Change is in the air.....

The change in the weather here today has lead me to think of home.
Not the place I rest my head every night or the place I've enjoyed living in for the last few years but home...that place miles away...well 12,000 miles away to be exact.
The change in the weather is perfectly timed for our next trip.
Yes, I know I haven't even finished the New Zealand posts yet (which I promise I will) but this trip has been planned for some time now.
I just haven't got around to telling you about it yet.
Don't worry I'm giving you some time to get used to the idea because we don't depart for another month or so....beside I need time to get used to the idea myself.

And so...where are we heading next? Have you guessed yet?
I hope you're sitting down because we're off home!
To the UK!!!

Yes, finally after 24 years of travelling we've decided to call it a day and settle back in 'Blighty'.

There have been other destinations and possibilities discussed but we've decided to head home.

I have to admit I've so many mixed feelings over this next move.
Move number 12 can you believe!

Remember all of those packing boxes not so long ago....with move number 11 well they came back last week and in fact they even multiplied!

We've considered every factor to reach this big decision and had umpteen nights of being awake from 2am so it's not one that we have taken lightly...that's for sure.

 There are so many things that I'll miss but the world is a much smaller place with the internet and I have every intention of keeping up close and personal with all my Aussie connections.

One thing I won't be able to send back though is the light!
I now realise that the light in the Southern Hemisphere is totally different than that of the Northern Hemisphere...you'd think a world traveller would know that sort of thing but I hadn't realised just how different it can be and what a huge impact it can have on you.
I think one of the first purchases once I land might be to buy one of those bright light therapy lamps recommended by doctors as the first line treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder. Just in case....
I've always remained positive on this blog and that's the way I plan to carry on...no matter what it takes!

At least with this move I know exactly what I'm returning to and that sits very comfortably.

We'll also have our daughter close to hand for the first time in years which will be perfect...I'll just have to remember the novelty might wear off if I'm a nuisance.

We also have every member of both sides of our family all living within a 10 mile radius of each other...although we'll have a few hours distance between us. 

I'm looking forward to moving back into the house that I loved and had difficulty leaving in the first place.
I never really got to know it...if any floorboards creak, wood burners and open fires plus getting familiar with cooking on the Aga again. I have wonderful memories of the 11ft Christmas tree that we brought into the hallway...and the bonfire night celebrations in the old ruined cobble stone barn which we call 'the folly'. Country Life here we come.....

Can you believe that this is my studio!

I feel rather sad looking at this photo, but it will be fine as I get to completely design a new one.
How exciting is that? Will you help me?
If you have any ideas and good tips then please just pop a comment below.

I only borrowed this one...it's been brilliant but it'll be fantastic to organise my own.

Here's someone who doesn't seem to be bothered by all the weird happenings going on...in fact I think she's loved having so many people coming just to see her!

One of the packers was so taken with her that I had to check where she was when he was about to leave because I felt sure he might have had her tucked away somewhere.

Oh yes...I should say 'YES OF COURSE SHE'S COMING WITH US'!!!!
How could we possibly leave her behind?

In fact she's been for her rabies jab today and amazingly enough seems to have forgiven me.

As you can see she wasn't much help with the early organising...it was all so very tiresome!   

But as they say....there's no rest for the wicked and let me tell you I must be extremely bad because it was an exhausting week.

That's one reason why my posts and visiting has been very sporadic of late to say the least.

Oh yes and the fact that my laptop died!!!

This was our 40ft container waiting for our worldly goods to be loaded...it seemed so huge but then we do have a lot of stuff and I did fret that we'd have to make the terrible decision as to what would fit in or what would have to be left behind.

HELLOOOOOOOOOOOooooooo.........

And here it is...with everything in!

Phewph!

I can't praise the guys who worked on the packing enough...but maybe I should wait until we open up all the packages at the other end.  No seriously they worked like Trojans.

Two of the team were a father and son who had such a brilliant working relationship. The father had some incredible tales to tell and mentioned he'd been doing this kind of job since he was 13 years old. 

