[KD17]

Well, we've made our very first step towards moving to NZ and have, today, taken our cat to it's new home :no I know many of you have had to do the same, and it's absolutely heartwrenching. He is a 10 year old blind siamese, a complete ball of cuddles, but we have been exceptionally lucky enough to find a perfect lady to give him all the hugs he needs (& demands :) ) so despite the tears, I know he will be happy in his new home.

In fact, I received a call just a few moments ago saying how well he was settling in, eating his dinner etc., and he's only been there 30 minutes. (I'm forgotten about already :roll )

Our next step is leaving the IOM at the end of this month, which means leaving my 19 year old daughter on the island, and our IOM friends. We will be spending a few months in Swindon and at the end of October will be on that jet plane to our new NZ life leaving all family & friends behind in the UK.

So pussy cat is heartache no.1, two more to go !!!

My daughter is planning on coming over to visit in January with a view to looking to see if she will like to stay or not and I have already put her air fair aside so that she can come over any time she wishes.

It's very bitter sweet. We all know we have to go through these heartwrenching ordeals in order to get to our new life in the hope of living out our dreams, but it doesn't make it any less painful to go through at the time. Deferred gratification as Keith calls it.

Its TT week here on the Island so we're off into town to enjoy the ambience & enjoy a drink towards our new future.

Best wishes all


Keith & Debby

[dawn]

My heart goes out to you, we've arranged for our dog to go to his new home next weekend, so I'll have a much better idea of what you're going through then. I'm not sure whether it's good or bad that we left it til 2 weeks before flying to re-home him. Emotions are high anyway at the mo.

Deferred gratification sums it up I think, take the bad now and be rewarded with the good later :D I hope Keith is right!

[edsinclair]

Oh...I know how you feel....about your cat!
We'll all be leaving for Christchurch in just a few weeks and I still haven't found the "perfect home" for my baby!

I'm so glad you found a loving lady for your siamese!

[willsken]

You poor things - the goodbyes, whether to family or pets (or cars :roll ) are the hardest part. It will be worth it in the end.

[mossum]

oh my fur baby !!!

i'm still in tatters about her - i'd love to take her but she'd be a real hazzard to my mum (frame & wheelchair ) not to mention a serious threat to NZ wildlife .

She does have a home to go to - but I'm waiting to see if whoever buys the house will keep her . I like the lady who's having her - I just don't know how she will adapt to mews style living LOL !!!

I feel she should go sooner - but hearts ruling head at the mo .

At least your dear old puss cat sounds like he's got his new person trained well already :laugh

vic xx

[David with a dream]

Know just what you mean about the good bye's, it aint easy :wah and here we are having come back now planning to head back again :laugh but this time we are just gonna say ''bye'' and :exit for the airport! Good luck to you both :nice1 ...........Enjoy the moments.......David & Family

[Diny]

Debbie - this has been a long process for you two, (it seems like years ago since me met up for lunch with Babette) and now the first step has been taken hopefully things will go smoothly.

The goodbyes are never easy, I've recently been back to the UK to see my family & friends and 2nd time around the goodbyes are no easier.

Having a flight fund for your daughter is a good idea, without my flight fund I'd feel very isolated.

October will be here before you know it, then we'll be meeting up for lunch in Palmy. Enjoy the time you have left on the island and just take each step as it comes. This immigration lark is not easy, it pulls on every emotion you have.

Good luck.

Diny

[wanderingoregonian]

my heart goes out to you... I'm struggling enough with things of a much smaller nature. It may seem silly, but I just got back from the grocery store (the one I've never really liked because of its impossible layout and lack of organization) and was feeling down about only going there a few more times. It was strange enough to be shopping and realizing the that milk will expire AFTER I move from boston!

I get very sentimental before a move... and it seems to be the every day things that get to me - this may be the last time I fill up my tank here, or take this exit, or go to this favorite restaurant... and I haven't even started to let myself think about all the friends here :(

[Smiler]

Oh that's hard!! But as you say one down................

The ticket fund is a good idea. I've got one for my my son too. That was (and still is) the very worst bit about leaving the UK.

I also got very sentimental, the last this, that or the other. I also remember the milk expiring and I am so glad it isn't only me! :laugh:laugh

Good luck with the next few months, Swindon etc, and before you know it you'll be stepping off that plane in NZ. (Why Swindon though? :confused:)

Enjoy the TT too, booger. :mad:

[KD17]

Wow, thank you all so much for your replies. You know that you're never alone with this forum and people are always so supportive - despite how silly you may feel at the time.. :roll

Good luck to all of you who have to re-home your pets, it's such a hard thing to do, like giving a baby away in my opinion.

Sometimes I think leaving a pet is harder, at least people can have an option to get on a plane to visit.

I try not to dwell on the "last time" scenarios, it would be totally crucifying to do that. You never know what's round that corner, look at where many of us are now and a short time ago I'm sure most of us would never have thought that possible.

We have lived overseas before and it's strange how you find yourself missing those things you never had any interest in before, like traditional British food that you wouldn't eat in the UK.

Diny - yes it has taken us absolutely ages, it will be 2 years by the time we get on that plane to NZ, but I believe in fate and that our path will not be ready for us until we get there in Oct/Nov.

Smiler - why Swindon? - Keith has a small property there which we need to sort out but is not dependant on our leaving. His son lives in Gloucester so he also wants to spend some time with him before we leave, and we will leave after Keith's birthday at the end of October.

I'm sure it would be easier adjusting to the NZ lifestyle from the IOM but we are going to have a little spoiling in the UK before.

We hope to see some of you in the UK before we go, and join in on the NZ meets wherever we find ourselves there :)

Thanks again


Keith & Debby

[steviec]

Hi KD17.
We have a 14 year old cat named Fudge. We have had him from 8 weeks old. He has been with us thro 3 house moves, 4 kids (who have tried to sit on him,dress him up,chase him round the house when all he wants to do is sleep!) 1 big scare when he got run over(he pulled thro minus a hip tho). He will be going back to the lady we got him off all them years ago. He is too old to travel to NZ with us but will be missed more than he will ever know. Hang in there. Your doing the right thing. Tracy.

[KD17]

How cute. :) he sounds totally adorable.

who have tried to sit on him,dress him up,chase him round the house when all he wants to do is sleep!)

I think most of us are guilty of dressing our pets. :o

I'm sure he'll be just as loved in his new home too. It's all for the best, and like you said about Fudge, my siamese would never have made the trip. He's living the life of absolutely luxury now.

Take care


Debby

[diforsyth]

We have two half feral rescue cats that we've had since kittens and need to let them go next Monday when we sell the house. They are being re-homed through the Trust we originally got them from (part of the adoption agreement). The lady advised us that cats are very adaptable and will settle into new homes no problem and we shouldn't force a traumatic move on them for our own benefit - this was something we had never considered and in hindsight perhaps selfish of us. She also said that the best thing we could do would be to rescue a cat(s) in New Zealand and give it a home. It's not going to make it less emotional but at least there is the knowledge that we can have something to look forward to.