My final days as the VA Representative for the United Kingdom

My final work day at RAF Lakenheath was May 20th and I was busy to the very end!  We had so many calls from people that wanted to get in to see me before I left, I had back to back appointments until I about 3:00 p.m. Friday afternoon.  My last appointment Friday was a really sweet guy that is from Arkansas, his parents still live in Manila.  I visited with him a couple of times during my tour and I really enjoyed meeting with him because it was always good to talk to someone from home!  It was amazing to me how many service members had been stated at Little Rock Air Force Base.  I met several people that were either being transferred to LRAFB or that were being discharged and going home to Arkansas.  I made several friends that I know I will be staying in touch with:  Trina, who actually graduated from Sylvan Hills; Andrew, who was discharged on May 31st and returning to West Helena;  and Melissa, the receptionist at Lakeheath has a brother that is a park ranger at Caney Creek State Park in Star City.  

I met a wonderful couple Jeff and Pam.  Pam is a veteran that is currently in receipt of VA disability compensation and Jeff will be getting discharged in July.  Jeff was so very interesting to talk to, he survived a combat plane crash.  Just before I left, he was notified by the Air Force that he was classified as a Wounded Warrior.  He will be returning to Virginia in June, so when I get back into the office next week, I will be emailing him with contact information for the OEF/OIF Coordinator in Roanoke, VA.

Besides Jeff, probably the most memorable customer that I met was a wonderful British lady, Patricia. Patricia is the surviving spouse of a veteran and had been awarded service connected death benefits.  When I first met her in January, she had not received her benefits even though she had been notified over six month prior that she was entitled.  There were problems with her address, so her benefits had been returned and were in proceeds.  With the help of Shireen, my Program Manager in Washington, we got her retroactive check issued and her monthly benefits started.  She was so appreciative to receive her retro which was in excess of $16,000.00.   Stephen and I went to Ipswich, which is located about 40 miles east of Lakenheath on the coast, and had dinner with her on Thursday, May 19th.  Patricia's mother in law lives in Memphis, so who knows, maybe our paths will cross again.

I will be going back to work in the Regional Office on Monday, June 6th.  It will really be difficult to adjust to being back in the office again.  I love the OMSC position, it reminds me so much of the "old days" of being a Veterans Benefit Counselor.  I love the personal contact with service members, veterans and their families.  I know that my job as a Super Senior is important in the office, but at times we get so caught up in the paperwork and numbers that some people forget that every file is a veteran.

For many service members, the OMSC is the very first contact that they have with the Department of Veterans Affairs.  The first contact is so very important because we never get a second chance to make a good first impression.  I will forever be grateful to serve the people that have made it possible to have all the freedoms that I have today.  My goal today is the same at it was on April 4, 1980, my first day of work at the VA, to treat every veteran the way that I would want my Daddy to be treated.  I can proudly say that I have the opportunity to fulfill this goal every day! 

Last but not least, I know that Shireen Lackey from Benefits Assistance Service in Washington, DC has been following my blog, so I have a special message for you.  Shireen, thank you for selecting me for this position and for all your support during this tour.  To any VA employees that have been following my blog, if you have ever thought of applying for OMSC and have questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.  It has truly be an honor to represent the Department of Veterans Affairs as an OMSC in the United Kingdom and in Okinawa. 

Now let me see....... I have to be home 18 months before I can leave again, so who knows, I may be luckly enough to serve at least one more tour before I think about retiring!

I will be making a few more updates to share my wonderful trip to Scotland, so stay tuned!

Cheers,

Carol

Exploring northern Wales

Sky and countryside when we first entered Wales

One lane road leading to the bottom of the waterfall and the B&B

In front of the Tan-y-Pistyall B&B Pistyll Rhaeadr.

All the white dots are sheep

One lane road going along the mountain

Another one lane road along the mountain

Bodnant Gardens, The Laburnum Arch.  Only blooms once a year for a couple of weeks.  We happened to be there at the right time.  I met a lady that went last year and just missed, so she had to wait a whole year to see it this year.

Cowyn Castle

Lake Vyrnwy - What a house on the lake!

Pistyll-Rhaeadr

Tan-y-Rhaeadr, B&B at Pistyll Rhaeadr

Church at Welshpool

Wales is such a beautiful country.  Beautiful mountains with sheep and cattle grazing over the VERY green fields!   You will be able to see from the pictures that many of the roads are narrow one lane roads on the side of a mountain!  Me not liking heights was a little scary driving!  The sun peeked out when we were arriving there Friday and maybe a couple of times Saturday, but it was pretty much cool, windy and a light sprinkle the entire time.