So now we have a minimalistic look about the place, with just a few rental essentials for our remaining weeks. It feels like we are on holiday again.
It's such fun to start to cook and go to get a favourite pan or utensil to then realise...doh...of course it's not there. Oh what fun I'm having having to improvise constantly!!!! :(

I hope you'll join me on this new adventure because there's going to be lots to talk about and certainly lots to photograph. I'd love to have your company along the way :D

That's one of the things I'm looking forward to...showing you all the wildlife and visitors that I remember that used to call into our garden...I wonder if the pheasants, deer, badgers and buzzards still come to visit us?Not to mention the foxes and rabbits. I think there will be lots of fun and games plus challenges ahead as I want to create a veggie garden, plus I may even venture to own my own chooks!
Who knows....the possibilities are endless!

I'm trying not to think about the actual transporting of Mufftypup but at least she won't have to go into quarantine like last time. I couldn't bare to do that again. If you want to see what happened on Muffy's mission from the Middle East click here.
I also worry about how she will get on with the UK weather! I think she may well be an Aga magnet.
But I might have to fight her for that position....remember I don't like to be in temperatures below 16 degrees! She does have jumpers and coats already so that'll help, but I know she likes the heat more than the cold so I'm sure they'll be some antics ahead.

But I hopefully will be able to dispel some of the terrible myths about the UK weather...I've already asked that the thermostat be turned up in readiness for our arrival.

I have lots planned that I'd love to share with you...cooking, baking, gardening, setting up of the new studio, house and garden projects, plus all the historical tours and revisiting of so many fantastic places. We also will be exploring more of Europe now that we've been over this side of the world for so long.
So it won't be all about the weather ~ promise!
Although I suppose it'll be featured in there I'm sure...I'm just thinking what Muffy might think about snow! I can almost hear her now..."we are NOT amused'! ^..^

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Just an additional thought.....

I'm aware that there are many people that are dealing with lots of changes occurring at the moment.

Friends have had family dynamics altered which have completely pulled the rug from under them...others have health issues that are making them adapt to their new limitations and restrictions...but there's also good changes that can occur. Some people hate change of any sort...and I must admit even though I've had many changes to deal with and coped, I do find it difficult initially to embrace them.
But I've been lucky that so far they always seem to work out for the good.
The important thing is how we cope with these changes.

Some changes might well feel horrendous and difficult to cope with at the time, but then who knows what lies ahead...the changes may actually be a blessing in disguise...I truly hope so.

I'll get back to our New Zealand posts soon and I've also been to a French Cooking and Language course which I want to tell you about.

Catch you again soon I hope...in the meantime have a great week...

I'm off to make the most of my last few months here...whoohoo!

Keep smiling and pass it on...someone may need it today



House Move 11 (Part 9)

Its been a cold wet day here today, but then it is the winter solstice after all, so I suppose that can be expected. So guess what I did today....yeah....packing again!

I must be getting there soon.....surely. I've de-cluttered for every move, so why is there still so much stuff?

The trouble is we're at a delicate stage of the process....what are we going to need up to the last minute and what can be packed away? I've gone to get two things so far and realised they're already away. Grrr....very frustrating!

I'm begining to think I wouldn't be bothered if I didn't see some of these possessions ever again.

This photo below only shows one half of the room. Around the corner are yet more boxes.

I am just so looking forward to doing something else.....other than organising this move.

For instance, I've got a great recipe for another chocolate cake I am keen to try.

I only found out about these handy storage bags a few years ago from my sister. I just hadn't come across them before, but I think they're fantastic!

All the quilts (doona's) shrink so much, its incredible and great for storage.

Whilst preparing to return to Melbourne after spending the Christmas holidays in the UK, my sister witnessed me trying to launch my body across the cases, in the hope my holiday excess weight would help to close them. No such luck.

I must have been a good girl because Santa had been very good to me, but then my cases are always bursting at the seams. Its just something I can't do.....travel light!

My husband will testify to that fact.

Anyway, after much giggling, she nipped into a cupboard and produced some of these bags. After a quick whoosh of the hoover, they miraculously shrunk considerably in size and vwahhlla...case perfectly closed!

Wish I could do that to my waist size! But it is winter after all and I have to have my chocolate treat daily to keep me motivated. That's my excuse anyway... 

Maybe its the extra winter layers that's making me feel squidgable? Roll on spring......

