I'd been lying in bed just staring at the ceiling when he called, and it was amazing what an hour on the phone with him did for me. I laughed, I giggled, and when I finally hung up with him, I was at last able to get some sleep.  It's amazing what he does for me.

My alarm went off only a few hours later, as I was up at 5 AM to leave at 6 AM to catch a 7 AM train from Paddington to Cardiff.  I had enough time to buy some breakfast at the station, and then read and dozed throughout the two hour train journey to Cardiff.


As the train approached Cardiff, it began to rain, but as the sun was still peeking through the clouds, this led to the most extraordinary appearance of a giant, bright, clear rainbow in the sky over Cardiff.  At first I could only see a portion of it, but then came to realise that it was a giant half-bow, arching in the sky above me.

Was this an omen?  I had to think it was, and it made me hopeful.  I snapped a picture of it and uploaded it to Facebook, where my phone had been buzzing all morning with good luck wishes from friends.  I was grateful for their support, and it did buoy my spirits, to know that so many people were thinking of me this day.


I arrived at the station, and realising it was still a full two hours before my appointment, decided to walk to the Public Enquiry Office.  When I got there, I realised they hadn't been kidding about it being small, and we had to be called in one-by-one to go through security.  

When my turn came (it was now about 9:30 AM for an 11 AM appointment), the guy asked me if I had an appointment, I told him I did for 11 AM, and then he said, "I can't seem to find you here on the list.  Are you sure it's today, love?"   I just about died.  Can you imagine after all that effort, they'd lost the booking for my appointment?  Luckily, turns out that he was just overlooking it, and so he told me to go over and talk to the lady at window number 6 (it was just like at the DMV or at a bank, the way they used to be).  


The woman then had me hand over all my paperwork, asked a few perfunctory questions (like what my name was and if I had my mobile phone on me), and then told me to go take a seat, and somebody would call me to go take my fingerprints and take my picture.  About 5 minutes later, somebody came and did that, and I was pleasantly surprised when she was actually really nice and friendly, and the technology all worked!  (As this had been causing huge problems in Croyden recently, I'd been reading, so I was relieved when everything went smoothly, according to plan).  She then showed be back out to the reception area where I was told, "We're going to take a few hours to look over your paperwork, so why don't you go for a walk around Cardiff, but keep your phone on.  We'll call you when we need you to come back."

Okay, so what now?  In the morning there had been some lingering rain, but now the skies had cleared up, so I figured I should tour Cardiff, but what to see?  Luckily, on the train there had been a free "train magazine" (just like those in-flight magazines on airplanes) and I'd stolen it and brought it with me, because it had a "24-hours in Cardiff" article.  One of the things it suggested was going to see Cardiff Castle, so I looked it up on my iPhone, and off I went.  I walked along the battlements, read about the history of the Castle from Roman times all of the way through to WWII (when it was used as an air-raid shelter), and just tried not to freak out too much.  Although I have to admit, it was really an interesting history lesson, and I learned quite a bit about the Roman occupation of Britain, making a few notes to ask a friend of mine who has a PhD in ancient history a bit more about it.  Climbed to the top of the central tower, enjoyed a spectacular view of Cardiff, and imagined what it must have been like to live there back in the days when it was a cold, windy, leaky tower.  

Finally, about four hours later, my phone rang:  "Can you come back to the office please?"

So I went back to the office, and was told to go see the man at Window 1.  The guy there started handing over my passports and my bank statements, and I was like, "Ummm, so what did you decide?  Do you have any questions for me?"  And the guy seemed taken aback and said, "Nobody told you?  Your application has been approved!"  Hurrah!!

Inside the walls of the castle set up as when they were WWII bomb shelters

I called the Young Dutchman straight away (he was undoubtedly the first person I wanted to tell), and then sent a few e-mails to my cousins, who had been cheering me along all day long.  Reading their e-mails while I was touring the castle was definitely one of the things that kept me from losing my mind all day.  I then went and found a cafe to go answer a million work e-mails, and halt the process of applying for an extension to my work permit.  Seriously, the lawyers had been so panicked I would be rejected, the application process was in full swing.  I was just so relieved, it felt so wonderful to have the stress of being deported lifted from my shoulders! 

