What a week! We have the removal people arriving next Monday to pack up our rented house and hopefully amalgamate the two sets of furniture in their storage depot in Redditch. They will then deliver all the stuff to our new abode in France a couple of weeks later (dates to be confirmed). So once again I am into the sorting and semi packing routine and have made a couple more trips to the charity shop.
We have also had a hectic time ringing and e-mailing everyone we can think of to tell them that we are finally off. This has resulted in our social life becoming a very busy round of people dropping in and invitations out for farewell meals and drinks. All very sweet , but I’m totally exhausted!! We have been given some very thoughtful presents too which we really appreciate.
The other big time taking chore this week has been to notify officialdom of our departure and to stop all the things like papers, subscriptions, direct debits etc. It takes so much time when you are continually put on hold. We have managed most of them now but will have to mop up the rest from France. The most “interesting” one was canceling the TV licence as they wanted proof that we were really leaving the country – supplied by a copy of our euro-tunnel booking! Just what that proves I’m not sure! I’m afraid we have left the selling of my car for Matthew to do in the next couple of weeks as we have just run out of time.
I also managed to fit in a quick trip with Hazel to view her proposed new flat in Carlisle. She will move up there at the end of August ready to start her new job in September. We had a lovely day exploring the city and the new flat is really great. I also had another meeting with Louise to do some more work on the web site and stuff for the business. Its progressing well and by the end of next week we hope to have a site address – even if there will be nothing there for a short while.
As if this was not enough excitement(?) Matthew and Christine got the keys to their first house on Friday so we had to go and help them celebrate this. Matthew also sprang a complete surprise on us all by asking Christine to marry him so there were engagement celebrations too. I am really thrilled for them. It does help to know that they are getting settled and are so happy.
So now we just have to pack up the house, clean and load up the car with enough gear to survive for a couple of weeks. Our plan is to actually leave for France on Wednesday, complete with dog of course. Must remember take the pet passport out of the bureau before the removers come! Poor Chester will not know what has hit him this week! But he will enjoy the freedom of our lovely new garden when we get there.
I will probably not be able to update this for a couple of week now. We intend to have some time to relax a bit and also have not sorted out a telephone or internet access yet in Chabanol. So the next bulletin will be about our arrival – and no doubt the fun we have getting sorted out at that end!