Nearly there

Finally, after five attempts, contracts were exchanged at 3.00pm on Wednesday!  (Just a couple of hours after we waved goodbye to all our worldly good packed up in 82 boxes in the back of a white van).  We have now moved out of the house and cleared the rest of the unwanted stuff, although the completion day is next Thursday.  We are currently staying in Iain's house while he is on a golfing holiday in Portugal but plan to stay a few days with friends until we fly our in 10 days time.

I spent a frustrating 90 minutes trying to book our flights but couldn't get the airline we wanted as there were no connecting flights available to Adelaide for at least three weeks!  We have to a special 'migration' flight to validate our Visa (one-way) which gives us a larger baggage allowance as we need access to masses of paperwork and extra clothes etc as we will not be united with our shipment until Christmas.

On the 3rd October we leave Heathrow via Hong Kong on a Cathay Pacific flight and set foot on Aussie soil exactly 5 years to the day that Karen and Paul arrived. - what  an amazing coincidence!  My internet access is seriously curtailed as I packed the internet power cable by mistake.  Luckily I have the use of Iain's computer over the weekend  mabut y have to spend some time in McDonalds using their free wireless access and my laptop. Hopefully the promised offers of B&B will be forthcoming as we experience a nomadic life for a while.  Watch this space!

camping out

Really could have done with a lie-in.  Sleeping on the sofa cushions on the floor was surprisingly comfortable
camping, a photo by Poppytree2010 on Flickr.

I could really do with a lie-in. Today was exhausting.

camping

camping, a photo by Poppytree2010 on Flickr.

Happy camper

off went the van with me 'ome packed in it

off went the van with me 'ome packed in it, a photo by Poppytree2010 on Flickr.

Off went the van with me 'ome packed in it

Silly me!

Fancy thinking it would all go smoothly!  Contracts were not exchanged last week as someone at the bottom of the chain hadn't even signed them - now set to happen Monday.........we hope!

I've booked the shippers as they had very few dates free and we shall wave goodbye to all our worldly goods on Wednesday.  Hopefully we'll be re-united with them by Christmas.  We shall be camping here/at Iain's house/?????somewhere until funds are received and then we book our flight - probably leaving at very short notice.

This afternoon will be spent packing the suitcases that we will have to live out of for the next couple of months.  The rest will be washed (if necessary), folded and put ready for shipping.  Should be stressed but feeling remarkably calm - perhaps that's because we seem to be another step closer to our dream.  WATCH THIS SPACE.

OMG!

Good news - we are due to exchange contracts on the house on the 15th - this time tomorrow it could be official but...............
Completion date has been suggested at the end of the following week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have pencilled the shippers in for a week today - watch this space.  If dates are confirmed I could be booking our flights in the next few days. 

Mimi Dear

Made this cute card today at Crafts-U-Love - I love Mimi but not sure about that red nose.  I might swap the image for Tilda and the mistletoe!

Still using up scraps from my desk as most things are packed up ready to ship now.  Got a few more Tida's to colour in so may be able to make a few morr cards before we go.