Melbourne to the UK...no problem for Muffty

Many of you have kindly been asking how Muffin got on with travelling from one side of the world to the other. Well let me tell you she did extremely well...thanks to Jet Pets.

The fact that it cost more to transport her than it has for us to ship our car across, has nothing to do with it! 

She's worth every penny and that's all there is to it! 

On the day of her departure from Melbourne, we had people all over the house...

...the air freight was being packed in one room and the furniture rental company where in another, so Muffin was having the time of her life meeting and mingling with everyone. 

Being the centre of attention is what she loves best! 

So when the Jet Pet man came through the door to collect her, she greeted him in her usual enthusiastic way. 

I ensured that I had all the paperwork organised and ready to hand over, explaining that if there was anything that needed to be done or said we'd best do it now, because I knew I'd be a complete mess when it came to handing her over. (AND I WAS)

I know some people will laugh at me saying she's just a dog...but believe me she's much more than just a dog to us. 

And so the time had come when she had to start her journey (deep breath)

She was completely oblivious as to what was about to happen...

Before she knew it...she was placed very kindly into her crate...but oh boy as you can see she wasn't happy! 

To say I was worried is an understatement...but having Jet Pets taking care of all the details, I needn't ...but then that would have been like asking me not to breathe!!! 

Their International network of offices and operation centres monitor every step of your pets journey, to and from anywhere on the planet!

Here's some of the features that their International service include: 

-  A dedicated International Pet Travel Consultant

-  Flight booking on the most direct flight to your destination

-  Comprehensive itinerary

-  Detailed information about your destinations quarantine and customs requirements

-  Boarding (if required)

-  Arranging an airline approved travel crate – including free Jetpets Stay Dry Fleece

-  Expert pet travel advice about any vaccinations your pet may require

-  Jetpets Veterinary home visit to provide necessary vaccinations (Melbourne & Sydney)

-  Collection in a Jetpets Animal Transport Vehicle (if required)

-  Access to Jetpets Transit Lounge (pre flight)

-  Health check by Jetpets Veterinarian pre flight (Melbourne & Sydney)

-  Pet priority check-in at airport

-  Delivery of your pet(s) in a Jetpets Animal Transport Vehicle (if required)

-  Convenient payment over the phone

-  24 hour, 7 days a week, 365 days a year customer service

We actually arrived in the UK the day before Muffin, but that was all part of the plan...I wanted to be there when she was delivered. 

I won't tell you how many times I checked the driveway for her arrival. 

You probably wouldn't believe me anyway! 

Finally the van chauffeur driven limo arrived...and I was like a whippet out of the traps ^..^

Oh it was so brilliant to see and hear her! 

She heard my voice and wanted OUT!!!

We were actually staying at my sister's house for that first week of our return home and she has a fantastic garden which Muffin immediately enjoyed...stretching her legs.

Here's Muffin taking it all in...her first few hours in the UK. 

She landed at 5.30am and was with us by 3pm after going through all the checks and procedures. 

You would never know that she had done that journey...and possibly had a little holiday romance along the way. Apparently I believe there had been a little Jack Russell who had accompanied her on the same flight! 

I'm saying nothing just in case Zac reads this post...he'd be terribly upset. 

Thankfully I'd also organised to pack some of the Aussie sunshine into our freight which made the transition that much easier. 

We had an overnight stay in Edinburgh at my daughters on the way up...which reinforced our suspicion that Muffin and cats wouldn't get on. My daughter has two (one being a rag-doll which is twice the size of Muffy) but thankfully we were able to keep them separate by the glass lounge door! 

There was spitting, arched backs and yelping but all safely from a distance. 

And so finally one week and 12,000 miles later we finally arrived home.

Here's Mufftypup on her new look out post! 

The trouble is we are on a country lane so there's not a lot happening for most of the time.

Shh...let's not disillusion her.

But look at the off leash park! :D
Can you spot her? 

I'm rather nervous about foxes, buzzards and all the other beasties, but it's great to see her enjoying the freedom. 

She was very adventurous to begin with...especially once she was on a scent! 

It's amazing just how deaf she can be if she's on a trail...forget all the training...she's oblivious.

It didn't help to alleviate my concerns when we first arrived that there were three dead rabbits dotted around the garden. Something appears to like furry little things! 

Ahh...life's good :D

Ahh...my own tree...now that's special! 

Not sure about so many things...the latest is the busy bees visiting the clover flowers 

(yes I know we need to cut the grass, but we've been knee deep in packing boxes...we'll get there)

We've now started training in 'how NOT to eat a bee'

This could take some time...

So we'll leave Muffy here enjoying the sun going down...

Finally I thought I'd post this view of a bee visiting the Delphinium in the garden. 

I actually planted them before we left the house all those years ago. 

It seems strange to see them all grown up! 

Just before I go...I'd just like to thank everyone who nipped across to see 'Little Wandering Wren's' Blog.   

I hope you have a great week.

Enjoy!

Little Wandering Wren....to the rescue

Good Morning to you all...

(or whatever time of day or night that it happens to be with you right now)

As you can imagine life has been pretty hectic over the last three weeks...so much so that I've actually lost nearly 3 kilos! 

