[LesleyS]

I'm sure it's all part of the plan, but 4 days before departure and I don't know whether I'm coming or going! :no
The apartment is in a complete mess - boxes, bags, suitcases, holdalls, bin bags etc litter every nook and cranny of this tiny space. John Mason's coming Friday.

My car has been sold (which is good news I know) :clap rental car coming tomorrow. The dog is having it's final blood tests today, and just realised we have no car to get her to the vets!! oops! :(

OH is driving me completely bonkers by offering to do favours for friends when it should be the other way round!

Keep losing my handbag with all the tickets, passports and foreign currency in!! (buried under piles of un-ironed washing - and that's the way it will have to stay, the washing that is!)
Keep remembering really important things to still do/get and getting into a complete panic - Sunscreeen etc!

Any chance of a gourmet meal cooked here is out of the question - last night it was our favourite Indian takeaway, and tonight it's sausages, chips and beans....honest!

Gotta sign off now as must sort out the dog's blanket, bowls and food portions for her stay with Golden Arrow.

If I arrive in New Zealand looking like a deranged alcohol dependant loony - you'll be able to spot me immediately I hope? :yes

[Mickstim]

[/QUOTE]If I arrive in New Zealand looking like a deranged alcohol dependant loony - you'll be able to spot me immediately I hope? :yes[/QUOTE]

Lesley - If my experience of NZ is anything to go by you'll fit right in!! Madness and chaos I know, but very very exciting for you. Good luck with the last few days and say 'hi' to Tauranga for us. We'll be there one of these days!

Barbxx

[wiki]

Lesley it will all be worth it!

Our house is mostly empty apart from about five loads of stuff I want to take to the tip. But we still have the old TV and a sofa so comfort is vaguely still in place. We're getting invited out for meals so cooking is less of an issue, but I still can't wait to be back in a properly equiped kitchen.

We fly in six days... turn the heating on for us when you arrive please?

[peebles16]

Oh bless LesleyS you sound like you're having a time of it! Just think it'll all be worth it in the end and am sure when we all end up joining you in NZ we'll laugh about the madness it took to get us there. Take care and breathe!
Karen

[Andy&Carol]

Good luck Lesley, this whole process makes you feel like you're going insane! Soon you'll be in chaos on the other side of the world, woohoo!

All best wishes, Carol x

[holland]

lesley...............Breathe!!!!!!!!!!

Sunscreen..............in Nov/Dec...how fab!!!!

I know how manic it must be..we have it all to come! You'll get there...when Friday is done, Im sure it will be a big weight off your mind to know its all gone.

It will be worth it in the end xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

J and G xxx

[M&J]

I remember it well, that awful feeling of absolute mayhem!!! Once the removal company in it all comes right and you can breathe a huge sigh of relief.

And remember the nice long flight where you can do nothing but relax and have a glass or 4 of wine!!!

It is all worth it in the end.

Jo

[DMcG]

If it's any consolation, we were still cleaning my flat and readying it for it's first tenants when the taxi arrived to take us to the airport :exit

Just remember to take deep breaths. Once you're finally checked in for your flight you're someone else's worry for the next 24 hours.

Dougie

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

All sounds very familiar, but worth it in the end.

[marcia]

If I arrive in New Zealand looking like a deranged alcohol dependant loony - you'll be able to spot me immediately I hope? :yes

Hey theres been a few of those landing along the way!!!!

Lesley it is very stressful and you really feel like everything isn't going to get done, but start a list (I love lists) even for little things, and tick them off, you do feel like you are getting somewhere then. Concentrate on the important things you HAVE to do, and if the little things can be left (like the ironing) then leave them.

Tell your OH to give his head a shake and start helping you!!!! :D

And just remember you're going to be sooooooooooo shattered from all this running around that you'll sleep most of the flight with any luck!

Don't worry it will all fall into place, and we have been through it too so we know exactly where you're coming from - we hadn't managed to finish cleaning our house (was only the kitchen cupboards and cooker) so my mum and sister went up the day after we flew and finished off for us!

Big hugs!

[Smiler]

Keep losing my handbag with all the tickets, passports and foreign currency in!! (buried under piles of un-ironed washing - and that's the way it will have to stay, the washing that is!)
Keep remembering really important things to still do/get and getting into a complete panic - Sunscreeen etc!

Hey remember to breathe - and deeply! In out etc.:yes Stick everything you need for the flight and the stuff you are bringing, in a room. Shut the door and stick a notice on it for the removal men. "No entry - nothing to be packed in here, move along please" and lock the door if you can, just in case! :uhoh

When they arrive they'll be through the house like a pack of locusts, you don't want to spend the day any more stressed out that you are already.

[/quote]
If I arrive in New Zealand looking like a deranged alcohol dependant loony - you'll be able to spot me immediately I hope? :yes[/quote]

You'll stick out if you don't look like that!

Good luck and enjoy the last few days. (try some Bachs Rescue Remedy if you need a bit of calming down, it works wonders)

[CjChris]

When I arrived in NZ, I had a purse full of bills I still hadn't had time to take care of while in the US! I figure I'll mail them at some point.....

I have also felt like a bag lady for a few days running now :uhoh (but less so as time goes on). Living out of suitcases is for the birds!! But, hey, I figure everyone goes through this when they first arrive, so I just try to avoid looking like a complete homeless person and at least put on a bit of mascara and fresh lipgloss!

If I made it without complete nervous breakdown, you can, too. Hang in there! It gets better, really! :raebanana

Christine

[Jo Jo]

Good luck, Lesley. We have just shipped our stuff - had John Mason's here for the last couple of days and they were FAB. So nice and helpful, and rather than just pack everything we'd left out they checked with us if they came across something they thought we might not really want to be packed.

After all the stress of the last couple of weeks, having the packers here was actually quite a relief. Yesterday I just lay on my bed reading books, and today I cleaned the kitchen after they'd packed it all up and had a nap on the sofa. (My flat now looks like a minimalist's dream home - it's furnished still, as we're renting it out, but very sparsely furnished. It feels very liberating!)

[Timbo]

Try not to stress too much Lesley. Just think of what awaits you on the other side my friend. It is all worth it, honest.

[LesleyS]

Thanks guys...what would i do without you...:cheers today is another day as they say.

The funny thing is, you get so wrapped up in the stresses and strains of moving halfway across the world, you forget to look at the nice places you promised yourself you would check out before leaving.
It's a beautiful crisp sunny Autumn morning here in the Holme Valley....It's just a place I know.... stop getting sentimental Les. :laugh

Must get onto the Insurance Company to cancel my car Insurance (yay!!!!!) Speak to you all later xx

[thezorbster]

Calm down, calm down, it will all soon be over and you will be on your way, only to have madness the other end when your stuff finally arrives like mine has today!

[Bruckner]

Try not to stress Lesley. Once you're on the plane take a deep breath, a big sip of your drink of choice and relax. The day I moved I was on my own dealing with two toddlers, an incontinent dog (he had five accidents that day) and one mover that got progressively drunker as the day went on. I found his bottle on the last day of the move. They packed our US cell phone chargers too so we had to run out and get replacements.

It'll be OK. Have a safe and comfortable flight.

Emily

[holland]

Your right Lesley...its a new day!

You'll be fine...Im sure it will all come together

Keep your chin up
J xxx