Happy New Year :)

[Cehrabehra]

Yeah okay - so I''m a couple weeks late... still trying to settle into the new house, new country, new continent! But I''ve been thinking about you all and wanted to stop in and give everyone my best wishes for a new year and hope you all had a wonderful holiday season!

Just poking around a bit I want to pass out my condolences to those who have suffered losses and sned out some strong healing vibes to ally and some congrats to John Pollard

Other than that I''m woefully behind here with no hope of ever catching up, but I would like to stop in now and again - I have to go look at the rings, I haven''t done that for a few months and it still excites me lol

 

[allycat0303]

It''s so nice to see you back on the board! Thank you for the well wishes. I can see your life has been crazy hectic these days. Keep us updated!

 

[bee*]

Are you in Ireland yet? Enjoying the weather?

 

[mrssalvo]

just saw this and wanted to say hello. I hope once you are settled you can come visit us more often

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Hey, Sara!!! Sorry I missed this on the day it was posted! When there is a lot of posting sometimes posts slip to the second page and then we miss them!!

I think about you now and then and wondered where you were! Please update us about your big move and stick around a little more!!!

There are a lot of things going on around here...come back and we''ll fill you in!

Great to see you back!

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 1/17/2009 2:13:32 PM
Author: bee*
Are you in Ireland yet? Enjoying the weather?

Yes - we''re here! Weather isn''t great but it''s the same or better as it is/was in Oregon so I have a hard time complaining. We were driving to Blanchardstown the other day and there was SNOW on the ground! We didn''t get any where I live. We moved to Straffan which is between celbridge and clane, north of naas. You said you lived on the other side of town, and well - that''s water! I''m guessing you live to the south? It seems there is more bulk of city extending to the south than to the north but we''ve not ventured out too far yet. We didn''t get our things until the weekend before christmas and with the holiday and getting the kids settled in school and their books and uniforms (bloody expensive!!), it''s been a process. I''m learning how to say, "not a bother" and "isn''t that grand" hehe

I saw a line in my diamond yesterday and freaked out and swore that if it wasn''t a fracture that I''d not wear it again until I got it insured. I need to make a point of doing that. We looked into getting it insured with out household insurance but I''m thinking with china around the corner setting ourselves up with chubb may be a better choice, especially if they don''t require me to get another appraisal because I can replace it in the states. That was one thing that got me was that I''d have to have it totally appraised for a different amount because of both the euro and because of european availability for a stone like that - cost etc. I know I''ve seen frozen spit for way more than you''d find a decent diamond for in the states so maybe I''m looking at the wrong places or jewelry is very expensive here!!!

Anyway, that''s in my head, that and hoping that we get a decent weekend so I can venture down to cork. We have all of our immigration paperwork settled also so we can leave the country as well which I''d like to do asap as this is my first time in Europe!

Oh, and the line was just dirt of some sort, of course. I can''t use my ultrasonic here so I didn''t bring it. It looks better with a good toothbrush scrubbing, but not picture perfect (you know how psers love their close ups lol) without the us. Oh - and some day I''m cleaning it at one of those public bathrooms with those insane handblowers - not a spot I''m sure! LOL

 

[Cehrabehra]

Ally - so glad to see you are doing so much better! What a scare!! I can''t imagine what the girls were feeling who read it the day your hockeybeau posted about it.

MrsS - Thank you so much I''ll be around at least periodically. I still stare at my diamond way too much and I have realized having it on my finger hasn''t cured me LOL

DS - okay now I''m curious - what have I missed??? oh and ((((hugs)))) Thanks for everything!

 

[AmberGretchen]

Cehra - welcome back and Happy New Year - sounds like it will be one of adventure for you and your family - can''t wait to hear all about it

 

[Miranda]

Happy New Year!!! Congrats on the big move!

 

[Eva17]

Cehra, happy new year to you and your family! what a wonderful adventure your family has taken on. I hope you love every minute of it!!!

please keep us posted on all your new stories and experiences. as dr. seuss wrote, "oh, the places you you''ll go"!!

 

[tlh]

I love those blowers!!! They are insane... now THAT is an idea!!!

Congrats on the move, sounds like you are getting settled in!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Unreal, Sara! Ireland, how wonderful!!! And what did you mean about China? Are you going there, too??????????

