It's been awhile....

Maximizing London - Appreciating Tower Bridge

Blenheim Palace - The Birthplace of Winston Churchill

It's been awhile since I've had the time or energy to blog. I've been wanting to but then everytime I remember, I get distracted with 20 other things. Since January I feel like every day is jam packed and flying by. Now we're at the 3 months left mark - I can't believe it! Every day has been bittersweet, appreciating all the amazing things London has to offer and yet looking forward to change (especially in weather!) Since it's been a few years since I've lived in the Middle East, and since hubby has never been to the Middle East, we've both been taking Arabic lessons. The free distance learning classes via State have worked out for the hubby. Meanwhile, through the UK version of Craigslist (gumtree) I've found a pretty good Arabic tutor who I've been visiting regularly. In between Arabic lessons, busy days on the visa line, and trying to squeeze the most out of our last days in London - I've been exhausted! Work has been busy and we've had 2 visits, from Vice President Biden and Secretary Kerry. President Obama will be in the neighborhood in June for the G8 but by then I will be too swamped getting ready to leave London.

London Transport Museum

While most FSOs get time back in DC in between tours for language training, functional training, etc, we're getting a couple of weeks, which is an upgrade for us. Originally we were supposed to head to Cairo after less than a week in DC for meetings. A few weeks back I heard from HR that I am now required to take what FSOs call "crash bang," a security course for high threat posts. The upside to this is that we get some more time in DC to hang out and catch up with people. So now we'll have 6 weeks in the US before we head to Cairo in early August. Just in time for Eid and the full heat. It still makes me laugh sometimes when I think about moving from rainy and dreary London (especially so lately) to sunny and hot Cairo. Our wardrobes are going to look different later this year, that's for sure! I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to pack for summer in the US, summer in Cairo and appropriate dress for all the different events we'll be going to in 4 suitcases and 2 carry-ons.

Schizo London weather - mostly rain with a hint of sun

It's like the closer we get to our TED (departure date), the more I appreciate things about London that I've taken for granted this past couple of years. I even had a moment in the grocery store today where I turned to hubby and was like "Oh my god what are we going to do without all this variety in Cairo??" Ha colleagues and friends at work love reminding me that we've been living Foreign Service Light this tour. One thing is for sure - we are looking forward to not being broke our next tour!!