We decided that we would go straight to our B&B - Tan-y-Pistyll and check in before we got dinner.  It was down the mountain at the bottom of a four mail one lane road.  Of course, there wasn't anything to eat down there.  So we turned around after we checked in and went back down the road, January from the B&B suggested a pub called the Plough, we arrived there at 9:10 p.m.  They stopped serving at 9:00, so a man I met there had the girl call the other put in the village and they had already stopped serving, so he told us of a cafe that he thought was open.  He was a very nice man, he pointed to where he lives and said if the cafe is close come to my house and we will find something.  The cafe was open, but I swear, they literally microwaved out food.  I Stephen got "homemade lasagna" aka Stouffers frozen.  I had chicken kiev, I swear I have bought the same microwave chicken kiev at Sam's.  I shouldn't complain, it was food and we were hungry!  We told January where we went, she had never been there.  Stephen said how weird is it to only have three restaurants in your village and you haven't been to all of them?

Saturday morning I got up and read my book on the balcony overlooking the waterfall.  It was so beautiful and peaceful.  It would have been nice if it was a little warmer, but it was still beautiful.  After breakfast, we spent the day driving over the mountains to Bodnant Gardens, Cowyn Castle, and Vyrwyn Lake.  Let me tell you also, Wales is not the place that you want to let your gas light come on in the car!  Which mine did.  We looked on the GPS to find a gas station, it directed us to two different gas stations and they were both closed.  Of course it was 7:30 on a Saturday night.  Finally we went to number three on the list and it was open.  I was so relieved.  The gas light was blinking by then!

Sunday morning we got up and had breakfast and walked down to the waterfall.  We didn't climb to the top, with my ankle I didn't want to take any chances.  Stephen climbed part of the way up and took a few pictures.  The rocks were wet and slippery so he didn't go all the way.

My last briefing

Stephen and I had a wonderful weekend in Wales. I will be posting pictures soon!

Today I gave my last VA benefit briefing.  Part of me is glad because that means that it is almost time for me to head back home.  Another part of me is sad because that means that means that it is almost time for me to head home!  I will not be getting to do what I love most about this job, the personal contact with service member and veterans.  I feel so passionate about making sure that they are aware of the benefits that they are entitled for service to our great country!

The briefing today was probably one of my most fun groups!  They had a great questions and comments and were so eager to learn all they could.  I have practically memorized the slide presentation but, I must say that I think I am getting tired because toward the end of my briefing when I was talking about education benefits, what I meant to say is "active duty service members are not entitled" what I actually said was "active duty service members are not intelligent".  Of course as soon as I came out of my mouth I was shocked and totally embarrassed.  Thank God it was a great group because they thought it will hilarious!  I don't have a clue where that came from!

Stephen made it!

I picked Stephen up this morning at the bus station in Mildenhall!  He left home Tuesday morning at 10:30 a.m, and landed at 6:35 a.m. this morning.  He was about 5 or 6 hours late leaving Chicago, then there was a medical emergency so they had to land in Newfoundland.  After they sat on the plane for a couple of hours there, they flew to Boston.  The pilots had been working too many hours to continue to London.  He  hung around the airport in Boston for several hours until he was put 7:05 p.m. when he departed via British Airways. 

Yesterday I didn't even bother to check to make sure that the plane was on time.  I was so anxious to see him I hurried off to the bus station.  When he didn't get off the bus that he was supposed to be on, I almost panicked.  We had not come up with plan B.  I didn't even know if he thought to bring my phone number with him.  I called one of my friends and she got on the internet to check United Airlines, his flight said contact airlines for arrival time.  That scared me too!  My first thing to ask her, was had she heard of any plane crashes!  When I go in touch with the airlines it was 11:00 a.m., they told me the plane was supposed to arrive at 9:30, but it didn't and she didn't know the status of the plane at that time.  I went back to my office and continued to call the airline to try and get information.  About 2:00 p.m. Stephen called me on Skype, I immediately asked where he was and he said Boston!  WHAT???  All I cared about was the fact that he was safe!

Needless to say, when he arrived today he was tired!  He ate lunch and took a nap.  When I got off work, we ordered pizza and stayed in tonight.  It was so nice just to have him here with me!  I made him watch American Idol with me.  He made jokes the entire time - it was great!

We are going tomorrow after work to Pistyll Rhaedar, Wales for the weekend.  You should Google it.  There is a bed and breakfast at the bottom of the waterfall.  It looks wonderful!  I will post pictures next week.