I guess the biggest news around here in the last few months (and I am not sure when you last checked in so you may already know) is that John Pollard left WF to go to work for Paul at Infinity and Brian and Leslie have left WF to do something as yet undisclosed! And we found out that Leslie is Brian''s wife!

Most of the regulars are still around here. I haven''t bought anything new lately. Did you keep your ring as it was or did you have it altered like you had envisioned? It is beautiful either way, I am sure!

 

[bee*]

Date: 1/21/2009 1:58:17 PM
Author: Cehrabehra

Date: 1/17/2009 2:13:32 PM

Author: bee*

Are you in Ireland yet? Enjoying the weather?

Yes - we''re here! Weather isn''t great but it''s the same or better as it is/was in Oregon so I have a hard time complaining. We were driving to Blanchardstown the other day and there was SNOW on the ground! We didn''t get any where I live. We moved to Straffan which is between celbridge and clane, north of naas. You said you lived on the other side of town, and well - that''s water! I''m guessing you live to the south? It seems there is more bulk of city extending to the south than to the north but we''ve not ventured out too far yet. We didn''t get our things until the weekend before christmas and with the holiday and getting the kids settled in school and their books and uniforms (bloody expensive!!), it''s been a process. I''m learning how to say, ''not a bother'' and ''isn''t that grand'' hehe


I saw a line in my diamond yesterday and freaked out and swore that if it wasn''t a fracture that I''d not wear it again until I got it insured. I need to make a point of doing that. We looked into getting it insured with out household insurance but I''m thinking with china around the corner setting ourselves up with chubb may be a better choice, especially if they don''t require me to get another appraisal because I can replace it in the states. That was one thing that got me was that I''d have to have it totally appraised for a different amount because of both the euro and because of european availability for a stone like that - cost etc. I know I''ve seen frozen spit for way more than you''d find a decent diamond for in the states so maybe I''m looking at the wrong places or jewelry is very expensive here!!!


Anyway, that''s in my head, that and hoping that we get a decent weekend so I can venture down to cork. We have all of our immigration paperwork settled also so we can leave the country as well which I''d like to do asap as this is my first time in Europe!


Oh, and the line was just dirt of some sort, of course. I can''t use my ultrasonic here so I didn''t bring it. It looks better with a good toothbrush scrubbing, but not picture perfect (you know how psers love their close ups lol) without the us. Oh - and some day I''m cleaning it at one of those public bathrooms with those insane handblowers - not a spot I''m sure! LOL

lol about the isn''t it grand!! You''re obviously fitting in well!! Yep I live on the southside of Dublin. Blanchardstown is only about 20 minutes away on the M50 when there''s no traffic so it''s not a huge distance away. It''s definitely really expensive over here, hence the reason I got my e-ring in New York. Cork is good fun but I much prefer Kerry-if you go around Dingle and the Dingle Peninsula-it''s gorgeous. Sorry to hear about your ring! Give me a mail if you need anything at all. Have you sampled the pub life at all yet?

 

[zoebartlett]

Sara -- hi!

It''s good to hear from you!

I has read your thread a while back where you talked about moving to another country, but I thought you were considering moving to Japan (or somewhere in Asia). Was I wrong?

I''d love to hear more about how you finally decided to move and the moving process was/is like. It always fascinates me when I hear about people moving to another country.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 1/21/2009 4:42:24 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
Unreal, Sara! Ireland, how wonderful!!! And what did you mean about China? Are you going there, too??????????

I guess the biggest news around here in the last few months (and I am not sure when you last checked in so you may already know) is that John Pollard left WF to go to work for Paul at Infinity and Brian and Leslie have left WF to do something as yet undisclosed! And we found out that Leslie is Brian''s wife!

Most of the regulars are still around here. I haven''t bought anything new lately. Did you keep your ring as it was or did you have it altered like you had envisioned? It is beautiful either way, I am sure!

I read about John but I had no idea about brian and leslie!! And I had no about Brian AND Leslee hehe - wow! Best kept secret I guess!

I got inspired to make a new avatar so I took some pictures but - they''re so horridly ugly - they''re so dirty!!!!! I thought I did a good job cleaning them too but no ultrasonic for the past 2 months is just sad

I got one picture that at least doesn''t show the grime.

