Nora from Illinois (US)

Hello, I'm Nora, from the US, specifically Illinois, that's SOUTHERN Illinois, which is nowhere near Chicago (it's about 300 miles away from us!).  I'm actually very close to St. Louis, Missouri.  I'm 47, at least for another month, married for 28 years, I have a 19 year old son, and a 16 year old daughter. (and two cats who rule the house!)  I'm a Registered Nurse, working 12 hour shifts in Obstetrics (labor, delivery, and nursery), which I enjoy for the most part.  We live in a very small town of 800 people, but are only 5 miles from a larger town of 14,000.  It's a very agricultural area, lot's of big farms growing corn and soybeans, and some dairy farms. 

I fell in love with the UK when I was about 12.  I don't know if it was all those romance novels that I read that were set in England, or maybe it was "The Railway Children", or those episodes of "Monty Python"!    But, it was all sealed after I discovered James Herriott.  I've just always felt this drawing, like I've been missing something, or maybe that I was just born in the wrong place...crazy?? maybe, but it's never gone away.

I've never been fortunate enough to visit, maybe when these kids are out the door, who knows?  But, this website has been one of my favorite haunts on the web for about a year or so now.  Thank you to everyone who posts their beautiful pictures, and for all your great forum posts, too.  I'm enjoying this little bit of England for now, until I can get there!

Nora

Hello Nora,

Welcome to the website.

Ray.

To make you feel at home and just for, here is a picture taken on the same railway line in north yorkshire where the 'Railway Children' was filmed.

Picture by Mick Carver

Hi Nora, welcome to POE!!!

I love James Herrriot too!!

Hello Nora, and welcome to POE! I am in Boston and am pretty sure that I have driven through Illinois on one of my many jaunts across country, but I don't remember much about it. Clearly I never stopped and spent time there!

Anybody who likes "The Railway Children", James Herriott, and lets two cats run the house is "A-Okay" in my book!

You must post a picture of your babies. I am one of several cat lovers on this site and we would love to see them! What are their names?

"I've just always felt this drawing, like I've been missing something, or maybe that I was just born in the wrong place...crazy?? maybe, but it's never gone away."

Not crazy at all, Nora!  I'm right there with you.  I think you'll find a number of kindred spirits here.  Welcome to POE, and I hope you get to visit the UK very soon.  I've been twice and I treasure every moment of those trips. 

Welcome to POE, Nora.

Of course you can come to England when the children have flown the nest, and here is how you can do it. Start putting your $1.00 bills in a bank account, and by the time your 16 year old has graduated, you will have enough money.

I visit England every year (except this year) because England is where I was born and bred. I are not very well off (at least not where money is concerned), so I save all my dollar bills starting the day I arrive back in the States, and by the time I go again I've got enough to use for spending money.

There, now I've rattled on and bored you to tears, let me again welcome you to POE. We look forward to getting to know you here at the forum.