Going away lunch

I had a wonderful farewell luncheon today with my Mildenhall friends.  They presented me with a beautiful picture of Ely Cathedral.  I feel very honored, the Director of the Airman and Family Readiness Center said she has been here almost three years and they have never had a luncheon or given a gift to any VA representative.  They have been a great group to work with, especially Angela, Nelz and Vic.  Thank you all!

Happy Mothers Day!

I hope all of you mothers out there have had a wonderful day!  It is has been a beautiful sunny day here at Lakenheath.  There has been a spring bazaar going on this weekend at Mildenhall, they had some beautiful things and great food.  I bought myself a beautiful pansy service for four tea set, it is beautiful with purple and yellow pansies.  It's is perfect for me kitchen!

Yesterday I went to a going away party for a couple of my co-workers at Mildenhall.  It is hard to believe that I only have two more days at my RAF Mildenhall office.  They are having a going away potluck for me Tuesday.

Stephen arrives on Wednesday, I can't wait!   I will be home 21 days from today!  Look forward to seeing you all then!

It's cold again!

We had a couple of weeks of beautiful spring weather, but it didn't last.  The temperatures have dropped back into the low 50's.  It has been dry and sunny, which is more than I can say for Arkansas.  I have been following all the tornados and flooding, it is terrible.  I'm saying prayers for all of those affected.  Only 27 more British days to go!

York

York Castle

One of the many gates to the city.

Walls around the city.  There is a sidewalk along the top of the wall.

York Minster built in 1100.

Purple guy - I couldn't resist!

York is a really neat city.  They have a wall around the city that you can actually walk on.  York Minster is a really big church.  They have an ordnance that was passed that no building can be taller than the church bell towers.

What happened to the warm weather?

The weather has been great here for over a week.  It was actually hot last week, in the 80's. When  I went out at lunch today, it was only 46.  This weather here is really reminding me of home, with the exception of tornadoes.  Thank God.  Everyone that has been affected by the storms have been in my prayers!

Harrogate and the Yorkshire Dales

My hotel in Harrogate, Hotel St. George, built in 1778.




This roundabout in Harrogate may have taken over the award for the prettiest roundabout.

 


Beautiful flowers in Pateley Bridge




Pateley Bridge, United Kingdom



Yorkshire Dales

Yorkshire Dales

When I left the base Thursday afternoon, I went driving around through the Yorkshire Dales.  It is really very pretty with rolling hills and green fields.  The road are winding - it reminds me a lot of Fayetteville, Berryville area.  It was hazy so the view was not near as nice as it could have been. I stopped at Pateley Bridge which is a really nice village on a river.  One of my customers told me that he likes to go there and go fly fishing.

Turkish Baths at Harrogate

Looking through the frigidarium (relaxation) room to the plunge pool

Last Wednesday I went to Harrogate to work at  RAF Menwith Hill Thursday and Friday.  Harrogate is a really nice spa town.  I went to the Turkish Baths, someone told me that is where they really scrub you.  Well, that is not what this Turkish Bath turned out to be! You first go into a eucalyptus steam room, then you take a plunge in a really cold pool, from there you go to the following rooms; tepidarium (warm), calidarium (hot) and laconium (hottest) that cleanse, relax and boost circulation. The session is rounded off in the frigidarium (relaxation room).  Temperatures in the baths’ hottest room (laconium) reach 66ºC (150ºF).  Let me tell you it was hot and the plunge pool was cold, but is sure felt great!  You couldn't have camera's there, so I was only able to sneak one picture!

It's hot!

I guess spring has officially arrived in the United Kingdom!  It was 26 degrees C at lunch today, that equals 78.8 F.  Seems like weather at home.  Fortunately no storms!  I am going to have to find some cooler clothes.  I packed for cold weather! 

I just found out this morning that a service member from here at Mildenhall that was due to retire on May 31st, was at his parents home in Alabama on leave prior to retirement when he and his father and his sister were killed by a tornado, his mother and wife are in critical condition and his two daughters are in very serious condition.  Everyone that has been affected by the storms all across the US are in my prayers!

FYI - 22 days until Stephen arrives and 40 days til I get home!  I can't wait!

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle, taken from the street in Windsor

The Kings Bedroom

Saturday I spent the day at Windsor, including a tour of Windsor Castle.  I love Windsor, there are so many little shops, cafes and pubs all along the streets.  I kept my eye out for William and Kate, but I never saw them!  It is hard the believe that the castle is the true residence of the Queen.  The tour said that she spends most weekends there.  The tour included the state apartments, which were out of this world, you couldn't take pictures, so I don't have much to show for that part.  I did sneak one picture of the kings bedroom, don't tell anyone!  I would love to see the part that they actually live in, I can't imagine it being as grand as the state apartments, but you never know.  It would be amazing to live there with children, they could literally get lost!  Of course I am sure that they had two or three nanny's looking after each child!  Anyway, enjoy the pictures. 

