I have totally revamped what I want this blog to be so have erased some posts that probably werent' read anyway as I never actively pursued followers. But here goes:
Today, Friday, should be a happy day. End of the workweek (a short workweek!) and time for parties. Only it is not like that with us, wow, it hasn't been for a very, very long time. We move up and down this ridiculous line that pulls us up and drags us back down. And all of it is bureaucratic and still no access to any kind of help in US or UK, the international 'gray' zone. Though all we want is to work and get out on our own.
For those of you who don't know, my husband and I lost both sets of parents: my mother and my father in law to cancer, and then shortly afterwards my mother in law and then my father of what seemed to be broken hearts. We then suffered multiple other setbacks after we tried to reach for our dream future and relocated to England from America. Suddenly all of our money and support was gone,we were supporting them we lost everything trying to ride it out and with not much help, and though it pains me to write it (again) we became literally homeless. We lost both family homes in New Jersey and our place in Oxford. Eventually our visa ran out and we had absolutely no where to go 'back home'. No one there had helped us through when things first went bad and there was no one there now. So we applied to the UK Home Office for a 'compassionate visa' given our rootless status and we waited. And waited. And waited. Friends here tried their best to help and gave us all they could and just when it seemed we really could hold on no longer, in any way, we begged again at the office of our St Albans MP Anne Main, to help facilitate our case and who went to bat for us via the new immigration service UKVI. We are so appreciative but even with her help we are at a standstill. A very cold and hungry standstill.
About several more months after Anne Main's office intervened, we heard from the UKVI, with what we thought was a notice that our visa could be here soon, 'here just fill out these papers, fill us in our your lives now that it has taken us almost 4 years in total and we will hopefully mail you your residence card finally'. We have been through this with the UKBA (before they were halved), have sent direct begging letters to the Prime Minister and Ms. May herself. No one answered us. In the beginning UKBA could have told us what to do, which may have halved this four year period, but who knows. All I know now is the MP's office intervenes regularly and UKVI doesnt often answer. And if they do, its only to refuse to expedite our paperwork due to my health. Which right about now is not very good. Or is it well? Sorry the stress seems to have affected my grammar.
Anwyay, here we wait. The loan has run out. So has any semblance of cash. The only thing I can force myself to think of is the worst thing I miss is proper tea, with milk...and sugar!
Keep us in your thoughts. If you know anyone looking for another good cause ask them to donate. Hopefully one day we will get through all this and reclaim our previous artistic lives. Right now I'd be happy for an artistic sandwich! ;p
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