No, no alterations on the ring and probably won''t for a few years... what I had invisioned is the ring looking like it had 3 distinct bands - two diamond bands with milgrain on either side like psudo eternity bands and the center section raised just slightly with it like cut between the two bands to give the illusion of 3 bands. It looks really wonderful the way it is, and I do love it - but it is much more like a right hand ring to me than what I had hoped for. I wanted just one ring but I wanted it to look like 3 from the top. I think the ring can be tweaked without starting over. That said I do see where she was going and I really, genuinely, like that as well so I''m enjoying that for the time being. I''ve only had it just over a year so I''m not quite ready to part with it again LOL There''s no hurry at all, I may never change it.

 

[Harriet]

Hey, you!

 

[Cehrabehra]

I also just wanted to add that in the past year with my travels around the world and living with it on my finger and NOT posting here has given me a very grateful perspective on the whole thing. I don''t feel that lust like I did, I just feel very fortunate to have what I *do* have and the desire to have something more or different seems so irrelevant in the face of what others don''t have at all.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Hi Zoe We''re moving to China sometime later this year. Was supposed to be July but then they started talking Oct and now I''ve heard Dec and even Jan. Ugh!! I mean there are worse places to spend 6 months than in Ireland but the up in the air stuff and the kids'' schooling is a bit of an inconvenience LOL

How are you doing?

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 1/21/2009 5:43:44 PM
Author: bee*

lol about the isn''t it grand!! You''re obviously fitting in well!! Yep I live on the southside of Dublin. Blanchardstown is only about 20 minutes away on the M50 when there''s no traffic so it''s not a huge distance away. It''s definitely really expensive over here, hence the reason I got my e-ring in New York. Cork is good fun but I much prefer Kerry-if you go around Dingle and the Dingle Peninsula-it''s gorgeous. Sorry to hear about your ring! Give me a mail if you need anything at all. Have you sampled the pub life at all yet?

I''m closer to you than Blanchardstown then - you must not be too far from naas. Dingle Peninsula? haha it sounds funny ;D Speaking of, I''m getting a real kick out of the local pronunciation of "third" hehehe. We even made up a joke! "What comes after the December Feast?" "The January 3rd" hahaha okay so it''s lame, but my kids helped make it hehe

And no worries on the ring - it was just dirt!! And since I have cleaned the bloody hell out of it to no avail. I walked into a jewelry store and asked if they do free cleanings and they said they have to send it IN just to clean it! Yikes!!!! So it''s still dirty for now.

And yes, there''s a pub right here in straffan (not much else though) and we''ve been to a few others. My friend back home is a pub quiz quizmaster and she''s sent me on quest to go to one here but I have not yet found any. Know of any?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Wow, Sara! Six months in Ireland and then China!!! Did your husband''s company send him or did he change to a new career? How long is the China assignment? Phoenix is about to move to Shanghai, so it would be pretty amazing if you two could meet up there!

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 1/22/2009 6:47:46 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
Wow, Sara! Six months in Ireland and then China!!! Did your husband''s company send him or did he change to a new career? How long is the China assignment? Phoenix is about to move to Shanghai, so it would be pretty amazing if you two could meet up there!

Yeah, he took a position in China and the training for it is here in Ireland. It is looking more like a year here now.

I have a friend who is in Shanghai and has been for the past 4 years. She''s coming home this summer though. We''d talked about meeting up there (I haven''t seen her in as many years) but they''ve decided they''ve had enough and are moving home and building a house.

I''m going to be in Dalian which is quite a distance from Shanghai, but I hear the railway service in China is very inexpensive, plus we will get at least one trip a year to do "shopping" in the big cities so we''ll rotate between beijing, hong kong, and shanghai. I''m really excited for that part to start!

I do love it here in Ireland except for the kids'' school. We have so many issues with that I could start another thread, but there''s really not anything we can do about it so it''d just be a lot of complaining lol

How are you doing DS? Is that a new band? what happened to the memoire?

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 1/22/2009 2:07:35 PM
Author: Harriet
Hey, you!

he he heh ;D

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Sara, I don''t know if you remember this, but our youngest child is adopted from China, so it certainly is a special place for us! I hope to eventually go back.

The ring in the avatar is the 2mm Tiffany Legacy band. It is much more delicate looking than it looks in that picture. I just needed a little milgrain, too!

I honestly like it better with the diamond e-ring than the Memoire band. I guess it is just more "me". I still wear the Memoire band alone when I don''t want to wear the set, though.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 1/23/2009 10:22:30 AM
Author: diamondseeker2006
Sara, I don''t know if you remember this, but our youngest child is adopted from China, so it certainly is a special place for us! I hope to eventually go back.