I sat in the cafe for a bit waiting for my boss to tell me how to get in touch with her, but finally she said she was short on time, and I should just go home and call her once I got there.  So I quickly grabbed some postcards for my brother, even stopped and got some stamps, and then went to the train station to see if I could change my train ticket for later in the day to one leaving sooner.  For only a £20 charge, the guy was happy to do it, and it turned out there was a train leaving in 5 minutes.  Raced up to the platform, and made it on just as the train pulled into the platform!


On my journey home, CBDG called, which came as a pleasant surprise.  Had he remembered that today was my big day?  I had to laugh, because he had not, and was just calling to ask if he would see me at the run that evening.  Still, when told the news, he whooped with delight, and insisted I had to come, so he could buy me a drink to congratulate me.  So I assured him I would see him after the run, although he was going to try to head home somewhat early, so asked me to get there as quick as I could.

Yet when I got back to my flat, first there was the issue of talking to my boss.  Gave her a call, and survived a reasonably long chat with her about a presentation I needed to walk her through, before at last I was released to go see my friends and celebrate my good news.  


When I hung up with my boss, I quickly grabbed my things and texted CBDG to tell him I was on my way.  I was in such a rush, that although I'd taken off my knee brace when I'd gotten home, I just threw the wrap in my bag, figuring I'd put it back on later if I needed to.  



Then, as I raced across the street, jaywalking as usual across from the Tube station, that weak, unprotected knee just gave way.  I was amazed at how fast it happened, where one minute I was running, and the next minute I was tumbling head over heels (literally, I did a complete somersault), and  bit the pavement quite hard.  


When I got up, people near me rushed to ask if I was okay, although I was more embarrassed than anything.  Mortified that I'd just done a face-plant in the middle of a London street.  Although also realising that if a bus had been coming, the whole accident would have been much worse.  I would have been road pizza, in no time flat.  This knee definitely needs to be fixed.  


As I got on the Tube however, I realised my fall had been much worse than I'd originally imagined, as I was literally dropping blood from the palms of my hands, where the pavement had really taken a deep gouge out of them.  (I would later find out from my MRI that I even managed to give myself some "bone bruising" with that accident, which is sort of like a fracture without a proper bone break.  So it was quite the spectacular fall!)


Alas I no tissues or anything in my purse, so I grabbed a newspaper to try and sop up some of the blood, which was now really going everywhere.  When I changed trains, a girl across from me looked horrified and offered to give me some tissues, but I assured her I was just about to get off and go to a Boots.  

When I arrived at Baker Street however, this plan was for naught, as the Boots was already shut!  In a panic about what to do, I suddenly remembered that the Weatherspoons right by the station had bathrooms you could get to without going into the main pub (advantages of having an excessive familiarity with pubs all over London!)  I dashed in, although then noted with frustration that it had only hand dryers, and no paper towels.  So grabbed a roll of toilet paper out of the loo, and then cleaned my hands and knees up the best I could.  My left knee was still bleeding badly, so I wrapped it with toilet paper as a temporary bandage, and then wrapped my knee brace around it.  Thank goodness I'd brought it, at least!  


Finally figuring I didn't at least look like a bleeding mess, I then went over to the pub where the hash was, and found them all outside having their end-of-run circle.  I caught CBDG's eye, but I never even got to go over and say hello, for once I was spotted, I was pulled into the middle of the circle while the entire group sang a rousing chorus of "God Save the Queen".  Made me feel happy and loved.  


Once at the bar, CBDG insisted on buying me a drink to celebrate, and so I stood chatting to him, using the cool pint of Guinness to try and soothe the raging wound on my hand.  


We normally trade off rounds, but at the next round he once again insisted on buying (still celebrating my good news), and as he went off to the bar, another woman congratulated me and said, "Well now you don't have to marry your admirer to stay here!"  I laughed it off, as I wonder how much people notice the two of us, but I suppose people are bound to notice that the two of us spend way too much time together...  I wonder if he heard it too however, as after that point he left me to chat with others for a bit while he circulated a bit more.  In truth, I think he's not quite sure what he wants from me, but it doesn't really worry me all that much, to be honest.

Finally, it was time to head home, so a group of us all headed home and caught the Tube, kisses all around, and I went home, happy, a bit tipsy, with a hurting knee but a very happy heart!