Not misplaced like an overnight bag (containing crucial anti-wrinkle cream) or my favourite wok, which hasn't turned up yet, but really lost! 

To move half way across the planet isn't the best weight loss programme I have to say, because in fact it can work out pretty expensive per kilo but it does work! 

So before I carry on with my current adventures and get you up to speed on everything that's going on here...

I have something very important that I want to share with you. 

I realise that quite a few of my visitors enjoyed keeping up to date with what was happening in and around Melbourne...or just Australia in general and so guess what? 

I've got my stand-in or should I say my replacement ready and waiting for you.

It's Little Wandering Wren

(photo thanks to Google Earth)

Jenny Wren has been a keen follower of my blog for quite some time and so when she decided she'd like to join our merry band out here in blog-land, I couldn't resist helping her get started. 
We shared some quality time together over copious amounts of tea and snackets (it's compulsory when creating as you know) whilst I blindly led her through what I'd managed to pick up along the way.
It was a sheer delight to see her excitement when slowly each piece of her blog came to life.
Remember those days? 

Little Wandering Wren (as her name describes) has traveled extensively and would love for you to join her on her travels and adventures. She's a Brit too so what more can I say...we could be from the same egg! 

She wrote an amazingly clever post upon my departure and even managed to capture some of your blogs within the tribute...so go on make her day and pop across to see what's happening in her neck of the woods. 
I know you're going to love visiting plus she's promised to pop the kettle on for anyone who stops by... 
I'm sure she'd be even more thrilled if you just let her know that you've been there by leaving a quick message. Thank you for your support...I knew I could rely on you lovely lot :D

I'm going to be back up and running here from Monday...thank goodness we'll have full internet access from then.
Muffy has lots she'd like to tell you about and I've been clicking my camera like a mad woman!
Plus we had a fabulous day at the fairy tale wedding in the castle. 

The weather's been fantastic even though it was expensive to freight across...everyone has been very appreciative so it was well worth it!  
I can't wait to share it all with you...so come back soon

Enjoy your day and make the most of every minute...its a gift! 
xoxo

Is there anybody out there....?

Hellooooo....remember me?

How you doing? It's great to see you again....

It's been so long since we chatted but as you may or may not know I've been living in another dimension. 

Hopefully after this weekend I'll be back on some sort of even keel. 

Well that's the plan anyway.

So basically just a quick update today...

We packed up and left Melbourne...arrived to the wonderful meet and greet from our family for a week...then on to our daughter for an overnight stay before finally arriving home (wow that sounds very surreal) 

Literally upon our arrival the 40ft container of furniture arrived on the driveway...although that's not strictly true. It couldn't make it onto the driveway so had to park up further down the lane and unload to a smaller van for that final leg of the journey. What a drama but that's for another day.

We are currently living in a sea of packing boxes which by some strange phenomenon hasn't diminished in anyway...or that's how it seems even though we've been working from dawn to dusk. 

260 boxes in total...argh...where and when did I get all this stuff. 

And to think I thought I'd downsized too!

But like most things in life there's always something to make you stop and be thankful for admist all the chaos and here's a peek at what I saw from my back window on our first day...

Yes...that is blue sky and I promise I haven't used photo shop. In fact everyday since we've arrived back in 'Good Old Blightly' the weather has been fantastic. 

I hope you're sitting down when I tell you that it even reached 30 degrees celsius one day! 

And so our first day back reacquainting ourselves with our home comes to a close...it's been an exhausting day but a good one.

I think this view might be a regular feature on my posts as the weather and seasons change...

Anyway this is a quick post this morning because today we are off to a fairy tale wedding in a Scottish castle. 

I would just like to say thank you to everyone for all our kind wishes and comments. It's been lovely to know that you are there, but I just couldn't manage to reply. 

But I hope to rectify that soon. 

In the meantime take care and I hope to see you again soon...I've got so much to show and chat about.

Toodleloo for now 

Farewell Melbourne...its been great knowing you...

I couldn't nip off without putting a quick post out to you first, but I have to emphasis that it really is a quickie!

I'm just waiting for the car to take us off to the airport! 

I wrote a great post last night and whilst I was finishing it off....it went whoosh somewhere and disappeared so I'll have to redo that one once I arrive back in the UK. It was 1.30am so I had to stop. 

It was SO annoying!

Anyway we've had our last night in Melbourne and there's no more sleeps to go (sob sob) 

so it's talleyho and away we go!

I've been sent photographic evidence by my daughter that the weather over there in the UK has taken a turn for the better. 

The sun is out! Yay! 

That's unless my daughter has used photoshop for her pics ;D

But I'm really so sad to be leaving Melbourne...we've had a fantastic five years! 

Thank you everyone for everything!

(Flinders Street Station)

I'll be revisiting Melbourne again because I've still got gazillions of photos to share with you.

Thanks again Melbourne...it's been great knowing you and who knows we may be back!

Never say never eh?

Au revoir for now

I'll catch up with you when I've clicked my glitzy red heels and arrive home!

In the meantime take care everyone 

xoxo