Immigration and Almost as Good as a Hug

Reed Global has received all the documentation from me that is needed in order to start the work visa clearance process. Sponsorship documentation from Essex County Council is what is being worked on at this point. Nothing I can do now but wait until that document is received. Actually, it will work for me if it takes a week to 10 days. Interesting to note that there was a call for me from London this morning, but I did not get the call. Where I am staying there is not dependable cellphone reception. They will try again on Monday. I will make sure that I am somewhere with better reception that day so that we can chat.
I have been taking care of personal business this week, tying up loose ends to prepare for the big transition. Along with that, I am visiting friends and family, exploring local attractions, meeting at pubs for meals with folks and reading travel guide of England. Throughout all of this I find myself thinking about how the whole transition will go for me. Will I miss home and family terribly, or just have momentary pangs of homesickness from time to time? I expect the latter will be the case. I don't intend to let it get to me too much. There will be too many places to explore and new people to meet. I think about missing the little dogs, now with my daughter, Emily. Then I think about getting a dog in England. Then I think about what I would do when I want to travel with a little dog. So, I'll postpone that option until I have settled in and traveled a great deal. I have corresponded with another Social worker in the US who is also going to Essex to work. She is bringing her two little dogs with her. It will take her several months longer to get there because of the dogs and the process of bringing them over. Sounds like a pretty big inconvenience, but I do understand the wanting to bring them along. If the little dogs that lived with me had no one, I would be looking at doing the same thing. But, they have a wonderful home with Emily and will be happy and healthy with her. She is going to send me electronic video footage of lil bear and nicky while I am in England. Almost as good as a hug!