“Alice? Where are you darling? Alice? Can you hear me?” shouted my husband Grant as soon as he entered the house. “I am up here darling...giving a bath to Eva...She is all messy!” I shouted from the wash-room upstairs. I could hear the sound of creaking stairs and there he was! It had been 5 years to our marriage and still Grant managed to charm me. We were proud parents of 1 year old Eva and were residing in Australia. Grant was working as a web designer in Sydney and I was on a break from work after Eva's birth. “We need to talk, now!” said Grant while breathing hard. I could feel the urgency in his voice. “What's wrong darling?” I asked with curiosity. “Come on make it fast!” He said. “Give me 2 minutes, I need to get Eva dressed.” I said. I quickly dressed Eva and combed her curly hair. After giving her some cuddly toys to play with, I went out to the porch where Grant was having his evening tea.
“Yes, I am all yours now. Tell me.” I said. “There is good news and a bad one.” “Good one first!” I said before he asked me anything further. “Well... the good news is, that I have been promoted as a senior web developer and manager in my company.” “Okay...I said, Congratulations! You deserved it!” and patted on his back. “And now the bad one, please!” “We are moving to UK in a week!” “What????” I asked “Is he your boss or devil?” “Oh come on Alice! It is a life changing opportunity; and UK is a great place to live in!” said Grant. My world was shattered! I couldn't believe what Grant had just said. I was in love with Australia. I was born here! Australia's breathtaking beaches, lovely weather, amazing people...I could feel it in my veins.
“Grant, please rethink, I don't like this decision.” “Did you agree to this stupid order of your boss?” I asked. “No. I haven't. I said I have to ask my wife and let you know.” “Thank God!” I took a sigh of relief. “You know what Grant, we are not going!” I put forth my decision. “Honey, please rethink, my salary will be doubled. We will be able to give a better life to ourselves and Eva. And UK is a great place” He said. “What's wrong with our ongoing life, Grant?” I asked with tears in my eyes and sat across the table with folded arms.” Grant tried his best to convince me. He was great at R&D and also had this invincible power of convincing me. He started showing me facts and figures about the UK and the cost of living. “It is a great place. Trust me. We must grab this opportunity Alice. I need your support.” “Grant, I need to think. Please give me 2 days.” I said and left to go our bedroom with Eva in my arms. I lulled Eva to sleep and started thinking about moving to UK. After an hour or two, Grant entered the room. I was awake. But definitely not in a mood to discuss the nightmarish decision again. I closed my eyes and pretended to sleep.
Next day, I got up and prepared breakfast for Grant before he left for office. We had a minimal conversation and he didn't even dare to utter a word about UK. After Grant left, I opened my laptop and started my research and listed out the most livable places in the UK. I thought about moving to the UK with an open mind and decided to sacrifice my love for Australia. All for the happiness of Grant and Eva. In the evening as the doorbell rang, I rushed to open it. I was feeling quite guilty about my behavior with Grant last night. I opened the door with a smile and hugged grant. “I am so sorry Grant. Let’s move to the UK.” I said. “Hey, are you alright Alice? Please don't cry. I love you.” he said. “How did my darling change her mind?” He asked. “I don't know. But I want great things to happen for us and I trust you.” I said. Grant smiled. He took Eva in his arms and said, “I think both my sweethearts deserve a treat today.” We went out and had dinner at the nearby restaurant.
“So if we need to move out within 4 days, we must pay the rent and call for an end of lease cleaning company in Sydney.” I said. “Yes of course!” agreed Grant. I always liked things to be clean and did not want the land lord to complain about anything after we left or hold us responsible for any damage. Thus it was a great decision to hire professional company. The cleaners arrived after two days and took care of the cleaning tasks quite efficiently. I was really impressed by the proficiency of the staff and the range of equipment they carried. And all this was given at low prices. I couldn't have been happier. Finally, it was a moment of truth. I bid good bye to our house with a heavy heart. Eva kept staring at the house. Perhaps, she was too small to understand the ongoing. But it seemed that she too did not like it. Grant patted my back and we left for the airport. After a long journey of 21 hours, we reached UK. And, I must say, I liked the place.
Grant's boss had already made arrangements for our temporary stay at the office guest house in Dundee. As the office guest house was not resided by anyone, it was messy and full of dust. I quickly called for a company providing commercial cleaning services in Dundee. They left in a matter of few hours and the place started shining like a new penny!
Grant told me that our new house was being constructed at Essex and he had hired the best of furniture suppliers, plumbers and an experienced interior designer. I just couldn't wait to see our brand new home. It was 7 hrs. drive from where we were staying right now. When we reached Essex, I couldn't believe my eyes. Our new house looked beautiful! I loved every nook and corner of it. The color combinations, the lightnings, the furniture, everything! “Thanks Grant.” I said. “Do you like it?” asked Grant. “I love it!” I exclaimed.