Lion King

I went last night to see Lion King.  It was amazing!  The costumes are unbelievable!  If any of you ever have the chance to go see it, I highly recommend.  It is Thursday and I am wondering what I am going to do this weekend, but right now I am so tired, I am thinking just to hang out and rest sounds so good.  But, I really can't waste a weekend doing that!  I almost have all my weekends planned from next weekend until I go home! Yall have a great weekend and I will keep you posted on my adventures!

Bath

Bath Abbey, built in 1499 on the site of an earlier cathedral that was built in the 8th century.



Roman Baths



Head of Minerva was found in 1727.

The Circus, built in 1754.

The Pulteney Bridge, construction was completed in 1773.

Bath is a beautiful city.  The Roman Baths are so awesome.  There are so many Roman ruins there.  I am sure that Bath was spectacular in Roman times! I was almost ready to give up when I finally found a parking place!  I kept telling myself that I had driven four hours; I was not leaving until I got to go exploring!  It was such a beautiful day; I guess everyone had the same idea!  I had written down all of the Post codes for all of the park and rides in the city, so I checked all of them out, the very last one on the list had some parking places, all the others were full!

Stonehenge

I went to Stonehenge and Bath this past weekend.  You will not believe what I did!  I was driving this little country road and came over the top of a hill and looked across the field, there was Stonehenge.  I reached out for my camera and at that very moment remembered that I forgot to get the battery off the charger!  Three and a half hours I had driven...Fortunately, I had my little camera in my purse, which had not been charged so I got about 40 pictures of Stonehenge and Bath before the battery died!

Lion King

I am so excited, ITT had a cancellation, so I get to go on the tour tonight to London to see the Lion King!

Rapeseed fields

There are beautiful yellow fields in every direction.  I thought the beautiful yellow fields were full of weeds, but I was wrong.  The fields of beautiful yellow flowers are rapeseed.  The rapeseed is made into oil, which is like a canola oil and is used like olive oil.  These pictures don't give justice to these beautiful fields.

Government shut down?

Who knows? I am not as concerned about whether I report to work as I am about the possibility of going home early.  We have been getting messages from our Program Manager in DC all week, everything from we could be "excepted" which means we will work and then after everything is over the excepted employees will get paid.  Or, we will stay at our home installation and not work and not get paid, or worse, be sent home - back to the States.  I can't come home yet, Stephen is coming here in 32 days!  I still have a lot of the United Kingdom to see!

Oh well, things always turn out the way they are supposed to!  In the mean time, I am getting up early in the morning and going to Bath.  I will probably stop by Stonehenge on the way.  I am taking my swimsuit just in case I decide to take a bath while I am visiting the Roman Baths!  Pictures to come!  Have a great weekend.

It's a beautiful day in the UK!

Wow, what a beautiful day!  It was 73 degrees when I took a late lunch this afternoon.  It was all I could do to go back to the office.  The one thing this base needs is some picnic tables.  Outside the Airman and Family Readiness Center at Menwith Hill, they have several picnic tables.  My back is feeling much better.  I am thinking that if I had a kidney stone, I have passed it.  I am scheduled next week for a CT scan, but if my back continues to feel good through the weekend, I am going to cancel the appointment.

I met another service member that will be getting out and going home to Arkansas!  He was stationed at LRAFB and bought a house in Cabot.  A month after he closed on his house, he got orders to come to RAF Mildenhall.  He is disappointed that he is being medically discharged after 13 years, but he is glad to be headed back to Arkansas.

The question of the government shut down is on every one's mind.  Will we go to work Monday is the big question.  I am thinking about going to Bath this weekend or maybe to Wales.  I don't have many weekends left and still so much to see!  I am supposed to be at RAF Alconbury Monday and Tuesday.  I had planned to meet up with Debra and Michael, but since I lost two weekends due to my back, I think I am going to have to travel while I can!  I will be going home in 53 days.  Which also means that Stephen will be here in 35 days!  YEAH!

One more thing to share, driving over here in the springtime is really hard.  There are just too many little lamb in the field.  I have a hard time driving by them and paying attention to the road.  I just want to look at the little lamb in the fields.  I don't think I mentioned before, there are pheasant all over the place around here.  They are in the fields and running across the road.  Thanks to Mary and Joel, I recognize them as pheasants and they really are beautiful birds.