[Belmont Babes]

Did anyone organise a leaving party for family/friends? I repeatedly get asked if we are having one? Not too sure what to do as there already seems to be a million tasks and also not sure if I could cope with it emotionally

[The Hodges]

Hi there,

We know exactly how you are feeling, so we didn't have a proper one as such, more of drinks in a pub, so it was much more relaxed and it was much more of an informal drop in.

And <<<<hugs>>>>> for the emotional rollercoaster yet to come.

These feelings went right up to the last minute - just as we were coming down the stairs of my parents house so that my dad could drop us off at the airport, I announced to my OH that I couldn't go, but I'm so glad we have... although, it doesn't make us miss our family and friends any less, but that's the price of love I suppose.

Good luck though and if you need any support, just let us know.

[Bruckner]

We did the same thing as the Hodges, drinks at a local bar in the area. I had visions of a great big blow out but we didn't have the time or energy for those logistics. In the end it was perfect.

Emily

[holland]

mmmmm, unsure whether to, as family have hinted that they would find it too much!!! Also, would cause difficulties with hubby's divorced parents, who wont be in the same room together...sad but true!!! We've talked and talked about it, and will probably have to take the expensive option and go for meals with everyone individually.

Poor do when parents put you in this position ( and are probably unaware I might add!!!!), but it wouldnt be worth the hassle of having to choose one over the other, the last thing we want is ill feeling before we go.

So, in answer to your question, would like one, but its not going to happen!!

J xx

[Sam B]

I booked a great old manor/farmhouse in Devon and everyone chipped in with the cost and brought food. It didn't take too much organising and it was a great weekend, really memorable.

[holland]

That sounds nice Sam B

[sizzlingbadger]

We saw everyone individually and had a special day out at a place where it held memories for us. Definitely found it easier than a big leaving do, logistically it would have been a nightmare with people different ends of the country :uhoh

If you've got everyone close by then a leaving do would probably be the way to go but if family and friends are spread out then it may be easier to do separate things, not always a meal out as we found better and more memorable things to do :nice1

[Sam B]

It was lovely, and because it was a long weekend, it meant that people were pretty happy to travel from quite far away. It's surprising how far people will come when they think they aren't going to see you for a long time - and when you're offering a boozy weekend in a cool place!

[The Hodges]

If you've got everyone close by then a leaving do would probably be the way to go but if family and friends are spread out then it may be easier to do separate things, not always a meal out as we found better and more memorable things to do :nice1

How could we have forgotton? We had a few in the end. One for each of our work, our friends and family one in St Albans, then one for the OH's family in Halesowen, at her sister's house. They were all informal do's, but did the job for us. Each to their own though.

[Familyofmonkeys]

We had various groups of relatives over to visit a few at a time, to see new baby/say goodbye all at once. They were all pre warned not to get emotional in case it upset the kids...and they were all very good:) We stayed with close friends for 3 days before we left...much less emotional baggage than being with relatives, and they helped us down to the airport too. They arranged a surprise meal out with a bunch of other good friends our last evening...and we didn't suspect a thing:D

[peebles16]

Funny one this cos partly easier to organise for us as our family and friends are all over the UK but feel it's a bit of a presumption to get them to come to us. However, can't see us being able to get round everyone before we go and folk seem to think we will organise something. Just don't know if have time or the inclination to organise some sort of do when trying to sell house, work, emigrate and parent two wee boys - oh if only I had a magic wand?!

[speckythecky]

My sister in law was doing a charity gig at her golf club so we gatecrashed as my leaving do for my side of the family. Unfortunately it turned out a sad occasion as my sister had some bad news to tell us. For Kim's side of the family we had a meal with her mum and dad and brother.
I went for a drink with 2 of my work colleagues and lunch with 10 others.

[Caroline and Dave]

Well, because we have lived in NZ for the last 6 months and have now returned to the UK until may 1st when we finally say goodbye to the UK for good, we decided not to have a leaving do. But now we are back in the UK, there are about a hundred people who all want to say goodbye to us and we really cannot see everyone before we go as we have far too much to do . So we are now having a do at the local working mans club for everyone to come and say goodbye. At least this will all take place in one evening as opposed to several weeks if we did not have a party.
And the good thing is, our friend is organising everything.


Dave and Caroline

[shakyle2906]

We didnt have one, which i look back on now and think was for best.

At the time, some of Stevens family suggested a meal, but his parents refused as they thought we were making wrong decision!

