[dawn]

What a day! We're taking what's left of our belongings down to the container tomorrow (we're sharing one) so we hired a Luton van today and we've spent the entire day sorting through the stuff we want to take and finally, I just locked the van and sat down.

I feel like I've been on my feet for days :no

The house is incredibly empty, just a couple bits and pieces left. Our sofa goes on Sunday and so does the computer desk, that'll be it then, no big things left (we don't even have cutlery, we're using plastic knives and forks!) we'll be left with only the things we can take with us :( It feels very very strange indeed.

But needs must eh! And talking of needs, I'm off for one of these :cheers and then bed (well actually, we sold our bed, we're sleeping on a bed settee we borrowed from a friend!!).

And just in case you were wondering, we've got 11 days left!

[Kim39]

It is a very strange feeling isn't it when you think that what you have packed up is your life's worth. I remember the container pulling up outside the house, and the guys actually filling the 20 footer in about 50 minutes, and yet they had taken 1.5 days to pack everything. Take the last 11 days in and enjoy the attention you will get. And try and get a few good nights kip on the bed settee.


Kim

[felix]

Hello Dawn..Kate and Dom here from Palmy..I dropped you a line a few days ago..exciting isn't it..we have been here 15 months and love it..we are having a very cold winter here..but it is still lovely!!!!! Give us a ring when you get here..if you PM us we will pass on our details to you..we live just a couple of Ks from town....we look forward to meeting you!!!! Bon voyage!! Would be glad to help you guys assimilate when you arrive. Kind regards The Kiwis XX :raebanana

[mossum]

And just in case you were wondering, we've got 11 days left!

wow !!! Dawn i really don't know where time has gone - i geuss at the end things really snowball .... keep posting as long as you can - I & countless others find your posts really helpful .

Hope the sleep was ok ? bed setees are not the best :o

vic x

[dawn]

The bed settee isn't too bad, at least it's not the floor!!
Kinda getting used to it now.

Hubby is starting to get dead excited, he walks round singing "I'm going home, I'm going, Kiwi's going home!" Mad.

I don't know where the time has gone either, at first we had 384 days, now we've got 10! I would have done things a bit differently if I was to do it all again, I'll post that later, have to drive down to London now.

Dom - will send you a PM tonight when I get back.

[gil]

Dawn, it's so exciting to read your posts! I feel like I'm living it with you. As you know, we haven't sold yet, but things are a-stirring and we may (just may!) be off in November permanently, as opposed to holidaying to activate the visas........I've started to dream "displacement" and camping with family and stuff, so although it must be weird, you are really blesssed to be doing this for real! As Kim said, enjoy the remaining days (and the attention) and let us know how it all goes,
Lots of love,
Gil
x

[zardell]

I & countless others find your posts really helpful .



Amen to that Dawn.

I am very pleased and excited for you and your family, but it must be a bag of mixed emotions for you at the moment.

You must be so busy, yet you still find the time to help others. :nice1

Enjoy your last few days in Blighty.......

Julie

xx

[Nienke]

Good luck Dawn! :nice1

[StevieD]

I can only echo what the others have said. Good luck, enjoy the adventure and the thought of all the exciting times ahead. It opens up a whole new world and experiences, and you have to count yourself lucky that you are single minded enough, and able to take these steps. It takes a brave person to dislodge, when you could just carry on sitting around doing the same thing, week in week out for the rest of your life.

Good luck Dawn and co..

Steve and Jan XX

[Diny]

Yep - I remember the feeling so well. Will put the gin on ice (it always is just in case) and will expect your call when you get here.

Not long now.

Diny

[marcia]

Good luck Dawn and Co. :raebanana

Will look forward to meeting you in Palmy sometime in the not too distant future when we eventually get there!

[Jameelka]

Good luck Dawn and family, keep us updated!
:raebanana

[willsken]

Good luck Dawn ....... just a thought, are you still coming to the meet on the 2nd? I can say it all then if you are! :D

[dawn]

Thanks guys - much appreciated.