House Move 11 (Part 6) It starts....

Today is the day... finally I've made a start. I'm determined to be organised, calm, and in total control over this house move... Hmm....yeah, then I have a sleepless night and realise its out of my control.  Especially during the paranoia hours. Between the hours of 2.30am to 5am, seem to be the worst.

But then its incredible how calm I become once the sun rises.

I have great faith in the removal company, which by the way has four generations of expertise behind them and come highly recommended. So I think they'll keep me on track.

It's like staring into the abyss...

But then once you start on a theme...ie a dinner service its full steam ahead and the space fills

I thought colour coding the boxes with a brief description on the tape might help everyone involved. Especially me...that way I'd know what goes where, or hopefully!

I know the next photo might set off hyperventilating. I'm not too obsessed with bubble wrap, although I can't resist the odd pop - if you pardon the expression. But I know there are some out there that this amount of wrap would send them into euphoric raptures, literally!

But then look at the size of roll....its a good job I haven't got a problem....

It's no good I must get on....enough of this procrastination....times marching on!

It's the long holiday weekend here but guess what I'll be doing?

Whatever you get up to, enjoy ;-)

House Move No.11

Wow what a week that was...

I'm sorry that I haven't posted lately and hopefully you've missed me ;-)

I didn't realise that I wouldn't get any time free for blogging, and before I knew it the whole week and weekend disappeared, so I couldn't give advance warning I'd be away.

The main reason for my absence was I became a headless chicken upon hearing news that the owners of the house we're renting want to move in!

http://www.clker.com/clipart 

I couldn't believe it initially, as we have never had to leave a house before we decided to, but I suppose that's one of the downsides to renting. (This is the first time we've rented and possibly the last for that reason)

But as the week progressed I've come to terms with it and looking positively forward.

Well, there's not a lot I can do other than start looking at what's available out there and packing asap....

I'm going to try and keep cool, calm and collected over this whole process, but this will be our 11th house move and I know how much effort, expense, organising, patience, understanding, not to mention how tiring it can be.

If anyone out there has useful tips or advice to help this be as painless as possible I'd love to hear from you.

I'm thinking of having t-shirts printed with 'Handle with Great Care' because I think they'll be times when I may either blow a gasket or hide under the duvet till its all over....

I'm sure there's going to be quite a few saga's throughout this process but as long as I can remain cheerful and positive plus have a bottle of gin or vodka handy, I'll get through it....

Wish me luck and I'll keep you posted ;-)

Exerts from an Expat

Well, who would believe it?

I'm in my 20th year of being an expat.

Considering I never really had the urge to travel in the first place this is such a surprise!

(Middle East)

My annual holidays were enough to satisfy my curiosity about different continents, cultures and customs. How could this have happened? I don't remember making the definite decision to follow this lifestyle but I suppose at various times there must have been some agreement.

(South Africa)

My other half says "yes... but we've seen life" when questioning some of the destinations. This is true, but always seems to be announced when we've just experienced or witnessed a previously unimaginable sight, smell or event.
The fact remains that sometimes I think I'd rather not have seen that much 'life' up close and personal.

I'm not sure if this will be the final destination on the tour or whether there could be a few encores! But then I suppose thats the exciting part - not knowing what's coming next!

(Canada)

Hmm, I really wouldn't mind if I never see another packing box until my own personal one arrives.

(Australia)

We've just received our freight from two previous destinations which have been in storage for many years. The idea being that 'we' can finally edit our belongings, obviously we are talking the royal 'we' meaning basically 'me'!

(South Africa)

We are finally getting to declutter. Isn't this supposed to be a liberating, rejuvenating experience? Well, tell that to my cut and frayed fingers, black and blue limbs and the loss of our garage walls - now fully lined with the excess boxes.

I've just got to get through the emotional turmoil of making decisions on each box - whether its finally time to shed my children's baby clothes, school books, three boxes alone of photographs, and fashion statements that went out with the arc. Or are they retro now???

(Maldives)

If theres any easy way of dealing with these major decisions other than we haven't needed or even known we still had these possessions then obviously we don't need them. I'd be interested in hearing from anyone out there?

Looking back at some of our photographs though, I think it may well have been all worth it!