They also dont talk to my side of the family............so could have been interesting!!

Steven went out with his mates from work and i went out with mine, it was lovely but i was quite choked most of night!

It was bad enough saying goodbye to people as we saw them, then the family, i dont think i could have gone through with a party!

Sharon
x

[Lara Croft]

It was traditional for us to host a new years eve party, and since we were leaving by the 6th Jan, it meant it was also our leaving party, and it was great :) Sad too at the same time though, but a fitting farewell to our house, where we had partied so often over the years.

Also had a works leaving doo, and several other smaller get togethers with friends. For a couple of weeks, it seemed like all I was doing was saying goodbye to everyone!!

Jane

[benandclare]

We arranged to see all our close family members over the last couple of weeks and planned a drinks in a local pub, The Fox for the Shropshire folks.

There was a gang of us who used to go to each others houses and take it in turns to host and we went to Gills house just expecting the usual gang to discover another 20 friends to see us off :D :D

We found the emotional scale gets cranked up towards the end as we'd left our children and Mum's to last, a few tears that day to say the least.

Enjoy those last few weeks, I know we did and the memories will live for a lifetime
xx

[thezorbster]

We're not party people - we avoid them like the plague but we had a lovely picnic in a local park for all our friends so the kids could race around and the adults could natter. It was really lovely but very emotional. We saw family separately as we had a few days with each set of parents before jetting off.

[Kate D]

I did one big family thing which involved me flying back to the "frozen north" i.e. Scotland which was great but exhausting as I did all the buffet food etc. Having to co-ordinate brothers working shifts/weekends etc meant it was done a month before my departure and therefore less emotional which had a lot of advantages.

I kind of snuck off from work, very low key - not happy with a whole centre of attention thing, so just a quiet lunch with my direct colleagues, and a huge pile of donuts on my leaving day, and that was fine. For me anyway!

My friends are scattered across UK and Germany so it's been logistically too hard, and I haven't had the energy, although I'm squeezing in as many as I can between movers leaving and me leaving, mainly cos they have spare beds and I will be down to a floor only by then:-) And I'm making a lot of phone calls! I may regret seeing so few of them when I hit the rollercoaster trough again shortly after arrival, but I'm going with email and photos for a bit... I'm doing all of this in 2.5 months so my time has been scarce and I've just had to be pragmatic about what's possible, alas.

Kate

[Lara Croft]

Hi Kate - how's it going?

Jane

[KerryS]

My friend owns a pub, and she hosted mine. I was only leaving to go travelling for a year, but loads of people came along to say goodbye.

My main destination was Oz, and the pub had been collecting wine corks for weeks and when I arrived they were all wearing cork hats. She had got married a couple of weeks earlier, and the chef converted one of the tiers of her wedding cake into a goodbye cake for me too, and iced it as a yellow road sign with a kangaroo on.

I was quite emotional saying goodbye to such a huge bunch of amazing friends. They drove me to the airport the next day, and I slept all the way to Osaka on the plane!

[Genie]

This is a tricky one isn't it! When my sister emigrated to Christchurch 10 years ago she had one big party and a disco for all family. As one of the ones being left behind it wasn't as bad as I'd expected, emotionally I mean. In fact it was a great way to say goodbye to my big sis and her children.

Now being on the other end and being the ones who are leaving, we have chosen not to have a party as our families are spread out over Yorkshire, Norfolk and Bedfordshire. We are going to drive up to Yorkshire and have a goodbye meal with my family. Nick (OH) doesn't really see the need because we are only a plane flight away!

Still haven't told his Mother though. Waiting until the very last minute of opportunity. I suppose a phone call from the airport is too late?:exit

[Alan]

Hell, I could not imagine telling my mum too late before leaving as I think it would cause a real amount of bad feeling. Not sure what we will do but probably like you will tour the family outposts (there's not many of them) and then have a drink for friends locally.

[JandM]

We've been the Mum and Dad left behind, but were in on the plans from the beginning. Of course it'll depend on how families get on, but as we've always been friendly, had worked together etc., we'd've been hurt if we hadn't known till the last minute. I don't think I could be longterm angry with my son and d-i-l, but would be desolate to think I'd done something to deserve that after our previous relationship.

[actiongirl76]

I've got mine this weekend... a small do at my parents house for all my family and close friends :cheers

Mind you ... we leave in 3 1/2 weeks and all I can think about is how much packing and sorting we still have to do!

[lockstock]

We just hi-jacked everyone's Christmas and New Year do's:nice1