Lots to do

Yes there is lots and lots to do. When you find one thing to do it seems like it becomes a spider and grows legs, leaving seven other things to do as well. Thank goodness I'm not at work and can trawl my way through things.

We have decided to scan all our necessary documents onto the computer, zip them, and download them onto a data stick. By doing that we can carry the little magic device with us, connect it to any pc and print off the relevant document at any time. We will of course ensure that the original documents are safely transported to Cyprus as we will probably have to provide one or some of them for some transactions - beaurocracy is overdone in Cyprus - and that is an understatement. At least we will have a very transportable copy of everything - and it is a very green way to do it too. It is amazing how much stuff there is to scan though. Cyprus wants to see at least one year if not two of all previous household bills in the UK as proof of residency. Then there are wage slips, P60s, P45s (when we get them), birth certs, car documents, insurances etc etc etc. I had better make sure there is a comfortable chair beside the scanner.

We have also bought a webcam so that we can see family and friends at home while we talk with them using Skype. We can also take videos and still pictures of our travels and send them via email. Technology is wonderful when you know it is there and also know how to use it.

Yesterday Steve and I wallpapered the shower room/toilet in Esmeralda after he had finished her repairs (of course she is a lady). It looks so fresh and clean now. Next job is to lay the vinyl flooring in the kitchen area - that will be next weekend. I will post some photos of our temporary home when she is finished.

Having booked the ferry crossing as discussed in the last blog we have booked an overnight stay in a caravan site in Colchester for the night of 30th April. That will enable us to get up fairly early but have just a short 30 minute drive to the ferry port where we have to book in at 7am.

Steve and I have thought about how to say our goodbyes to all and sundry and decided on holding a general "everyone welcome" night at a local pub. A friend of mine manages the Golden Grove in Chertsey and she will allow us to use her function room I am sure. She will also put on a good spread leaving us to ensure everyone receives an invitation. That will be a very relaxed affair and enable us to say our goodbyes to anyone who knows us. Our families will have individual visits and special goodbyes from us.

I have been rather merciless and cleared out a lot of my clothes - some to charity shops, some to a friend and some are selling on ebay as we speak. It was a cleansing experience in more ways than one because there was a lot of work clothes that I was happy to see the back of - yippee!!

Well - back to that scanner........