Nicola - try and stop me! We'll definitely be there, can't miss the chance. Be great to say hi and bye to everyone.

[sizzlingbadger]

Good Luck ... look forward to hearing how your first weeks go in your new country :raebanana

[Smiler]

Good luck Dawn and guys for the next few days.

This is the worst bit, empty house, waiting to get on the plane etc. I hope it flies by for you and you'll soon be homeward bound. :clap:clap

[K&CS]

Good luck Dawn. Really brings back memories - it's only 4 months since I was going through exactly the same. Keep us posted (I'm sure you will).

Kate x

[Marie P]

Good Luck Dawn ,

Just had a little weep reading your blog when you said goodbye to Huxley .

Best wishes for the next couple of weeks . :nice1

Marie x

[dawn]

Oh Marie, it was a completely horrible experience, I was crying whilst writing it and I still haven't been able to read it again yet :(

Well, the hardest weekends are over (I hope!). I finish work on Wednesday and the holiday starts on Friday. I can't believe it's this week already.

Thank you all so much for your best wishes, it's means such a lot and I'm so glad I found you, right back at the beginning. :D

[jo-and-jeff]

Congratulations and Best Wishes!

I can empathize with you; by the time I and the movers had the house packed up and emptied, my feet were so swollen I ended up not being able to wear shoes for a whole week -- traipsed through the airports and planes, arrived in Auckland, and went out to restaurants all in my Uggs! Everything was so rushed and I was so frazzled that I didn't really have time to say goodbye mentally; I hope that you will have more chance to do that.

Once you get here there will be so many new experiences...

Enjoy!

Jo

:cheers

[dawn]

And I can't wait to start them all!

Soooooo looking forward to all this being over. I'm finishing work tomorrow, hubby finished on 19th May. He's been at home doing all the cleaning and sorting, but on Thursday, I can finally help, instead of just leaving him little notes, do this, do that!

It was such a shock when I realised we're flying next week. We pick up the hire car tomorrow and it all starts to get really crazy then. Our farewell party/vow renewal is on Saturday, I'll probably collapse when I get on the plane!! Hopefully we'll sleep for most of the journey as hubby and I are both exhausted.

I need to conserve my energy now, for all the shopping that will take place in the first 4 weeks - now that's what I'm looking forward to!

[smitjo]

All the very best of luck Dawn - I cannot beleive that you fly next week - doesnt time fly when you are having fun?! ;)

We are busy going through all the organising that you guys have already finished and boy is it strenuios! Just hope it will be all worth it in the end!

Thanks very much for being so honest in your blog - I had tears streaming down my face whilst reading about Hux - I have to sell my horse in the next month and the thought is absolutly killing me. :wah

GOOD LUCK & have a great time in NZ :nice1

[dawn]

Re-homing Hux was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do in my life, we're no where near being over it, in fact, I doubt we ever will be. Things are so manic at the moment, we simply don't have time to think of him. But in quieter moments, thoughts come flooding back.

We were very lucky that Hux went to a great new home.

I hope everything goes ok with your horse, it's a very difficult decision to take and it's even harder to follow it through.

And just in case anyone's wondering. We'll not be getting another dog when we get to NZ, far too traumatic.

[Kim39]

What a lovely looking dog Dawn. I know how hard it is as we had to put our eldest down who was 15, 6 weeks before we arrived. We have brought our other one Tess who is 11, but the thought of coming without Kelly who we had had since she was 4 weeks old was very hard, and also hard on tess as she had been her pal for close on 11 years. Anyway i understand your thoughts on not getting another, but believe me things don't work like that as we said never again, but after being here 3 months ended up with a kitten.:roll

Good luck with your final day tomorrow:nice1

Kim

[willsken]

Just been reading your blog again! Very good, thanks Dawn :)

[NannyOgg]

Dawn and Family

Not too sure if I'll get on here again before you log off until the other side.

I just wanted to say GOOD LUCK! Wishing you and yours all the very best on your journey to the other side - will be thinking of you.

Take care!

Nanny xxx