After a few hours, Grant introduced me to the neighborhood couple Andrea and John. We had a small conversation and I was informed that they were moving to the Brackley & Bicester area in the UK. They were moving and loading boxes full of stuff into their huge car. “What are you going to do with so much of luggage while you move in?” I asked. “Oh, nothing to worry about!” said Andrea. “We have taken a locker on rent from a company providing storage facilities and lockers. It is very safe” “It is strange how you have to move to a new place and get adjusted so fast!” said Grant and winked at me. “Oh yes, said John. We can't wait!” After they left, Grant, Eva and I moved back to our new house. “Do you like it here Alice?” asked Grant. He still wanted to confirm whether I was happy. “I love it here Grant. And I must say, someone has made a smart move!”
“Yes, I am all yours now. Tell me.” I said. “There is good news and a bad one.” “Good one first!” I said before he asked me anything further. “Well... the good news is, that I have been promoted as a senior web developer and manager in my company.” “Okay...I said, Congratulations! You deserved it!” and patted on his back. “And now the bad one, please!” “We are moving to UK in a week!” “What????” I asked “Is he your boss or devil?” “Oh come on Alice! It is a life changing opportunity; and UK is a great place to live in!” said Grant. My world was shattered! I couldn't believe what Grant had just said. I was in love with Australia. I was born here! Australia's breathtaking beaches, lovely weather, amazing people...I could feel it in my veins.
“Grant, please rethink, I don't like this decision.” “Did you agree to this stupid order of your boss?” I asked. “No. I haven't. I said I have to ask my wife and let you know.” “Thank God!” I took a sigh of relief. “You know what Grant, we are not going!” I put forth my decision. “Honey, please rethink, my salary will be doubled. We will be able to give a better life to ourselves and Eva. And UK is a great place” He said. “What's wrong with our ongoing life, Grant?” I asked with tears in my eyes and sat across the table with folded arms.” Grant tried his best to convince me. He was great at R&D and also had this invincible power of convincing me. He started showing me facts and figures about the UK and the cost of living. “It is a great place. Trust me. We must grab this opportunity Alice. I need your support.” “Grant, I need to think. Please give me 2 days.” I said and left to go our bedroom with Eva in my arms. I lulled Eva to sleep and started thinking about moving to UK. After an hour or two, Grant entered the room. I was awake. But definitely not in a mood to discuss the nightmarish decision again. I closed my eyes and pretended to sleep.
Next day, I got up and prepared breakfast for Grant before he left for office. We had a minimal conversation and he didn't even dare to utter a word about UK. After Grant left, I opened my laptop and started my research and listed out the most livable places in the UK. I thought about moving to the UK with an open mind and decided to sacrifice my love for Australia. All for the happiness of Grant and Eva. In the evening as the doorbell rang, I rushed to open it. I was feeling quite guilty about my behavior with Grant last night. I opened the door with a smile and hugged grant. “I am so sorry Grant. Let’s move to the UK.” I said. “Hey, are you alright Alice? Please don't cry. I love you.” he said. “How did my darling change her mind?” He asked. “I don't know. But I want great things to happen for us and I trust you.” I said. Grant smiled. He took Eva in his arms and said, “I think both my sweethearts deserve a treat today.” We went out and had dinner at the nearby restaurant.“So if we need to move out within 4 days, we must pay the rent and call for an end of lease cleaning company in Sydney.” I said. “Yes of course!” agreed Grant. I always liked things to be clean and did not want the land lord to complain about anything after we left or hold us responsible for any damage. Thus it was a great decision to hire professional company. The cleaners arrived after two days and took care of the cleaning tasks quite efficiently. I was really impressed by the proficiency of the staff and the range of equipment they carried. And all this was given at low prices. I couldn't have been happier. Finally, it was a moment of truth. I bid good bye to our house with a heavy heart. Eva kept staring at the house. Perhaps, she was too small to understand the ongoing. But it seemed that she too did not like it. Grant patted my back and we left for the airport. After a long journey of 21 hours, we reached UK. And, I must say, I liked the place.
Grant told me that our new house was being constructed at Essex and he had hired the best of furniture suppliers, plumbers and an experienced interior designer. I just couldn't wait to see our brand new home. It was 7 hrs. drive from where we were staying right now. When we reached Essex, I couldn't believe my eyes. Our new house looked beautiful! I loved every nook and corner of it. The color combinations, the lightnings, the furniture, everything! “Thanks Grant.” I said. “Do you like it?” asked Grant. “I love it!” I exclaimed.
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