Well… we are now living in New Orleans and loving it…. What a city, it’s so vibrant, alive and diverse, filled with friendly people. I think, that from my initial meetings with interested parties, the English Toastmaster services are going to be very much wanted in the Big easy.
Well we finally made it to the USA, even though we cut it a bit fine ( My visa was delivered from the US Embassy in London at 5.25pm (at a cost of £450) on the day before we flew at 9.00am ).
We are now firmly ensconced in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where the weather is warm and sunny at the moment but will get humid and warmer over the new few months. Getting to know the area a little and finding out where things are has not been much of a challenge as I have been researching for a few months using Google Earth to get around the place.
We both have iPhones now and are busy downloading Apps to make our lives easier and to stay in communication with everyone. Skype though, has been a boon for keeping in touch with family, friends and clients in the U.K.
I have added two more websites to the Toastmaster family as SE grabbers…. they are…. The English Toastmaster in the USA and The English Toastmaster in America
I am going to try to keep this Blog fresh now that the dust of our arrival has settled…. so more later
After many months of waiting, filling in forms, having medicals, etc., etc. I am having my final interview at the US Embassy in London in just over a weeks time and have already booked our tickets for the 18th March. We’re flying from Manchester to Atlanta, then from there to New Orleans ( A thirteen hour trip ) but we are so looking forward to getting to the States and starting my Toastmastering business out there. I will be sad to leave the UK but from initial response, it looks like the business is set to go platinum over in the USA…. Watch this space….
Had a great time yesterday with Lisa and David Wilkins as Toastmaster at their Civil Wedding at the Doncaster Racecourse. I had many great comments about the event from the Bride & Groom plus the Guests. Nice to see Rob Taylor doing the photography. Looking forward to seeing the photographs.
I have one busy week ahead…. Meetings tomorrow with two Photographers, Dentist, haircut and networking with other wedding professionals Tuesday, English Toastmasters Trafalgar Day meeting in Chelmsford on Wednesday, Charity Golf match on Thursday, Friday I am working on websites and Saturday I have a Wedding. Loving it….
Spent a very pleasant day yesterday at the Robin Hood Country Show.The weather held out and even though it was quite cool we enjoyed being out in it.
I spent an amazing three and a half days training last week in the company of Richard Palmer in Danbury, Essex.
I was privvy to more information about weddings whilst in his company than I could have ever have gained from reading books on the subject. I am primed and ready to perform my duties as an English Toastmaster and so much looking forward to moving to the States.
After a very informative lunch yesterday with Richard Palmer and Andrew Morgan, I am looking forward to the Wedding seminar this morning at the headquarters of the English Toastmasters Association in Danbury. A chance to meet other Toastmasters to exchange ideas and views.
The up and coming wedding fayre at Owston Hall Hotel Doncaster ( Sunday October 11th ), is set to be the finest exhibition of its kind that has ever been shown by the team at Owston.
There will be a supplier for just about everything you could wish for to make your wedding day complete. Especially for you, the fayre will be host to a cast of suppliers who will be on hand throughout the day to answer all of your questions relating to your wedding day. Just about everything you could think of from flowers to bridal wear, make-up artists to cake makers, transport to jewellery will be there and of course myself providing all of your photographic needs.
My bro ( www.iangreenfield.com ) says that as the sole recommended photographer at Owston Hall, this is the finest venue in the Doncaster area when considering your wedding day plans.
To view this fabulous setting for yourself see, http://www.owstonhall.com/
We have just had a very traumatic few days with the loss our old dog Ben. With failing eyesight and hearing, his back end gave out last week and he couldn’t get upstairs. He stopped eating at the beginning of the week and was getting worse and we had to make the decision to put him to sleep.
It was probably one of the hardest decisions that I have had to make if my life, even though I knew he was in pain.
He is in a better place now and not in pain but after 17 years together we shed a few tears at his passing.
R.I.P. Ben ( 1992-2009)