The ring in the avatar is the 2mm Tiffany Legacy band. It is much more delicate looking than it looks in that picture. I just needed a little milgrain, too!

I honestly like it better with the diamond e-ring than the Memoire band. I guess it is just more ''me''. I still wear the Memoire band alone when I don''t want to wear the set, though.

I didn''t know that DS! What part of China is she (I''m assuming a girl) from? It''s a gorgeous country, I was very impressed by it and amazed at how many preconceived ideas went flying away when I was actually there.

BTW when we went to disney last year I got a fake eternity band to just wear so I could leave my ring at home and I totally loved it and now I want one. I have 2 years to go to our 20th so I''m not saying anything about it for a while. DH is still in shock he spent so much on this ring LOL

 

[Harriet]

Date: 1/23/2009 3:15:07 AM
Author: Cehrabehra

Date: 1/22/2009 2:07:35 PM
Author: Harriet
Hey, you!

he he heh ;D

Uh oh. Are we up to no good again?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

She is from Hunan Province, Yueyang city. We spent time in Changsha, Yueyang, Guangzhou, and places in between during our two week trip. We did not go to the typical tourist places, but you know, I feel like we saw the real China for two weeks, and I have no regrets about that. It was certainly the trip of a lifetime.

 

[bee*]

Date: 1/22/2009 2:16:53 PM
Author: Cehrabehra

Date: 1/21/2009 5:43:44 PM

Author: bee*


lol about the isn''t it grand!! You''re obviously fitting in well!! Yep I live on the southside of Dublin. Blanchardstown is only about 20 minutes away on the M50 when there''s no traffic so it''s not a huge distance away. It''s definitely really expensive over here, hence the reason I got my e-ring in New York. Cork is good fun but I much prefer Kerry-if you go around Dingle and the Dingle Peninsula-it''s gorgeous. Sorry to hear about your ring! Give me a mail if you need anything at all. Have you sampled the pub life at all yet?

I''m closer to you than Blanchardstown then - you must not be too far from naas. Dingle Peninsula? haha it sounds funny ;D Speaking of, I''m getting a real kick out of the local pronunciation of ''third'' hehehe. We even made up a joke! ''What comes after the December Feast?'' ''The January 3rd'' hahaha okay so it''s lame, but my kids helped make it hehe


And no worries on the ring - it was just dirt!! And since I have cleaned the bloody hell out of it to no avail. I walked into a jewelry store and asked if they do free cleanings and they said they have to send it IN just to clean it! Yikes!!!! So it''s still dirty for now.


And yes, there''s a pub right here in straffan (not much else though) and we''ve been to a few others. My friend back home is a pub quiz quizmaster and she''s sent me on quest to go to one here but I have not yet found any. Know of any?

You''re in Straffan? I''m about 30 mins on the motorway from Straffan. Yep there''s not much there at all though, apart form the mandatory pub and probably a church. You''ll see if you''re travelling that every single tiny town in Ireland will have a Church and at least two pubs, even if there''s only about 4 houses in the village

I''m not sure about the pub quizes-we used to always go to one in Rathfarnham (South Dublin) but I''m not sure if it''s still on any more. I''m sure there has to be some on in town (Dublin city centre!). Wait until you hear the Cork accent!

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 1/23/2009 12:23:34 PM
Author: bee*

You''re in Straffan? I''m about 30 mins on the motorway from Straffan. Yep there''s not much there at all though, apart form the mandatory pub and probably a church. You''ll see if you''re travelling that every single tiny town in Ireland will have a Church and at least two pubs, even if there''s only about 4 houses in the village

I''m not sure about the pub quizes-we used to always go to one in Rathfarnham (South Dublin) but I''m not sure if it''s still on any more. I''m sure there has to be some on in town (Dublin city centre!). Wait until you hear the Cork accent!

We have a pub, a market, a butcher and TWO churches, thank you very much! LOL And the market has a post office! We''ve hit the big time! Plus a fancy restaurant at k club if you want to spend 60+ euro a person for an under portioned meal... I plan to take my daughter there for desert or tea sometime as an excuse to go in there and look around.

I have a major case of the blues - the weather is getting to me the past week and I''m feeling lonely. I''m looking forward to the long summer days very much as well as getting out and getting about the rest of the EU.